Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Diocese of Honolulu has filled out the schedule for its Jubilee Year Days of Study through the fall, with the next one featuring Bishop Larry Silva as its keynote speaker.
Bishop Silva will anchor the Day of Study set for June 14 at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea. In his keynote talk, titled “Evangelization as Mission,” he will discuss how the first Catholic missionaries evangelized in Hawaii and will “challenge us to embrace that same missionary spirit today,” according to a statement from the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
Bishop Silva’s presentation “will clarify the true meaning of evangelization — not just strengthening existing faith, but reaching those who do not yet know Christ — and encourage us to see Hawaii itself as a present-day mission territory,” the statement said.
The bishop will continue the discussion in a breakout session, one of several that will be held during the Day of Study.
Other topics during the program, which will run from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., include the sacraments, prayer, creed and church doctrine, liturgical symbolism, the papacy and the church in the modern world.
A session for middle school and high school youth, focusing on the church’s teachings on human dignity, purpose and vocation, is also planned.
Kainoa Fukumoto, associate director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, said the Days of Study strive to provide programming for youth even though previous events saw few young participants.
The diocese has held two Days of Study so far, both on Hawaii island: at St. Joseph School in Hilo and at Annunciation Church in Waimea. Attendance tripled from the St. Joseph event in March to the Annunciation event in April, Fukumoto said, with participants saying they enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about their faith.
That was one of Pope Francis’ goals for the Jubilee Year — to have Catholics across the globe deepen their faith by studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church and documents from the Second Vatican Council.
To that end, according to OEC Director Lisa Gomes, the Diocese of Honolulu planned its Days of Study to work toward that goal as well as to “encourage spiritual growth, acts of charity and a deeper understanding of the faith.”
Here are the other Days of Study planned after June 14:
- July 19: Immaculate Conception Church, Lihue, Kauai
- 2: St. Theresa Church, Kihei, Maui
- 13: St. Anthony of Padua Church, Kailua, Oahu
- 4: St. Joseph Church, Waipahu, Oahu
- 25: Sacred Heart Church, Lanai City, Lanai
Other Jubilee Year events are also planned:
Nights of Worship
- July 18: Immaculate Conception Church, Lihue
- 1: St. Anthony of Padua Church, Wailuku, Maui
- 3: St. Joseph Church, Waipahu
Day of Recollection (retreat day for children, youth and families)
- 18: St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church, Mililani, Oahu
Advent retreat
- 20: St. Stephen Diocesan Center, Kaneohe, Oahu
For more information about the Days of Study — including how to register for the June 14 event — and other Jubilee Year resources, go to www.catholichawaii.org/diocesan-offices/office-of-evangelization-and-catechesis/jubilee-year-2025/days-of-study.
