Commentary “The people stood by and watched.” This simple line in Luke’s Passion narrative (Lk 23:35) struck me with unusual force this past Holy Week. Under Roman governance, executions were a public spectacle, part entertainment, part warning. The Gospel writers paint the picture of a rather noisy scene with people watching men die slowly and […]
Archives for May 2025
Jaymie Stuart Wolfe: An ordinary life can still be a holy life
Commentary Eighty thousand adolescents thought they were traveling to Rome for the much-anticipated canonization of Carlo Acutis. Instead, many were in the Eternal City for the Holy Father’s funeral. A pope’s death isn’t like a presidential election or even the death of a king. Popes don’t have heirs. So, when the chair of St. Peter […]
U.S.-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is elected pope; takes name Pope Leo XIV
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, was elected the 267th pope May 8 and took the name Pope Leo XIV. He is the first North American to be elected pope and, before the conclave, was the U.S. […]
‘All of this is a joy,’ says soon-to-be deacon
By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Becoming a priest is hard. Really hard. Ask any seminarian, whether he is bound for priesthood within a diocese or as part of a religious community. Though the studying and training are both huge mountains to climb, the trek is made easier with the support and prayers of […]
Deacons are excited and ready for priesthood
By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald For Deacon Preston Castro and Deacon Lawrence “Larry” Denis III, the last few weeks before their priestly ordinations have been filled with prayer, anticipation and preparation. Spiritual preparation, of course, but also logistical preparation: Before the priesthood comes final exams, seminary graduation and moving back home to Hawaii […]
Reflection: A son of Hawaii, a priest for the church
By Deacon Christopher Derige Malano, CSP Special to the Herald As a child in Hawaii, I went to a lot of funerals. They weren’t always family — sometimes friends of my grandparents or neighbors — but my parents brought us along. I didn’t realize it then, but those gatherings were my first real experience of […]
A joyous jubilee celebration
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 […]
Bishop Larry Silva: Love for Jesus adds meaning to all we do
Witness to Jesus | Third Sunday of Easter Here is the prepared text of the homily delivered on May 4 at St. John Vianney Church, Kailua, with the rite of institution of lector for seminarian Deepak Bobbarala. As we celebrate the rite of institution of lector today for our seminarian, Deepak Bobbarala, I recall a […]
Official notices: May 9, 2025
Bishop’s schedule May 9, 8:30 a.m., Bagels with Bishop, St. Anthony School, Wailuku; 1 p.m., groundbreaking for Hale Pilina Affordable Family Housing (CCHDC), Kahului. May 10, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Mass with confirmation and first holy Communion, St. Joseph Church, Waipahu. May 10, 10 a.m., Mass with confirmation and first holy Communion, St. Jude […]
Well-known exorcist to give talks in Hawaii
Hawaii Catholic Herald Mention the word “exorcism,” and most people probably think of splashy horror films with scenes too graphic to describe. In fact, exorcism is a long-established practice in the Catholic Church, traceable to the ministry of Jesus Christ and of his disciples, acting in his name. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops describes […]