Deacon Andrew Jude Gerakas, whose devotion to daily Eucharist compelled him to leave the Greek Orthodox Church to become a Roman Catholic, and then one of Hawaii’s first permanent deacons, died on May 18 in Honolulu. He was 87 and a deacon at Star of the Sea Parish in Waialae-Kahala for 34 years. Gerakas served […]
Archives for June 2015
Pope Francis lists abortion, unsafe workplaces, terrorism, war among ‘attacks on life’
VATICAN CITY — Abortion, abandoning migrants at sea, unsafe working conditions, malnutrition, terrorism and euthanasia are all “attacks on life,” said Pope Francis. In an audience with members of the Italian Science & Life Association May 30, the pope said “life is a gift” and urged more reflection on how people are treated throughout all […]
Pastor, retiring after 30 years in the diocese, filled in between bishops
Soon to retire Father Thomas Gross in front of St. John Vianney Church, Kailua, which he renovated as pastor. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz) Father Thomas Gross, who for one year had the responsibilities of Hawaii’s bishop without the status, is retiring June 30. The cordial, reserved pastor of St. John Vianney Parish […]
Diocese planning pilgrimage to families conference with pope in Philly
Pope Francis is going to the World Meeting of Families Congress in Philadelphia this September. And you can too. The Diocese of Honolulu is organizing a Sept. 21-28 pilgrimage with Bishop Larry Silva to the triennial gathering. The conference, whose purpose is to strengthen the sacred bonds of the family unit worldwide and highlight its […]
Father Kenneth Doyle | Confirmation at a high school?
Q: Recently, at a Catholic boys’ high school, the priest who is the campus minister gave first holy Communion and also (during the same ceremony) the sacrament of confirmation to six young men. I’m certain that the priest received permission from our bishop to do this, but I have two questions. First, isn’t the local […]
Photo: Convocation break
Island priests take time for some fun and group pictures May 20 at the diocese’s annual Priests’ Convocation at Turtle Bay Resort. The convocation is a weeklong break from parish work for local clergy, who gather at the North Shore of Oahu for prayer, liturgies, seminars and fellowship. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Photo: Confirmation anointing
Bishop Larry Silva anoints with chrism the forehead of a young parishioner at St. Anthony Church, Kailua, as part of the Rite of Confirmation during an evening Mass, May 28. The bishop has been administering the sacrament of Confirmation at various parishes around the Islands, through which confirmandi are bestowed with the gifts of the […]
Kathleen T. Choi | Lead us not
Recently, a friend told me that she always stumbles over the part of the Lord’s Prayer that says, “Lead us not into temptation.” She can’t believe God would deliberately tempt us, so why mention it? I agreed, but I couldn’t explain why the prayer is worded that way. So I hit the Internet. Google offers […]
Chaminade receives $500K for athletics facilities
Chaminade University of Honolulu last month announced receiving $500,000 in major gifts which will go toward the building of a new coaches’ office complex, one phase in the development of the school’s new intercollegiate athletics facilities. The donation includes $300,000 from longtime Chaminade supporters including two members of its board of regents. The donors are […]
Msgr. Owen F. Campion | CORPUS CHRISTI: Nourishment from God, is God
Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 The Book of Exodus is the source of this feast day’s first reading, the story of an event that occurred as the Hebrews were making their way across the Sinai Peninsula, in flight from Egypt and slavery. To modern ears, the story may sound gruesome, giving the details […]