Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Hawaii welcomes newest priest : ‘From this day forward, the risen Christ will make himself sacramentally present in Nick Brown’

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Diocesan vicar general Father Gary Secor greets Father Brown with the fraternal “kiss of peace.” (HCH photos | Darlene Dela Cruz)   For more than seven minutes the priests lined up to lay their hands gently, silently, purposefully, for a second or two, on Nicholas Brown’s head, as Bishop Larry Silva had done moments before […]

Pastor, retiring after 30 years in the diocese, filled in between bishops

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Soon to retire Father Thomas Gross in front of St. John Vianney Church, Kailua, which he renovated as pastor. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)   Father Thomas Gross, who for one year had the responsibilities of Hawaii’s bishop without the status, is retiring June 30. The cordial, reserved pastor of St. John Vianney Parish […]

Diocese planning pilgrimage to families conference with pope in Philly

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Pope Francis is going to the World Meeting of Families Congress in Philadelphia this September. And you can too. The Diocese of Honolulu is organizing a Sept. 21-28 pilgrimage with Bishop Larry Silva to the triennial gathering. The conference, whose purpose is to strengthen the sacred bonds of the family unit worldwide and highlight its […]

Walter Kirimitsu discusses his years as Saint Louis’ first lay president as he prepares for retirement

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Saint Louis head of school Walter Kirimitsu in front of the new Clarence T.C. Ching Learning and Technology Center. (HCH photo | Patrick Downes)   You might say the stars have aligned for Walter Kirimitsu, creating a “good time” for him to retire as Saint Louis’ head of school. The “stars” would include a former […]

Bishop to ordain 13 permanent deacons in January

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The diocese’s seventh permanent diaconate class stands with Bishop Larry Silva, center, at St. Stephen Diocesan Center, May 17, 2014, after the Rite of Acolyte liturgy. (HCH file photo)   Bishop Larry Silva will ordain 13 men as permanent deacons in January in four ceremonies on three islands. The candidates, who range in age from […]

Holy Family Parish buys Navy land it has used for 64 years

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The Holy Family Church building on 830 Main St., shown here in a photo taken Nov. 25, lies in a neighborhood of Naval housing and other facilities near the Honolulu International Airport. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)   Holy Family Parish on Nov. 19 purchased from the U.S. Navy for $1.6 million the 4.444-acre […]

Bishop’s Circle appeal has $300,000 goal

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Bishop Larry Silva this week mailed his first round of appeal letters for the Bishop’s Circle, a special fundraising campaign for diocesan ministries. The mailing begins year two of the fundraiser re-launched last year after a five-year break. The Bishop’s Circle was initially created 30 years ago by Bishop Joseph A. Ferrario and was put […]

Sacred Heart Church in Pahoa reaches out to vulnerable parishioners as lava flow threatens to split the community

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As the front of the Kilauea lava flow remains stalled on the edge of Pahoa town, this breakout flow on Nov. 2 occurred about 218 yards upslope. Recent breakouts have been common and are filling in low points behind the flow front. (Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory)   As a river of molten rock […]