OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“Our faith in Christ, who became poor, and was always close to the poor and the outcast, is the basis of our concern for the integral development of society’s most neglected members.” (Pope Francis)
This summer has been full of folks “talking story” about encountering God through parish social ministries with vulnerable persons during our Jubilee Year of Mercy.
In May, parishes on Maui gathered to “talk story” about their social ministries that are part of the diocese initiative One Ohana: Food and Housing for All. Maui parishioners are feeding the homeless through Hale Kau Kau at St. Theresa Parish in Kihei and ministering to families affected by incarceration with Pua Foundation and Marianist Associates at St. Anthony Parish in Wailuku.
Volunteers from Maria Lanakila in Lahaina and St. Ann in Waihee are working with Na Hoaloha on Kupuna Kokua ministry. Parishioners rallied to help a 75-year-old kupuna in frail health and legally blind, living alone in a house where the grass had grown taller than the windows. Aunty was facing eviction, partly because of a serious rat problem! Now she is getting some of the support services she needs.
Maui parishes are also collaborating through the diocesan Office for Social Ministry with a dozen community partners, including Catholic Charities Hawaii, on a Vets Stand Down. The primary sponsor, Hawaii National Guard, is hosting the event in their facility. The state adjutant general included the Stand Down as part of the state’s support of Gov. David Ige’s homeless initiative.
At summer’s end, parishioners from East Hawaii met at Sacred Heart, Pahoa, to share their stories. Parish food pantries are collaborating with the Hawaii Island Food Basket. Parishioners from Papaikou to Pahala and Naalehu work with HOPE Services Hawaii to distribute emergency food from FEMA and access affordable housing. Parishes discussed how to connect people in East Hawaii with resources for everyday needs as well as disasters such as hurricanes and lava flows.
One parish is considering expanding their revitalized food pantry to include weekend backpacks filled with kid-friendly nutritious food. Others expressed a need to help families grow ohana gardens. Some of the social ministers spoke about their vulnerability when caring for severely sick persons in their family. A long-time pantry coordinator talked about managing ministry while taking care of her disabled adult daughter recently diagnosed with cancer. This led to discussion about developing a cancer support ministry in the vicariate.
The Chuukese Legion of Mary from St. Joseph Parish in Hilo and Sacred Heart Parish in Pahoa shared how they visit homebound Micronesians every Wednesday and are raising funds for a van to bring prayer and song to all the homebound in their area. Several parishes expressed interest in helping the Chuukese women’s project which will have a special fall event involving Chuukese youth and young adults raising funds for their elders at Malia Puka O Kalani in Keaukaha.
These “talk story” sessions continue this fall with the combined East and West Honolulu Vicariates meeting at St. Theresa Co-Cathedral on Sept. 10. The Oahu Chuukese Community will bring their youth and young adults together for a special event at co-cathedral on Aug. 27 and a Mass at St. Philomena on Aug. 28. They are exploring the start of a food pantry for Micronesians on Oahu.
For more information on One Ohana Food and Housing for All activities, please contact us at itamashiro@rcchawaii.org or rstark@rcchawaii.org.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
