Bishop Larry Silva gave a moving homily at his jubilee Mass. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
Hawaii Catholic Herald
A seam-bursting crowd of family, friends, clergy, religious and faithful from near and far filled the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu on May 2 to celebrate Bishop Larry Silva as he marked his 50th jubilee of priestly ordination.
The anniversary Mass took place on the exact date in 1975 when Clarence “Larry” R. Silva was ordained in the Diocese of Oakland, California; among the many special touches was the inclusion of the same Bible that was used when Larry Silva became Father Silva at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Oakland.
The congregation included scores of special guests — Bishop Silva’s family from the mainland and decades-old friends among them.
More than 50 priests concelebrated Mass and some two dozen deacons were on hand for the celebration.
In addition, four fellow bishops joined the priests around the altar: Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez of Agana, Guam; Bishop Julio Angkel of the Caroline Islands; Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane, Washington; and Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal of Sacramento, California.
In his heartfelt homily, Bishop Silva acknowledged the recognition and praise he has received over the years from people from all over the world.
“While I am very grateful for all of this, I am very well aware that it is all of you and so many more that I look up to,” he said. “Without your faith and love I am sure I would not be celebrating this momentous occasion.”
In a special touch toward the end of the liturgy, Bishop Silva invited his grandniece, 9-year-old Eleanor Salinas, to crown the co-cathedral’s statue of Mary. He had presided over her first holy Communion Mass just days earlier in California.
After Mass, the congregation filed out to the co-cathedral’s parking lot, where tents had been set up for a celebratory dinner.
The parish’s Hospitality Ministry was out in force to keep things running smoothly, and the parish and school hall played host to the evening’s program and entertainment.
From top: Clergy waited outside the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa before Mass; Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez, Bishop Thomas Daly, Bishop Julio Angkel and Auxiliary Bishop Rey Bersabal also concelebrated the Mass; Eleanor Salinas, 9, crowned Mary. Bishop Silva had presided over his grandniece’s first holy Communion in California days before his jubilee Mass; many who attended Mass stayed afterward for dinner and fellowship. (Photos by Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald and courtesy Dann Ebina)
