Clarence Richard "Larry" Silva (born August 6, 1949) is an American Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Honolulu from 2005 to 2026. He is the first Hawaiian-born bishop of Honolulu and the second of Portuguese/Azorean ancestry. Prior to becoming a bishop, Silva served as vicar general of the Diocese of Oakland.
Biography
Early life
Clarence Silva was born on August 6, 1949, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Richard and Catherine Alves Silva at Saint Francis Hospital in Liliha. Clarence Silva is the great-grandson of Azorean immigrants to the United States.
Silva was baptized at Saint Anthony Church in Kailua, Hawaii; while he was still an infant, the Silva family moved to California. He attended Saint John the Baptist School in San Lorenzo, California, and Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California.
In April 2020, Silva announced during a Sunday mass that the diocese was paying millions to settle prior sex abuse cases. Silva also acknowledged that the diocese was still facing a large of number of sex abuse lawsuits.
On May 6, 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation after reaching the customary retirement age of 75.
Honors
- Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 2005 with the rank of grand officer.
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 2013 ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu
- Royal Order of Kamehameha I in 2013 with the rank of knight companion. The citation said that Silva had:<blockquote>"...gained the respect and admiration of the High Chiefs, Chief, Officers, Mamo Hawaii and Na Wahine Hui o Kamehameha I for his ecumenical spirit of aloha, kindness sensitivity to our island ways and for his love of the Hawaiian culture and all the cultures for people from around the world who call Hawaii home."</blockquote>
Coat of arms
Silva's episcopal coat-of-arms was designed by Reverend Quang Dong and Thanh Dong. Silva means "forest" in Portuguese. for that reason the coat of arms contain three trees."
- the kukui tree (Aleurites mollucana) on the right symbolizes Hawaii. It yields an oil with healing properties that also provides light
- the oak trees (Quercus alba) on the left symbolize Oakland (Quercopolitana) where Silva grew up and served as a priest
- the cross in the center, known as the tree of life, has olive leaves symbolizing Malia O Ka Malu (Mary, Queen of Peace), patroness of the diocese.
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops