Message to Our Spiritual Moms With Regard to Father Marc Alexander

Photo Source

It is with much sadness that we recently learned that one of our spiritual sons has left the active priestly ministry. Let this be a wake up call for us, their spiritual moms, to keep them ever present in our thoughts and prayers and to offer sacrifices. By having them ever-present in our thoughts and prayers, and by offering up sacrifices for them God will see that they remain ever faithful and steadfast as His priests. Our blessed Mother will protect them from the snares of the devil.

The canon lawyer of our diocese, Fr. Marvin Samiano, has made it clear that Father Marc Alexander has not left the priesthood. He is still a priest. He had asked Bishop Larry to be relieved of his priestly duties, but not to grant him permission to leave the priesthood entirely. Please pray for Fr. Marc as he embarks on a new mission. May he always be guided by our Lord and may God use him well for His glory. May the projects, including housing for the homeless in Chinatown, be on its way to fulfillment.

Thank you for your prayers and support for our priests! God bless you abundantly!

In Christ,
Easter and Esther
Coordinators - Spiritual Moms Apostolate, Diocese of Honolulu

Aspiration

Picture source

O Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us and on all our priests.

Acceptance Rite of the Diaconate Candidates

January 23rd marks the candidacy journey of seventeen men in the Diaconate; sixteen of whom are married. The Acceptance Rite was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, and was attended by the wives and family.

Let us pray for these men called to enter the more rigorous formative four years of the Diaconate. Mahalo!

Special Announcement from Bishop Larry

Please pray for our priests.


Via the Diocese of Honolulu

Statement regarding Father Marc Alexander



On Sunday, January 16, 2011, Father Marc Alexander informed me that he is planning to leave the active priestly ministry. He also informed me that he has already accepted employment in a public position in the secular sphere. As a consequence of his decision to leave active priestly ministry I have relieved him of his duties as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Honolulu and all positions related to these appointments.



At the end of December I announced that I had granted Father Marc Alexander the six month sabbatical he had requested for rest, study, and spiritual renewal. I was shocked and extremely disappointed by his recent decision to withdraw from priestly ministry, and I am sure that many will be as shocked and surprised as I was.



Father Alexander has served the Diocese of Honolulu with great distinction as a priest for twenty-five years, and has contributed greatly to the Diocese in his last five years as Vicar General. We are grateful for all he has done. Let us pray for him.



Most Reverend Larry Silva

Bishop of Honolulu

God Will Raise Up Holy Priests

Picture source

God Our Father, please send us holy priests, all for the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, all for the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with St. Joseph. Amen.

Yes, Catholics Need More Priests.

Via Sue Cifelli

Seven Quick Takes: How to Foster Vocations

Check out 7 inspiring ideas for fostering vocations in our families.

The Practicing Catholic: Seven Quick Takes: How to Foster Vocations

Vocation Awareness -- Quote of the Day

Saint Damien of Moloka'i

Leper Priest of Hawai'i

Statue at St. Augustine Church in Waikiki

"Each person must discover his or her own personal vocation and respond to it with generosity.”
— Pope John Paul II

National Vocation Awareness Week

NATIONAL VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK
January 9 – 15, 2011
From Fr. Peter Dumag, Director of Vocations
Source: Catholic Hawaii

January 9 – 15, 2011 is National Vocations Awareness Week. It begins with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Let us remember to pray for priests and consecrated men and women this week, and for married couples and families. Send a card to a priest or consecrated person this week, thanking them for the gift of themselves given to Christ and to his body, the Church. Pray for more vocations to priesthood and consecrated life, and consider a vocation to priesthood and consecrated life.

I ask you to consider the following:
- include an intention at the Masses on this week from January 9-15
- place a notice about this week on your parish bulletin
- consider placing the Diocesan Prayer for Vocations in your bulletin, newsletters,
website, or other means of communication

Diocesan Prayer for Vocations

Heavenly Father, your divine Son taught us
to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His vineyard.
We earnestly beg you to bless our Diocese and our world
with many priests, deacons and religious who will love you
fervently and gladly and courageously spend their lives
in service to your Son's Church,
especially the poor and the needy.
Bless our families and our children, and choose from our homes
those whom you desire for this holy work.
Teach them to respond generously
and keep them ever faithful in following your Son Jesus Christ,
that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
and with the inspiration of Saint Damien and Blessed Marianne
the Good News of redemption may be brought to all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton - Letter to a Seminarian

Mother Seton, whose feast we celebrate today,  had a great reverence for the priesthood. She wrote the following to a seminarian undecided about his vocation:

To be engaged in the Service of our adored creator, to be set apart to that service,...to plead for Him, to be allowed the exalted privilege of serving H im continually, to be his Instrument in calling Home the wandering soul, and sustaining, comforting and blessing your fellow creatures-- are considerations which bear no comparison with any other and should lead you to consider the very possibility of your realizing the hope they present as the most precious and valued gift life can afford...A man may be a very good man in the pursuit of any other profession- but certainly that of a clergyman is the easiest, surest road to God, and the first, the highest, and most blessed that can adorn a Human Being."

Source

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!



Thank you to my good friend, Fr. Mark Wheelan, S.O.L.T., for sending me this video that contains a lovely prayer for the new year. Fr. Wheelan came to Hawaii for the Divine Mercy Conference in October 2010, as the main confessor and healer for the event.

Let us continue to pray for our priests, especially for Fr. Marc. Alexander, Fr. Khanh Hoang, Fr. Manny Hewe, and Fr. Gary Secor. Mahalo nui loa!