The celebration of confirmations in parishes across the diocese witnessed the Holy Spirit ‘at work’ By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald A wonderful, grace-filled, family experience. That’s how many island parishes described the special group confirmations of their children and youth in grades two through 12 at Masses on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, and its […]
Big Pentecost is here: after three years preparing, the diocese will begin to give confirmation second graders
Bishop Larry Silva anoints the foreheads of children with chrism during the confirmation rite April 8 at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. (Photos courtesy of Miguel Heraclio) By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald After more than three years of preparation, the Diocese of Honolulu will begin this month to give the sacrament […]
Why do you want to be confirmed? What does it mean to you?
“Why do you want to be confirmed? What does it mean to you?” These questions were asked of young parishioners preparing to be confirmed on Pentecost Sunday, May 20, and its vigil, May 19. The responses were compiled by Betsey Gunderson of the Hawaii Catholic Schools office and Lisa Gomes of the Office for Youth […]
Questions and answers about confirmation and the return of the sacraments of initiation to their original order
Here are questions and answers regarding the return in the Diocese of Honolulu to giving the sacraments of initiation in their original order: 1. baptism as a newborn, 2. confirmation in the second grade at the age of reason, 3. Holy Communion after confirmation. The answers to these questions were culled from earlier statements by […]
‘Big Pentecost’ and beyond
Isle pastors, catechists tackle Original Order challenges, embrace sacramental surprises By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz Hawaii Catholic Herald “All that is done for the Lord will bear fruit in its own time.” Bishop Larry Silva in an April 24, 2015 letter noted that the diocese’s initiative to restore the Sacraments of Initiation to their “Original […]
Comprehensive youth ministries: Island parishes develop new strategies for young Catholics’ faith formation
By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz Hawaii Catholic Herald When Bishop Larry Silva announced in 2015 that the Diocese of Honolulu would embark on the “Original Order” sacramental initiative, one of the biggest concerns pondered by parishioners, parents, ministry leaders and catechists was how the shift to administering Confirmation to young children would affect faith formation […]
Proper order | Fifth in a series: Listening sessions: An invitation to give witness to Jesus
It is hard to avoid the commercials about logistics from the shipping company UPS. Growing your business through the power of logistics, the ads say. When implementing reforms in the Catholic Church, it would be nice to be able to just call a company and have them work out all of the practical details of […]
Proper Order | Fourth in a series: Comprehensive youth ministry: empowering young people
Over the years, the church has worked to meet the changing needs of young people. In 1905, Pope Pius X mandated that the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) be established in all parishes to teach the faith to children not enrolled in Catholic schools. In the 1930s, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) was born out […]
THIRD IN A SERIES | Religious education and Catholic schools: Sharing responsibilities; family, church, school
Questions about implementing the proper order of the sacraments of initiation are already being posed to our diocesan offices. At the heart of many of these queries is a care and concern about our desire to understand and successfully support parents, clergy, catechists, teachers and the entire parish community in each of their various roles […]