Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Sister Agatha Perreira, Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities: Whatever God wants

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I was a junior in high school and sick at home when I told my mom that I would like to see her and daddy. I knew my dad would come home for lunch. My mom had no idea what I wanted to talk about. I was the outgoing type who, usually after completing my chores in the morning, washing or ironing clothes, would go outside to climb trees and eat fruits, or swim behind Rainbow Falls. I said, “Now that I am almost graduating, I want to become a religious sister.”

Father Kenneth Doyle: Should we be holding hands during the Our Father?

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Q: I recently joined a small parish where the entire congregation holds hands together at the Our Father. I feel uncomfortable holding hands with people I don’t know; so instead, I put my hands in a prayer position as a signal to others not to grab for my hands. There is no other parish close by, and I don’t know how to handle this. (Charleston, West Virginia)

Talk Story | Office for Social Ministry: Lenten stories of hope

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“It is a good thing that the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus are not to be judged by human standards. When we think of the hardships so many in our world face, we might easily grow discouraged; but our God offers us hope, and wants all of us to work together to build a world of peace and justice.” (CRS Project Rice Bowl 2016)

Msgr. Owen F. Campion: Overcoming death, the Lord lives

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The church celebrates the Easter Vigil late in the evening on Holy Saturday. These readings are those read during Masses on Easter Sunday itself.

For its first reading on this extraordinary feast of Christian faith, the church presents us with a passage from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is in effect a continuation of St. Luke’s Gospel. Scholars say that this Gospel and Acts were the work of the same author. Beginning with the Ascension, Acts reports what life was like for the infant community of Christians in Jerusalem, and then it recalls the initial spread of Christianity.

Father John Catoir: Fondness for a former first lady

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The March 6 passing of Nancy Reagan saddened many Americans. I know it affected me more than I expected. She had an endearing smile and a quiet dignity.

Everyone knew the role she played in the life of President Ronald Reagan, and how important she was to him. He claimed that his success was directly related to her presence in his life. He had faced a particularly bad year, including a long hospital stay. “And then along came Nancy Davis and saved my soul,” he is said to have told his biographer.

Kathleen T. Choi: Jesus prayed

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As I contemplate the events of Good Friday, I marvel at Jesus’ ability to pray while enduring fear and pain. I believe that inner strength came from the hours he spent in prayer in quieter times. Prayer had become his habitual response to every situation.

Father Napoleon Andres, Missionaries of our Lady of La Salette: Closer to the heart of God

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I remember that whenever any one of us seven children did something wrong at home, we would all hide and not say anything. My parents would ask, “Who broke this glass?” But, because we were ashamed, we couldn’t look straight at them. We were afraid to admit our fault because our pride was hurt that we did something wrong. Because of this, there were times when we turned our hearts away from our mom and dad feeling far away from them. Little did we understand that they still loved us.

Mary Adamski: As salaam alaikum

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VIEW FROM THE PEW “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.” That’s just one of the uncountable adages, proverbs and witticisms that come frothing to the top of the deep pool of ethnic memory as St. Patrick’s Day approaches. The poetry and music, the long-winded blessings concluding with “May the good Lord […]

Manaolana | Christina Capecchi: The nun who kissed Elvis, ditched Hollywood and found her home

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TWENTY SOMETHING Dolores Hart was 19 when she filmed her first movie scene: kissing Elvis Presley. The aspiring actress was dressed in a polka dot dress with her honey-brown hair swept in a ponytail. He wore a denim jacket with the collar turned up, his glossy bangs grazing his brow. They were directed to kiss […]