By Deacon Michael Weaver
Special to the Herald
“Clerics have a special obligation to seek holiness in their lives, because they are consecrated to God by a new title through reception of holy orders, and are stewards of the mysteries of God in the service of his people.” (Canon 276:1)
The deacon community of the Diocese of Honolulu will gather Feb. 7-9 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe for the annual retreat for deacons and wives.
Deacons are required by canon law and the Diocese of Honolulu to make an annual retreat; this gathering is one opportunity for them to do so.
This year’s retreat master is Augustinian Father Thomas R. McCarthy, an experienced retreat director and parish mission preacher. His theme is “Journey with Christ Through the Eyes of St. Augustine” — a series of talks and reflections on “Confessions,” one of Christianity’s landmark books by the doctor of the church and an early church father.
Father McCarthy earned a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania; a master’s degree in educational administration from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois; and a master of divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
According to a biography on his website, he entered the Midwest Province of the Augustinian order in 1987, then completed his novitiate and graduated from CTU. He made his solemn vows as an Augustinian friar in 1993 and was ordained to the priesthood a year later.
Father McCarthy served for 21 years at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago as a teacher, campus minister, principal, president and chairman of the board of directors. He also served in Rome as part of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization where he was named a papal missionary of mercy by Pope Francis in 2018.
Father McCarthy is currently vocation director for the Augustinians’ Midwest Province and is director of St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel in Chicago. He is also the prior of the pre-novitiate community of St. Clare of Montefalco Friary in Chicago.
Deacon Will Friese and his wife Lek, from St. Jude Church in Kapolei, first brought Father McCarthy to the attention of the local deacon community.
“His retreats are excellent, practical, engaging and refreshing,” Deacon Friese said. “His talks help us see the many ways we can open ourselves up to God. He gives us more confidence in how to make decisions with the help of our Father.”
Deacon Derek Wong, who is chair of the Spiritual Growth Committee on the Diocesan Deacon Council and also hails from St. Jude, stressed the importance of deacons and wives taking time “to grow spiritually (and) to assist us in our ministries as ‘spiritual vessels for the laity.’ The deacon retreat offers us the opportunity to get closer to God and to our fellow deacons and spouses.”
Deacons and wives who have not yet registered for the weekend retreat can still do so by contacting Lani Wong (lwong@rcchawaii.org).
10 take next step toward permanent diaconate
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Ten men in the Diocese of Honolulu are continuing their path toward the permanent diaconate this month with the rite of acolyte Mass at St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe.
After the Mass Jan. 12, at which Bishop Larry Silva will preside, the candidates will be instituted to the ministry of acolyte. This will allow them to assist priests and deacons during liturgies, such as with setting up the altar or distributing Communion.
The men in Cohort 11 of the diocese’s permanent deacon formation program come from Oahu, Molokai and Hawaii island. They are in their fifth and final year of deacon formation.