Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Talk story: Big or small, give wholeheartedly

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Office for Social Ministry “When Jesus looked up, he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury, and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, ‘I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their […]

Talk story: This holiday season, stand with marginalized

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Office for Social Ministry “The Church supports your just struggles for land, housing and work. Like my predecessor Francis, I believe that just ways begin from the ground up, from the periphery toward the center.” (Pope Leo XIV, address to the World Meeting of Popular Movements, Oct. 23) As this Jubilee Year nears its close, […]

Talk story: Live the Gospel by helping those in need

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Office for Social Ministry “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat.” (Mt 25:35) These compelling Gospel words reflecting the heart of social ministry hit home this month. Across our country and throughout Hawaii, families worry how they will feed the hungry at their table. Parents skip meals so their children can eat. […]

Talk story: Live our love by caring for the poor

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Office for Social Ministry “I have loved you.” (Pope Leo XIV, “Dilexi Te”) When Pope Leo XIV signed his apostolic exhortation “Dilexi Te” — “I have loved you” — on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, he extended a heartfelt invitation for all to rediscover the very heart of the Gospel by […]

Talk story: Multiplying our daily bread for others

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Office for Social Ministry “Especially in this Jubilee Year, the Lord’s example is a yardstick that should guide our actions and our service: We are called to share our bread, to multiply hope and to proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom.” (Pope Leo XIV, feast of Corpus Christi homily, June 2025) When we pray the […]

Talk story: Helping the poor is a ministry for all

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A banner for last year’s World Day of the Poor hangs from the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (Pablo Esparza / CNS) Office for Social Ministry “Whenever we encounter a poor person, we cannot look away, for that would prevent us from encountering the face of the Lord […]

Talk story: Mercy plants the seeds of hope

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Office for Social Ministry “Mercy is the very foundation of the church’s life … The church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love … Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope.” (Pope Francis, Bull […]

Talk story: Providing the vulnerable with dignity and hope

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Office for Social Ministry “May hope fill your hearts … Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.” (Pope Francis’ proclamation of the 2025 Jubilee Year, delivered May 9, […]

Talk story: Let us honor migrants as missionaries of hope

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Office for Social Ministry “Many migrants, refugees and displaced persons are privileged witnesses of hope. Indeed, they demonstrate this daily through their resilience and trust in God, as they face adversity while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible.” (Pope Leo XIV, Jubilee Year message for the […]

Talk story: Let us embark on ‘revolution of love’

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Office for Social Ministry “(The parable of the good Samaritan) constantly challenges us to think about our own lives. It troubles our dormant or distracted consciences, and warns us about the risk of a complacent faith that is satisfied with the outward observance of the law but incapable of feeling and acting with the same […]