JOAN’S HONOLULU: A BOOK SIGNING AT THE CATHEDRAL
I have been with my friends Trip and Jan McKinney at their home in Aiea since August 5th. The view from my lanai is rather spectacular and I’ll post some photos in a day or two, including several of Pearl Harbor.
Sunday Jan and I attended Mass at Honolulu’s Our Lady of Peace cathedral after which I spent several hours signing books in the gift store next to the church. As people came in before or after a Mass, I met quite a number of fans, in addition to making new ones here in Honolulu.
As you can see in these photos, I received two magnificnt leis Sunday morning when my name was announced at Mass as the “star” of EWTN television and radio!
Jan and I share a Kodak moment during the signing.
One of my friends here is Alika Cullen, general administrator of the diocese of Honolulu: We became friends a few years ago and see each other at least once during my Hawaii vacations when I visit the diocesan offices.. Alika is a valuable assistant to Bishop Larry Silva, a friend since 2008 whom I will see tonight. He recently returned from Krakow and World Youth Day and I am anxious to hear all about it.
Jan and I walked through part of the Hyatt Regency lobby on our way to lunch at the Moana Surfrider.
We enjoy lunch at the Beach Bar terrace restaurant at the Moana Surfrider.
A Sunday afternoon ride along the coast outside of Waikiki –
My favorite tree, the monkey pod tree –
Look at this crater –
Now look at this path that people are walking on to reach the top
A beach made famous in the movie “From Here to Eternity” –
Surf crashing against the lava rock –
A blow hole in the lava rocks –
POPE FRANCIS’ RECENT TWEETS
AUGUST 9: We ask for respect for indigenous peoples whose very identity and existence are threatened.
AUGUST 8: When there is dialogue in the family, tensions are easily resolved.
AUGUST 7: We oppose hatred and destruction with goodness. We live in societies of different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and sisters.
POPE DEPLORES “SENSELESS AND BRUTAL” ATTACK ON PAKISTANI HOSPITAL
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his condolences after the attack on the hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, which killed over 70 people.
The majority of the victims were lawyers who had gathered to mourn the assassination of the president of the Baluchistan Bar Association, Bilal Anwar Kasi, who was killed earlier in the day.
The telegram sent by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin reads:
Deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life following the attack on a hospital in Quetta, His Holiness Pope Francis sends heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased, to the authorities and to the entire nation, as he offers the assurance of his prayers for the many injured victims of this senseless and brutal act of violence. Upon all who mourn and upon all who have been affected by this tragedy, His Holiness invokes the divine gifts of consolation and strength.
CHURCH RESPONSE
Earlier the Catholic Bishop of Faisalabad, Arshad Joseph who’s also the President of the Church’s National Commission for Justice and Peace, condemned the bombing calling it “an inhuman gesture that cannot be tolerated.” Bishop Joseph urged the government to take action, saying “it has a duty to improve security measures” in order to guarantee the right to life of its citizens. The Bishop noted that the province of Balochistan where the attack occurred has suffered more than 14 hundred violent incidents during the past 15 years.
Pakistani lawyers were taking part in rallies across the nation on Tuesday and are also boycotting court proceedings to protest the violence.
Joan's Rome 