Question corner Q: At a recent Mass, the priest talked about “mortal sin,” about which I’d previously heard, but then he mentioned “venial sins” and “temporal sins,” and even “sins of omission.” I’m not familiar with these, especially the last one. How can a person commit a sin without doing anything? A: Every sin represents […]
Archives for March 2025
Msgr. Owen F. Campion: God is merciful, even when we stray
Fourth Sunday of Lent Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 This weekend the church observes Laetare Sunday, the name being derived from the first word, in Latin, of the entrance antiphon. This word is “laetare,” or “rejoice.” The church rejoices that salvation, finalized in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, is near. Priests may […]
Mary Duddy: Bearing the cross of a loved one’s death
The Married Life Every family experiences a death in the family at one time or another. It is a hard cross to bear, but we can help each other bear the cross — like Simeon helped Jesus carry his cross, or Mary, his mother, who was present at the cross and shared his pain. Several […]
Elizabeth Scalia: Fasts of old remain fond memories
Commentary It’s OK, we can say it (you know it, and I know it): Compared to our Orthodox brethren and our Muslim friends, the Catholic idea of required fasting is — let me be diplomatic here — not terribly impressive. The Orthodox start fasting before Lent even begins, adapting a restrictive, very nearly vegan diet […]
Father Elias “Eli” Escanilla / 1951-2025: Pastor shared love of Christ and culture with all
By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Father Elias “Eli” Escanilla possessed a keen ability to cultivate many things — plants and animals; funds for church repairs and improvements; interest in the Philippines, his home country; and a sense of community and pride at the parishes where he served. At Holy Rosary Church in Paia, […]
New support center puts focus on front-line workers
By Jennifer Rector Hawaii Catholic Herald In a mission to care for caregivers in the wake of the devastating 2023 wildfires, a new effort to support first responders has begun on Maui. The Maui Support Center is now open at St. Anthony School in Wailuku. Catholic Charities Hawaii is partnering with the American Red Cross […]
Stations of the Cross are not limited to Lenten season
By D.D. Emmons OSV News The Way of the Cross is one of the most personal, meditative and graphic of any Catholic devotion. We spiritually join Jesus on the “via dolorosa” (sorrowful way) leading to the place of the skull, suffering with him as he struggles to carry the cross on that first Good Friday. […]
Exercise hope on path to renewal
By Erin O’Leary OSV News Lent gets its name from a word meaning “springtime,” the time of year when the hours of daylight are lengthening and the sun is bringing back its warmth and light. The Lenten season, indeed all of springtime, is a time of hope: We deepen our relationship with Christ through our […]
Diocese of Honolulu’s 2024 Stewardship Report
Click here to read the Diocese of Honolulu’s 2024 Stewardship Report.
Commentary: Throughout papacy, Francis has challenged us to serve periphery
By Greg Erlandson OSV News Pope Francis’ most recent encounter with mortality has captured the world’s attention. As of this writing he remains in the hospital fighting double pneumonia with a “reserved” prognosis. God willing, he returns to his duties, but it has been obvious that the 88-year-old pontiff has ongoing health issues as befits […]