Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

‘Special relationship’: Bishop Castori’s ties to Tonga are more than 3 decades deep

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By Lisa Dahm Hawaii Catholic Herald At the heart of Bishop Michael T.T. Castori, SJ’s coat of arms are two symbols that represent his loving embrace of family. On the left are poppies and lupines signifying his home and family in California, and on the right is a Tongan kumete — a large, wooden ceremonial […]

Bishop Castori: ‘Let the islands rejoice!’

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“Let the islands rejoice!” (Psalm 97) Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we enter the bicentennial of the arrival of the Catholic faith in Hawaii, the uplifting prayer of Psalm 97, “Let the islands rejoice!” captures the moment. Two centuries after Holy Mass was first celebrated on Hawaiian soil by missionaries of the Sacred […]

Profile: Building God’s kingdom as Honolulu’s new shepherd

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By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Though there was no way to know at the time, Bishop Michael T.T. Castori, SJ’s childhood laid the groundwork for his current ministry as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu. When he was growing up in Carmichael, California, the youngest of three children and only boy […]

Analysis: With Bishop Castori, diocese is in good hands

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By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald The role of bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu is a great challenge to fill on the rare occasions when it opens up. Hawaii’s unique and diverse blend of ethnicities, cultures, ages and stages in life requires a compassionate and flexible leader who also brings a level head […]

Reflection: Michael our bishop

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By Anthony Selvanathan Special to the Herald This weekend, something will sound different at every Catholic Mass throughout the Diocese of Honolulu. For the first time, during the Eucharistic prayer, many island Catholics will hear the words, “Leo XIV our pope and Michael our bishop.” It may seem like a small change in a familiar […]

Signs and symbols: Bishop Castori’s crosier holds ‘layers of meaning’

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By Lisa Dahm Hawaii Catholic Herald The insignia of a Roman Catholic bishop are the same throughout the world — they each have a miter (ceremonial cap or headdress), crosier (pastoral staff), pectoral cross and episcopal ring in addition to their signature amaranth-red zucchetto, or skullcap. For Bishop Michael T.T. Castori, SJ, of all those […]

Coat of arms: From California to Tonga to Hawaii

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An episcopal heraldic achievement, commonly known as a bishop’s coat of arms, consists of three main elements: the shield with its heraldic charges (symbols), a motto displayed on a scroll, and the external ornamentation that signifies episcopal rank. At the heart of every heraldic achievement is the shield, which serves as its central and most […]

The liturgy: Becoming a bishop requires a carefully choreographed celebration

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Hawaii Catholic Herald The outlines for the solemn vespers and ordination and installation Mass described below were laid out before publication of this issue, which occurred after the joyous events. Any discrepancies between what is printed and what actually took place are unintentional. A full recap of the Mass will appear in the Aug. 14 […]