By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Jesus Thirsts for America, the 21-city U.S. revival tour featuring six mainland speakers will visit Hawaii July 15 at St. Ann Church, Kaneohe, preceded by an evening healing service July 14 at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea.
Organizers describe the event, called “I Thirst: Hawaii,” as an “old fashioned revival” that is “deeply sacramental,” culminating with “a powerful call to action inviting attendees to publicly commit, or re-commit, to Jesus Christ.”
The revival promises to “provide tools to help Catholics to better live out their faith in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.”
The Jesus Thirsts movement parallels this year’s U.S. bishops’ eucharistic revival initiative by providing people a means to encounter Jesus Christ.
It is organized locally by the Diocesan Evangelization Task Force, headed by Dominic Olaso.
The healing service at St. Elizabeth begins with Mass at 6:30 p.m. celebrated by Msgr. Stephen Doktorczyk, followed by a eucharistic revival and adoration talk by Deacon Larry Oney and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and healing.
The July 15 general session at St. Ann opens with 7 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva. Morning talks include “The Pursuit of Holiness” by Deacon Steve Greco, “Thirsting for a Visitation” by Andi Oney and “How to Win a Catholic” by Barbara Heil.
The lunch break includes time for the sacrament of reconciliation.
Afternoon talks include “Jesus Thirsts for a New Priestly Pentecost and Eucharistic Amazement: Prophecies of Blessed Conchita” by Kathleen Beckman and “A Thirst, a Cry, and a Response from the Heart of God” by Deacon Oney. The day ends with a “call to action.”
Registrants will be enrolled in a 52-week follow-up that features weekly Scripture, questions for meditation and videos from Norbertine Father Jacob Hsieh, a priest of Saint Michael’s Abbey in Southern California.
Deacon Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange and founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry. He is the director of evangelization and formation for the Orange diocese.
Msgr. Doktorczyk is a priest of the Diocese of Orange, a canon lawyer and co-founder and spiritual director of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests.
Deacon Oney is a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the founder and president of Hope and Purpose Ministries.
Andi Oney is the wife of Deacon Oney. She has a background in education and just published her first book “Extravagant Praise.”
Heil is the founder of the Catholic ministry From His Heart and a public speaker who also leads tours to the Holy Land.
Beckman for the past 25 years has been involved in evangelization as a speaker, retreat director, media host and writer.
The Jesus Thirst revival started last November in Orange County, California. Other stops include Los Angeles, Fresno and Birmingham.
To register, go to www.spiritfilledevents.com/i-thirst-Hawaii. The cost is $30 per person. Discounts are available for groups of five. For more information, contact Dominic Olaso at 808-797-7076 or dolaso@rcchawaii.org.
