In the hope that the change will allow more people to attend this year, the diocese will celebrate its traditional Red Mass at 9 a.m. on Jan. 14, the day before the start of the legislative session rather than the usual “day after.”
This public liturgy, which Bishop Larry Silva will preside over at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, is the church’s prayer to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance for our Islands’ public servants. More than 1,000 invitations have gone out to officials in the state executive, legislative and judicial branches, and to city and county officials, religious leaders and military officers.
The main speaker this year is Father Robert Stark, the diocesan director of the Office for Social Ministry. His topic is “Faith, Affordable Housing and Public/Private Partnerships.”
Father Stark said his homily will “share some of the exciting examples here in Hawaii of innovative inter-community collaboration around affordable housing” and how these efforts can be expanded by public, private and faith sectors working together.
The Red Mass has been a tradition in Hawaii since 1955. The Red Mass was introduced in the United States from Europe early last century and has become an annual event in Washington, D.C., and other major mainland cities. The Mass is named for the color of the vestments used for a Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Ordained in 1977, Father Stark is a priest of the Blessed Sacrament order. He came to Hawaii in 2010 to serve as a resource developer/community organizer for the diocese and has been involved coordinating Hawaii parishioners in housing and homeless ministries.
Before coming to Hawaii, he worked in community and social justice causes on the mainland, in Latin America and the Caribbean since his seminary days in the early 1970s. He has a doctorate in social ethics from the University of Chicago Divinity School and has also served as a parish priest.
The bishop has also invited government officials and staff to an informal breakfast before Mass at 7:30 a.m. in the Kamiano Center just makai of the cathedral on the Fort Street Mall.
The Red Mass is usually celebrated on the second day of the legislative session. This year Bishop Silva scheduled it for the day before the opening of the legislature in the hope that more government officials would be free to attend.
Last year about 25 state lawmakers, city council members and other civic leaders attended the Mass.