Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Aloha, Fr. Khanh Hoang





























































Fr. Khanh Hoang,
Deacon Fred and Deacon Modesto,
Margaret and Carl Berger, Mela and Eric Kim, and the diaconate formation group

The news that a good priest leaves a diocese or a parish brings many of us an unpleasant feeling. On the other hand, though it is not exactly a time of rejoicing over God's unfolding of mysteries, we can put our trust in him knowing that he has the best of plans, and even the best of interests.

Fr. Khanh Hoang has been with our diocese for many years now; I would say about ten. He served at St. Jude's Church and had been our Vicar for Clergy after that. He leaves the Diocese of Honolulu this Thursday, May 26. He flies to California and embarks on a cross country trip from there to Florida, where his new parish awaits him.

Our aloha, mahalo, and prayers are with you, Fr. Khanh! May your vacation be as rejuvenating as God desires it to be!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Friday, May 6, 2011

Pray for Tornado Victims

Pope Sends Prayers and Support to Tornado Victims

WASHINGTON (May 2, 2011)—Pope Benedict XVI was saddened to learn of the death, devastation and suffering caused by the April 25-28 tornadoes across the Southern United States and sends his prayers and support to victims and those engaged in relief and rebuilding efforts, according to a message from the Vatican.




In a May 2 communiqué to Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, Alabama, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, wrote:

“His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was saddened to learn of the tragic consequences of the devastating tornado which struck Alabama and neighboring states, and he asks you to express his deep solidarity and pastoral concern to those affected by this natural catastrophe. He joins all of you in offering fervent prayers that Almighty God will grant eternal peace to those who have died and consolation and strength to the homeless, injured and suffering. Upon the local civil and religious leaders, and upon all engaged in the work of relief and rebuilding, he invokes the divine gifts of wisdom, strength and generous perseverance.”


Source: USCCB

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Mothers of Priests Group Supports Sons' Vocations


MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (CNS) — When Father John Helmueller was ordained to the priesthood 10 years ago for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D., he was not the only member of his family to assume a new role.

His mother Mary, who lives in Maplewood and is a parishioner at St. Jerome, felt so blessed to become the mother of a priest on that day. But at the same time, she wasn’t quite sure what that meant for her own life.

Helmueller began to think and pray about ways to make connections with other mothers whose sons were priests, whether in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis or elsewhere, so that they could come together to find support and companionship with one another.

Five years ago, Mary Helmueller contacted Father Joseph Johnson, rector at the Cathedral of St. Paul, looking for some assistance with her plan.

“He agreed to be our spiritual director and selected three other mothers of priests to help me start a group in the archdiocese,” Helmueller said.
The entire article can be read here.

Mahalo to the Deacon's Bench.

Praying the Memorare Daily for Vocations During the Month of May


In a pastoral letter on Mary's Humilty, Cardinal Carberry recommended that we pray the Memorare daily during the month of May, for more vocations.

Month of May: Humility of Mary and Praying the Memorare for Vocations.

I would ask that all the spiritual moms join in praying this prayer for vocations, our seminarians and our priests.

Daily Mass at Cathedral


Just in case you didn't know, there continues daily Mass schedule at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace at 6:30am and 12n.

Please be in firm resolve to pray for our priests who are in convocation retreat this week, with special mention of Fr. Scott Bush, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ewa Beach. Fr. Bush is still in residence at his parish, with minimal responsibilities as he is physically required to regain strength. Bishop Larry Silva had given him this special order.





Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Woe to Those Who Do Not Respect Priests!

Picture source

"Blessed is that servant of God who has confidence in priests who live according to the laws of the holy Roman Church. Woe to those who despise them. Even if they fall into sin, no one should pass judgment on them, for God has reserved judgment on them to himself. They are in a privileged position because they have charge of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which they receive and which they alone administer to others, and so anyone who sins against them commits a greater crime than if he sinned against anyone else in the whole world."

Saint Francis of Assisi
The Admonitions
Admonition XXVI

Mahalo to Portiuncula the Little Portion

Pray for our Priests


Our local priests are having their convocation retreat this week. Please keep them in your prayers that they may have a truly rejuvenating spiritual excursion. May they be filled with God's blessings and all that they need in their journey to God and with each other.

Mahalo!

Can. 276 §1. In leading their lives, clerics are bound in a special way to pursue holiness since, having been consecrated to God by a new title in the reception of orders, they are dispensers of the mysteries of God in the service of His people.

§2. In order to be able to pursue this perfection:

4/ they are equally bound to make time for spiritual retreats according to the prescripts of particular law;

Can. 278 §1. Secular clerics have the right to associate with others to pursue purposes in keeping with the clerical state.

§2. Secular clerics are to hold in esteem especially those associations which, having statutes recognized by competent authority, foster their holiness in the exercise of the ministry through a suitable and properly approved rule of life and through fraternal assistance and which promote the unity of clerics among themselves and with their own bishop.

Movie: Of Gods and Men


Good movies come by rarely these days, but when they are in the theaters we shouldn’t think twice about going. If we spend money for coffee or clothes, we sure can spend what we earn into something that goes beyond personal satisfaction: We invest our resources into creative works meant to stir hearts that seek God for the grace he freely gives -- to be active, to be a part of, and to be passionately involved in his dynamic plan that points to common good.

What a powerful movie Of Gods and Men is! Shared by a good priest and friend of mine, I didn’t hesitate to hold my daughter’s hand so we could run to the theater to catch the first evening show. Thank you, Fr. Paul.

Enjoy the trailer.



Under threat by fundamentalist terrorists, a group of Trappist monks stationed with an impoverished Algerian community must decide whether to leave or stay.


Monday, May 2, 2011

"Bring Flowers of the Fairest" and May Crowning Invitation



Mahalo to Lisa Graas for sharing this rare video.

BTW, there will be a May Crowning this Saturday (the day before Mother's day) at Sacred Heart Church. It begins at 10:00am. There will be a procession, the faithful will honor our lady with flowers, we will crown our lady and then we will pray the Rosary. This is one of the beautiful songs that is sung.

Please feel free to bring flowers or leis for our dear blessed Mother.

Remember, our Lady is the dear Mother to all our priests!