Eastern Catholic Community in Hawaii

The Eastern Catholic Community in Hawaiokinai encompasses all Catholics of the Eastern Catholic Churches. It is based in Honolulu, Hawaiokinai.

Saint Sophia Eastern Catholic Church is the only community of Eastern Catholics within the state of Hawaiokinai and is located on the island of Ookinaahu. The community meets Sunday mornings at 10:30am for Divine Liturgy in the oratory chapel of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Kuliokinaouokinaou at 5919 Kalanianaole Highway. The current pastor of Saint Sophia is a bi-ritual priest, the Reverend Halbert Weidner, C.O. While remaining a Ukrainian Greek Catholic mission of the Eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago, the parish ministers to the needs of all Eastern Catholics within the state.

History

Beginning in 1975, the community met for many years for Divine Liturgy at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church, Kalihi Kai, Honolulu with the late Reverend Archimandrite Jules C. E. Riotte, Episcopal vicar for the Eastern Rite. The community subsequently met at Saint Sophia Chapel in Waiokinaanae, with Reverend Philip Harmon as its pastor.

On October 29, 2005, Most Reverend Richard Stephen Seminack, Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago visited Hawaiokinai, announced the retirement of Father Harmon, the move of the parish to Kuliokinaouokinaou, and the grant of bi-ritual eparchial faculties to Reverend Halbert Weidner, C.O., pastor of Holy Trinity Church. Bishop Seminack installed Father Weidner as the pastor of Saint Sophia Ukrainian Greek Catholic mission parish. Father Weidner and two other bi-ritual priests as well as various visiting clergy of the Eparchy presently serve the community.

The Eastern Catholic Community of Hawaii is not to be confused with the Eastern Orthodox Communities of Hawaii; the Russian Orthodox Church in Hawaii, the Serbian Orthodox Church in Hawaii, the Greek Orthodox Church in Hawaii, and the American Orthodox Church in Hawaii. These communities are members of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church.

ee also

*Eastern Catholic Churches
*Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu
*Orthodox Church in Hawaii

References

* [http://starbulletin.com/2006/04/15/features/adamski.html "Honolulu Star Bulletin, April 15, 2006," article by Mary Adamski entitled "Old Egg Artistry (Pysankay)"]
* [http://starbulletin.com/2005/10/29/features/story04.html "Honolulu Star Bulletin, October 29, 2005," article by Mary Adamski entitled "Church gets fresh start in new home; St. Sophia Ukrainian Catholic Church aims for regular services with its new priest"]

External links

* [http://www.stsophiaukecath.org/ St. Sophia Greek Catholic Mission]
* [http://www.stnicholaseparchy.org/ Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dchuk.html Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Nicholas in Chicago] - listing at catholic-hierarchy.org
* [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org] - An Orthodox wiki for Orthodox Christians.