By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald The Diocese of Honolulu will see 204 catechumens baptized in parishes across Hawaii this Easter Vigil, April 16, 55 more than last year. The catechumens 7 and older, also called the elect, will make public their intention to receive the three sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and first […]
In Rites of Election, Hawaii’s parishes and Catholic communities to welcome those to be baptized at Easter
THE ELECT In Rites of Election, Hawaii’s parishes and Catholic communities to welcome those to be baptized at Easter By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald The coronavirus pandemic has altered another Lenten practice, the Rite of Election. That is the event at which catechumens, also called the elect, make public their intention to receive in […]
Jayne Ragasa Mondoy: ‘Go home. Cook rice.’
COMMENTARY New beginnings for fully initiated children (Jayne Ragasa Mondoy wrote this for the many Hawaii children waiting patiently for the coronavirus pandemic to subside, so that they can be confirmed and receive their first holy Communion.) A million years ago when I was a high school student at Sacred Hearts Academy, “TheBus” was my […]
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 […]
I want to be a Catholic because …
I want to be a Catholic because … … I was called. We are all called by God at different stages of our lives but it’s a matter of listening and not just hearing it. I listened to the call when I chose life over death in 2011. With the help of my friend Preston, […]
‘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 […]
‘Offer, strengthen, sustain’: Diocese readies for pivotal year transitioning Sacraments of Initiation to ‘Original Order’
By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz Hawaii Catholic Herald Nearly three years ago, Bishop Larry Silva announced in the April 24, 2015, Hawaii Catholic Herald that the Diocese of Honolulu would embark on a shift in its administration of the Sacraments of Initiation. Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation — the three sacraments that welcome or “initiate” […]