Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Joseph Kelly: A brief history of Thanksgiving

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COMMENTARY Contrary to popular opinion, the first Thanksgiving was not observed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1621. The “Pilgrims” — a later title given to the settlers — were Puritans who no longer wished to live in England due to religious persecution and for economic reasons. They believed the Church of England was too closely aligned […]

Greg Erlandson: A tale of two popes

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AMID THE FRAY There’s a quote attributed, probably falsely, to Mark Twain that observes, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” I suppose it is a sign that I’m getting older, because I’m starting to hear the rhymes in a lot of the current debates in the church about papal leadership. Almost 40 years […]

Father Eugene Hemrick: The value of travel

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When a student at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, was asked, “What did you fear in traveling to a foreign country most?” he replied, “Money!” He was a student taking part in Saint Vincent’s program for students going abroad to enhance their education. No doubt, handling foreign money is challenging until one learns to […]

Father Kenneth Doyle What’s the correct ending of Our Father?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Protestants have their own form of the Lord’s Prayer, ending with, “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen.” I read in a book by a Catholic author, first published in 1911, that “such an addition was not uttered by Our Lord. Catholics consequently do not use it.” […]

Puerto Rico recovery effort shows ‘a church that walks with the poor’

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By Wallice J. de la Vega Catholic News Service LAS MARIAS, Puerto Rico — By joining forces to create coalitions on behalf of those who are suffering in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico has been fulfilling Pope Francis’ expressed wish to see “a church that walks with the poor.” […]

Frequently asked questions about exorcism

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By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the English translation of “Exorcisms and Related Supplications” in 2014. The Vatican approved the translation in spring 2017. During the approval process the Secretariat of Divine Worship at the USCCB developed a series of frequently asked questions on exorcism. Because much of […]

Being a Christian entails striving for holiness, daily battle against devil

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Being a Christian means battling the devil and striving for holiness each day, Pope Francis said. “Jesus calls us to change our lives, change paths, calls us to conversion,” he said in his homily at Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae Oct. 26. There is no […]

In the end, everyone faces God with ‘empty hands,’ pope says

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — God waits for everyone, even the worst sinner who repents only with his dying breath, Pope Francis said. “Before God, we present ourselves with empty hands,” he said, meaning that all the good works people have or haven’t done throughout their lives aren’t measured to determine […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Do prayers change God’s mind?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I’m confused about something and would be grateful for your help. Does prayer change God’s mind? Can someone be moved to the head of the line if we pray hard enough? (Cuba, Missouri) A: To answer this question, we first need to admit our limitations. I cannot pretend to know the mind […]