The twice-annual Father Robert Mackey Marianist Lectures: Catholicism in Prophetic Dialogue will offer a very special panel presentation on “Housing the Houseless,” March 12, 4-5:30 p.m., in Mystical Rose Oratory on the Kalaepohaku Campus of Saint Louis School and Chaminade University. Speakers from several walks of life will share their inspiration and activities on behalf of those with nowhere to live.
Marianist Brother Dennis Schmitz, chair of the Mackey Lectures Committee, explained how this upcoming presentation came to be.
At a recent meeting, his committee, which includes head of Saint Louis School Glenn Medeiros, Chaminade theology professor Regina Pfeiffer, and Chaminade’s head of campus ministry Danny O’Regan, began discussing homelessness in Hawaii.
“We asked ourselves what we might be able to do to help others see some very positive actions that can be done by very real people,” Brother Schmitz said. “Too often we are overwhelmed by the problem and we become bogged down in our own sense of helplessness.”
The committee members knew several people who were making a difference and who had valuable stories to share.
“It turns out that these people all come from our Catholic tradition and have a very special relationship with the Marianists who founded Chaminade and Saint Louis School,” the Marianist brother said.
The moderator for the panel will be Saint Louis alumnus and local TV journalist Ben Guttierez of Hawaii News Now. The other panelists are real estate developer and philanthropist Peter Savio, Catholic Charities Hawaii new chief executive officer Terry Walsh, and St. Ann, Kaneohe, parishioners Dave and Bernie Reeves.
Savio is involved in numerous projects for affordable housing. One of his programs turns rent money into equity so that a renter can eventually become an owner. He’s also working with organizations to create housing for the homeless.
Walsh, a Chaminade University graduate, heads an agency that has a broad spectrum of programs and opportunities for those without a place to live.
The Reeves have created a parish committee dedicated to helping with the housing issue. They have spent several summers in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines working with Habitat for Humanity. Their most recent effort was playing a major role in refurbishing Mercy House, a windward Oahu residence that provides housing for former women inmates transitioning from prison life into the community.
The Mackey Marianist Lectures have been sponsored for 20 years by Saint Louis School, Chaminade University and the campus “landlord,” Marianist Center of Hawaii.
More information on this event can be found at www.marianisthawaii.wordpress.com. You can also contact Brother Schmitz at baldschmitz@aol.com or call 232-6691.
