Tuesday within the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (V31)
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[Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Papaikou (Confirmation & First Communion)]

This is a wonderful day for all of you who are going to receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion. You are dressed in special clothes, and even if some of you can hardly wait to change back to your regular clothes, you know these special clothes indicate that something very special is happening. It’s special that the bishop is here, and maybe you have never seen one of these creatures before! Afterwards you will probably receive special gifts: rosaries, prayer books, medals – maybe even some money. Maybe you will even have a special meal of your favorite foods. But I hope these are not the things you will remember about this day, because all of these things will fade away. Jesus reminds us today to focus not on what is vanity and what will not last but on what will last. Read more...

Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao spoke during the July 13 Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Wahiawa. (Photo courtesy Dann Ebina)

Hawaii Catholic Herald

A trailblazing church leader from American Samoa received a warm welcome last month as he spent several days with Hawaii’s Samoan Catholic Community, filling a week with fellowship, conversation and a final Mass and celebration.

Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao of the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago visited the Diocese of Honolulu July 8-14 and met the faithful through a number of events at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Wahiawa. In addition to celebrating the community’s Samoan-language Mass on July 13, Bishop Tumanuvao also participated in a welcome kava ritual, a meet-and-greet and a faith seminar.

Bishop Tumanuvao, the first Samoan native to lead the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago, was ordained coadjutor bishop of the Samoa-Pago Pago diocese in 2023 and fully assumed the role of bishop last year. Read more...

(Hawaii State Archives. Call Number: PP-71-4-039, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

From the Joseph Dutton Guild

We are happy to announce that the Acts of the Process conducted by the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois regarding an alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of Servant of God Joseph Dutton has been sent to the Dicastery of the Causes of the Saints at the Vatican for study and judgment.

A decision will be made if and when the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has officially declared the Servant of God Joseph Dutton to have lived a  heroically virtuous life. Since this will take some time, everyone is encouraged to pray for a favorable outcome.

We would like to encourage our followers to continue to pray for the intercession of Servant of God Joseph Dutton, in their moments of need and inform us of the potential miracles that may have been granted.

(evrymmnt / Shutterstock.com)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“The parable of the Good Samaritan constantly challenges us to think about our own lives. It troubles our dormant or distracted consciences and warns us about the risk of a complacent faith that is satisfied with the outward observance of the law but incapable of feeling and acting with the same merciful compassion as God.” - Pope Leo XIV, Homily, July 13, 2025

This summer, Pope Leo XIV offered an inspiring reflection on the Parable of the Good Samaritan—calling us to re-focus our lives through the lens of compassion. “The parable,” he began, “is really about compassion. How we look at others is what counts, because it shows what is in our hearts. We can look and walk by, or we can look and be moved with compassion” Instead of pretending not to see the suffering around us, the pope encourages us “to see with the eyes of the heart—looking more closely, empathizing with others, sharing their experience, and letting ourselves be touched and challenged.” This not only transforms how we see others, but also “how we live our life” and our responsibility towards others. “The parable speaks to us first about God’s way of seeing us, so that we in turn can learn how to see situations and people with his eyes, so full of love and compassion.” Read more...

Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Holy Family Church, Honolulu

All men are invited to join the 2025 Catholic Men's Conference. The day will feature guest speakers Bishop Larry Silva, John Edwards, and Sean Berg. The event costs $40 and is free for men under the age of 25. For more information, contact Ron Gochenouer at (808) 206-4420.

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
via Zoom

Broken By Design: How Modern Law and Technology Are Tearing Children from Their Roots

Across America—and increasingly here in Hawaii—the family is under intense cultural and political pressure. From no-fault divorce to surrogacy markets and gender ideology, today’s trends often prioritize adult desires at the expense of children’s needs. In this eye-opening presentation, we’ll examine the powerful forces pulling apart the family, including the redefinition of marriage, the rise of the fertility industry, and emerging legal threats to parental rights.

Rooted in both faith and evidence, we’ll explore why children flourish best when raised by both their mother and father—and why this foundation matters in everything from education and reproductive technologies to modern family law. Together, we’ll reflect on what it means to be a truly pro-child society—one that challenges adults to sacrifice for the sake of the next generation.

Visit www.hawaiifamilyforum.org/them-before-us-webinar to register for this webinar.

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
Mary, Star of the Sea Church, Honolulu

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 “ʻOhana 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 “ʻOhana 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.

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Kalihi Union Church, Honolulu

Helping your children graduate with their faith and values intact

Are you concerned that your children’s faith and values will be negatively impacted in a public school? You are not alone.

At this seminar parents, grandparents & ministry workers will discover:  A powerful way to teach children discernment in class; how to address a concern with a teacher in a gracious way; students’ religious liberties at school; how to teach children a biblical definition of tolerance and more!

Tickets are complimentary but you must register. For more information please visit www.gogateways.org/hawaii2025.

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
St. John Apostle & Evangelist Church, Mililani

This professional development seminar is for public school educators and school leaders. It is not about “education theory.” You’ll learn practical ways to appropriately and lawfully include teaching about the Bible and Christianity as it relates to history, culture, and values across the curriculum.

You’ll also learn how the separation of church and state applies and does not apply in schools. You’ll receive the latest updates on federal and state religious liberty issues affecting students and teachers…and more!

Tickets are $25, register soon! For more information please visit www.gogateways.org/hawaii2025.

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

Transfiguration of the Lord
Feast - August 6

All three of the Synoptic Gospels record the event of the Lord’s Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36). Just prior to the Transfiguration, all three Gospels also record Jesus’ trip with His disciples to Caesarea Philippi, located about thirty miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Caesarea Philippi was a primarily pagan Greek town occupied by the Romans. The Greek god Pan was worshiped there in a cave thought to be bottomless and often referred to as the gate to the netherworld because of its association with the pagan god. It was there that Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then blessed Peter and announced His intent to build His Church upon Peter, declaring that “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it…” (Matthew 16:16–18). Read more...

(Carl Bloch, 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!

AUGUST

Mass of the Holy Spirit for Catholic School Educators, Aug 14

Hawaii State Admissions Day Holiday, Aug 15

50th Anniv. Mass for Vietnamese Catholic Community, Aug 15

Mass for the Deacon Summer Institute, Aug 16

Living Sacred Sexuality Workshop, Aug 16

Installation of Fr. Tui as Pastor of Sacred Heart, Punahou, Aug 16

Mass for 155th Anniv. of Our Lady of the Mount, Kalihi, Aug 17

"Them Before Us" Webinar on Family, Aug 23

Installation of Fr. Resinto as Pastor of St. Catherine, Kapaa, Aug 24

"Keeping Their Faith in Public Schools" Seminar, Aug 29

"Faith, Freedom, and Public Schools" Seminar, Aug 30

SEPTEMBER

Labor Day Holiday, Sep 1

NEWS

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

Leadership Institute Forms the ‘Now’ of the Church

The Good Samaritan: Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart

Nominations for Hawaii Catholic Schools' Innovation Award

Saint of the Week - Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

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