Ad Limina Visit 2020: The bishop has landed!

 

The Diocese of Honolulu’s Bishop Larry Silva and Msgr. Gary Secor have arrived in Rome. Msgr. Secor said that Blessed Sacrament Father Bob Stark, who is working with the Vatican Office on Migrants and Refugees, requested that he and the bishop visit the “Angels Unaware” sculpture. (Photo courtesy of Msgr. Secor)

Bishop Larry Silva accompanied by Msgr. Gary Secor, vicar general, is in Italy this month through early February, primarily for his ad limina visit to the Vatican and Pope Francis. Here’s a report back from Msgr. Secor on the start of their trip. Note the 11-hour time difference between Hawaii and Rome when reading.

Here we are in front of the sculpture, “Angels Unaware” by Timothy Schmalz.  It is a depiction of migrants on a boat and is in St. Peter’s Square, having been dedicated by Pope Francis on World Migrant Day in Sept. 2019.  Blessed Sacrament Father Bob Stark, our Office for Social Ministry director, is working with the Vatican Office on Migrants and Refugees—among his many other duties—asked us to send him this photo.

As you can see, we are alive and well having made the multi-time zone journey to Rome via Atlanta where we had a 12-hour layover (and a good nap at a hotel!).

We arrived in Rome on Sunday morning and concelebrated Sunday evening Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica with a cardinal of the Papal Household, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica Cardinal Angelo Comastri.

We had dinner last night with Marianist Deacon Brandon Paluck, who was briefly in Hawaii. This week we are at Hotel Sant’Anna in Pio Borgo very near St. Peter’s Square. Today, on the feasts of Sts. Fabian and Sebastian, we are hoping to go to the Basilica of St. Sebastian and the catacombs there.

By the way, we are praying in the light of the tragic deaths yesterday morning at Diamond Head. May all Rest In Peace.

Aloha,
Msgr. Secor