Young Ladies Institute delegation meets with Father Gary Secor on July 24. From left, Elizabeth Sanchez, Evelyn Cabral, Patricia McGuire, June McJunkin and Rosalie Smith. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
The “young” in Young Ladies Institute does not refer to a chronological age, but rather the spirit the women of this 127-year-old Catholic charitable organization possess.
Nevertheless, with one of the two Hawaii branches of this California-based group in danger of aging out of existence, a trio of YLI leaders flew in from the Mainland to help whip up new membership.
Past grand presidents June McJunkin and Patricia McGuire and past grand director Elizabeth Sanchez were scheduled to speak at all the weekend Masses July 26-27 at St. Anthony Church in Kailua to let the female half of the congregation know what a great thing they have in YLI Institute #213 Kailua, which is based in the parish.
They also visited the downtown chancery on July 24 to check in with vicar general Father Gary Secor and to chat a bit with the Hawaii Catholic Herald. With them were Evelyn Cabral of the Kailua Institute and Rosalie Smith of the other Hawaii institute, #208 Ana Malia of St. Ann Parish, Kaneohe.
Cabral explained that, with only 22 members left, her Kailua group often lacks the physical numbers needed to undertake their favorite projects — like malassadas sales — that raise money for their chosen causes. Ana Malia has 88 members.
But the enthusiasm all five women had for their organization predicted success for their recruitment efforts.
The Young Ladies Institute’s major work is the financial support of diocesan seminarians. It is usually the largest check the organization’s combined diocesan groups hand over to their local bishop or archbishop each year.
Called the Golden Jubilee Burse because it was created in 1937 to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary, the combined seminary fund has raised more than $3 million to date.
Hawaii’s two groups may be small, but they are dedicated and generous. Last year, they donated $4,620 to the burse, more than the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s eight institutes combined.
The YLI has another beneficiary, a different cause chosen each year by their grand president. The projects range from cancer research to Special Olympics to Alzheimer’s relief to Guide Dogs for the Blind. The wide variety of these programs makes the organization’s philanthropic efforts interesting and educational for its members.
Yet another longstanding YLI program raises scholarship money for its members to help with everything from high school tuition to the expense of pursuing an advanced degree.
Besides satisfying the members’ aspirations of generosity and service, the Young Ladies Institute is also “a second family to many of our members,” said McJunkin, a member since 1983.
Like a large family, the members range in age from 16 to 100-plus. They get together socially for everything from small luncheons and big conventions. They also pray for each other, for members living and deceased, through an ongoing schedule of novenas.
Simply belonging, “keeps you young,” said Cabral, a 59-and-a-half-year member.
Like many such organizations, the Young Ladies Institute started small. It was founded in 1887 in San Francisco by a group of three women who wanted to help a friend who was ill and without money.
Today, concentrated in the western states of California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, the Young Ladies Institute has 7,000 members in 90 local institutes. Hawaii’s Ana Malia institute was founded in 1953; Kailua in 1955.
For information about the Hawaii YLI and how to join, call Rosalie Smith at 294-2494.
