Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

A ‘vision’ with isle ties

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Hawaii Catholic Herald As the Catholic Church continues to observe the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, marking 800 years since his death, key moments in the beloved saint’s life are gaining renewed notice. On Sept. 17, the Church — especially Franciscan clergy and religious women and men — will celebrate the 802nd anniversary […]

Sister Barbara Jean Wajda, Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities: Where I see the face of God

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Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald People often ask me what it is like to live at Kalaupapa. I usually smile because it is difficult to put into words. It is not simply a place where I live or serve. It is a place where I experience God’s […]

Servant of God Joseph Dutton also honored in saints exhibit

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Stephen M. Skelly Special to the Herald As a member of the Joseph Dutton Guild of the Diocese of Honolulu, my wife, Denise, and I attended the Saints of America celebration at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wisconsin, from July 1-9. With aloha, we distributed prayer cards and medals honoring […]

Sacred Hearts Father Brian Guerrini: Finding God’s pace

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Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald People often ask why I still run marathons in my 70s. They assume it’s about competition or staying in shape. While running certainly helps me physically, that is no longer the real reason I lace up my shoes. Running has become one […]

Robert M. Mondoy / 1952-2026: Beloved musician’s works, spirit are ‘a gift to the world’

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Hawaii Catholic Herald Robert M. Mondoy was a prolific musician, composer, director and arranger of sacred music who brought an enthusiastic infusion of island culture into his life’s work. Whether he was pounding on a pipe organ, strumming an ukulele or singing with full voice in churches across the diocese, Mondoy’s liturgical music beautifully blended […]

Bishop Larry Silva: Take up your cross

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Witness to Jesus | Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Here is the prepared text of the homily delivered June 27 at St. Ann Church, Kaneohe (with installation of Sacred Hearts Father Micheal Kumar as pastor), and June 28 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Honolulu. Kalaupapa is that tiny peninsula on the island of Molokai […]

Photos: Aloha, Aunty Meli

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Top: Bishop Larry Silva presided May 29 at the Oahu funeral for Meli Watanuki, a resident of Kalaupapa who died May 17 at age 91. The service at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu was attended by family, friends and community members who remembered Watanuki as a strong-willed, joyful presence who made everyone feel […]

Meli Watanuki of Kalaupapa / 1934-2026: Joyful and hard-working, Aunty knew ‘you never give up’

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By Valerie Monson Special to the Herald Kalaupapa lost one of its brightest personalities recently with the death of Meli Watanuki, a pillar of St. Francis Church and a tireless worker who became a businesswoman last year, just before her 91st birthday. Meli died at the Kalaupapa Care Home May 17 following a short illness. […]

Remember and honor people, history of Kalaupapa in January

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By Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa Special to the Herald January is Kalaupapa Month, a time to shine a light on the lives of the nearly 8,000 men, women and children who were taken from their families and sent to Kalaupapa because of government policies regarding leprosy, now also called Hansen’s disease. Most never saw their […]