2008 Priests’ Convocation: “Witnessing to Jesus Together,” Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku Monday, May 5 2 p.m.: check in 5 p.m.: evening prayer 5:30 p.m.: welcome by Bishop Silva 6 p.m.: reception 6:30 p.m.: dinner Tuesday, May 6 6:30 a.m.: breakfast (served 6:30-10 a.m.: ) 9 a.m.: morning prayer 9:30 a.m.: presentation, “Parish Management – Part 1,” by Carol Fowler 11:30 a.m.: Mass 12:30 p.m.: lunch 1:30 p.m.: free time 5 p.m.: evening prayer 6 p.m.: dinner 7:30 p.m.: “Parish Management-2” Wednesday, May 7 6:30 a.m.: breakfast 9 a.m.: morning prayer 9:30 a.m.: presentation, “Spirituality of Celibacy,” by Father John Keenan and Dr. Phil Bohnert 11:30 a.m.: Mass 12:30 p.m.: lunch 1:30 p.m.: free time 5 p.m.: evening prayer 6 p.m.: dinner 7:30 p.m.: presentation, “Priests’ Pension Plan,” by Linda Lee and Bill Burton Thursday, May 8 6:30 a.m.: breakfast 9 a.m.: morning prayer 9:30 a.m.: presentation, “Diocesan Pastoral Plan,” by Father Marc Alexander, Tom Papandrew and Dr. Colleen Sathre 11:30 a.m.: Mass 12:30 p.m.: lunch 1:30 p.m.: free time 4 p.m.: presentation, “Diocesan Capital Campaign,” by Gary Hawkins and Father Alexander 5 p.m.: evening prayer 5:30 p.m.: happy hour 6:30 p.m.: banquet Friday, May 9 6:30 a.m.: breakfast 9 a.m.: morning prayer 9:30 a.m.: Bishop Silva 10:30 a.m.: check-out 11 a.m.: Mass 12 p.m.: departure

Nearly all Hawaii’s Catholic priests will be absent from their parishes and workplaces next week as they join Bishop Larry Silva at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s north shore for the 2008 Priests’ Convocation.

The stay-over gathering of more than 90 priests, May 5-9, will be a mix of prayer, camaraderie, spirituality and business. This year’s schedule indicates it will be mostly business.

The meeting will feature a special two-part presentation on parish management by Carol Fowler, the director of the Department of Personnel Services for the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Diocesan finance officer Bill Burton and retirement specialist Linda Lee will explain the priests’ pension plan and vicar general Father Marc Alexander and Gary Hawkins of Community Counseling Services will speak on the diocese’s upcoming $40 million capital campaign,

Father Alexander, diocesan planning director Tom Papandrew, and the chairwoman of the diocesan Road Map Implementation Commission Colleen Sathre will give a presentation on the diocesan pastoral plan.

Psychologist and Blessed Sacrament priest Father John Keenan and psychiatrist and University of Hawaii medical professor Dr. Phil Bohnert will present “Spirituality of Celibacy.”

Bishop Silva will give opening and closing remarks. Each full day will include morning and evening prayer sessions and Mass.

The convocation’s theme is “Witnessing to Jesus Together,” an adaptation of Bishop Silva’s episcopal motto, “Witness to Jesus.”

All Hawaii priests in active ministry are being required to be at the convocation. Military chaplains and Hawaii retired priests are not required to attend but are welcome.

At least one priest in each vicariate who is not attending will be available for ministerial emergencies. Parishes will either cancel daily Masses or substitute Communion services.

The convocation is being coordinated by the diocesan Office of Clergy. The cost for each priest is $1,500, covering all hotel expenses for single rooms and meals, paid for by the parish, institution or department responsible for his salary. Retired priests may attend free.

The diocese had scheduled priest convocations rather sporadically in the past. Now the plan is to have one every year. Priests are also required to go on a spiritual retreat once a year. The convocation is not a retreat.