Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Message of mercy: Let Jesus cleanse you of your sins, Pope Francis urges

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Pope Francis gives the homily while celebrating Mass at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish on the outskirts of Rome March 8. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — Christian faith and a moral life are responses to God’s mercy and not the result of “titanic” human effort, Pope Francis said. In meetings and […]

Pope Francis’ handy tips to prepare for a Lenten confession

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Pope Francis hears confession during a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 28, 2014. Pope Francis surprised his liturgical adviser by going to confession during the service. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)   VATICAN CITY — As Catholics are encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their lives […]

Sister Judy Resta, Sisters for Christian Community: Living a joyful song

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Fifteen years ago when I started hospital ministry, it was parish-based. Hospitals used to give the chaplain a list of the Catholics there. From that list, I would go around and visit the sick, while also bringing them Holy Communion. Now, however, my work is more inclusive. Queen’s Medical Center has a non-denominational chaplaincy program […]

Pope Francis has given sheep and shepherds a renewed emphasis

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A 13th-century mosaic of the Good Shepherd is seen in the Basilica of Santa Maria in the Trastevere neighborhood in Rome March 5. The biblical metaphor of the Christian leader as a shepherd has taken on renewed emphasis with Pope Francis’ call for clergy to be “shepherds living with the smell of sheep.” (CNS photo/Paul […]

The way of a cross

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Photos by Walter Bacxa Special to the Herald It’s been more than seven years since an earthquake revealed severe damage to St. Michael Church in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, requiring the tearing down of the 157-year-old structure. Now, its parishioners are eagerly anticipating the completion of a new church and are getting a look […]

Pope Francis: Don’t let meatless Fridays be selfish, soulless, seafood splurge

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Pope Francis elevates the Eucharist during Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome Feb. 18. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — Real fasting isn’t just restricting food choices, it must also include cleansing the heart of all selfishness and making room in one’s life for those in need and those […]

Simple cardboard bowl fights poverty around the world

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This year marks the 40th anniversary of Catholic Relief Service’s Rice Bowl, the Lenten program known for its iconic cardboard “rice bowl” used by millions of Catholics across the United States. The CRS Rice Bowl has become a tradition for Catholic families, parishes and religious educators. Since its inception, it has raised $250 million to […]