Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Diocesan Pastoral Council picks new chairwoman

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At its last quarterly meeting, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, one of Bishop Larry Silva’s advisory bodies, elected the central Oahu vicariate representative, Mary Talon, as its new chairwoman. She will take over for Alda Mae Takabayashi in August. At the meeting, the council learned about the work of Family Promise of Hawaii […]

Photo: Makapuu cross walk

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Makapuu stations West Honolulu Vicariate youth and young adult ministry leaders organized a “Stations of the Cross Hike and Fellowship” event, March 8. About 20 parishioners from the vicariate and  four parishioners from St. Augustine Church in Waikiki journeyed with a large wooden cross along the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)

The Francis effect: Catholics love the pope, but for the lapsed, not enough to return to church

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Pope Francis prays during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 26. (CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters)   WASHINGTON Pope Francis’ popularity began immediately after his March 13, 2013, election when he walked onto the balcony and humbly greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. His appeal has been on a fast […]

Everything he does is evangelization: Hawaii observers find the Holy Father’s attraction extends beyond Catholicism’s borders

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It may be too early to measure a “Pope Francis effect” in the Islands tangibly in numbers of new churchgoers or priestly vocations, but some local Catholics said the pontiff in his first year has nonetheless made a refreshing impact on the faithful and non-Catholics alike. Several diocesan staff who attended papal events in 2013 […]

The Francis style: A plain cassock, a simple apartment, a cheap car, phone calls are all gestures that teach

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Pope Francis steps into his Ford Focus car as he leaves a meeting with Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano at the  Quirinal presidential palace in Rome Nov. 14. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY From the moment Pope Francis, dressed simply in a white cassock, stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the […]

Notable & quotable: ‘Who am I to judge,” and other memorable sound bites from Pope Francis over the past year

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VATICAN CITY In his formal documents, many speeches and unscripted morning homilies the past year, Pope Francis has given the church a bounty of memorable sound bites. Here’s a look at what could be the top 10 most quotable quotes. “Brothers and sisters, good evening. You all know that the duty of the conclave was […]

Evangelization takes the stage: Diocese’s new drama group will tell the story of Jesus

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The cast of “The Passion of Christ” rehearse a scene from the play, March 2 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)   The life and death of Jesus take center stage this month as the diocese’s new Faith in ACTion drama group presents its first major production, “The Passion of […]

Top 10 things: His pet parrot, his job as a bouncer and other facts most people don’t know about Peter’s successor

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Pope Francis holds a parrot handed to him by a pilgrim during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Jan. 29. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)   VATICAN CITY When Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran walked onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, telling the crowds in Latin: “I announce to you a […]

Avanti!: The new refrain: Go forth. Evangelize. Serve the poor. Be audacious. Do not be afraid. Smile.

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Pope Francis kisses a disabled man after spotting him in the crowd and having his popemobile stop as he rode through St. Peter’s Square March 19 ahead of his inaugural Mass at the Vatican. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) VATICAN CITY Pope Francis’ most frequent advice and exhortation to Catholics — from laypeople in parishes to bishops […]