Tuesday within the Fourth Week of Advent (V50)
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"Hope does not disappoint!” (Rom 5:5)

As we prepare to close this Jubilee Year of 2025, whose theme is “Pilgrims of Hope,” we could easily become cynical. Our hope for peace on earth is dashed when we think of the wars and civil unrest in Ukraine, Myanmar and even in the Holy Land — where, 2,025 years ago, no less than angels announced, “Peace on earth!”

Our hope for civil discourse and collaboration is challenged after partisan bickering led to the longest federal government shutdown in history. Our hope for goodwill among all is tempted toward despair when we witness more and more random violence against innocent people. Our hope for Emmanuel, God-with-us, is tried when we consider so many of our neighbors who could not care less about God — or worse, hold God in contempt. Read more...

St. Jude Church in Kapolei and Immaculate Conception Church in Ewa are among the nine parishes whose boundaries have been revised effective Jan. 1. (Photos by Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)

By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald

For most of his 20 years as leader of the Diocese of Honolulu, Bishop Larry Silva, his staff and a dedicated Presbyteral Council have been reviewing parish boundaries across the islands to keep pace with Hawaii’s changing population and other demographic shifts.

“I have seen a change from sugar plantations to housing, especially in West Oahu and Maui,” Bishop Silva said of the importance of the boundary reviews.

Parish boundaries ensure that every Catholic has an official spiritual home for records and sacraments, as well as access to pastoral care, regardless of whether they are active in the church.

Beginning Jan. 1, new boundaries will take effect for nine parishes on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island and be accessible to all on the diocese’s website, www.catholichawaii.org. Read more...

Bishop Larry Silva blesses the leaders of Catholic Charities Hawaii and Catholic Charities Housing Development Corp. at the 2025 Red Mass. (Photo courtesy of the Hawaii Catholic Herald)

Every year, the church prays to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance for public servants in what is known as the Red Mass. The liturgy, a tradition in the islands for decades, is timed to precede the opening of the state Legislature, which occurs in January.

The Diocese of Honolulu invites all to attend the 2026 Red Mass, scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Bishop Larry Silva will celebrate the Mass; the keynote speaker is Connie Mitchell, executive director of the Institute for Human Services.

Mitchell’s topic is “Radical Justice in Tumultuous Times.” Her talk will explore how each generation presents unique challenges to people of faith as they strive to heed God’s call to “do justice, while loving mercy and walking humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).

Parking at the co-cathedral is free. For special accommodations for persons with disabilities, call (808) 585-3347. Those who are unable to attend in person can watch a livestream of the Red Mass at honolulucathedral.org/redmass.

Please consider attending the Red Mass and joining the church in praying for our elected leaders and public servants. Mahalo!

(PeopleImages / Shutterstock.com)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”- John 1:14

The season of Advent invites us to slow down, look a little closer, and reflect on the many ways God shows up today in our world. Christmas isn’t about grandeur or perfection—it’s about the miracle of God choosing to be with us in our perfect imperfections. His entrance into the world was not a glamorous royal event. Instead of pomp and circumstance, He was born in a humble stable, surrounded by His parents, lowly shepherds, and barn animals. He arrived  among the most vulnerable on that silent night in Bethlehem, reminding us that God is with us—and shares fully in our vulnerable humanity through the Incarnation. During the first weekend of December, two celebrations—half a world apart—brought that message to life in very meaningful ways. Read more...

(Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock.com)

From the Office for Social Ministry

Hawaiʻi Foodbank is committed to providing safe food access to everyone who needs it. You may be eligible for federally funded programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), or you may just need temporary food assistance until you get back on your feet. Additionally, other food pantries and food distribution sites remain open across the state. With more than 250 hunger relief partners across Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, help is likely available in or near your neighborhood. Read more...

This year Bishop Larry Silva has scheduled seven early morning Misa de Gallo Masses and three evening Simbang Gabi Masses from December 16th through December 24th on Oahu and Maui. All throughout the diocese are warmly welcomed to experience and become part of this great tradition. Please contact the parishes for more information.

Misa de Gallo

• Tuesday, Dec. 16, 5:00 am, St. Elizabeth, Aiea
• Wednesday, Dec. 17, 5:00 am, Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa
• Friday, Dec. 19, 5:00 am, St. John Apostle & Evangelist, Mililani
• Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:00 a.m., Christ the King, Kahului
• Sunday, Dec. 21,  5:00 am, St. Joseph, Makawao
• Monday, Dec. 22, 5:00 am, Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa
• Wednesday, Dec. 24, 4:30 am, St. Joseph, Waipahu

Simbang Gabi Mass

• Thursday, Dec. 18, 7:00 pm, St. Jude, Kapolei
• Saturday, Dec. 20, 7:00 pm, St. Anthony, Wailuku
• Tuesday, Dec. 23, 6:00 pm, St. Philomena, Honolulu

(Kara Gebhardt / Shutterstock.com)

From the Hawaii Catholic Herald

FOURTH WEEK

All four candles are lighted on the fourth Sunday by the father. The prayer for the fourth week is:

Leader: Let us pray. Stir up your power and might, O Lord, and come. Rescue us through your great strength so that salvation, which has been hindered by our sins, may be hastened by the grace of your gentle mercy. Through Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

At the end of Advent, the candles may all be changed to white, the leaves refreshed if necessary, and the wreath decorated with Christmas decorations.

(Beskova Ekaterina / Shutterstock.com)

Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas.

• Advent Calendar for 2025
• Blessing of an Advent Wreath
• The "O Antiphons" of Advent
• Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene
• Blessing of a Christmas Tree
• Commentary on the Proper Prayers of Advent from the Roman Missal
• Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Lectio Divina for Advent

Called to lead? Called to serve? Join the GIVEN Leadership Program! Apply before December 31, 2025.

The GIVEN Institute’s Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Program offers leadership development, faith formation, and dedicated mentorship for Catholic young women ages 21-35 seeking to live out their unique vocation and mission. Women accepted to the program participate in The Leadership Forum from June 24-28, 2026 at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and are then paired with an established Catholic female leader for 1-on-1 mentorship and support to develop and launch an Action Plan – a new initiative activating personal gifts in service to others. GIVEN is also accepting applications from lay and consecrated women (ages 36+) who would like to serve as mentors or volunteer at the 2026 Forum. All women are encouraged to become part of GIVEN!

To learn more and apply for the 2026 Cohort, please visit: https://giveninstitute.com/leadership-program/.

The diocese has had a few young women participate in this program. If you are a young woman interested in this and would like to talk with someone locally about this program, please email oyyam@rcchawaii.org.

Flyer available HERE.

Save the date!

Saint Marianne Cope Feast Day Celebration

Friday, January 23, 2025
Mass: 6 p.m.
Celebrant: Most Rev. Larry Silva
Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa
712 North School Street, Honolulu

“I am not afraid of any disease; hence it would be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned.” (St. Marianne Cope)

Mother Marianne Cope with six other Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse arrived in Honolulu in 1883 at the request of the Hawaiian Kingdom to care for its citizens with leprosy.

Bringing with her experience in nursing and hospital administration, she served the most desolate of outcasts. Giving herself generously and heroically to the victims of leprosy, she alleviated their physical and spiritual sufferings.

She spent 30 years in Kalaupapa, Molokai, caring for the patients there. She exemplified the ideals lived by St Francis of Assisi, an all-embracing compassion, an enduring selflessness and a deep love of Christ.

In gratitude, the Hawaiian government awarded her the Royal Order of Kapiolani and Robert Louis Stevenson honored her in a poem.
Her legacy in medicine and education left no Hawaiian island untouched.

A model of grace, service, kindness, and love, Mother Marianne was beatified in 2005, and canonized at the Vatican on October 21, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI.

Her spirit of selfless service continues today in Kalaupapa and in the St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii.

Come and celebrate her gift to Hawaii.

All are warmly invited to join talks on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7–8 PM at St. John the Baptist Parish in Kalihi. These sessions share the Good News of Christ, who offers guidance and hope in the challenges of life, along with the gift of love and forgiveness. Through this program of Catholic formation in small parish communities, we can explore and deepen the richness of our baptism. For more information, please contact Dr. Anthony Ramos at 808-721-0557.

Word of Life is a monthly resource from the USCCB's Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. Each month includes resources for print and are adaptable for digital efforts including Feature of the Month, Intercessions for Life, Bulletin Quotes, and Bulletin Art. Learn more at www.respectlife.org.

Available in English: PDF | Word

Saint Peter Canisius
1521–1597
Memorial - December 21

On October 31, 1517, Father Martin Luther, a German Augustinian monk and theologian, nailed his Ninety-five Theses that criticized various Catholic Church practices to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This event is often considered to be the beginning of the Protestant Reformation that threw the Church into turmoil over the next century. Theological debates were fierce, the Church began to splinter, and cities and nations fought, leading to violence and deaths. Though the sixteenth century was chaotic for the faith, many saints emerged to defend the truth and reform the Church. We honor one of those saints today—Saint Peter Canisius. Read more...

(Image: Anonymous, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. www.mycatholic.life

Support your local parish online! You can give directly to your parish on the Diocese of Honolulu's Offertory page at www.catholichawaii.org/offertory.

On behalf of the parishes in the Diocese of Honolulu, thank you for your gift of support. Mahalo nui loa!

DECEMBER

Simbang Gabi Mass at St. Philomena, Honolulu, Dec. 23

Misa de Gallo at St. Joseph, Waipahu, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve Holiday, Dec 24

Christmas Day Holiday, Dec 25

New Year's Eve Holiday, Dec 31

JANUARY

New Year's Day Holiday, Jan 1

Annual Red Mass, Jan 14

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday, Jan 19

Mass for the Memorial of St. Marianne Cope, Jan 23

Mass for Annual Conference of Catholic Educators, Jan 30

NEWS

For our most recent news, visit www.catholichawaii.org.

Bishop's Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent

Luncheon Honors People Experiencing Homelessness

All Are Welcome to Attend 2026 Red Mass in January

God in Our Midst

Find Food Assistance Across Hawaiʻi

Saint of the Week - John of the Cross

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

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