The new altar at St. Andrew Kim Taegon Oratory. (Courtesy Liz Ishimitsu)
By Liz Ishimitsu
Special to the Herald
In early October 2024, a two-day ceremony was held at St. Andrew Kim Taegon Oratory in Honolulu to celebrate 50 years since the Korean Catholic Community was established in Hawaii. Many guests and dignitaries were invited and over 200 were in attendance.
Bishop Larry Silva and Korean Bishop Stephanus Han were the main celebrants. Four priests joined Bishop Han for the trip to Hawaii from Korea.
A new altar designed and made in Korea was consecrated at the event. A relic of St. Andrew Kim Taegon is displayed on the front of the altar.
On Nov. 9, the St. Clare Fraternity held a profession and welcome ceremony at the oratory. The fraternity’s members are primarily Korean-speaking faithful.
The St. Clare Fraternity is one of several within the Secular Franciscan Order of Hawaii and Guam’s Ohana O Ke Anuenue region. The region’s spiritual assistant, Franciscan Father Mike Dalton, led the profession and welcome ceremony.
Christina Kim and Veronica Kim made their profession, promising to lead the devout life of the Secular Franciscan Order and vowing a lifelong commitment to live the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
Candidate Jemma Kim officially became a candidate; she looks forward to the day she will become a professed member of the order.