Oahu Catholic school educators pray during the Holy Spirit Mass, the liturgy for the opening of the school year, at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe, Aug. 14. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Bishop Larry Silva preaches at the Holy Spirit Mass, Aug. 14. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Bishop Larry Silva told Oahu Catholic school teachers Aug. 14 at the Mass of the Holy Spirit at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe that the world is sorely in need of a loving heroism that comes from imitating Jesus.
In his homily, the bishop drew on the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish priest who volunteered to die in the place of a stranger in the Auschwitz death camp during World War II, whose feast was being celebrated that day.
“Such heroism did not appear suddenly,” the bishop said, but was “nurtured and developed over 47 years of his life.”
St. Maximilian “learned that true love and freedom” that comes from “keeping God’s commandments,” Bishop Silva said, and “nurturing his relationship with Jesus as friend.”
“Day by day, he was becoming a self-sacrificing image of his master Jesus,” he said.
About 600 Catholic school teachers and administrators packed the bright amphitheater-style church for the annual liturgy that opens the school year. Ten priests, mostly pastors of Oahu parishes with schools, concelebrated.
Bishop Silva linked the Nazi evil that killed St. Maximilian to the human rights atrocities being committed today in Iraq by ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
“We as disciples of Jesus cannot look the other way as our brothers and sisters are being dehumanized,” he said.
The bishop said that Catholic educators can cultivate the spirit of Christian self-sacrifice throughout the educational process, starting with the “little ones sharing toys” to the older students “sharing talents.”
“The gospel of self-sacrifice is nurtured by God himself,” he said. “As we teach young people heroism, we too grow closer to Jesus.”
Bishop Silva urged the teachers to teach, like Jesus, “by example, the joy of laying down one’s life for one’s friend.”
“This world is so much in need of human dignity,” Bishop Silva said.
A choir of children in blue uniforms from St. Elizabeth School in Aiea led the music for the Mass.
Catholic school superintendent Michael Rockers at the close of the liturgy thanked the bishop and special guests. To the young choir, he said, “You give us hope.”
After giving the final blessing, Bishop Silva told the educators to “have a beautiful year,” and the choir launched into the rhythmic closing song, “Go Make a Difference.”
After a refreshment break, the teachers and administrators listened to a talk by Lori Dahlhoff, executive director of the Religious Education Department of the National Catholic Educational Association in Washington, D.C.
Her topic was “Catechetical Leadership and the New Evangelization.”