Bishop Larry Silva and Anthony Selvanathan at a confirmation Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu. (Courtesy Dann Ebina)
By Anthony Selvanathan
Special to the Herald
The year was 2005. I was a 12-year-old altar server at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu. One Sunday while preparing for Mass, our altar server coordinator, Jonathan Farinas, shared that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed a new bishop for the Diocese of Honolulu: Father Larry Silva from the Diocese of Oakland, California.
I remember thinking, “Wow, our next bishop will be with us for at least 20 years. I wonder what life will be like then, in 2025.”
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that two decades later, I would be contributing to the Hawaii Catholic Herald, let alone working for Bishop Silva himself.
As his 20th anniversary of episcopal ordination approaches on July 21, I want to reflect not only on his leadership but also on the friendship and mentorship I’ve been blessed to experience. Bishop Silva doesn’t particularly enjoy being praised or put on a pedestal, which reflects the humble and grounded person I’ve always known him to be.
I met Bishop Silva as an altar server at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. His arrival in Hawaii occurred shortly after my parents got divorced, when my mother began to raise me as a single parent.
Over time, he became more than just my bishop; he became a father figure. His calm strength, steady presence and quiet wisdom have shaped my understanding of what a Catholic man should strive to be, much like St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus.
Serving as one of his masters of ceremony through the diocesan Office of Worship has allowed me to witness his pastoral care up close. Traveling with him throughout the islands for various liturgical celebrations, I have seen how the faithful regard him: not only as bishop, teacher and pastor, but in some ways as a kind of local celebrity.
He never lets it affect him. He lives his episcopal motto fully, simply being a “Witness to Jesus.”
One memorable example was when he went viral online after celebrating confirmation at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ewa Beach while wearing sunglasses due to his recent eye surgery. The millennial in me beamed with pride as young adults across the islands reposted the photo with hashtags like #thatsmybishop, admiring how cool and confident he looked.
In years past, Bishop Silva enjoyed hiking during his days off. I was grateful to join him, his seminarians and friends on a few of those hikes. Walking together, praying and talking in those quiet moments were some of the most meaningful experiences I have had, akin to the disciples’ journeying to Emmaus with the risen Lord.
Over the past 20 years, Bishop Silva has accomplished a great deal.
He has seen the canonization of two saints during his tenure. He successfully petitioned for our cathedral to be named a minor basilica. He has led our diocese through challenges such as the 2006 Big Island earthquake, the clergy abuse crisis and the 2023 Maui wildfires.
Currently, he is leading a major effort to restore and renovate the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
As we prepare to celebrate this 20-year milestone, I’m reminded that it’s not just about longevity, but about the kind of faithful, humble leadership that leaves a lasting impact. My journey with Bishop Silva has been marked not just by liturgies and ceremonies, but by conversations, laughter and grace.
So, with deep respect and affection, I say: Mahalo nui loa, Bishop Silva, for your guidance, your witness and your fatherly care. Here’s to the journey thus far, and to whatever God has in store for the road ahead.