Tuesday within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord (V53)
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[Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Honolulu (with Opening of Jubilee Year 2025); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu]

Today I received an email from a priest-friend in Myanmar, or Burma, where a civil war has been raging for a couple of years now.  He asked for prayers, because his area is in a “red zone.”  But he told me they had a beautiful celebration of Christmas.  Also today, I watched a live broadcast of the Mass of Christmas Night at the church in Bethlehem, which is over the cave where Jesus was born.  The Cardinal Patriarch of Jerusalem presided, and as we know that area of the world is also rocked by a war that has been going on for almost a year and a half.  Yet they still celebrated Christmas with great joy. Some people will have to celebrate Christmas in the hospital, either because of their own illness or to be with a loved one who is sick.  While never ideal, many will still celebrate this feast with as much joy as they can muster under the circumstances.  All of these situations are counter-intuitive.  We would think Christmas would simply be cancelled; but no, Christmas is still celebrated as one of the most joyful times of year.

This, I believe, is the meaning of hope.  We do not see what we desire – in fact we may see just the opposite – yet we still celebrate with joy.  As we enter this Jubilee Year of 2025 with the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope,” the example of our brothers and sisters who are suffering yet still rejoice is a great inspiration to us.  And we are called, as pilgrims of hope, to give that same example to others.  Read more...

Sacred Hearts Academy students performed a hula Dec. 7 during the “Star Light, Star Bright” event at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua.  (Photo courtesy Pua Foundation)

By Jennifer Rector
Hawaii Catholic Herald

Women sentenced to prison on Oahu got a chance to embrace their children for a one-day event in honor of the holiday season.

On Dec. 7, a total of 38 caregivers, mothers from the Women’s Community Correctional Center and children of the incarcerated women gathered for food, fellowship, fun and family during “Star Light, Star Bright” at WCCC in Kailua.

For more than 20 years the Diocese of Honolulu has collaborated with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to host the program, which aims to reunite incarcerated mothers with their children to promote family ties.  Read more...

(Photo courtesy of Tonata Lolesio)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“We would do well simply to stop for a moment, at the beginning of this year, to think of the mercy with which God constantly forgives our sins and forgives our every debt, so that our hearts may overflow with hope and peace.” Pope Francis on the World Day of Peace, January 1, 2025

At the beginning of the 2025 Jubilee year of Hope, Pope Francis delivered a message titled “Forgive Us Our Trespasses: Grant Us Your Peace” for the World Day for Peace which calls all to participate in establishing God’s liberating justice in the world. “The celebration of the Jubilee spurs us to make a number of changes in order to confront the present state of injustice and inequality by reminding ourselves that the goods of the earth are meant not for a privileged few, but for everyone.” The Pope’s New Years Day provocative peace message urged all to hear the desperate plea for help and forgiveness rising from many parts of the world, “a plea that God never fails to hear.”  Read more...

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, downtown Honolulu

The Red Mass has been a tradition since 1955 for government officials and the community to gather at the beginning of the Legislative Session to pray together.

Bishop Larry Silva will be the principal celebrant and this year will feature guest speaker Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, speaking on “Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Reflections on Servant Leadership.”

The general public is welcome to attend the Red Mass.

The Red Mass will also be livestreamed at https://honolulucathedral.org/live-stream

July 20-31, 2025 in the Philippines

Join Bishop Larry Silva for this special 12-day nativity pilgrimage to the Philippines. The tour will go through Malina, Ilo-Ilo, Cebu, Simala, Batangas, and Tagaytay. The trip includes round-trip airfare, airport taxes & fuel surcharges, land transportation, first-class hotels, daily mass, meals as per itinerary, and a medical protection plan. To learn more, visit travel.nativitypilgrimage.com/silva-philippines.

See the full brochure 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

Pope Saint Sylvester I
c. Late Third Century–335
Memorial – December 31

Little is known about the early life of Pope Saint Sylvester I, but many legends have emerged over the centuries. He is believed to have been born in Rome to Christian parents and raised as a devout follower of Christ. He was ordained a priest in Rome where he served during one of the severe persecutions of the Church.

In 303, Emperor Diocletian and his co-emperor Galerius issued a series of edicts outlawing Christianity. By that time, the Church had substantially expanded within the empire, although it was still a minority religion. The new edicts led to the destruction of churches, the burning of sacred texts, and legal punishments against Christians. When Christians were reported to the authorities, they were required to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods and renounce their faith. Those who refused were often imprisoned, tortured, and even killed.  Read more...

Photo via Wikimedia Commons. Copyright © 2024 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!

There are many opportunities to view Mass via live stream from various churches in the Diocese of Honolulu.

OAHU

Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, downtown Honolulu
Sundays at 10 AM
Weekdays at 12 PM, Saturdays at 12 PM and 5 PM
https://www.facebook.com/HonoluluCathedralBasilica/live
or https://honolulucathedral.org/

Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Kalihi
Sundays at 10:30 AM
https://www.facebook.com/hicocathedral

Mystical Rose Oratory, Kaimuki
Sundays at 10 AM
https://www.facebook.com/mysticalroseoratoryHI/

Mary, Star of the Sea, Waialae-Kahala
Saturdays at 5:30 PM
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVaHZ63dLgyxEujc20LzkAw

Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa
Sundays at 9 AM
https://www.facebook.com/olswahiawa/live
or https://www.olswahiawa.org

Resurrection of the Lord, Waipio
Sundays at 9:30 AM
https://www.facebook.com/ResurrectionHI/live

St. Augustine, Waikiki
Saturdays at 5 PM
https://www.facebook.com/StAugustineWaikiki

St. Joseph, Waipahu
Sundays at 10 AM, Weekdays at 6:30 AM, Saturdays at 7 AM
https://www.facebook.com/StJosephChurchWaipahu/

St. Pius X, Manoa
Sundays at 11 AM
Facebook: Diocese Of Honolulu Evangelization Taskforce

St. Rita, Nanakuli
Sundays at 9 AM
YouTube

St. Stephen, Nuuanu
Sundays at 10 AM
https://www.facebook.com/St-Stephens-Catholic-Church-Nuuanu-100906711581421/live
 

Resources to Prepare for Watching a Livestream Mass:

• "Creating a Sacred Home Environment for the Live-Stream Viewing of Mass"
• "Mass Texts"

DECEMBER

New Year's Eve Holiday, Dec 31

JANUARY

New Year's Day Holiday, Jan 1

Mass with the Rite of Institution of Acolytes for Deacon Candidates, Cohort 11, Jan 12

Annual Red Mass, Jan 14

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday, Jan 20

March for Life Mass and St. Marianne Cope’s Feast Day, Jan 23

March for Life, Jan 24

Mass for Annual Conference of Catholic Educators, Jan 31

NEWS

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

Bishop's Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

Bishop Larry Silva's Christmas 2024 Message

New Transitional Deacon is Waipahu’s ‘Native Son’

The Christmas Spirit of Aloha

Saint of the Week - John of Kanty (Cantius)

Restoring Communion from the Cup

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

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