On the day of Global Rosary Relay June 19, 2020 - Diocese of Honolulu

By Easter Almuena
Special to the Herald

In this day and age, we continue to perfect the use of technology. Sometimes accessing its use is not enough when necessary parts go missing. This is what happened with malfunctions we experienced during the livestreaming of the Sorrowful Mysteries in our diocese Friday, June 19.

Prior to the event, equipment belonging to operator John Fielding was taken from a certain location, disabling Hawaii’s part in the livestream of the global rosary relay, a worldwide recitation of the rosary sponsored by Worldpriest. Nevertheless, the rosary, said in four churches in Hawaii, was completed.

Deacons and their wives and our newly ordained transitional deacon led different mysteries: Deacon Pat and Cora Constantino in St. Joseph Church in Makawao, Maui (Agony in the Garden); Deacon Tom and Evie Adams in Sacred Heart Church in Hawi (Scourging at the Pillar); Deacon David and Gloria Watson in St. Joseph Church in Hilo (Crowning with Thorns); and Deacon Ace Tui in the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace (The Carrying of the Cross); and Deacon Joe and Easter Almuena (Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord) also in the cathedral.

The plan was to simultaneously use livestream and Zoom, focusing on one location to the next.

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace completed the recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries. About 20 parishioners joined in, seated six feet apart in observance of social distancing. We were glad to have Deacon Modesto Cordero director of the Office of Worship; Denise Oliveira, secretary to Bishop Larry Silva; and Darlene Cachola, daughter of Deacon Pat and Cora Constantino, join us.

Our thanks to Fielding for all his technical services and all those who spiritually joined us!

When technology doesn’t work we return to the basics. In fact, this experience brings us to a better place where we can be gathered spiritually with the same goal of praying for our priests — every Thursday. Worldpriest has created an offshoot of the Global Rosary Relay called Rosary Thursday, where people from all over the world pray weekly the Luminous Mysteries for our priests; or, for those who pray the rosary as a daily regimen, to consciously offer it up for the same intention.

In our diocese, we pray first and foremost for Bishop Larry Silva, our priests, and all priests around the globe — for their sanctification, to be good shepherds, and in thanksgiving for their priestly vocation.

Easter Almuena is the Worldpriest repesentative for Hawaii.

Global Rosary Relay June 19, 2020 - Diocese of Honolulu

                                                     Photo by Hawaii Catholic Herald

Almuena
Special to the Herald

Over one million rosaries will be recited worldwide on Friday, June 19. Global Rosary Relay, in its 11th year, requests everyone to invite friends, family and groups to spread the word and join in. Rosaries will be said for the sanctification of all priests and in thanksgiving for their priestly ministry. Added to the intentions is the eternal repose of those who died from COVID-19, and relief and healing of those who have the virus.

Worldpriest, the creator of Global Rosary Relay, chooses the day for this event when our church celebrates the feast of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Cathedrals, basilicas and shrines all over the world are designated a time to pray a mystery, circling the world non-stop with the recitation of the 20 decades over and over again. For more information, go to worldpriest.com. Click on “Rosary Relay.”

Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is No. 53A and is leading the Sorrowful Mysteries. It will spiritually receive its turn from Basilica Nuestra Senora del Pilar, Buenos Aires, in Argentina after its completion of the Luminous Mysteries. When the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is finished, it will spiritually send forth to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, the recitation of the Glorious Mysteries.

Join us on Friday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m. via John Fielding’s Hawaii Catholic TV at hictv.com or via his Zoom account by clicking or entering in the search field: us02web.zoom.us/j/7045737662. The meeting ID is 704 573 7662. To facilitate joining, download the Zoom app a few days before the event. On the day of the event, log in 10-15 minutes early, since there may be people from other parts of the world who will be joining us. You may also pray privately or with your family anytime anywhere.

For more information contact Easter Almuena at Easter.Almuena@gmail.com.

Opening of the Centennial Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima's Appearance

We encourage all families, young adults, leaders of prayer groups and their members, church leaders, our priests, and clergy to attend this event. 

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, the statue that travels around the world will be here on our Islands from January 29 to February 4, 2017. The event below marks the opening of the centennial celebration of Our Lady of Fatima's first apparition to the three children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii invites all to be a part of this celebration. Here in Hawaii, this event -- Solidarity in Prayer -- will be held at Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace at 1184 Bishop Street on Thursday, October 13, 2016 from 7 - 8 p.m. 

Our very own bishop, Bishop Larry Silva, will have the statue of Our Lady of Fatima that was created by the same artist of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima available at the cathedral. Here is excerpt for the October 13th celebration:

“The statue of Our Lady of Fatima we venerate at this evening’s service was made for Sister Mary Dolorine Pires, SS.CC. by Jose Ferreira Thedim, carved the wooden statue of Our Lady of Fatima that now is venerated in the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal.  Our statue is an exact replica of the one in the Shrine in Fatima and is one of only a handful that was made by the same sculptor.  Sister Mary Dolorine’s father pleaded with the artist to make a special copy of the statue for his daughter, and Sister gifted the statue to Bishop Larry Silva with the intention that it be the legacy of the Diocese of Honolulu.”

Don't miss this significant event in our diocese, Diocese of Honolulu.

For questions or more information, contact Deacon Modesto Cordero, Director of the Office of Worship at mcordero@rcchawaii.org or at (808)585-3342 or Easter Almuena, assistant to the director at ealmuena@rcchawaii.org. Mahalo!

Diocesan link to event, click HERE.

Holy Family Celebration 2012

Holy Family Church, November 25

Thank you, Dann Ebina, for these photos!

Advent reflections on my blog Passionate about LIFE.

Arch. Fulton Sheen: The Meaning of the Mass, Part II

Come and See, Vocations Day of Reflections

Jesus says,
"Come and See."

John 1:39

Saturday, October 8, 2011
9am to 3pm
Newman Center
RSVP: (808)366-7075

A time of prayer and personal reflection
Talks on vocational discernment and religious life
A chance to meet religious sisters, priests, and brothers from different congregations
An opportunity to deepen your understanding of where God is calling you to serve Him

This event is sponsored by
LARC (Leadership Association of Religious Congregations in Hawaii) Vocation Committee.

Check out their blog here.
Photo above found in this blog.

Rev. Mark J. Gantley, JCL,Taught Code of Canon Law in the Diocese of Honolulu

Fr. Mark J. Gantley presiding at Mass, giving a lecture, and posing with the deacon formation group















The course Code of Canon Law has been integrated into the curriculum of the diaconate formation program of the Diocese of Honolulu. Rev. Mark J. Gantley, who is the pastor of St. John the Baptist Church and St. Agnes Mission of the Diocese of Syracuse in New York, gave the course on the second weekend of the months of April, May, and June at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.

Designed by Fr. Mark himself, the curriculum provides basic concepts foundational to the Code of Canon Law of the Latin Church and other sources of canon law of significance to our diocese. The topics comprise structure, authority and power within the Latin Church, canonical rights and obligations of the Church and the people of God, faculties of the clergy, teaching and sanctifying functions, delicts and penalties, laws governing baptism, and a considerable amount of coverage on laws involving marriage.

Here's what Mike Weaver, one of the men in the deacon formation program has to say: "There is a richness and a depth of beauty in Canon Law that I was not aware of prior to this course. Thanks to Fr. Mark, I believe all of us in the class now see Canon Law as much more than simply a list of regulations and rules to be followed in lock step, but rather as a source of life in the Spirit of our Church."

Rev. Mark J. Gantley was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Syracuse in 1991. He earned his licentiate in canon law (JCL) in 1998 at the Catholic University of America. He has served as a judge on the Tribunal for the Diocese of Syracuse and served for two years (2007-2009) as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Honolulu. (Source: Syllabus for Code of Canon Law, deacon formation, Chaminade University)

Aloha and mahalo nui loa, Fr. Mark!

Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace Celebrates 171st Groundbreaking

Today marks the 171st anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

On July 9, 1840, after many years of persecution of the Roman Catholic Church in the Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaiian Government issued Edict of Toleration, paving the way of freedom to religious expression. King Kamehameha III, as an act of reconciliation, granted to the Roman Catholic missionaries a piece of royal estate for the building of its first church on the grounds of Hawai’i. Under the leadership of Apostolic Vicar Etienne Jerome Rouchouze, the Holy Mass was celebrated on that day to coincide with the Feast of Our Lady of Peace, the patroness of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary of which the missionaries were members. Among those who were in attendance were 280 Native Hawaiians who received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and first Holy Eucharist. It was not until August 14, 1840 when the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace would stand and, though she would need more improvements, was consecrated and dedicated.

Today, the Holy Mass was celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva, Bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu. It was concelebrated by the Cathedral's pastor, Rev. John Berger, and assisted by Dcn. Clarence DeCaires and Dcn. Keith Galang. The music was provided by Calvin Liu while sacristan service by Jonathan Farinas.

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.

One week from today...

Bishop Larry Silva celebrated his installation and 5-year term as bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu last Wednesday, July 21. The Holy Mass he officiated was held at his home parish, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. Among those who concelebrated were Vicar General Fr. Marc Alexander, Fr. William Kunisch, Fr. Peter Dumag, and Fr. Jon Cabico; Dcn. John Coughlin was the assisting deacon.

I still recall the day when Bishop Larry was installed as bishop of our diocese; it was a beautiful day, the 21st of July, in the year 2005. There were over a hundred of us who sang for that occasion, who are parishioners from different choirs on the islands. Thousands flocked at Blaisdell Arena to witness the occasion: to welcome the new bishop and be a part of an exciting history-in-the-making, after having been without a bishop for many months.

Cake was served at the Kamiano Center after Mass. Before that, of course, were pictures taken of bishop and many of our parishioners -- with many smiles, a true gesture of our aloha spirit.

It was a joy to be at Mass that day! It was a blessing to see four of my children serve once again. I was hoping to have taken many pictures but my camera that was working for many months, after it was ran over by a car, finally bade me farewell. It was my husband's gift for me three years ago, so it was a very special tool and gadget for blogging and preserving hallmark moments. I am, however, looking forward to having a new one so I can take many pictures of events in our parish and be able to portray the joy of serving -- of serving God, right here in Hawai'i!

The Diocese of Honolulu's Very Own Priests and Sisters

Check out the rest of the talent over at Hawaii Catholic Herald's blog