Holy Hour will feature relic of St. Junipero Serra

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hono- lulu’s monthly Holy Hour for Vocations will feature a first-class relic of America’s newest saint, Junipero Serra.

The event, set for 5 p.m. July 6 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, will recognize the saint’s July 1 feast day and the work of Serra International, an organization that promotes vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

According to a news release, the relic is a fragment of bone from the Franciscan saint being brought from the mainland to Hawaii for the event, said organizer Chuck Furr, a member of the Serra Club of Honolulu and the Serra International board of trustees. Attendees will receive a holy card to touch the relic to create a personal third-class relic.

Pope Francis canonized Serra, the 18th-century Spanish missionary who founded a string of California missions, in September in Washington, D.C.

Holy Hour activities include the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with Bishop Larry Silva presiding. Furr, a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua and vocations chairman of the state’s Knights of Columbus, will give a talk about the saint.

Refreshments will be served at 7:30 p.m. in the parish hall, where there will be displays on the recent Year of Consecrated Life, and exhibits by religious orders, the diocesan Vocations Office, the Serra Club of Honolulu and others. For more information, contact Furr at chuckfurr@cs.com.

Catholic charismatic conference sign-ups open

Registration is now underway for the 38th annual Regional Charismatic Conference, which will be held July 8-10 at Catholic Charities Hawai‘i in Makiki, 1822 Keeaumoku St.

Hawaii Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services is sponsoring the event, with the theme “Release the Fire, United in One Spirit.” Speakers include the Rev. William Adams, president of the Southern California Renewal Communities, and evangelist and radio host Steve Greco of Southern California.

Admission is free for clergy and religious staff. A suggested early-bird donation is $35 (if postmarked before Thursday). At the door, donations are $50 for general admission, $35 for seniors and $10 for students. Seating is limited.

Registration information is available online at hccrs.net.

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Compiled by Pat Gee, pgee@staradvertiser.com