Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Father William J. Byron, SJ: A father for those who need one

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About 40 years ago I was able to offer pastoral assistance to a young woman who lost her husband, a former student of mine, in a fatal car crash. She was left with a 5-year-old daughter and relatively few friends in Pennsylvania, far from her native Midwestern home. I celebrated the funeral Mass, took care […]

Pope Francis in Turkey: A look at Christianity on the margins

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Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople embrace during a prayer service in the patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul Nov. 29. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — Ankara and Istanbul were gray and cold, at least compared to Rome, during Pope Francis’ Nov. 28-30 visit to Turkey. And the general reception, […]

Pope Francis urges Muslim leaders to condemn violence done in name of Islam

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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ISTANBUL — Pope Francis called on political and religious leaders across the Muslim world to condemn violence done in the name of Islam. The pope said he told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Nov. 28 that “it would be beautiful if all Islamic leaders — whether they be political leaders, […]

Manaolana | It’s ‘A Nun’s Life’: Website becomes a growing vocations ministry

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WASHINGTON — What started out as a blog at a time when few people knew about blogs and hardly anyone was familiar with Twitter is a living and growing ministry run by two women religious who are Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sisters Julie Vieira and Maxine Kollasch oversee their website “A […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: ‘What are the functions of a deacon?’

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 Q: Often, I have been at a Mass where the deacon reads the Gospel, which is fine. But then, sometimes, the deacon goes on to give the homily while the priest watches. This disappoints me and makes me feel that the deacon is overstepping his bounds. Why should a deacon, rather than the priest, comment […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: How may I obtain a first class relic?

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Q: Please forgive my awful handwriting. I have multiple sclerosis and also Parkinson’s disease and can no longer do very well on a typewriter or computer. My question is: Why is it so hard to obtain first-class relics? (Also, do I need permission from my bishop to obtain them?) I am now 65 years old […]

Father John Catoir: The synod and flexibility

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There’s a saying out there that goes like this: “Unity in necessary things; liberty in doubtful things; charity in all things.” It’s hard to pin it down to one particular person, but it addresses a sentiment in the recent Synod of Bishops on the family. The Catholic Church teaches that a Christian has a right […]

Praying for the dead, pope asks special prayers for victims of war

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VATICAN CITY — The early November feasts of All Saints and All Souls call Catholics to contemplate their ultimate destiny, hope in the eternal happiness of their beloved dead and remember the thousands of innocent people dying each day because of human evil and selfishness. Because human beings believe they are gods and the lords […]