New Announcement of Bishop Larry Silva

The Most Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, announces the following pastoral changes in the Diocese of Honolulu:

source: Catholic Hawaii

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New Vicar General
Father Marc Alexander, who has served the diocese with great energy and vision and the Vicar General since 2006, has requested a six-month sabbatical. I have granted him this well deserved sabbatical, which will begin on February 1, 2011. He will serve as Vicar General until then, and upon his return after the sabbatical will receive a new assignment in the diocese.

Father Gary Secor, currently the Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in East Honolulu, will become Vicar General effective January 1, 2011. For the month of January, he will share the responsibilities with Father Marc Alexander, and will become the sole Vicar General on February 1, 2011. Father Secor will continue to serve as Pastor of Holy Trinity until July 1, 2011, when he will become full-time Vicar General and a new pastor will be named for Holy Trinity Parish.

Vicar for Clergy
Father Khanh Hoang, the current Vicar for Clergy, has received my permission to minister in a Mainland diocese for one year, beginning in June, 2011. His physicians have determined that the “vog” (volcanic fog) in Hawaii is detrimental to his health, so he will see if a change in environment helps reduce his frequent allergic reactions. He has served the clergy and the diocese with great distinction as Vicar for Clergy.

Father Manuel Hewe, currently Pastor of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Parish in Mililani, will become the Assistant Vicar for Clergy, effective January 1, 2011, while remaining Pastor in Mililani. On July 1, 2011, he will assume full-time duties as Vicar for Clergy and a new pastor will be named for St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Parish.

I am most grateful to Father Marc Alexander and to Father Khanh Hoang for their outstanding service to our diocese. They will be greatly missed. I am also grateful to Father Gary Secor and to Father Manuel Hewe for accepting these new responsibilities.

Mele Kalikimaka

Here was the card from our dear bishop, Bishop Larry Silva, and his staff -- just in case you didn't see it here at the Catholic Hawaii website.

Bishop Larry's message this Christmas is found in the Hawaii Catholic Herald.

Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year!

Christmas isn't over yet! And how wonderful that is!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

To all our priests, a most blessed and joyful Christmas! May you all be blessed more than ever as you face the coming new year with its challenges, yet filled with hope -- for Christ who is Way, Truth, and Life lives in you. May you always experience his joy in all your ministries, and personal life.

Our Most High Priest be praised now and always!

View the greetings of our Pauline sisters, there at the Pauline Boooks and Media Center in Honolulu.

On Priests: Remember the Saying...

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Picture source

The following is from a prayer card.

If the priest is a saint, his people will be holy.
If the priest is holy, his people will be good.
If the priest is good, his people will be fair.
If the priest is fair, his people will be mediocre.
If the priest is mediocre, his people will be bad.

Pray for your priest.

According to Adoro, this quote is by St. Jean M. Vianney. Thank you!

He who honors a priest, honors Christ.
He who insults a priest, insults Christ.
- St. John Chrysostom

If I saw an angel and a priest,
I would bend my knee;
first to the priest, then to the angel.

- St. Francis of Assisi

Prayer source Catholic Prayer Cards. Please be sure to visit their site. They have the most wonderful prayer cards, etc. at very reasonable prices.

Ordination of Hawaii Seminarian Anthony Wayne Rapozo Will be Streamed Lived this Thursday

Anthony is third from the left.

Photo courtesy of the Hawaii Catholic Herald/.

Anthony Wayne Repozo will be ordained this Thursday, December 16th.

You can watch it live here at Hawaii Catholic TV.

On Thursday, December 16th at 6 p.m., we will be streaming live the Ordination of Anthony Wayne Rapozo as Transitional Deacon at the Immaculate Conception Church in Lihue, Kauai.

Please return to this page 15 minutes before start of ceremony.

What an honor for those not able to be present in Kauai, to be able to watch the ordination as it happens. Thank you Mr. Fielding for letting us know.

I would ask the Spiritual Moms and everyone to keep Anthony in your prayers.

Looking Back: Jubilarian Celebrations 2010, Part I

Praise our God, our Creator and One who chooses our vocation!

Today is a very special day for we celebrate the lives of men and women in the priesthood and religious life. Mass, of course, is the hightlight of the event; afterwards, each priest, brother, nun or sister celebrating 50, 60, 70 and 75 years of their profession or ordination is recognized. What a joy this occasion is!

This blog honors them all. We thank you, each one of you, whom God called to minister to his children one way or another. You are all a blessing to us. Your service and dedication is an inspiration!

Jubilee Celebration for Clergy and Religious
Saturday, May 1, 2010
St. Theresa, Co-Cathedral

75 Years
Sister Maria Seraphina Maziliauskaite, SSCC

70 Years
Brother Patrick Hughes, SSCC, Profession
Sister Alice Roberta Benzing, CSJ
Sister Julie Louise Thevenin, SSCC

60 Years
Reverend Maurice Cardinal, MS, Ordination
Reverend Michael Sawyer, OSB, Profession
Sister Tomasa Marcos, CSJ
Sister Mary Carmen Paas, CSJ
Sister Joan Chatfield, MM
Sister M Jeanette Joaquin, OSF
Sister Georgene Perry, SSCC
Sister Cecile Marie Duarte, SSCC

50 Years
Reverend Francis Peterson, Ordination
Reverend Henry Sabog, Ordination
Reverend Russell J. Roide, S.J., Profession
Brother Robert Hoppe, SM Profession
Sister Linda Quinones, BVM
Sister M. Jovita Agustin, OSF
Sister M. Davilyn Ah Chick, OSF
Sister M. Severine Bartolome, OSF
Sister Rochelle Liu, OSF of Philadelphia
Sister Joan Roddy, OSF of Philadelphia

25 Years
Reverend Gordian Carvalho, Ordination
Reverend Marc Alexander, Ordination
Reverend Napoleon M. Andres, M.S., Ordination
Reverend Edward Popish, SSCC, Ordination
Sister Laura Rhoderica Brown, FSP
Sister Carol Ann Gambsky, OSF of Christian Charity

Source of list: Catholic Hawaii website

Looking Back: Jubilarian Celebrations 2010, Part II

Bishop Larry Silva, looking proud and pleased

Celebration of Mass to honor our Lord Jesus Christ, our Most High Priest

Honoring our priests... and brothers, nuns and sisters, here!

These are just a few of them. I wish I had taken a picture

of each one of our priests with Bishop Larry Silva,

but my camera was slow and I was situated

in a very unsuitable spot. I am learning! (with a giggle here!)

Bishop Larry with Fr. Gordy of Sacred Heart Parish

Our bishop with Fr. Keahi receiving for Fr. Edward Popish, SS.CC

Fr. Russel Roid, SJ

I had the opportunity to serve food afterwards

so some of the nuns, sisters,

and priests couldn't bypass my table

without me taking a picture of them!

Vicar General Fr. Marc Alexander

celebrates 25 years of ordination

He couldn't join in the celebration due to a Mass

he was presiding in another parish.

My diocese, Diocese of Honolulu, celebrated today, May 1,

the lives of priests, brothers, nuns and sisters on their

50th, 60th, 70th, and 75th anniversary of ordination or profession.

This blog honors them and the Risen Christ present in each one of them.

Congratulations!

Aloha and Mahalo Nui Loa!

Jubilee Celebration for Clergy and Religious
Saturday, May 1, 2010
St. Theresa, Co-Cathedral
75 Years
Sister Maria Seraphina Maziliauskaite, SSCC
70 Years
Brother Patrick Hughes, SSCC, Profession
Sister Alice Roberta Benzing, CSJ
Sister Julie Louise Thevenin, SSCC
60 Years
Reverend Maurice Cardinal, MS, Ordination
Reverend Michael Sawyer, OSB, Profession
Sister Tomasa Marcos, CSJ
Sister Mary Carmen Paas, CSJ
Sister Joan Chatfield, MM
Sister M Jeanette Joaquin, OSF
Sister Georgene Perry, SSCC
Sister Cecile Marie Duarte, SSCC
50 Years
Reverend Francis Peterson, Ordination
Reverend Henry Sabog, Ordination
Reverend Russell J. Roide, S.J., Profession
Brother Robert Hoppe, SM Profession
Sister Linda Quinones, BVM
Sister M. Jovita Agustin, OSF
Sister M. Davilyn Ah Chick, OSF
Sister M. Severine Bartolome, OSF
Sister Rochelle Liu, OSF of Philadelphia
Sister Joan Roddy, OSF of Philadelphia

25 Years
Reverend Gordian Carvalho, Ordination
Reverend Marc Alexander, Ordination
Reverend Napoleon M. Andres, M.S., Ordination
Reverend Edward Popish, SSCC, Ordination
Sister Laura Rhoderica Brown, FSP
Sister Carol Ann Gambsky, OSF of Christian Charity

Source of list: Catholic Hawaii website

Sunday Night Live - SOAR - Fr. Groeschel, CFR Support Our Aging Religious

Pope Benedict's Message to Seminarians

Priesthood: A profession with a future?
Letter from the Pope about the greatness and current state of priestly vocation.

Madrid, October 2010.– Benedict XVI has just published a message to all seminarians world wide that highlights the need for priests in all ages throughout history. The letter begins with his personal testimony:

“When in December 1944 I was drafted for military service, the company commander asked each of us what we planned to do in the future. I answered that I wanted to become a Catholic priest. The lieutenant replied: “Then you ought to look for something else. In the new Germany priests are no longer needed”. I knew that this “new Germany” was already coming to an end, and that, after the enormous devastation which that madness had brought upon the country, priests would be needed more than ever.”

Continue reading here.

Today's Reading

Today's reading summarizes our bishop, the bishop of Hawai'i, Bishop Larry Silva.

"For a bishop as God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant,
not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive,
not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness,
temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled,
holding fast to the true message as taught
so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine
and to refute opponents."
Titus 1:1-9

We continue to pray for Bishop Larry Silva that he may continue to be a good shepherd of the flock in Hawai'i. We pray for Fr. Mark Alexander as well, all priests in the diocese, and all priests in general.

Video 'Priesthood, men with a mission' makes call to change the world

EWTN Live - Seminary Life Today - Fr Mitch Pacwa, SJ with Fr Robert Barr...

EWTN Family Prayer - Vocations to the Priesthood

All Catholics Must 'Cultivate' Priestly Vocations

Find out what's the latest on vocations. Be inspired to pray for single men, teens and young adults (women for the convent or sister religious) to consider the priestly or religious vocation. Be bold. Smile and open the conversion, then ask politely if they might want to become a priest or sister. Plant the seed of vocation. Now, or anytime. It has worked through me, it can work through you, too.

Yet, on a global level, the total number of seminarians is higher today than it was in 1978 when John Paul II became pope. During the almost 27 years of his pontificate, he inspired many young people to embrace a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life. As he said in “Novo Milenio Ineunte,” “Young people, whatever their possible ambiguities, have a profound longing for those genuine values which find their fullness in Christ. … If Christ is presented to young people as he really is, they experience him as an answer that is convincing and they can accept his message, even when it is demanding and bears the mark of the cross” (NMI, No. 9).

Priests should not only invite young men to consider a vocation to the priesthood, but also attract them by their priestly integrity and joy. Parents also should be willing to encourage their children if and when they wish to discern a vocation to priesthood or consecrated life. At the same time, teachers and just simple Catholics, when they see a particularly promising youth, should also encourage him or her to think about dedicating their lives to God’s service.

More of this article here.

Pope's Message to Those Contemplating Priesthood

"Anyone who wishes to become a priest must be first and foremost a 'man of God,' to use the expression of Saint Paul (1 Tim 6:11). For us God is not some abstract hypothesis; he is not some stranger who left the scene after the 'big bang.' God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. In the face of Jesus Christ we see the face of God. In his words we hear God himself speaking to us. It follows that the most important thing in our path towards priesthood and during the whole of our priestly lives is our personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ. The priest is not the leader of a sort of association whose membership he tries to maintain and expand. He is God’s messenger to his people. He wants to lead them to God and in this way to foster authentic communion between all men and women." ~~~Pope Benedict XVI, Letter to Seminarians, October 18, 2010

Father Marc Alexander's Silver Jubilee

The Vicar General of the Diocese of Honolulu, is celebrating his 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Happy Anniversary, Father Marc! Ad multos annos!

The Lord bless you and give you peace and joy in your priestly service.

EWTN Family Prayer - For Mothers

Seminarian Anthony Rapozo

Anthony Rapozo is to be ordained as a transitional deacon on Thursday, December 16, at 6:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception, Lihue, Kauai.

via Diocese of Honolulu on Twitter.

Please keep Anthony and all our seminarians in your daily prayers.

Pope Names New Heads of Congregation for Clergy and Cor Unum

Listen carefully, one of the priests was the organizer for the Year for Priests.

Divine Mercy Conference Starts Today!

Click on poster to see details!

Source:

Divine Mercy Center of Hawaii
Home of the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy (EADM) in Hawaii

Information

Thank you, Esther G., for the first posting on the event.

Holy Hour for Vocations Tomorrow

Tomorrow is First Wednesday of the month. There will be a Holy Hour of Adoration for Vocations at the St. Therese the Co-Cathedral, on School Street, tomorrow at 6:15 pm to 7pm.

Please join us! Father William Kunisch asked me to invite all the spiritual moms.

One of Our Spiritual Sons is Leaving Hawaii

Oratorian Father George Busto is leaving Hawaii on Oct. 8 for a parish and hospital work in Middletown, Conn., after five years of service as a priest in Hawaii.

You can read the rest over at the Hawaii Catholic Herald.

It is with much sadness that I post this. Father Busto has been a real blessing to the people in Hawaii, especially those close to death. Personally, I want to share that he gave a very beautiful blessing to one of my friends, who was dying and who was not even Catholic. He comforted my friend's family in countless ways with his kind, gentle and unassuming way.

Please keep Father in your prayers.

Scenes from a Parish Visitation by the Bishop

Bishop Silva was the celebrant at all the weekend Masses at Saints Peter and Paul Church. It was a joy to be with our bishop, the priests and deacons together, celebrating the Holy Mass. Here are some photos.

The Bishop's Crozier

 The Processional

Offertory

The Consecration

The Recessional