A look back at 2016

: Father EJ Resinto at his ordination to the priesthood in 2016. (HCH File Photo)

2016 snapshots:

Sacred Hearts Brothers profess their final vows
Cardinal Soane Mafi of Tonga visits Hawaii
A blessing by newly ordained Father EJ Resinto
APeX Ministries at Diocesan Youth Day
Lei at the Diocese of Honolulu 75th anniversary celebration
Cathedral Catholic Academy closes
Archbishop Bernardito Auza at the Red Mass

A month-by-month review of Catholic news in Hawaii in the past year as reported in the Hawaii Catholic Herald

Story and photos compiled by Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz
Hawaii Catholic Herald

January

About 100 Island priests gather at St. Stephen Diocesan Center for the diocese’s annual “Priests’ Retreat,” led Jan. 4-8 by guest speaker and facilitator Father Tom DeSimone of New York.
Kalaupapa residents commemorate with a simple Jan. 6 ceremony the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first 12 leprosy patients banished to the Molokai peninsula in 1866.
St. Anthony Church in Kalihi kicks off a year of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the parish with a standing room only Mass celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva and cultural festival on the church grounds, Jan. 10.
Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi of Tonga pays an official four-day visit to Hawaii and celebrates Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Jan. 16.
Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gives the homily at the diocese’s annual Red Mass for local civic leaders, Jan. 19, at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
A five-year timetable is unveiled for the “Restoring Proper Order” initiative, which will shift preparation in Island parishes for the Sacraments of Initiation to the “original” sequence of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion. The diocese aims to have Confirmation for second grade religious education students normative by 2021.
A Taize Prayer service at the Newman Center at the University of Hawaii-Manoa Jan. 21 draws local clergy and faithful from various Christian denominations, including Bishop Silva, to celebrate the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Hawaii’s 43rd annual March for Life draws hundreds of people to the State Capitol Jan. 22 to mark the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade decision that resulted in abortion on demand across the country.
Bishop Silva leads a pilgrimage group of 13 local Catholics to Cebu, Philippines, for the International Eucharistic Congress, Jan. 24-31.

February

Sacred Hearts Sister Anne Marie Tamanaha, who has served in Catholic education for 60 years, is among the honorees at the Mass for the Annual Conference for Catholic Educators on Oahu, celebrated at Sacred Hearts Academy on Feb. 5.
Bishop Silva closes the Year of Consecrated Life Feb. 6 by celebrating Mass for roughly 150 religious sisters, brothers and priests in attendance at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa.
Parishioners and clergy talk time, talent and treasure at the diocese’s fourth annual “Stewardship Day” event, Feb. 6 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
The boys basketball team from St. Joseph School in Hilo defeats Honokaa High in a stunning upset to win the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II championship, Feb. 13.
About 185 catechumens preparing to receive the sacraments on Easter Vigil sign their names into the Book of Elect during Rite of Election ceremonies across the diocese, Feb. 13-14.
The diocesan Respect Life Office hosts its inaugural “Catholics Affirming Life Symposium,” with a session for clergy Feb. 25 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center and for the public Feb. 27 at Kroc Center in Kapolei.

March

The fourth annual Hawaii Catholic Schools choral festival, March 4 at the Maryknoll Community Center gym, brings together students and faculty for an event of fellowship and song under the theme, “One Ohana: Love is Our Mission.”
Parishioners of St. Theresa Church in Kihei, Maui, and supporters of the parish’s Hale Kau Kau food ministry celebrate with a March 4 gala at the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel the 25th anniversary of the Maui outreach program.
The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace hosts “24 Hours for the Lord,” March 4-5, a full day of prayer, adoration, reconciliation and reflection as one of the initiatives called forth by Pope Francis for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Father Anastacio “Jun” Postrano and Father Gregorio Honorio Jr. are incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu during the March 17 Chrism Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Father Postrano is originally a priest of the Diocese of Tagum, Philippines. Father Honorio was previously a priest of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.

April

The American Marketing Association Hawaii Chapter awards the Hawaii Catholic Schools office the Silver Award for Best Non-Profit Marketing in the state, April 7, at the association’s 39th Annual Marketer of the Year awards luncheon at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.
The short video “Yehudah,” created by Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace parishioner Bonnie Moore, is selected to be the opening film shown at the International Christian Film Festival, April 28, in Orlando, Florida.

May

Local priests come together at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu for the diocese’s annual “Priests’ Convocation,” May 9-13, which includes sessions on the theme, “Forming Intentional Disciples.”
Parishioners of St. Ann Church in Kaneohe on May 13 kick off with a “living rosary” event a series of six monthly celebrations commemorating the parish’s 175th anniversary.
Bishop Silva ordains diocesan seminarian Alfred Guerrero a “transitional deacon” – Guerrero’s last major step toward the diocesan priesthood — during a liturgy at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, May 27.
Bishop Silva leads hundreds of faithful in the diocese’s annual Corpus Christi procession from the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa to the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, May 29.

June

The Hawaii Catholic Herald wins six journalism honors at the June 3 Catholic Media Conference awards in St. Louis, Missouri.
After 80 years of providing Catholic education in downtown Honolulu, Cathedral Catholic Academy holds its final day of classes and shutters due to sagging enrollment, June 3.
A reorganization plan is announced to create a single “St. Anthony School” on Maui with four divisions – pre-school, primary school, middle school and high school – by August 2017. The pre-school, grade school and high school had previously been separate operations situated on the same Wailuku campus.
The diocesan Office for Social Ministry announces that the Diocese of Honolulu has been chosen to be featured in the “Stories of Hope” series for the Catholic Relief Services 2017 Lenten Rice Bowl campaign.
Thirty-five youth from four islands gather for the inaugural Christian Leadership Institute-Hawaii program, June 13-17 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.

July

Chaminade University of Honolulu welcomes Marianist Brother Edward Brink as its new rector on July 1.
The diocese welcomes new vocations director Father Rheo Ofalsa, who starts at the position July 1.
Father Dennis Koshko, a priest of the Diocese of Honolulu for 41 years, retires July 1 at the age of 70.
The relic of St. Junipero Serra is brought to the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa for veneration during the diocese’s monthly Holy Hour for Vocations at the church, July 6.
Bishop Silva ordains Kauai native EJ Resinto a priest during a July 9 liturgy at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
Longtime Hawaii Catholic Herald contributor Kathleen T. Choi pens her final column before retiring in the July 15 Herald issue.
Bishop Silva leads a small diocesan pilgrimage group to World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, July 22-Aug. 3.

August

St. Catherine School in Kapaa, Kauai, expands with the help of an internet-based “virtual” Catholic high school in Florida to offer studies for Island students in grades 9-12.
More than 600 Oahu Catholic school educators, plus neighbor island administrators attend the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit traditionally celebrated at the beginning of every school year, Aug. 18, at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe.
The Catholic community of Lahaina, Maui, welcomes two sisters of a religious order new to Hawaii, the Missionary Sisters of Faith.
The first of several “Welcoming the Order of Celebrating Matrimony” workshops organized by the diocese to discuss changes to the ritual text for use at weddings is held at St. Joseph School in Hilo, Aug. 20.

September

More than 400 people gather for a colorful liturgy at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Sept. 10, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Honolulu.
Father Edmundo Barut, formerly of the Diocese of Bangued, Philippines, is incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu on Sept. 11.

October

Roughly 100 local devotees of Our Lady of Fatima spend a “holy hour” of prayer, adoration and reflection at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace on Oct. 13, marking the anniversary of the famed Marian apparition to three children in Portugal in 1917.
Hundreds of youth and adult chaperones celebrate the Catholic faith with fellowship, music, Mass and a keynote presentation by APeX Ministries at Diocesan Youth Day, Oct. 22 at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe.
Jerry Rauckhorst, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities Hawaii for the past 21 years, retires Oct. 31. Succeeding Rauckhorst beginning Nov. 1 is Terry Walsh.

November

Bishop Silva, in a Nov. 2 letter, approves the request of Marianist Father Roland Bunda, pastor of St. Anthony Church on Maui, to transfer the ownership and operation of St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School from the Diocese of Honolulu to the Wailuku parish.
Sacred Hearts Brothers Jeremy Sabugo and Michael Kamauoha make their final professions of vows Nov. 12 at St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki.
Bishop Silva culminates the Jubilee Year of Mercy in Hawaii during a Nov. 27 Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
The “Mercy House,” a Windward Oahu home renovated for the purpose of aiding women inmates transitioning out of prison, is blessed and opened Nov. 27.

December

Bishop Silva ordains Sacred Hearts Brother Jeremy Sabugo a “transitional deacon” during a Dec. 8 liturgy at St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki. As a deacon, Brother Sabugo is now able to assist at Masses, meanwhile completing his final formation steps toward priesthood.
Chaminade University’s board of regents announce Dec. 8 the selection of Lynn M. Babington to serve as the school’s tenth president. Babington begins her term Aug. 1, 2017, as she succeeds Marianist Brother Bernard Ploeger, who has held the post since 2009.
The diocesan prison ministry hosts its annual “Star Light, Star Bright” Christmas party for women inmates and their families Dec. 10 at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua.

Our faithful departed

The following priests, religious and lay people with a connection to the Catholic Church in Hawaii died in 2016. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Brother George (Francis) Apo, Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Jimmy and Nancy Brede, Kalaupapa residents
Sister Cecile Therese Burton, Maryknoll
Sister Noreen (Catherine) Cain, Sister of Notre Dame de Namur
Sister M. Angelina Dutra, Sisters of the Holy Family
Sister Charlotte Ann Esch, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Joven “Jojo” Junio, Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette
Brother Charles M. Kaahanui, Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Edwin Lelepali, Kalaupapa resident
Sister Rose Damien Malabon, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Father Lawrence Mann, Society of Mary (Marianists)
Sister Catherine (Agnes St. Jude) Pelletier, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Deacon Luciano “Shiano” Pius
Sister Marie Dominic Reantaso, Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Sister Eva Sheehan, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sister Julie Louise Thevenin, Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Deacon Sidney J. Townsley
Brother Leo (Odon) Vendiola, Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary