Tuesday within the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time (V34)
Click on Web Version above for best viewing of this eNewsLetter.

Excerpts from Bishop Michael Castori’s letter to Bishops and Dioceses Requesting Support of Hawaii’s Storm Relief and Recovery Fund

Dear Brother Bishop,

Peace be with you!

In 2023, when devastating wildfires swept through Maui, you and the faithful of your diocese responded to the people of Hawaiʻi with extraordinary generosity and compassion. Your support brought hope and much-needed assistance to families and communities facing unimaginable loss. On behalf of the Church in Hawaiʻi, I am deeply grateful for the kindness you extended to our ʻohana.

Today, I write to ask once again for your prayers and, if possible, your assistance. Hurricanes recently brought destructive winds, torrential rain, and severe flooding to our entire State. Families and communities have suffered damage and displacement, and for many, the work of recovery and rebuilding will continue long after the storm has passed.

In response, the Hawaiʻi Catholic Community Foundation has established the Hawaiʻi Storm Relief and Recovery Fund to support relief and recovery efforts following hurricanes, tropical storms, and other catastrophic events impacting our island communities. Read more...

The Diocese Office for Social Ministry wants to give thanks to God for the inspiring efforts of the Kauai parishes who were a vital part of their community’s collaboration before, during and after Hurricane Lowell. These parishes were also supported by the generous efforts of members of the diocese from all around Hawaii who were instrumental in getting generators and communication equipment to Kauai parishes so they could be distribution centers for food and other supplies, and safe places where the community could come together to pray and give thanks for Gods presence during these difficult moments, witnessing to Jesus and building the Kingdom. We also want to recognize the generous, compassionate coordination of relief and recovery efforts in Kauai County and their website with vital information about how the community can come together to care for each other, www.KauaiRecovers.org.

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.

The statue of Our Lady of Peace (Maria O Ka Malu) next to the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady Peace in downtown Honolulu.

Homily of the Most Reverend Michael T.T. Castori, SJ
[Saturday, August 22, 2026; St. Theresa Church, Kihei]

As I mentioned when we gathered at the opening of this holy Mass, it is especially fitting that this Mass of thanksgiving falls on the feast of the queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Yesterday evening, at the Mass of rededication of Maria Lanakila Church, “Our Lady of Victory,” in Lahaina, we gave thanks for the Blessed Mother’s intercession in saving “the miracle church” from the destructive wildfire of three years ago, so that that beautiful house of God could serve as a sacred space in which to gather prayers and relief efforts as rescue operations were conducted, and gave further thanks for her continued intercession for and closeness to the resilient people of Lahaina and Maui to this day.

That the patron of our diocese, Our Lady of Peace, is “Queen of Heaven and Earth” is something to be mightily grateful for. And, indeed, to understand and take to heart this gift of Mary’s queenship strengthens our hope, joy and commitment in living our faith. Read more...

Braun Castro, center, joined fellow seminarians for the year-opening Mass of the Holy Spirit Aug. 24 at Mount Angel Abbey. (Courtesy of Karen Jacoby, Mount Angel Abbey)

By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald

This fall semester, the Diocese of Honolulu welcomed five new seminarians, increasing the number of men studying for the priesthood to 10 for the diocese.

The newest seminarians are Jaster Agcaoili, Braun Castro, Archie Dumag, Mark Rebellon and Seth Willett.

The propaedeutic year, which means a year of preparation, is dedicated to spiritual formation. The seminarians go through a technology “detox,” with limited use of smartphones or addictive technologies, to minimize distractions during their discipleship formation.

Instead, their days are spent in prayer, adoration, daily Mass and practicing daily devotions designed to strengthen their spiritual foundation. Read more...

From Catholic Charities Hawai`i

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi's Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families (SMVF) Unit invites you to attend “Safer Homes, Stronger Futures: Developing Lethal Means Safety through Natural Supports,” presented by Wendy Schwartz, LCSW, Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Office, and Dr. Elna Nagasako, Moms Demand Action - Hawaii Chapter and The Hawaiʻi Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families.

This free educational workshop explores suicide awareness and lethal means safety through the important role of natural supports in creating safe homes and stronger communities. Participants will learn how family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, faith communities, and other trusted individuals can help foster connection, engage in supportive conversations, and promote safety during times of distress.

The workshop will be held at the Catholic Charities Hawai`i  Ching Campus, 1822 Ke`eaumoku St.  on September 17th starting at 1:00pm.  The workshop is open to all community members. No professional background is required.

Please register by 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 17, 2026

Click HERE to register.

By Vinya Manianglung

On September 5 and 6, 2026, the annual Couples for Christ Theme Weekend Retreat: Mensa Christi (Table of Christ) was echoed in our community here in Hawaii. Nineteen couples including the retreat team and two individual members gathered around Christ’s table to fellowship with the Lord at St Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe. The talks, activities and the overall conduct of the retreat revolves around CFC’s theme for 2026: “In the One, we are one!”

Anchor Verse: 1 John 1:3-4 (Good News Translation) "What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We write this in order that our joy may be complete."

We engaged in various activities, including Celebrating the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick , praying the Rosary, Praying the Divine Mercy, Praise and Worship, Talks and Faith Sharings and Fellowship around the “table” where we do not only shared food but stories that inspired one another and strengthened our bond of brotherhood and sisterhood. Read more...

(Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“Lord of Life, you have given us the gift of water, source of fruitfulness, freshness, and hope. It quenches thirst, nourishes the earth, and heals wounds.” - Pope Leo XIV’s September 2026 Prayer Intention Video

Surrounded by the vast blue Pacific and the healing waters of Hawaiʻi, we are constantly reminded of the abundance of water in our midst. Morning and evening tropical rains and windward mauka showers are so familiar that we can easily take these quenching gifts for granted. That makes September an especially meaningful time to reflect on this precious resource.

In observance of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV invites us to celebrate the Season of Creation, from September 1 through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology and the environment. This month, the Holy Father asks us to pray “for the care of water…that there be a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.”

Water also holds deep meaning in our Christian faith. Read more...

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

September 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM
St. Theresa Church, Kihei

On average, one person dies by suicide every two days in Hawaii. They have often suffered in silence for years, but their tears were known to God.

Their family members and friends often grieve alone afraid to share what happened, but God hears every cry.

Join us as a community of faith to remember our loved ones, to lift them up in prayer, and to ask God for his healing and peace.

Flyer available HERE.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
St. Stephen Diocesan Center, Kaneohe

All parish ministry leaders are invited to come together on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, for an opportunity to reconnect, receive important updates, share resources, and build community. Priests and leaders in faith formation, sacramental preparation/OCIA, stewardship, youth ministry, young adult ministry, and other catechetical ministries are encouraged to attend. Participate in person at St. Stephen Diocesan Center or via Zoom.

RSVP HERE. Flyer available HERE.

Sunday, September 20 at 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
St. Andrew Kim Taegon Oratory, Honolulu

Join the Korean Catholic Community for a special Catholic Hawaiʻi Bicentennial celebration honoring St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea’s first Catholic priest, and the rich history of the Catholic faith in Korea. The day includes a short film and seminar, Holy Mass, Korean lunch, traditional games, and fellowship. All are welcome!

RSVP encouraged: catholichawaii200.org

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, Septemer 26, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
St. Elizabeth Church, Aiea

How can we better support parents and families as the primary faith formers of their children? Pastors, parish leaders, catechists, and families are invited to a practical workshop presented by Jayne Mondoy on Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea. Participants will discover practical ways to listen to families, strengthen faith in the home, and build a parish culture that supports parents in passing on the faith. Parish teams are especially encouraged to attend, but individuals are welcome!

Register today! Visit the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis registration page or contact oec@rcchawaii.org | 808-203-6747 for more information.

Register HERE. Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, September 26, 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.

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Chaminade University

Join young adults from across the islands for an evening to meet and get to know our new bishop! Together, we’ll celebrate the Eucharist, enjoy pupus and fellowship, and sit down with Bishop Castori for a Q&A where we can ask him the fun questions, the important questions…and everything in between!

Have something you’ve always wanted to ask a bishop? Be sure to submit a question for Bishop Castori when you register!

Register and submit your questions HERE by September 30.

Flyer available HERE.

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

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

Our Lady of Sorrows
Memorial - September 15

The roots of today’s memorial can be traced back to the New Testament, but the memorial wasn’t celebrated as a universal feast of the Church until 1814. Prior to that, devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows first emerged during local celebrations around the Mediterranean in the eleventh century.

In 1233, seven devout men in Florence each had a vision from the Blessed Virgin Mary, inspiring them to form a religious community that would later be known as the Servites. Around the year 1240, these same men received another vision of the Mother of God, accompanied by angels. Read more...

(Image credit: Carlo Dossi, 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.

Apostleship of the Sea-Hawaii Ministry: Encountering, Then Accompanying, ‘Strangers’

Talk Story: Water, a Gift Without Borders

Saint of the Week - Peter Claver

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

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