Aloha,
The Gospels for the Sundays before and after Tropical Storm Iselle hit Hawaii were about Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes for the hungry crowd and then calming the storm, saying, “Be not afraid.” These readings illustrate how faith can help us face whatever challenges arise and how we can collaborate in God’s miraculous actions. Collaboration is one way we witness to Jesus and help bring out the best in all.
For example, immediately after Iselle, folks around the Islands offered help to the people in Puna. Pahoa’s Sacred Heart parishioners teamed up with local restaurants and businesses in Hilo to provide meals at the parish center. The parish pantry was immediately filled with food, water and blankets.
HOPE Services Hawaii worked with Aloha United Way, local and state governments, and the national civil defense to bring recovery assistance to the most isolated and vulnerable. HOPE continues to serve those who have been relocated and is helping with repairs for the hardest hit homes of the working poor. If you want to help this effort, contact bmenino@hopeserviceshawaii.org.
On Sept. 6, the social ministry coordinators for parishes in the windward Oahu vicariate are coming together for the workshop, “Collaboratively Connected Compassion.” They hope to improve vicariate coordination by connecting parish homeless, food and prison ministries.
For example, the Homeless Affordable Housing Ministry at St. Ann, Kaneohe, works with Habitat for Humanity, Family Promise Hawaii and the Institute for Human Services. The Sustainable Nourishing Food Ministry at St. George Parish, Waimanalo, engages in efforts regarding a community food pantry, community meals and community gardens.
The Going Home Companion Ministry involves volunteers from Kailua’s St. John Vianney and St. Anthony parishes, as well as Maryknoll School and Chaminade University, in ministries inside and outside the Women’s Community Correctional Center that strengthen families affected by incarceration.
For more information on these efforts, or if you want to share examples of how your parish social ministry collaborates in God’s miraculous actions for the vulnerable, please contact rstark@rcchawaii.org.
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry