The church in the islands in 2008

A review of stories published by the Hawaii Catholic Herald over the past year

January

n   The first Maryknoll Sister from Burma (Myanmar), Ja Htu Bu “Sarah” Male, settles into the Maryknoll community in Hawaii.

n   The annual Red Mass for state legislators and public officials takes place Jan. 17 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. Rwandan genocide survivor and author of “Left to Tell” Immaculée Ilibagiza is the guest speaker.

HCH file photo Bishop Larry Silva and vicar general Father Marc Alexander hold up a copy of the diocesan “road map.”

n   Due to rising costs, Catholic Charities Hawaii and the Diocese of Honolulu “suspends” the Island Treasures celebration held for the past 11 years to honor outstanding Hawaii lay parish volunteers from across the state.

n   To mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and foster unity among Christians in the islands, the Diocese of Honolulu hosts an ecumenical evening prayer service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace on Jan. 24.

February

n   The U.S. House on Feb. 2 passes by voice vote legislation that would authorize a memorial at Kalaupapa, Molokai, for the more than 8,000 Hansen’s disease patients forcibly sent there between 1866 and 1969. A related Senate bill needed for the memorial to be built remains in committee as of Dec. 2008.

n   The Diocese of Honolulu opens an office for its “With Grateful Hearts” capital and endowment campaign.

n   The diocese introduces the “Witness to Jesus: Diocesan Road Map for Pastoral, Program, and Facility Needs” strategic plan to Hawaii Catholics the weekend of Feb. 9. The top priorities are: Leadership Development of Clergy, Lay Staff, and Volunteers; Youth and Young Adult Programs; Faith Formation; Homelessness; Physical Facilities and Land Assets; and Repair and Maintenance of Church and School Facilities; and New Parishes and Facilities and Management of Land Assets.

n   Over the next several months, Bishop Larry Silva appoints strategic planning implementation committee and task force members.

March

n   Oceanic Time Warner Cable starts offering the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), on its digital cable channel 408. Previously Hawaii residents could receive the channel only through satellite TV.

n   The Catholic Church in Hawaii receives 185 new members into the church at the Easter Vigil, March 23, in parishes throughout the diocese. The total is 28 more than last year. Around 140 adults and children also receive Confirmation and Holy Eucharist bringing them into full communion in the church.

n   Bishop Silva appoints Deacon John Coughlin and his wife Kathleen as directors of the Permanent Deacon Formation Program in preparation for a new deacon class in fall 2009. The previous directors of the Permanent Deacon Formation Program were Deacon Bill McPeek and his wife Flo.

n   Twenty-seven Hawaii priests, brothers, sisters and deacons celebrate their 60th, 50th and 25th anniversaries of ordination and profession at the annual Diocesan Jubilee Celebration on March 28.

April

n   Forty-two Hawaii Catholics plus Bishop Silva get tickets to attend Masses with Pope Benedict XVI in New York City and Washington D.C. during his April 15-20 visit to the United States, which was the first trip to America in his pontificate.

n   On April 29, the theological commission of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints approves the healing of Hawaii resident Audrey Toguchi from cancer as the second miracle needed for Blessed Damien de Veuster to be canonized. Bishop Silva also publicly announces Toguchi’s name for the first time in an e-mail sent on the same day.

n   The Hawaii state legislature passes a resolution apologizing to the Hansen’s Disease patients of Kalaupapa for their forced isolation by the government and thanking them for their sacrifice.

May

n   With a Mass and luau on May 10, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Kalaupapa holds a triple celebration of the 100th anniversary of the parish church, the feast day of Blessed Damien and the installation pastor Sacred Hearts Father Felix Vandebroek.

n   Prompted by the highly publicized closings of Molokai Ranch and Aloha Airlines, Bishop Silva writes a “A Parish Pastoral Response to Job Loss” to Hawaii parishes to encourage outreach efforts.

n   Jon Cabico is ordained a “transitional” deacon for the Diocese of Honolulu on May 30 at his home parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pearl City.

June

n   The Molokai Catholic Community changes its name to Blessed Damien Catholic Parish. It will become St. Damien Parish when Damien is canonized.

n   Capuchin Franciscan Brother Marvin Bearis of Ewa Beach is ordained a “transitional” deacon on June 7 in New York, the first Hawaii-born Capuchin to reach the diaconate.

n   Bishop Larry Silva celebrates his first Solemn Pontifical High Tridentine (Latin) Mass on June 29 at Blessed Sacrament Church, Honolulu, for Oahu’s Latin Mass community, in which he confirms 15 people.

July

n   On July 3, Pope Benedict XVI signs a decree confirming the miraculous healing of Audrey Toguchi from cancer, leaving only the scheduling of the canonization date for Blessed Damien before he is declared a saint.

n   More than 230 Hawaii pilgrims, including Bishop Silva, travel to Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day 2008, July 15-20, which is presided over by Pope Benedict. XVI.

n   In the annual priest shuffle, 13 Hawaii parishes receive new administrators or pastors in July and August clergy reassignments. Three parishes also receive new associate pastors, or parochial vicars.

n   Seven priests new to the islands — six of whom are from the Philippines — puts the number of clergy from the Philippines working in Hawaii in the majority of active diocesan priests.

n   Two Windward Oahu parishes, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Waikane and St. Roch in Kahuku, each gets its own parish administrator. They have been sharing one for the past five years.

August

n   On Aug. 1, the Office for Social Ministry transfers operation of its Big Island food bank, The Food Basket, Inc., to a new community non-profit board of directors.

n   The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet celebrate the 70th anniversary of the community’s arrival in Hawaii with a luau Aug. 23 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa.

n   After 40-plus years of services, the Hilton Hawaiian Village cancels its Sunday Mass.

n   Bishop Silva appoints four deacons from Micronesia to diaconal service at parishes in Hawaii with special emphasis on diaconal ministry to the Micronesian Community. Another Micronesian deacon is appointed in the fall.

September

n   St. Joseph Mission in Paauilo on the Big Island is torn down Sept. 2, almost two years after it was severely damaged following an earthquake off the west coast of the island.

n   The Maryknoll Sisters mark their 80th anniversary in Hawaii with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Silva on Sept. 13.

n   A Faithful Citizenship conference is held at Chaminade University of Honolulu, Sept. 20, to guide Hawaii Catholics on church teachings during the election year.

n   After 48 years as administrative assistant to three Hawaii bishops, Patricia Tossey retires on Sept. 30.

October

n   A hundred-or-so men and boys, including Bishop Silva, and a handful of women march through Honolulu on Oct. 9 as part of the 14th Annual Men’s March Against Violence.

n   Bishop Silva participates in an Oct. 18 ecumenical prayer service and blessing of the known and unknown graves in Kalaupapa, Molokai.

n   Oct. 25 marks the 35th anniversary of the arrival of the contemplative community of Carmelite Sisters in Hawaii.

n   The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation announces on Oct. 28 a $3 million donation to the Maryknoll School gym, just one of many large pledges to Catholic schools and organizations in 2008 including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and Saint Louis School.

November

n   At the start of the school year, Hawaii’s Catholic schools are down 616 students, the lowest total enrollment of students since 1946.

n   The Sisters of St. Francis culminate their 125th anniversary celebrations with a reenactment, Nov. 8, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace of the arrival of Blessed Marianne Cope and the first Franciscan Sisters in Hawaii.

n   A group of 10 Hawaii pilgrims led by Marianist Father Francis Nakagawa attend the beatification of 188 Japanese martyrs, Nov. 24, in Nagasaki, Japan.

December

n   Sacred Hearts Sister Rose Henry Reeves writes in the Herald about how Hindu extremist violence against Christians in India’s state of Orissa, has affected people and caused “fear and anxiety” for her and fellow Sacred Hearts Sister Grace Tom. Both sisters are serving as missionaries in the city of Bhubaneswar in Orissa.

n   Blessed Damien Catholic Parish, the Office for Social Ministry and various Hawaii parishes continue their outreach to Molokai residents affected by the closing of Molokai Ranch with a Christmas Toyland event on Dec. 13. They also held a Thanksgiving gathering, school supply drive and canned food collection.

n   For the seventh year, the diocese sponsors its annual “Star Light, Star Bright!” Christmas party for children of women prisoners Dec. 13 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.