Bishop Larry Silva blesses the public officials gathered at the annual Red Mass, Jan. 14, in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Red Mass homilist Father Robert Stark. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Homelessness and the lack of affordable housing are not insurmountable problems if the groups fighting them find creative ways to work together, said the homilist at this year’s Red Mass, Jan. 14 in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.
“The blessing of a collaborative God challenges us this morning to go beyond the mere visible appearance of cooperation, among faiths, between church and state,” said Blessed Sacrament Father Robert Stark, the director of the diocesan Office for Social Ministry.
The forces that serve the public are called “to deepen our genuine desire to join together, to be nourished by what we share, to be sent forth to labor together on what may seem like impossible tasks for the good of all,” he said.
Father Stark addressed a full church at the traditional annual liturgy that seeks the guidance of the Holy Spirit for Hawaii’s public servants.
Bishop Larry Silva presided at the Mass, concelebrating with 25 priests.
“We rejoice at the presence of civic and government leaders with us today,” the bishop said in welcoming Mass guests. “We share in the work so that God’s peace can reign.”
Approximately 50 government officials were there, about half of whom were members of the Hawaii state legislative and executive branches. The rest represented the City and County of Honolulu, Kauai County, the judiciary and government staff.
In his homily, Father Stark gave examples of collaboration among churches, government, businesses and non-profits that have recently put roofs over peoples’ heads in Hawaii.
These included houses built on the Big Island and Oahu by Habitat for Humanity with the help of Catholic parishes and government agencies, and a Big Island project that recycled donated emergency shelter units into homes for the elderly on church property.
Father Stark also cited joint projects by church, private and public partnerships that provide “transitional homes, work opportunities and family reunification” for former prisoners.
Another example he gave was that of Catholic Charities Hawaii and HOPE Services Hawaii working with private landlords and government funds “to open up hundreds of affordable housing units to the poor.”
He suggested two other ways the state legislature could work to overcome homelessness in 2014:
“Provide the $1.5 million needed to continue the Housing First initiative as a standing budget item.” The “housing first” concept gives stable homes to the chronically homeless before addressing their social problems.
“Restore funding for the Rental Housing Trust Fund to 50 percent of the conveyance tax, and appropriate $100 million to the Rental Housing Trust Fund for at least 600 new units of affordable rental housing.”
Before the Mass started, the cathedral buzzed with the conversations of congregants finding their places and greeting familiar faces until the opening Hawaiian chant and Hawaii Ponoi put everyone in a more pious posture.
Processing in first, mostly dressed in black and wearing red and yellow feather capes and lei, were about 40 members of native Hawaiian societies, traditional Red Mass participants. They included the Koolauloa Hawaiian Civic Club, the Royal Order of Kamehameha, Na Wahine Hui O Kamehameha I and the Daughters of Hawaii.
The invited government figures were seated closest to the altar. They included Kauai Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr., Rep. Henry Aquino, Rep. Karen Leinani Awana, Rep. Rida Cabanilla, House Speaker Joseph Souki and Senate President Donna Mercado Kim.
Also present were Rep. Romy Cachola, Senator Suzanne Chun-Oakland, Rep. Ty Cullen, State, Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Honolulu Police Chief Louis M. Kealoha, Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel P. Neves, and First Circuit Judges Patrick W. Border and Michael D. Wilson.
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie attended the pre-Mass breakfast hosted by the bishop, but not the Mass.
Also in the congregation was a group of 25 seminarians visiting from the Diocese of Brooklyn.
The rest of the church was filled with Catholic Church and school staff, members of religious orders and laity.
Near the close of the Mass, Bishop Silva thanked the public officials for their attendance.
“We don’t always agree, but it is essential that we pray together and pledge our desire to work together,” he said.
Just before the Mass concluded, the civil servants were invited to stand as a group behind the altar for a special blessing by Bishop Silva. The bishop asked the “God of power and might, wisdom and justice” to send his blessing down on them that they may serve the people of Hawaii well.
The Red Mass concluded with the hymn “America the Beautiful.”
The Red Mass this year was scheduled for Tuesday, the day before the Jan. 15 opening day of the Legislature in the hope that more legislators would be free to attend. Prior to this year, the Mass was always celebrated on the day after opening day.
According to the bishop’s office, the number of officials attending showed an increase of about 10 over last year’s count of 41.
