Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Cardinal blesses ashes of Mexican nationals who died of COVID-19

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By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Inside New York’s iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, some 250 Mexican nationals were hailed as anonymous heroes July 11, after dying of COVID-19, which they likely contracted as they kept the city moving when it was experiencing the peak of the pandemic earlier this year. Their cremated remains […]

Priests ministering to the sick and dying encounter situations they have never experienced before

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On the COVID-19 front lines By Rick Snizek Catholic News Service PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Arriving in the early evening at Fatima Hospital, Father Richard Narciso — his anxiety level already raised due to the circumstances — listened intently as Gloria, the nurse assigned to guide him, detailed the procedures he would need to follow to […]

Ace Tui is ordained a deacon in a socially distanced but joyful liturgy

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By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald The seats were spaced apart and the crowd was smaller than usual at Deacon Ese’ese “Ace” Tui’s diaconal ordination. But joyous choir music, striking altar decorations and a supportive crowd filled any gaps left by COVID-19’s social distancing measures. Bishop Larry Silva ordained Tui a “transitional” deacon — so-called […]

Greg Erlandson: The pandemic’s grace notes

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AMID THE FRAY It is always impressive to hear the stories of people who rush toward danger when others are fleeing. Remember Ventura County sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus? He lost his life when without hesitation he rushed into the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, to stop a mass shooter. Remember Lt. Jason […]

Bishop hosts online Q&A, Baccalaureate prayer service

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The annual diocesan Baccalaureate Mass went online and switched to an interactive Zoom prayer service with Bishop Larry Silva. Coordinated through the Office of Youth and Young Adult ministry, the May 21, 7 p.m. virtual gathering lasted an hour and had 73 participants logged in. A Q&A with Bishop Silva was followed by the prayer […]

‘Thanks be to God!’ Honolulu mayor gives go-ahead to public services

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By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald “Thanks be to God!” That was Bishop Larry Silva’s reaction to the “great news” coming from Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s office May 21 allowing public worship services with proper coronavirus restrictions starting Saturday, May 23. However, parishes will not be ready to open that soon, the bishop said, and asked […]

Missing friends more than graduation ceremonies

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Local Catholic twelfth graders share about the impact of COVID-19 on the end of high school By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald Like twelfth graders across the country, Hawaii Catholic school seniors have seen a radical change to the end of their high school careers after the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. Instead of senior […]

Priests designated essential workers in ministry to the dying

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By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Priests, in adherence to their duty to deliver sacraments to the dying, have been designated essential workers in Hawaii during this time of the coronavirus. This means they are permitted to hear the confessions of patients, to anoint them and to give them holy Communion, under the restrictions of […]

Masks with double the saintly protection prove popular

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By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald “This project has been the most spiritually rewarding that I have encountered in my 76 years,” said Wendy Wylder who has been sewing face masks with the aloha-print fabric images of Hawaii’s two saints. Ever since the Hawaii Catholic Herald ran a story last month about the Waialua parishioner […]