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.