Tuesday within the last week of Christmas (V1)
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Maui young adults participate in an icebreaker activity during a recent event in Wailuku. (Photo courtesy of EPIC Ministry)

By Celia K. Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald

A new opportunity for young adults in the Diocese of Honolulu to pursue faith formation and service is in the works thanks to funding from a national philanthropic foundation.

The diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis announced in December it is gearing up to launch The Huakai Project this month, an initiative that aims to create “a vibrant ecosystem of small groups of young adults, ages 18-39, that foster spiritual growth, a deeper sense of belonging and a greater desire to serve across the Hawaiian Islands.”

The project is being funded through a partnership between the Diocese of Honolulu and the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life.

“Huakai” means “journey” in Hawaiian, explained OEC Director Lisa Gomes and Associate Director Kainoa Fukumoto in an email interview with the Hawaii Catholic Herald. Thus, the goal of the small groups is to “form compassionate leaders and active disciples who huakai together, or journey together, in living out the call to serve others, especially those in need.” Read more...

By Celia K. Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald

Before Kerry Alys Robinson officially began her role as president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA last year, she was already working to support Catholic Charities Hawaii in the wake of the deadly wildfires on Maui.

Robinson then paid a visit to Catholic Charities Hawaii’s Maui office and Honolulu headquarters this past March. She expressed gratitude for the agency’s hard work and outlined how the national organization has assisted the relief effort and is continuing to do so.

Robinson will return to Honolulu this month to speak at the annual Red Mass, a liturgy in which the church prays to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom for Hawaii’s public servants. Read more...

From the Office of Social Ministry

On this Epiphany 2025, we begin the Jubilee Year as “Pilgrims of Hope” spreading the joy of the season all year round. Mahalo to the Pūʻā Foundation and all the volunteers from St. George Parish in Waimanalo and other faith-based groups who helped families affected by incarceration celebrate the Annual Star Light Star Bright event at the Womenʻs Community Correctional Center on December 7, 2024.

For more than 20 years, the Diocese of Honolulu has been working with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (formerly called Department of Public Safety) to help incarcerated mothers bond with their keiki. Read more...

Watch the 2024 Star Light Star Bright video on YouTube HERE.

(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...

(Worranan Junhom / Shutterstock.com)

From Lisa Gomes
Director, Evangelization and Catechesis

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!

The Diocese has a new partnership with Catholic Social Media by Prenger Solutions Group. Catholic Social Media is an all-in-one social media scheduler filled with content and resources for you. We want to make this available for you! We hope that you will learn to use this tool to improve your digital presence, delight your parishioners, and spread the Gospel on social media.

Catholic Social Media is going to make communicating with your parishioners and neighbors easier. It’s a perfect complement to Flocknote, bulletins, and the parish website, and the Catholic Social Media customer service team has a proven track record of helping parishes communicate effectively.

We're hosting a training webinar on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 12 noon Hawaii time to share more information about this. Those who are responsible for social media at your parish are encouraged to participate in this training. Register HERE. 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

Every Tuesday & Thursday beginning
January 21 - March 11, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
St. John the Baptist Church, Honolulu

Are your suffering? Are you searching for answers? Do you feel lonely in the church? Join this special catechesis "Because He Loves You, Come and Listen" for families, adults, and youth at St. John the Baptist Church. For more information, contact Dr. Antonio Ramos at (808) 721-0557.

Flyer available HERE.

Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Honolulu

Join this special Mass celebrating our beloved saint's feast day and birthday with Bishop Larry Silva. Attendees will receive a special gift after Mass.

Flyer available HERE.

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.

Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Frances Wong, the mother of Deacon Derek Wong, who is assigned to St. Jude Church, Kapolei. May she rest in peace.

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 André Bessette
1845–1937
Memorial – January 6

During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). In many ways, these words summarize the life of Saint André Bessette. The only caveat is that Brother André was the one opening the door for countless thousands of others during his life, not having the door opened for him. For forty years, Brother André was the doorkeeper at the Collège Notre-Dame in Côte-des-Neiges, Quebec, while serving as a professed Religious of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Read more...

Christ the King Catholic Church, 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"

JANUARY

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

FEBRUARY

Presidents' Day Holiday, Feb 17

NEWS

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

Bishop's Homily for Christmas Day

Bishop Larry Silva's Christmas 2024 Message

Incarcerated Women, Families Reunite for the Holidays

Embrace Forgiveness

Saint of the Week - Pope Saint Sylvester I

Restoring Communion from the Cup

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

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