By Celia K. Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Alphonso “Al” Jones was a beloved fixture in Hawaii’s Catholic community for decades, serving at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Pearl City and as the Diocese of Honolulu’s youth minister. Among his many contributions here, he helped with construction of the lava-rock church before its dedication […]
Former diocesan youth ministry director drops by, shares stories with current one
By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald On a recent visit back to Oahu, the Diocese of Honolulu’s former youth ministry director got a chance to visit its current one. Alphonso “Al” Jones, 91, served the diocese in the late 1990s before retiring to California but visited the islands regularly until COVID-19. On his first visit […]
Youth ministry gets moving again: Teen leadership institute returns, World Youth Day Portugal plans take shape
By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald After a two-year gap, the Christian Leadership Institute returned to St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe. CLI trains promising Catholic high schoolers in Hawaii to be leaders in their parishes. This year 24 students participated in the weeklong seminar from June 26 to July 1. “I’m always so […]
Aiea middle schoolers attend retreat day at Benedictine Monastery
By Bernie Manoa Special to the Herald On Saturday morning, March 26, the Edge middle school youth group of St. Elizabeth Parish in Aiea headed out to Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii in beautiful Waialua for a day of recollection and reflection. Attending from the parish school were all the sixth graders and some of the […]
Hawaii Children and Youth Day to feature local Catholic youth
The longstanding Hawaii Children and Youth Day event on Oahu is going online this year with a Catholic touch. The Oct. 2 event will have a virtual scavenger hunt with prizes, interactive online “booths” with storytelling, crafts and educational videos, and family resources. It will also feature a virtual stage of entertainers including a number […]
13 Big Isle pilgrims headed for World Youth Day in Panama City
This story is adapted from an article in the January 2019 newsletter for Annunciation Church and Ascension Mission. Special to the Herald In January, 13 Big Island pilgrims will travel to Panama City, Panama, to see Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of other spirit-filled Catholics. They are headed for the 2019 World Youth Day, […]