Tuesday within the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (V37)
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Hope Services Hawaii CEO Brandee Menino, left, joined volunteers to prepare kupuna boxes for Holy Rosary Church in Pahala in the wake of Hurricane Lala. (Courtesy Hope Services Hawaii)

By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald

Three weeks after Hurricane Lala badly affected the southern area of Hawaii island, Sacred Heart Church in Naalehu continues to see damage, according to Father William “Pila” Tulua, pastor of the church as well as Holy Rosary Church in Pahala. In a phone interview with the Hawaii Catholic Herald, he said the area is now in the recovery phase.

Hope Services Hawaii, a nonprofit affiliate of the Diocese of Honolulu that provides social, medical and housing assistance to those in need, was on the ground in Naalehu immediately following the hurricane. The agency prepared 50 food kits with nonperishable items that were delivered to seniors, and workers assisted parishioners in Naalehu who needed assistance.

Through recent natural disasters — the Kilauea eruption in 2018, the Lahaina wildfire in 2023, the earthquake in May in South Kona that damaged more than 200 homes and destroyed eight properties, and hurricanes Lala and Lowell — many relief organizations and ministries have formed deep bonds within the local community and built friendships with each other to bring the right services and supplies to the people who need it most. Read more...

(Photo courtesy of Dann Ebina)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“What does it mean to be human?”
- Pope Leo XIV, Address to UNESCO, Paris, September 25, 2026

Before and after a storm, a simple question can mean everything: Are you okay? We may call our parents or check on a neighbor. We wonder whether someone living alone has food, electricity or a safe place to sleep. Even while carrying worries of our own, we reach out for one another. As we face storms in the skies and in our personal lives, Pope Leo XIV’s words speak directly to the heart. In his recent address in France to the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture-UNESCO, he asked a simple yet profound question: What does it mean to be human?

Our Holy Father began his UNESCO speech with something we all share: every one of us was once a child. Someone had to feed us, hold us and help us find our way. “From the outset, our humanity is a gift and a trial, a promise and a responsibility.” We may grow more independent, but we never outgrow our need for love. Illness, loss or unexpected hardship can remind us how much it matters to have someone beside us. Sometimes we are the people who offer help. Sometimes we are the ones who need it.

Here in Hawaiʻi, our island cultures and shared value of ʻohana help us understand that connection. We belong to one another. As a Church, we recognize ourselves as brothers and sisters in Christ, children of the same Father. Read more...

Contributions may be made via the QR code, online at hawaiicatholiccommunityfoundation.org, or mailed to:

Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation
Storm Relief and Recovery
1184 Bishop St.
Honolulu, HI 96813

Flyer available HERE.

Our diocesan pilgrimage to Seoul, South Korea is nearly full. We now have just 9 spots remaining for young adults ages 18–35.

World Youth Day is an opportunity to encounter Christ, experience the universal Church, deepen your faith, and pilgrimage alongside young Catholics from around the world.

Learn more: catholichawaii.org/wyd

Friday, October 9 - Sunday, October 11, 2026
(Arrival at 5:30pm on Friday / Departure on Sunday at 5:00pm)

If you or a friend are hurting from a past abortion and are searching for a confidential, non-judgmental, safe place of healing and support to express and reconcile painful emotions and begin the healing process, you've found the right place and are welcomed!

Both women and men are impacted by abortion and greatly benefit from the retreats. Singles, couples and family members of aborted children have come to Rachel's Vineyard for peace and inner healing. You are not alone.

Retreats are held at a private retreat center for 3 days and 2 nights. A retreat fee of $200.00 covers materials, accommodations, and daily meals/snacks. Space is limited. Need-based scholarships are available. Calls us today for personalized assistance!

To register, contact Lisa Shorba at (808) 490-4702 or email rvinhawaii@gmail.com.

Registrations are Strictly Confidential.
Visit the national website at: www.rachelsvineyard.org.

Flyer available HERE. Brochure available HERE.

A Ministry of the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii’s Respect Life Office

Saturday, October 17 at 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Kapiolani Regional Park, Honolulu

Join us as we commemorate 200 years of Catholic faith in the Hawaiian islands. As an ethnic group within the Diocese, the Micronesian Community celebrates this special day of heritage, reflection, and island fellowship. For more information, please contact Mavin Bernard at kinapis@yahoo.com.

Flyer availalbe HERE.

Sunday, October 18, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Chaminade University, Mystical Rose Oratory, Honolulu

Join the Marianist Lecture Timely Technology, Timeless Questions: AI and the Human Person with Kyle Ballarta & Louis Kim.

For more information, please visit https://chaminade.edu/marianist-lecture. Registration is encouraged but not required.

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, October 24, 2026
St. Joseph Church & School, Waipahu

The Office of Evangelization & Catechesis invites catechists, parish ministers, Catholic educators, OCIA teams, liturgical ministers, and anyone seeking to deepen their Catholic faith to a day of formation centered on Sacred Scripture.

Participants can choose from nine courses exploring topics including biblical typology, the Gospel of Matthew, Marian typology, Scripture in the liturgy, women in the Bible, and more. No prior theological or biblical training is required.

Schedule:
7:00 AM Mass | 8:00 AM Check-in | 8:30 AM Welcome & Prayer
Sessions: 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM & 1:00 PM
Lunch on your own

Early Bird Registration through October 9: $12 per session or $36 for the full day
After October 9: $15 per session or $45 for the full day

Register: https://app.jotform.com/catholichawaii/oec

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
Mary, Star of the Sea Church, Honolulu

From the Office for Social Ministry

At Mary, Star of the Sea Church on Oahu, parishioners established their Ministry for Persons with Disabilities by welcoming persons with varying gifts and abilities to celebrate the “’Ohana Mass.” Ushers who are members of the Knights of Columbus offer a warm welcome and escort them to the designated pews where they were able to better participate in the Eucharist. After Mass, the community continues fellowship together through a potluck supper where all joyfully serve each other with nourishing food and aloha. These “‘Ohana Masses” and potluck fellowship normally take place on the fourth Saturday each month, 5:30 p.m. at Mary, Star of the Sea where all are welcomed to celebrate and share their gifts as one ‘Ohana.

Live stream available at Mary, Star of the Sea's YouTube Channel.

For more information, please call the parish office at (808) 734-0396 or email rafmendoza@rcchawaii.org.

Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church, Punahou

Join us for a free workshop on Catholic Advanced Healthcare Planning and Directives, where we guide you through the essential steps of aligning your healthcare decisions with your Catholic faith. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of Catholic teaching on end-of-life care, ethical considerations, and the importance of creating advanced directives that reflect your values.

RSVP online at www.hawaiifamilyforum.org/cahcd or email eandrade@rcchawaii.org.

Flyer available HERE.

For two hundred years, the Catholic faith has taken root and flourished across these islands. Your gift to the Bicentennial sustains the celebrations by defraying the costs of speakers, venues, and events, so that we can better carry this mission into its third century.

Every contribution – of any size – will help us all to be better motivated and equipped to help write the next chapter of the Catholic faith in Hawai’i.

Give today at https://catholichawaii200.org/donate

Flyer available HERE.

The journey of a lifetime awaits. Save the Date!

In 2027, retrace the sacred roots of 200 years of Catholic faith in Hawaiʻi — from the cobblestone streets of Paris to the birthplace of St. Damien in Belgium. Join Bishop Emeritus Larry Silva, Bishop-Elect Fr. Michael T. T. Castori, SJ, and Fr. Lane Akiona, SS.CC., Provincial Superior, on a once-in-a-generation Heritage Pilgrimage to France & Belgium — a living celebration of Two Hundred Years of Faith. One Family. One Hawaiʻi. Contact Deacon Mike Browning to reserve your place on the interest list: mbrowning@rcchawaii.org. Pricing and registration available after January 1, 2027.

Learn more at https://catholichawaii200.org/#pilgrimage

Flyer available HERE.

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 Bruno
1030–1101
Memorial - October 6

Saint Bruno is believed to have been born into the wealthy and influential Hardebüst family in the city of Cologne, in modern-day Germany. His family’s status would have ensured him a good education and a successful career. As a teenager, he was sent to the prestigious Cathedral School of Rheims, in the Kingdom of France, about 200 miles from his hometown. After completing his studies, he returned to Cologne where he was made a canon at Saint Cunibert Church. It is most likely at that time that he was ordained a priest. Read more...

(Image credit: Nicolas Mignard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) Copyright © 2026 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!

NEWS

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

Kauai Community Comes Through After Hurricane Lowell

Faith in Action After the Storm

Saint of the Week - Vincent de Paul

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

Members of Hawaii Catholic parishes may receive a subscription free through the Hawaii Catholic Herald Parish Plan.
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Visit: www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/subscriptions