NEWS FROM PAGES PAST
50 years ago — Dec. 23, 1966
Artwork on the front cover of the Hawaii Catholic Herald Christmas issue.
25 years ago — Dec. 20, 1991
It’s a miracle!
“Flash!” The fax exclaimed. “Glory and thanks to God Our Father.”
With those words, Father Patrick Bradley, superior general of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts in Rome announced on Dec. 5 that the cause for sainthood for Hawaii’s Father Damien de Veuster made a major leap forward.
In a letter addressed to “All the brothers and sisters of the congregation,” from Father Bradley announced that the Vatican’s Medical Commission of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints that morning had accepted a 94-year-old medical cure as a “real miracle” attributed to the intercession of Father Damien de Veuster.
A miracle is the primary requirement for beatification, the last major step before canonization as a saint.
“It seems that the beatification of our heroic confrere is now sure (after some necessary formalities … ),” wrote Father Bradley. If beatified, Father Damien would gain the title, “Blessed.”
10 years ago — Dec. 15, 2006
Bishop to visit Philippine dioceses, orders that send personnel to Hawaii
Bishop Larry Silva will spend the 14 days after Christmas in the Philippines visiting the heads of dioceses and religious orders that send priests, brothers and sisters to work in Hawaii.
A tentative schedule has the bishop traveling the span of the multi-island southeast Asian country, from the northern city of Laoag on the island of Luzon, to Davao, 800 miles south on Mindanao. He will be in the Manila area twice.
More than 60 priests, brothers and sisters with Philippine ties work in Hawaii. Twenty priests come from seven Philippine dioceses. An additional 16 priests and brothers and 26 sisters are from four Philippine-based religious orders. …
Bishop Silva arrives back in Hawaii on Jan. 9.