Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

‘Where saints have walked’: Mass of Thanksgiving celebrates the cathedral’s new basilica status

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Bishop Larry Silva celebrates the Oct. 11 thanksgiving Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. Behind him are the bell and umbrella, traditional symbols of a basilica, crafted especially for the downtown Honolulu church. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)   “Have you ever looked at the ceiling of this magnificent cathedral,” […]

The rosary makers: A Kalihi couple and friends string beads by the hundreds of thousands, spreading a humble devotion worldwide

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A Kalihi Valley couple has turned a humble rosary-making side project into a global sharing of the power of prayer. Wilfred and Rachel Soong of Our Lady of the Mount Church, with friends and fellow parishioners, have made and sent overseas tens of thousands of rosaries each year for the past decade. In 2013 alone, […]

Reflections on the elevation of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace to the status of minor basilica

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Many Catholic churches are noted for their historic, liturgical and architectural excellence. Some are given the special papal honor of being named basilicas. The church has four “major” basilicas, all in Rome: the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the pope’s cathedral as Bishop of Rome; St. Peter’s Basilica, of which we are familiar; St. Mary […]

Synod ends affirming tradition, leaving controversies alive

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Pope Francis attends the morning session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — After several days of animated debate over its official midterm report, the Synod of Bishops on the family agreed on a final document more clearly grounded in traditional […]

Pope Francis | Closing talk, Synod of Bishops: Be open to the God of surprises

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Here are extended excerpts from Vatican Radio’s translation of Pope Francis’ final address to the Synod Fathers, Oct. 18. Dear Eminences, Beatitudes, Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters, With a heart full of appreciation and gratitude I want to thank, along with you, the Lord who has accompanied and guided us in the past days, with the […]

Sister Rose Annette Ahuna, Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities: Through saintly parents

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VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING My mother is from Kohala and my father is from Kona. I spent 17 years at St. Joseph, Hilo, going to school there until the eighth grade. The Hawaiian culture that I grew up in really enriched my background and parallels the Franciscan spirit that I embraced when I became a religious […]