Bishop Larry Silva scoops incense into a vessel on the altar. (HCH Photo | Anna Weaver)
Bishop Larry Silva anoints and blesses St. Joachim’s sacred centerpiece in an uncommon rite
By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
As the sun set over Mamalu Bay on July 26, little, white St. Joachim Church on the Punaluu shoreline lit up for a rare occasion: the dedication of a new altar.
St. Joachim is the mission church of St. Roch, further up the coast in Kahuku, Oahu, and doesn’t often get used for Masses. Before COVID-19, Saturday evening Masses were celebrated there. But during the depths of the pandemic, the tiny church didn’t have enough space for social distancing.
So, it was an extra special occasion to be gathering on the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne, parents of the Virgin Mary, as the mission church received a new altar to better fit the church space. The previous altar was a hand-me-down from St. Ann in Kaneohe. The new altar was made by parishioner and retired carpenter Rudy Hernandez from mahogany painted a deep brown.
The liturgy began with the sound of a single cantor, accompanied by a solo ukulele, as holy water was sprinkled on the new altar and the approximately 50 people gathered for its dedication.
Bishop Silva pours chrism oil on St. Joachim’s new altar. (HCH Photo | Anna Weaver)
In his homily, Bishop Silva spoke about the Hawaiian name for land divisions in the islands, ahupuaa. The name is a combination of “ahu” meaning altar and “puaa” meaning pig. The different divisions were centered around a sacrificial altar according to native Hawaiian tradition.
The bishop connected this idea of altar to the Christian altar around which worshippers gather to celebrate the Eucharist.
“Many things happen in this little slice of the world that we call a parish, but the center of it all is the ahu, the altar,” Bishop Silva said, remarking on how “we … are drawn together by Christ.”
“The altar is where we most intimately encounter him at the center of the world that we call the parish.”
After the homily, all sang the Litany of the Saints and the bishop placed relics inside the altar via a small drawer.
Then Bishop Silva said the Prayer of Dedication over the altar before taking off his outer vestments and putting on a white apron. With his sleeves rolled up, the bishop poured a generous amount of chrism oil over the altar and methodically rubbed the oil over its entire top surface. The oil marks the altar as a symbol of Christ, “the Anointed One.”
Next, a vessel containing burning incense was placed on top of the altar, and those gathered were also incensed with a separate thurible.
Bishop Larry Silva rubs the oil into the altar surface. (HCH Photo | Anna Weaver)
According to the Catholic “Ritual for the Dedication of a Church and an Altar,” incense is used in the rite to “signify that Christ’s sacrifice, there perpetuated in mystery, ascends to God as an odor of sweetness,” and “that the people’s prayers rise up pleasing and acceptable, reaching the throne of God.”
Sacristan Lana Elder then wiped down the altar and carefully placed a new altar cloth on top.
Finally, Bishop Silva lit a small candle, symbolizing Christ as the light of the world, and said a blessing before passing it on to Deacon Joel Narusawa to light the two new altar candles. Deacon Narusawa and Deacon Keith Cabiles then prepared the newly dedicated altar for the liturgy of the Eucharist, which is the culmination of the rite.
The rest of the Mass went on as usual, with special thanks and gifts presented at the end by St. Roch and St. Joachim pastor Father Sebastian Soosai. A potluck outside under a lit tent finished the festivities, set to the sound of waves crashing against rocks along the darkened sea.
