Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Pilgrimage reaches nation’s capital ahead of 250th anniversary

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By Mark Zimmermann Catholic Standard / OSV News While flashy events are planned in the U.S. capital for the Independence Day weekend, a prayerful commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary unfolded June 5-6 as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage came to Washington to renew and deepen faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The pilgrimage […]

Bishops across globe urge G7 leaders to prioritize human dignity

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OSV News Presidents of Catholic bishops’ conferences of the G7 member states called on heads of state and government to root governance in human dignity, as national leaders prepared for the Group of Seven summit. “Amid armed conflict, geopolitical fragmentation, the crisis of multilateralism, growing inequalities, climate disruption and accelerating technological change, we affirm that […]

Catholic Relief Services receives $240M federal grant

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OSV News The U.S. Department of State announced June 5 that a $240 million grant in humanitarian and disaster response assistance, the first of a series of such grants, will be made to Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. The award was announced at an event in […]

Meli Watanuki of Kalaupapa / 1934-2026: Joyful and hard-working, Aunty knew ‘you never give up’

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By Valerie Monson Special to the Herald Kalaupapa lost one of its brightest personalities recently with the death of Meli Watanuki, a pillar of St. Francis Church and a tireless worker who became a businesswoman last year, just before her 91st birthday. Meli died at the Kalaupapa Care Home May 17 following a short illness. […]

Deacons now ‘priests forever’ as diocese celebrates ordination

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By Lisa Dahm Hawaii Catholic Herald Bishop Larry Silva ordained Deacon Taylor K. Mitchell and Deacon John Jacob Akau to the priesthood May 22 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu before family, friends and parishioners. In the overflowing church, some 68 priests — including Honolulu’s bishop-elect, Jesuit Father Michael Castori — and more […]

Point in Time Count shows progress, challenges

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By Lisa Dahm Hawaii Catholic Herald A one-night count of people experiencing homelessness on Hawaii island, Maui and Kauai in January showed that efforts to house families and individuals are gradually having a positive impact, thanks to the efforts of community organizations like Hope Services Hawaii. Bridging the Gap, a coalition of agencies dedicated to […]

Annual priest assignments reflect new ordinations, retirement

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Hawaii Catholic Herald Bishop Larry Silva’s annual update of priest assignments takes into account last month’s presbyteral ordination of Deacon John Jacob Akau and Deacon Taylor K. Mitchell, as well as the impending resignation of Msgr. Terry Watanabe on Maui. Now-Father Mitchell has been assigned as parochial vicar of St. Anthony Church in Wailuku effective […]

In first encyclical, Pope Leo urges world to ‘disarm’ AI

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By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Presenting the first encyclical of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV warned that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed,” urging governments, tech leaders and society to confront the rapidly growing technology before it weakens human relationships, critical thinking and peace itself. With its authoritative teaching, the 82-page encyclical, […]

Talk Story: Remembering our humanity

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Office for Social Ministry “In order to protect the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, today we must once again reflect on the common good … The civilization of love begins when we choose compassion over power.” (Pope Leo XIV, “Magnifica Humanitas”) Every year, the feast of Pentecost celebrates the coming of the […]