Clarence Richard Silva

Clarence Richard Silva, popularly known as Larry Silva (born August 6, 1949 in Honolulu, Hawaii), is a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current and fifth Bishop of Honolulu, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on May 17, 2005 to oversee the Diocese of Honolulu. Previous to his appointment to the epicopacy, he served as a diocesan priest and later vicar general of the Diocese of Oakland in California. He is the first person born in Hawaii to lead the Roman Catholic community of the Hawaiian Islands. He is also the second person of Portuguese ancestry to serve the community as its ordinary.

Episcopal ordination and installation

Silva's ordination to the episcopate and installation as prelate over the Hawaiian Islands occurred on July 21, 2005 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena. It was the first joint ordination and installation ceremony in Hawaii as former prelates were already ordained to the episcopate prior to installation. It was also the first such ceremony held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center since 1982.

Related Topics:
Episcopate - Prelate - July 21 - 2005 - Neal S. Blaisdell Center - Arena - 1982

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Silva's ordination and installation was presided over by William Joseph Levada, principal consecrator, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and apostolic administrator of the metropolitan archdiocese of San Francisco to which the Diocese of Honolulu is suffragan. The co-consecrators were Allen Henry Vigneron, Oakland ordinary, and his predecessor, John Stephen Cummins, Bishop Emeritus of Oakland. Several other bishops were in attendance: Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo Higuera, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States; Msgr. Anthony Apuron, Archbishop of Hagatna in Guam; Msgr. Tod Brown, Bishop of Orange; Msgr. Daniel F. Walsh, Bishop of Santa Rosa in California; Msgr. Tomas Camacho, Bishop of Chalan Kanoa (Saipan); Msgr. Quinn Weitzel, Bishop of Pago Pago, American Samoa; Msgr. Wilfredo D. Manpalaz, Bishop of Tagum, Philippines; Msgr. Juan De Dios Pueblo, Bishop of Butuan, Philippines; Msgr. William Skurla, Eparch of the Eparchy of Van Nuys in Phoenix, Arizona; Msgr. John C. Wester, Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco; Msgr. George Thomas, Bishop of Helena; Msgr. Joseph Estabrook of the Military Ordinariate of the United States; Msgr. Richard Garcia, Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento; Msgr. Patricio Alo, Bishop of Mati in the Phillipines; and Msgr. Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop of the Stockton. Roger Cardinal Mahony, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was expected to attend the event, but was unable to attend due to airplane problems in Los Angeles.

Related Topics:
William Joseph Levada - Prefect - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - Metropolitan archdiocese of San Francisco - Suffragan - Allen Henry Vigneron - John Stephen Cummins - Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo Higuera - Apostolic Nuncio to the United States - Msgr. Anthony Apuron - Hagatna in Guam - Msgr. Tod Brown - Orange - Msgr. Daniel F. Walsh - Santa Rosa in California - Msgr. Tomas Camacho - Chalan Kanoa - Msgr. Quinn Weitzel - Pago Pago, American Samoa - Msgr. Wilfredo D. Manpalaz - Msgr. Juan De Dios Pueblo - Msgr. William Skurla - Eparchy of Van Nuys - Phoenix, Arizona - Msgr. John C. Wester - Msgr. George Thomas - Msgr. Joseph Estabrook - Military Ordinariate of the United States - Msgr. Richard Garcia - Sacramento - Msgr. Patricio Alo - Msgr. Stephen E. Blaire - Stockton - Roger Cardinal Mahony - Archdiocese of Los Angeles

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The Episcopal coat-of-arms for Bishop Silva was designed by Father Quang Dong and Thanh Dong of the Diocese of Oakland. Silva means "forest" in Portuguese. The sinister impalement contains three trees in the "forest"; the kukui (Aleurites mollucana) on the right, symbolizing Hawai?i, the birthplace of the bishop, his parents and grandparents. The kukui yields an oil with healing properties that also provides light; the oak (Quercus alba) on the left, symbolizing Oakland (Quercopolitana) where Bishop Silva grew up and where he served as a priest for 30 years; and the cross - the tree of life - in the center, with olive leaves symbolizing Malia O Ka Malu (Mary, Queen of Peace), patroness of the Diocese of Honolulu (Honolulu is translated from Hawaiian as "peaceful harbor") under whose protection Bishop Silva entrusts his episcopal ministry. Bishop Silva's episcopal motto, "Witness to Jesus" derives from Revelation 19:10.

Related Topics:
Diocese of Oakland - Kukui - Oak - Olive - Malia O Ka Malu

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