Members of the Neocatechumenal Way from Newark, N.J., pray before a relic of Blessed Damien at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe, July 9.
Pilgrims learn how to string leis at Aloha Spirit Youth Day in Waikiki, July 11. (Hawaii Catholic Herald photos by Anna Weaver)
Pilgrims passing through receive aloha treatment
By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald
Hundreds stopped in Hawaii on their way to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney to refuel on sun, surf and spiritual and cultural refreshment. And the Diocese of Honolulu laid out the lauhala mat for many of them.
Twenty-five people from the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., led by Father Daren Zehnle, were the first. They arrived July 3 and stopped by the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace on July 6 for Mass. Afterward, wearing visitors’ shell leis they posed for photos by the statue of Our Lady of Peace before heading to hike Diamond Head.
The Neocatechumenal Way brought the largest group — 275 from Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, New York and Newark arriving at different times between July 8 and 17. Hawaii supporters greeted them at the airport with leis and singing.
The first Neo group from Newark listened to catechesis by Bishop Larry Silva on July 9 at St. Ann Parish in Kaneohe, and a talk by St. Ann pastor, Sacred Hearts Father Herman Gomes, on Blessed Damien de Veuster. The pilgrims view Damien artifacts such as his glasses and walking stick and venerated a first-class relic of the soon-to-be-saint — several strands of his hair. The presentation and veneration was repeated two more times for the other Neocatechumenal groups.
Danisa Vasquez of Newark said the Damien presentation came into her life at the right time.
“He helped fill my call from God,” said the 28-year-old, who is discerning her vocation. “I want God to answer my question of what does he want from me in my life.”
Hawaii coordinator Stephen Chappell said the visiting pilgrims would “evangelize in the streets” and some indeed did sidewalk preaching down among the beachgoers in Waikiki.
Hawaii sent 54 of its own Neocatechumenal Way members to Sydney.
Making only a one-day stop were 60 from the U.S. and Mexico under the direction of brothers and priests from the Community of St. John in Laredo, Texas. After celebrating Mass in the cathedral, the group stopped outside for prayers and pictures at the cathedral’s statue, before heading up the Fort Street Mall for lunch and later to Pearl Harbor.
On July 11, the Diocese of Honolulu sponsored “Aloha Spirit Youth Day” at the former Kodak Hula Show venue in Waikiki for 176 pilgrims from the dioceses of Fort Worth, Texas; Laredo, Texas; and Rockville Center, N.Y.
The day started with Mass at St. Augustine Church in Waikiki with Bishop Silva before walking over to Kapiolani Park for cultural activities, talks on Blessed Damien and Blessed Marianne Cope and Hawaii church history, and a sunset rosary on the beach.
Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ Sister Anthony Birdsall of Fort Worth said that everyone in Hawaii had been so welcoming, “To me it’s like a second World Youth Day. The Catholic youth are on fire for God.”
The travelers made leis, had chopstick instructions, took hula lessons and ate shave ice.
Islander Grace Benitez showed two of the 48 Laredo pilgrims, Adriana Perez and Yvonne Rosas, how to play konane, Hawaiian chess.
Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Leo Fisher, traveling with 22 others from Fort Worth, learned proper surfing form — albeit on land and in long, gray friar’s robes — from Brianna Ortega.
With 105 pilgrims, Rockville Centre had the largest group at Aloha Spirit Youth Day. Their coordinator Tom Smith said, “I think this give us an opportunity to learn about native [Hawaiian] culture instead of just going to the beach.” Though he said they’d be doing some of that too.
Slurping down a fruit-flavored shave ice, Laredo’s Bishop James Tamayo talked about the blessings of the WYD experience.
“This first stop here introduces us to a culture we were not at all that familiar with,” he said. “As we head to Sydney, it’s good for us to know that even though we come from different ethnic backgrounds, we’re still so united and close to each other through our faith.”
Assisting in Aloha Spirit Youth Day were the youth and young adult ministries from the parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ewa Beach; Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pearl City; the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa; St. Anthony, Kalihi; St. Philomena, Salt Lake; Holy Family, Honolulu; St. Augustine, Waikiki; St. Patrick, Kaimuki; Star of the Sea, Waialae; Holy Trinity, Kuliouou; and SHWAY.