By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Vincent Anh Xuan Vu was child growing up in Vietnam when he first felt the tug of God’s call. He said the “spark” of his priestly vocation was lit at age 7 when he kissed the ring of a visiting bishop at Christmas Eve Mass. “I was inspired from […]
Working with migrant laborers prepares seminarians for priesthood
By Chaz Muth Catholic News Service YAKIMA, Wash. — Seminarian John Washington was looking for a summer cultural experience as he prepared to end his academic year at Chicago’s Mundelein Seminary and he found it in an agricultural field in central Washington. The seminarian from the Archdiocese of Atlanta spent his summer tending to Washington […]
Missing the sun, and the Spam
Care packages are a treat for diocesan seminarians on the mainland By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald Father Alfred Guerrero remembers the homesickness that came with going away to school at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. It rained a lot. “I missed the Hawaii sun,” the now-parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel said. […]
Training future priests is expensive
Annual collection needs more support to cover Hawaii seminarian education By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald Any parent who has saved or paid for a child’s higher education knows that learning doesn’t come cheap. That remains the case for the Diocese of Honolulu to support its seminarians through the coursework and degrees that will make […]
Yearly seminarian retreat: Soaking in the solitude of Kalaupapa
For the past two summers, Diocese of Honolulu vocations director Father Rheo Ofalsa and Bishop Larry Silva have traveled with diocesan seminarians to the Kalaupapa peninsula for a five-day retreat. The trip includes Mass, prayer time and recreation. It also allows the seminarians to deepen their spiritual formation and their knowledge of Bishop Silva and […]
Hawaii’s candidates for priesthood
Here is a current list of the seminarians for the Diocese of Honolulu, along with their level of studies, their home parish and their summer assignments. John Akau: Entering Pre-Theology II, St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, Calif.; from St. Joseph, Hilo; assigned to St. John Apostle and Evangelist, Mililani, this summer Preston Jay Castro: […]
Photo: Serra Club hosts seminarians
The Serra Club of Honolulu hosted the diocesan seminarians on Oahu at a luncheon at the New Empress Restaurant in Chinatown before they headed back to school. Pictured standing are William “Pila” Tulua and Kevin Clark. Seated is Clifford “Chance” Billmeyer, Serra chaplain Msgr. Gary Secor and diocesan vocations director Father Rheo Ofalsa. Also at […]
Working vacation: Seminarians start summer assignments
By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz Hawaii Catholic Herald It’s summertime, and for many of our Diocese of Honolulu seminarians, the season brings a welcome break from the daily grind of books and classes at St. Patrick Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California or Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. Six of the local boys in […]
Fundraiser supports growing roster of Sacred Hearts seminarians
By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz Hawaii Catholic Herald The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary invites everyone to a very special April 29 event highlighted by music, Mass and ministry. “Fund our Future,” the first annual fundraiser for seminarians of the religious order, will take place that day at St. Ann Church […]
Bishop happy with choice of new seminary president
By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Bishop Larry Silva is pleased with the selection of Jesuit Father George F. Schultze as president-rector and vice chancellor of St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California, where seminarians for the Diocese of Honolulu earn their theology degrees. Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone, chancellor of the […]