Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Official notices: March 24, 2017

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Bishop’s calendar Bishop’s Schedule [Events indicated will be attended by Bishop’s delegate] March 24, 6:00 pm, Lenten Penance Service, St. Theresa Parish, Mountain View. March 25-26, Episcopal Visitation, Holy Rosary Parish, Pahala & Sacred Heart Parish, Naalehu. March 28, 7:45 am, Bagels with Bishop, St. Anthony School, Wailuku; 7:00 pm, Chrism Mass for the Maui/Lanai […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: How’s a vegetarian to abstain?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I have always observed the fast and abstinence rules during Lent, but this year I find myself in a weird situation. Last summer, I decided no longer to eat any animal products — a decision I made for my health. So abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent is no longer a […]

Ohio company’s candles helping church celebrate Easter for generations

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By Katie Breidenbach Catholic News Service MEDINA, Ohio — Dozens of little wax flowers lay on the table in front of her. With a gentle grip, Judy Hamrick picks up each one and covers the back in glue. “It’s very peaceful work,” Hamrick said. “I’ve worked here 24 years and every paschal season I’ve been […]

Pope Francis: Lent breathes life into world asphyxiated by sin

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service ROME — Lent is a time to receive God’s breath of life, a breath that saves humanity from suffocating under the weight of selfishness, indifference and piety devoid of sincerity, Pope Francis said. “Lent is the time to say no to the asphyxia born of relationships that exclude, […]

Catholic Charities opens phase one of affordable senior housing

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Meheula Vista, Mililani Mauka Story and photos by Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz Hawaii Catholic Herald On state land nestled in a cool, quiet Mililani Mauka suburb, Catholic Charities Hawaii officially opened a new affordable housing complex for Island seniors. A Feb. 28 blessing ceremony brought community members together with Catholic Charities Hawaii staff, Catholic parishioners, […]

Number of marriage nullity decisions doubled in Year of Mercy

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By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald The Diocese of Honolulu judged twice the number of “declarations of nullity,” commonly called marriage annulments, during the “Holy Year of Mercy” than the year before. Judicial vicar Father Mark Gantley, who heads the diocesan Tribunal office, said he “rendered 40 decisions in 2015 and 80 decisions in 2016.” […]

Hawaii bishop joins others in allowing St. Paddy’s Day corned beef, however …

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By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Bishop Larry Silva may not be Irish, but he has gotten in the spirit of St. Paddy’s Day this year by issuing a “dispensation from abstinence from meat” for anyone whose celebration of the wearin’ of the green would be incomplete without a slab of corned beef. When St. […]

Why fasting is a paradox

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Refraining from food is not an end in itself. It points beyond itself, focusing our attention on the reality of God’s presence here and now. By David Gibson Catholic News Service Fasting is a paradox for Christians. It encompasses seemingly contradictory intentions. First, fasting appears to possess a negative quality. It asks us to do […]

Bishop’s Circle follow-up appeal in time for Lenten almsgiving

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By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald The follow-up to the 2016-2017 Bishop’s Circle campaign launched last November went out in the mail to Catholic donors last week in time for Lent. It is a self-contained mailer and return envelope, with a message from Bishop Larry Silva. “As Catholics, we are all part of a larger […]