Deacon Sousa Takes Part in Ordination

Deacon Larry Sousa, left, holds the Gospels over the head of his longtime friend and Honolulu Bishop-elect Larry Silva.
Also pictured is  Deacon William Buthe of Oakland, Calif. Photo courtesy Rebecca Breyer and the Honolulu Advertiser.

By Deacon Larry Sousa
For the Sooner Catholic

What a surprise!  It started with a phone call early on the morning of May 18th.  The call was from our long time friend, Father Larry Silva, Vicar General for the diocese of Oakland, California.  He was calling us from Hawaii where it was about 3 a.m.

“I have some great news to share with you,” he said.  “Pope Benedict the XVI has named me Bishop of Honolulu.”  Wow!  What a great honor and what a great choice for the church.  Someone is really tuned in to the Holy Spirit in this matter, I thought.  And when he asked me to come to Hawaii to be part of his ordination ceremony, I responded, “I’ll be there.  I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”

I met Larry Silva some 31 years ago at my Pleasanton, Calif. parish of     Saint Augustine.  I was in the pastor’s office when the housekeeper brought him in and introduced him.  He was to be in residence for the next year  as a transitional deacon assigned to our parish.

We immediately became friends.   He was such a kind and prayerful person; a person whom I have imagined that Christ was like.  I just loved it when people would sometimes confuse our names and get us mixed up name-wise.  

Whenever I was referred to as “Larry Silva”  I was flattered.  

Bishop Silva was my model; my inspiration for becoming a deacon.  In fact, back in 1975 he was the first one to “plant the seed” that would eventually lead to my 27 year ministry as a permanent deacon.

Father Larry Silva was ordained a Bishop on July 21st, 2005 and we were there.  So were 4,000 enthusiastic worshipers with about 150 Catholic clergy, 18  bishops, 30 interfaith representatives from Christian denominations and Buddhist temples, the Lt. Governor, mayor of Honolulu and many other government officials.  The entire event was televised throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Imagine sitting down to lunch at the table of Archbishop William Levada, the new prefect for the  Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith,  and the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo;  and your bishop-elect friend. What an honor!

 As I held the Book of the Gospels above Larry Silva’s head and the presider,  Archbishop William Levada read the beautiful and solemn prayer,  I felt as though I was participating in one of the most holy moments of my life.  I truly felt the very powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

I’ve had many memorable moments in my life as a deacon, however, I shall never forget this very special  close moment with Christ.