Tuesday within the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time (V39)
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Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy smiled Sept. 26 as the family faith formation workshop got underway at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)

Celia K. Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald

quipped with the expertise of local leaders and resources from a national group, the Diocese of Honolulu is working to help move Catholic parents and families toward the center of faith formation for their youngest members: their children, from infants to high schoolers.

A recent workshop gave parish stakeholders from across the diocese — pastors, catechists, faith formation leaders, families and individual parishioners — an opportunity to learn more about how they can strengthen faith in the home, build a culture that supports parents as their children’s main faith teachers, and simply listen to families and their needs.

Led by Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy, the diocese’s former director of faith formation who now is a national consultant with the National Community for Catechetical Leaders, the Sept. 26 workshop at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea included several dozen representatives from parishes across Oahu. Read more...

By Celia K. Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald

Damien Memorial School will begin a new chapter in its decades-long history Oct. 11 when its name will officially change to Saint Damien School.

The transition will be marked with a celebratory Mass that day at 11 a.m. in the school’s Bishop Scanlan Gymnasium. Oct. 11 is the date on which, in 2009, Father Damien de Veuster was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming St. Damien of Molokai.

The name change may seem small, but it is significant, said Lanson Kupau, chair of Damien’s board of directors and a 1982 graduate.

“We are not simply memorializing Damien,” he said. “We are celebrating St. Damien and the way he lived.” Read more...

(Shutterstock.AI)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“May your Church be an open house, a safe space where everyone has a place—a community that accompanies and never excludes, that listens without judging and draws near without fear.” - Pope Leo XIV’s October 2026 Prayer for Mental Health

As we pray for Pope Leo XIV’s recovery following his lung cancer surgery on Oct. 13, we remember the many people facing serious illnesses and the fear surrounding a diagnosis. Illness touches more than the body. It can unsettle our security, strain relationships, and leave us searching for hope. The Holy Father’s October prayer for mental health invites us to recognize the dignity of all people experiencing emotional and mental distress. Whether someone faces cancer, depression, a chronic condition, or another illness, each person deserves compassion, and a sense of belonging.

Pope Leo’s begins his prayer acknowledging the hidden wounds people carry: “God of life, You know the innermost depths of our hearts—the light and shadows within us, the silent wounds that sometimes no one sees.” How many people sitting beside us at Mass carry invisible wounds? Perhaps a teenager struggling with anxiety, a parent awaiting test results, a kūpuna experiencing loneliness, or a grieving family. Each of us sometimes needs help carrying a heavy burden. Here in Hawaiʻi, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, housing insecurity, and economic hardship have affected emotional and spiritual well-being. For families recovering from disaster, rebuilding a home is only part of healing. Grief and uncertainty can remain long after repairs are finished. Read more...

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.

Saturday, October 24, 2026
St. Joseph Church & School, Waipahu

The Office of Evangelization & Catechesis invites catechists, parish ministers, Catholic educators, OCIA teams, liturgical ministers, and anyone seeking to deepen their Catholic faith to a day of formation centered on Sacred Scripture.

Participants can choose from nine courses exploring topics including biblical typology, the Gospel of Matthew, Marian typology, Scripture in the liturgy, women in the Bible, and more. No prior theological or biblical training is required.

Schedule:
7:00 AM Mass | 8:00 AM Check-in | 8:30 AM Welcome & Prayer
Sessions: 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM & 1:00 PM
Lunch on your own

Early Bird Registration through October 9: $12 per session or $36 for the full day
After October 9: $15 per session or $45 for the full day

Register: https://app.jotform.com/catholichawaii/oec

Flyer available HERE.

Saturday, October 24, 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.

Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church, Punahou

Join us for a free workshop on Catholic Advanced Healthcare Planning and Directives, where we guide you through the essential steps of aligning your healthcare decisions with your Catholic faith. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of Catholic teaching on end-of-life care, ethical considerations, and the importance of creating advanced directives that reflect your values.

RSVP online at www.hawaiifamilyforum.org/cahcd or email eandrade@rcchawaii.org.

Flyer available HERE.

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

Saint Paul of the Cross
1694–1775
Memorial - October 20

Paulo Francesco Danei, now known as Saint Paul of the Cross, was born in Ovada, in what is today northwestern Italy. In a family of sixteen, he was the oldest of the six children who survived infancy. His parents were devout Catholics who instilled their faith in their children. His father, a merchant and man of great faith, was more concerned about God and the lives of the saints than he was about worldly goods. Paul’s devout mother introduced her children to a devotion to the Blessed Mother and used to tell them about Christ’s Passion and the lives of the saints, especially the desert hermits. This sparked a great faith in Paul and a desire for prayer and solitude, a desire that never left him. Read more...

(Image credit: Plet philippe, 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.

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One ʻOhana: What It Means to Be Human

Saint of the Week - Callistus I

Diocesan Guidelines for Speaker Approval

How to Order a Papal Blessing?

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