Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Jenna Marie Cooper: When do priests make celibacy vow?

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Question corner Q: I recently attended an ordination, and that got me wondering: Hypothetically, what would happen if the bishop accidentally left out the part of the ordination Mass where the future priest promises celibacy? That wouldn’t mean that the new priest was actually free to marry, would it? A: The short answer is no, […]

Deacons now ‘priests forever’ as diocese celebrates ordination

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By Lisa Dahm Hawaii Catholic Herald Bishop Larry Silva ordained Deacon Taylor K. Mitchell and Deacon John Jacob Akau to the priesthood May 22 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu before family, friends and parishioners. In the overflowing church, some 68 priests — including Honolulu’s bishop-elect, Jesuit Father Michael Castori — and more […]

Pope urges new priests to ‘keep the door open’ for all

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By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Priests are called each day to leave the doors of the church open to a “suffering humanity” in need and not “be an obstacle to those who wish to enter,” Pope Leo XIV told 10 deacons just before ordaining them to the priesthood. The vocation to priestly ministry is […]

Sacred Hearts brother readies for next step toward priesthood

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By Lisa Dahm Hawaii Catholic Herald To be thought of as a “flag-bearer for Christ” is a great compliment indeed. But Sacred Hearts Father Johnathan Hurrell raised the metaphor one better when describing Sacred Hearts Brother Soane Siua — he called the seminarian an “instrument of God’s love.” “Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he […]

East Hawaii community celebrates Akau’s ordination

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Hawaii Catholic Herald HILO — Before a full congregation of family, friends and faithful from across the state, John Jacob Akau took another step toward becoming a priest in the Diocese of Honolulu. Bishop Larry Silva ordained the Hawaii island native to the diaconate July 12 at St. Joseph Church in Hilo, with two dozen […]

Bishop Larry Silva: ordination Mass homily

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Excerpts from Bishop Larry Silva’s homily during Mass celebrating the ordination to the diaconate of John Jacob Akau: “The plan of Jesus is to have his Gospel erupt from Jerusalem and grow to cover the entire world, and that was fulfilled in a dramatic way by the missionaries who came to set this part of […]

New deacon urged to remain close to God’s love

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Hawaii Catholic Herald Enthusiasm and joy radiated through St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church on May 17 as the Mililani parish’s native son, Taylor K. Mitchell, entered the final leg of his path toward priesthood. Bishop Larry Silva ordained Mitchell to the transitional diaconate in the mid-morning Mass with nearly three dozen priests and deacons […]

‘You have heard the call of Jesus’

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Bishop Larry Silva ordains Preston Castro and Lawrence ‘Larry’ Denis III to the priesthood Hawaii Catholic Herald As a full congregation at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa looked on, the Diocese of Honolulu gained two new priests May 16 as Bishop Larry Silva ordained Deacon Preston Castro and Deacon Lawrence “Larry” Denis III to the […]

‘All of this is a joy,’ says soon-to-be deacon

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By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Becoming a priest is hard. Really hard. Ask any seminarian, whether he is bound for priesthood within a diocese or as part of a religious community. Though the studying and training are both huge mountains to climb, the trek is made easier with the support and prayers of […]