Hawaii Catholic Herald
Now that the Holy Year has officially begun, the Diocese of Honolulu plans to join the worldwide celebration in which Pope Francis calls the faithful to be “pilgrims of hope.”
Bishop Larry Silva inaugurated the Holy Year, or Jubilee Year, in Hawaii on Christmas Eve at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu.
(Pope Francis had requested that bishops worldwide inaugurate the Holy Year on Dec. 29, but due to scheduling conflicts Bishop Silva opted for Dec. 24.)
During the 11:30 p.m. Mass, a special “jubilee cross” created by Deacon Ray Lamb was carried into the co-cathedral, where it will remain for veneration throughout the year.
According to Father Alfred Omar Guerrero, director of the diocese’s Office of Worship, another jubilee cross has been commissioned to travel throughout the diocese. The plan is for the traveling cross to visit every parish in the diocese “so that people can gather and pray around the cross as a way to be connected to the Holy Father and the events in Rome,” Father Guerrero said.
Along with the cross, study days will be held on different topics related to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” as well as Vatican II documents.
Father Guerrero said participants will be able to obtain a plenary indulgence associated with the Holy Year. Bishop Silva will also lead a pilgrimage to Rome in the fall.
The Office of Worship and the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis are helping to organize Jubilee Year events. Father Guerrero highlighted the traveling cross as a unique feature of the Diocese of Honolulu’s commemoration, and also noted that the study days are significant because they offer faith formation opportunities that had diminished since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Holding local events alongside official Holy Year activities is important, Father Guerrero said, because they can “bring hope to local communities that God has not abandoned his people in this time of uncertainty.” The traveling cross and study are also reminders that all the faithful are “pilgrims of hope.”
