Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Reflection: A pilgrimage of gratitude

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By Anthony SelvanathanSpecial to the Herald This year, I spent more time on airplanes than I ever expected when I said “yes” to helping with the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis’ Jubilee Days of Study. The plan sounded simple enough on paper — teach people about the Catechism of the Catholic Church, creed, sacraments […]

Reflection: A local renaissance of faith

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By Anthony SelvanathanSpecial to the Herald Something sacred is stirring in the life of the church today — a quiet but unmistakable renaissance of faith. Across our islands, pews once half-empty are filling again with song, with prayer and with the sound of children’s laughter echoing in our churches. The Holy Spirit is breathing anew […]

Official notices: Oct. 10, 2025

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Bishop’s schedule Clarification In the Sept. 26 article “Hawaii welcomes Knights of Peter Claver chapter,” Anthony Selvanathan is inaccurately identified as a new member of the Knights of Peter Claver. Selvanathan was a member of Council 35 in San Antonio, Texas, and transferred his membership to the new Council 419 in Hawaii.

Reflection: Remembering to love amid violence

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By Anthony SelvanathanSpecial to the Herald Sirens wail. Breaking news alerts flash across our screens. Another shooting. Another stabbing. Another life cut short. In recent weeks, we have seen a heartbreaking rise in violence: the killing of Charlie Kirk, tragic school shootings and growing gun violence in our own communities. At the same time, families […]

Reflection: Marianists embody ohana in faith and mission

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By Anthony SelvanathanSpecial to the Herald This reflection is appearing in the Hawaii Catholic Herald on Sept. 12 — the same day the church celebrates the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, the patronal solemnity of the Society of Mary, also known as the Marianists. For more than 140 years, the Marianists have […]

Commentary: Faith anchors us as AI rises

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By Anthony SelvanathanSpecial to the Herald You’re scrolling through your phone and something catches your eye: a shocking headline, a viral video, a public figure making a bold claim. But then you realize that it wasn’t real. It was generated by artificial intelligence. These aren’t just harmless illusions; they’re part of a growing wave of […]

Reflection: Walking with our shepherd: Celebrating a humble, steady leader

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By Anthony Selvanathan Special to the Herald The year was 2005. I was a 12-year-old altar server at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu. One Sunday while preparing for Mass, our altar server coordinator, Jonathan Farinas, shared that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed a new bishop for the Diocese of Honolulu: […]

Reflection: Celebrating unity and gratitude on Fourth of July

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By Anthony Selvanathan Special to the Herald Happy Independence Day, dear readers of the Herald! Although Independence Day is meant to be a day of celebration and festivity, recent events around the world have caused the words of the hymn “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?,” composed by my friend, Tony Alonso (who borrowed the title […]

Reflection: Finding rest and inspiration in rural Hawaii

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By Anthony Selvanathan Special to the Herald As a local boy born and raised in the hustle and bustle of urban Honolulu, I must admit that I sometimes yearn for the “old Hawaii” that our kupuna often reminisce about. In search of a taste of what life as a Catholic in rural Hawaii was like, […]