Hawaii Catholic Herald
When Bishop Michael T.T. Castori, SJ, was ordained as the sixth bishop of Honolulu on July 28, many parishioners in the Diocese of Honolulu were unable to attend due to limited space in the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu — including those who live on the neighbor islands.
To show his gratitude to people who could not fly to Oahu for his ordination, Bishop Castori has spent the last couple months flying to them, even as the busy hurricane season has thrown wrenches into his schedule on more than one occasion.
The bishop was set to celebrate his first Masses of thanksgiving with Hawaii island’s two vicariates Aug. 14-15 — nearly overlapping the arrival of Hurricane Lala, which thrashed the state and caused major damage on its largest island. The liturgies were postponed until the following month.
Bishop Castori’s Mass on Maui (half of the Maui-Lanai Vicariate) went on as scheduled Aug. 22 at St. Theresa Church in Kihei.
On Sept. 23-24, Bishop Castori finally made it to Hawaii island (avoiding by days yet another storm, Hurricane Lowell). He first celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving with the West Hawaii Vicariate on Sept. 23 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Kailua-Kona.
“As you recall, the first time this Mass was scheduled, it was postponed because of Hurricane Lala, and it is poignant that we face another hurricane coming,” he said, referencing the threat of still another storm, Hurricane Nolo. “But we are not alone. Our Lord is at our side.”
The bishop visited East Hawaii Vicariate parishes the next day, then celebrated Mass at St. Joseph Church in Hilo.
Bishop Castori continued on to Kauai, visiting parishes and celebrating Mass at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Kapaa on Sept. 25.
Hurricane Nolo was south of the western major Hawaiian islands by then, threatening to bring strong winds and heavy rain. Out of an abundance of caution, his Sept. 27 visit to Lanai and Mass at Sacred Hearts Church in Lanai City was postponed until further notice.
