Tuesday within the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time (V5)
Click on Web Version above for best viewing of this eNewsLetter.

(Fra Angelico, Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, fresco, between 1440 and 1442, Convent of San Marco, Florence. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

[St. Elizabeth Church, Aiea (World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life)]

Mary and Joseph could not have been the only ones presenting their 40-day-old son in the Temple around that time. In a culture that greatly valued children, there were probably many couples who went up to Jerusalem to present their first-born sons, as was prescribed by the law of Moses. Yet Simeon and Anna picked out this one child and knew he was different from all the rest they had seen presented there over their many years in the Temple. We are told that it was the Holy Spirit who revealed to them that Jesus was the light of the nations and the long-expected Messiah.

These two holy people saw what others did not see, because they were attuned to the Holy Spirit through their constant prayer. When Jesus appeared there, they were drawn to him like a light shining in the darkness. Read more...

Students from St. Elizabeth School in Aiea lined the sidewalk outside the state Capitol to wave signs as motorists passed by on Beretania Street in downtown Honolulu. (Jennifer Rector / Hawaii Catholic Herald)

Hawaii Catholic Herald

Impassioned appeals for the protection of life filled the rotunda of the state Capitol Jan. 24 as hundreds of people gathered for the annual March for Life in downtown Honolulu.

In addition to powerful speeches and testimonies, participants young and old listened to musical performances, viewed keiki artwork, waved signs along Beretania Street and marched around the Capitol.

Many in attendance were students from campuses across Oahu, from St. Michael School in Waialua to St. Elizabeth School in Aiea to Maryknoll School in Honolulu.

The theme of this year’s march was “Aloha kekahi i kekahi,” or “love one another.” Presenters strived to broaden the push to respect life beyond ensuring protection for unborn babies — their mothers, the elderly, the infirm and people struggling to cope with life’s burdens also deserve support and help, the speakers said. Read more...

(Maxim Ibragimov / Shutterstock.com)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“Dear brothers and sisters: I would like to reflect in a special way on children, their dignity and their welfare. Our world, which can peer into the depths of space, is often blind to the desperate needs of innocent children all around us who are suffering from abject poverty, exploitation and abuse.” - Pope Francis January 8, 2025 Public Audience Message

As we begin the new year, hopefully the Christmas joy of the Christ child’s coming to dwell among us can nourish our efforts in this new year to respond to the reality of vulnerable children in Gaza, Sudan, and in migrant or refugee camps on borders around the world. In his messages for the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis reminds Christians of our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us: "The disciples of Jesus Christ must never allow children to be neglected or mistreated, to be deprived of their rights, or left unloved or unprotected. It is our duty to prevent and condemn any violence or abuse against children. Children hold a special place in God’s heart." Read more...

Scholarships for Students in Hawaii Catholic Schools

Our Catholic schools provide a quality education to students from all ethnic, religious, and financial backgrounds. The Augustine Educational Foundation provides tuition scholarships to students with a financial need in our Hawaii Catholic Schools in grades K-12. Please take a moment and give the gift of education and make a difference in a student’s life. 

Here are the ways you can make a gift:

Online: Visit augustinefoundation.org/donate

Check: Payable to Augustine Educational Foundation. Mail your check to Augustine Educational Foundation, 6301 Pali Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744. Please include your parish/island on the memo of your check for proper parish acknowledgement.

Last year, over $110,000 was generously donated to the Second Collection. 

Your gift to our Second Collection goes to support tuition scholarships in your parish and/or vicariate for the 2025-2026 School Year. 
               
For more information, please call (808) 203-6748 or visit www.augustinefoundation.org.

Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Chaminade University of Honolulu

Join the Marianist Lecture, "Learning from Grief: Epiphany in the Upper Room" with Fr. James Keenan, SJ. He has been a Jesuit of the New York Province since 1970 and an ordained priest since 1982. Fr. Keenan is currently the Canisius Chair, Director of the Jesuit Institute, and Vice Provost of Global Engagement at Boston College. He founded Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church, an international network of ethicists.

Learn more at chaminade.edu/marianist-lecture

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
St. Anthony Church, Wailuku

All are invited to join the 2025 Maui and Lana'i Vicariate Stewardship Day "Bread of Life, Acts of Service."

The day will being with Mass with Bishop Larry Silva and will feature speakers Fr. Poli Ty from St. Joseph Church, Hilo and Tom and Debbie Sategna from Immaculate Conception in Kauai. Lunch will conclude the day's events. Register by using the QR code or by contacting your parish stewardship lead person.

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, February 22, 2025 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 “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 PM 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.

February 26–27, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
St. John Apostle & Evangelist Church, Mililani

Join us as we learn how to be committed to following Jesus through Eucharistic Encounter, leading to Eucharistic Identity poured out in a Eucharistic Life, all on the way to Eucharistic Mission. The two days will feature guest speaker Sister Alicia Torres, F.E., a member of the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago. She has been honored to serve the National Eucharistic Revival in a plethora of ways since 2021. All are welcome!

Flyer available HERE.

February 28–March 2, 2025
St. Anthony Retreat Center, Honolulu

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, you are invited to simply experience a sense of peace and renewal that only a weekend retreat can provide. This dedicated time will allow you to explore and deepen your spiritual practices. Taking place in the cool hills of Kalihi Valley where the beauty of nature abounds, you will be offered a space for prayer, reflection, and connection with the teachings of the Catholic faith in a loving Christian community. The theme of Retreat #128 is “I am yours.”

Flyer available HERE.

Mondays & Thursdays, February and March at 7:00 p.m.
St. Patrick Church, Kaimuki

The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1231 states “By its very nature infant baptism requires a post baptismal catechumenate. Not only is there a need for instruction after baptism but also for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth.

All are welcome to join these talks on Mondays and Thursdays from 7-8pm at St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki. These talks will be given by the missionary team of the Neocatechumenal Way in Hawai’i: Jonathan & Nazarena Stenger with their seven children, Fr. John Wadeson, and Benjamin Paz a seminarian for the Diocese of Philadelphia.

The Neocatechumenal Way is a post-baptismal catechumenate for adults to help people grow in their faith by living with the Scriptures and liturgy so as to experience it in small communities within the structure of the Parish. Pope Saint John Paul II wrote in a letter: “I acknowledge the Neocatechumenal Way as an itinerary of Catholic formation, valid for our society and for our times.”

For more information, please contact Jonathan and Nazarena Stenger at (808) 268-3993.

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

Saint Blaise
Died c. 316
Memorial – February 3

From 1346 to 1353, a bubonic plague commonly referred to as “Black Death” ravaged Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It was the most deadly pandemic in human history, with conservative estimates of its deadly toll reaching higher than 25 million people. Almost half of the people in Europe died in this pandemic. During that plague, many Catholics prayed fervently. Out of that chaos, a new devotion to the “Fourteen Holy Helpers” emerged. Those holy helpers were fourteen saints who were believed to be powerful intercessors, especially to cure illness. Among those fourteen is today’s saint. Read more...

Louvre Museum, Public domain, 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"

FEBRUARY

USCCB Workshop for Clergy on Human Trafficking, Feb 4

2nd Collection for Augustine Educational Foundation, Feb 8-9

Marianist Lecture "Learning from Grief," Feb 9

Mass of the Sick at the Cathedral Basilica, Feb 11

Maui and Lana'i Stewardship Day, Feb 15

Funeral Mass for Deacon Albert Phillips, Feb 15

Mass for the Great Aloha Run / Akua Run, Feb 16

Presidents' Day Holiday, Feb 17

"Being a Disciple of Christ" A Eucharistic Mission, Feb 26-27

"I Am Yours" BCCH Spiritual Retreat, Feb 28-Mar 2

MARCH

Mass for Ash Wednesday, Mar 5

Rite of Election for the Maui Vicariate, Mar 8

Rite of Election for Oahu Vicariates, Mar 9

Chrism Mass for the Maui-Lanai Vicariate, Mar 20

Prince Kuhio Day Holiday, Mar 26

NEWS

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

Bishop's Homily for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

AEF Executive Director Celebrates 25 Years

Following the Light: Epiphany Reflections in the Jubilee Year

Saint of the Week - Thomas Aquinas

Restoring Communion from the Cup

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

Members of Hawaii Catholic parishes may receive a subscription free through the Hawaii Catholic Herald Parish Plan.
Others: $28 Hawaii, $32 Mainland, $35 foreign.

Visit:  www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/subscriptions