Tuesday within the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time (V23)
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Homily of the Most Reverend Larry Silva
[St. Ann Church, Kaneohe (with Installation of Pastor); Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Honolulu]

Kalaupapa is that tiny peninsula on the island of Molokai that was designated as a place of isolation for those who had contracted the disease of leprosy, and where Father Damien and Mother Marianne Cope achieved their sainthood by their devoted service. In the beginning of the 1900’s, the United States Government decided to build a state-of-the-art treatment station there, providing it with the most advanced equipment, medicines, and medical professionals available at that time. It only lasted a few years, however, and today you can see the skeleton of the abandoned building. Why was it not successful, when it was so well equipped? Because the staff were afraid of the patients and did not treat them with dignity. The word spread that that it was an inhospitable place, and so it failed, because no patients wanted to go there. Read more...

Msgr. Terrence Watanabe baptizes a young catechumen during the Easter Vigil two years ago at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wailuku. (Photo courtesy of Maddie Pascual)

By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald

If the Diocese of Honolulu had a yearbook, the priest named “Best at Hospitality” would be Msgr. Terrence “Terry” Watanabe.

Even as he prepares to retire at the end of this month, he is busy assisting the diocese with the episcopal ordination and installation of Jesuit Father Michael Thomas Tupou Castori as Honolulu’s next bishop — as he did for the episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Larry Silva in 2005.

Msgr. Watanabe takes this zeal for welcoming others seriously and applies it to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

“That kind of hospitality is so important because if people don’t feel like they belong, they’re not going to want to know Jesus or be part of the church,” Msgr. Watanabe said. Read more...

(Theodore Trimmer / Shutterstock.com)

From Catholic Charities Hawaii

Catholic Charities Hawai`i has worked with the houseless since 1990 when the Diocese asked us to take over the Maililand Transitional Shelter. A program that is still being offered on Waianae. Currently, it is now the Family Assessment Center program and bridge housing. Both work with the residents to stabilize them and work with the families to find more permanent solutions to their houseless situation.

Over the years, Catholic Charities Hawai`i has looked to provide different ways to house the homeless. We have established housing assistance for the elderly, homeless prevention programs, transitional housing, permanent placements and rental support. Through these efforts we have been able to help thousands find stability and self-sufficiency.

Recently, our grassroots efforts to work with the homeless expanded with an additional service. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (SOHHS) launched a one-year pilot intensive outreach initiative on November 26, 2025, to support individuals living in homeless encampments across Oahu. Read more...

From the Hawaii Catholic Schools

KA HO‘OULU INNOVATION AWARDS
OFFERED BY THE HAWAI‘I CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE AND CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY

Overview: The National Catholic Education Association has an Innovation in Catholic Education annual awards program to foster creativity and growth in Catholic schools nationwide. In 2020 Hawaii Catholic Schools and Chaminade University initiated a new award to recognize innovation by our grades preK-12 educators.

The Ka Ho‘oulu Hawai‘i Catholic Education Innovation Award focuses on ‘Innovation for Mission’. There are several themes that will define this program:

1. Innovation as a call to remain relevant and attractive to our stakeholders, to continue to thrive in a competitive landscape, to best serve our students and to glorify God through our work.
2. An emphasis on capturing and celebrating the current creativity of our educators, as well as fostering new directions and initiatives.

Read more...

Nominate an individual or team HERE.

Help advance the Cause for Canonization for Joseph Dutton. Most famous for his volunteer efforts on the island of Molokai (Hawaii) caring for people with Hansen’s disease for nearly 44 years. A devout Catholic, Joseph Dutton had left all to serve the people in Molokai after hearing about Saint Damien’s work there.

Donate online at www.josephdutton.org/donate

Catholic Scouts are invited to participate in the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII religious emblem programs. Meetings will be held in person at St. Louis School on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., through summer and fall.

For more information contact Charmaine Garcia at (808) 780-2450, or Laura Wise at (202) 276-7514 / laurabwise@gmail.com.

Flyer available HERE.

Friday, July 3 - Saturday, July 5, 2026

Join EPIC Ministry for a weekend young adult retreat rooted in Matthew 11:25–30, Yoked to Christ: Finding True Freedom in Jesus.

Throughout the weekend, participants will be guided in prayer, reflection, and formation by Bishop Larry Silva, who will serve as spiritual director for the retreat. The retreat will include daily Mass with Bishop Silva, prayer experiences, small group sharing, community time, and opportunities to reflect.

Register at yokedtochristretreat.eventbrite.com.

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Catholic Charities Hawaii, Honolulu

All are invited to the 46th HCCRS Catholic Charismatic Regional Conference "God is a Consuming Fire" with Fr. Alfred Guerrero, Dcn. Ken Bissen Jr., Dcn. Raffy Mendoza, and the HCCRS worship team.

Admission is free, love offereing appreciated. Lunch is available for purchase onsite while supplies last.

Flyer available HERE.

Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Ron Gochenauer, who died unexpectedly on June 18, 2026. Ron faithfully served as Chairman of the Catholic Men's Fellowship. He was a devoted Catholic man who loved God, the Church, and the mission of reaching out to the men of our Diocese. He was deeply committed to fostering fraternity, encouraging men in their faith, fostering strong family life, and helping to build up the life of the Church.

Please keep Ron, his wife Theresa, and his family, and all those who knew and loved him in your prayers. Pray also for the members and leadership of the Catholic Men's Fellowship as they mourn his passing.

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

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
c. 64
Memorial - June 30

At Rome, in the time of Nero, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who were accused of having set fire to the city, and cruelly put to death in various manners by the emperor’s order. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and lacerated by dogs; others were fastened to crosses, others again were delivered to the flames to serve as torches in the night. All these were disciples of the Apostles, and the first fruits of the martyrs, which the Roman Church, a field so fertile in martyrs, offered to God before the death of the Apostles. ~ Roman Martyrology. Read more...

(Image credit: Henryk Siemiradzki, 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.

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