OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“Blessed are the hands that reach beyond every barrier of culture, religion and nationality, and pour the balm of consolation over the wounds of humanity.” (Pope Francis, First World Day for the Poor)
Just as the Lord hears the cry of the poor (Psalm 34), we are all called to do the same.
In commemoration of the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis established the First World Day for the Poor so that “Christian communities can become an ever-greater sign of Christ’s charity for the least and those most in need.” This year, First World Day for the Poor will be celebrated on Nov. 19, the same day as the annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) national collection.
CCHD is the anti-poverty program the U.S. Catholic Bishops created with the intent “… to bring good news to the poor … and let the oppressed go free.” (Luke 4:18)
Since 1970, CCHD has been dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage people in need to make their own decisions, seek their own solutions and find ways to improve their lives in alignment with Catholic social teaching. Thanks to generous Hawaii parish contributions to CCHD through the years, many lives have been transformed for the better.
Recently, the CCHD national staff visited the Islands to see how some of these funded local programs were making a difference. They first “talked story” with the Pu‘a Foundation about the Going Home collaboration that brings together parishioners and families affected by incarceration. Fittingly, they met at Mercy House, a transitional home renovated by parishioners and women from the Women’s Community Correction Center at the close of the Jubilee Year of Mercy last Christmas. Going Home greets women being released from prison with welcome gift baskets donated and assembled by parish volunteers, transportation and mentorship in their housing and employment journeys.
Other Campaign for Human Development site visits included:
UNITE HERE Local 5 is a union working with Hawaii’s migrant community. UNITE organizes citizenship fairs with churches and community groups to help many of Hawaii’s 55,000 legal permanent residents become U.S. citizens.
We Are Oceania, founded by and for migrants from Micronesia is an organization that helps multi-lingual migrants connect with their cultures, contribute to the local community and secure social services. They recently organized a gathering of hundreds of Micronesian young adults to celebrate their culture, gifts and contributions to the local community.
Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha is a community-based garden on the Waianae coast that provides a place for people to connect with the earth and deepen their faith through shared stewardship of our common home. Operating on land owned by Sacred Heart Parish, Hoa ‘Aina O Makaha is an inspiring example of an answer to the challenge Pope Francis made in his encyclical “Laudato Si’” — to hear the cry of the earth and of the poor. Among the kalo, ulu, goats and chickens, students from Makaha Elementary and Waianae Middle and High Schools (including special education students with disabilities), find a peaceful place for prayer in this garden which cultivates and grows aloha. St. John the Baptist, St. Elizabeth and Our Lady of Good Counsel are some of the Catholic parishes and schools that hold youth retreats at this special healing space.
CCHD visited these projects in Hawaii to witness how “hands are reaching out beyond barrios to address the wounds of humanity.” Our next Talk Story column will describe more of the CCHD visit.
For more about CCHD, go to the U.S Catholic Conference of Bishops website at www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
