CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
“This poor man cried and the Lord heard him.” (Ps 34:6)
This line from Psalm 34 is the theme for the World Day for the Poor, Sunday, Nov. 18, which is the same date for the U.S. Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) annual collection.
CCHD is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage people in need to join together to make decisions, seek solutions and find ways to improve their lives in alignment with Catholic Social Teaching. You are essential to its success. Your generous donations will provide the poor and the vulnerable with the support they need to make a positive and lasting change in their lives.
Here in Hawaii, CCHD has supported a wide range of projects, working with the most vulnerable, including HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc., which has been instrumental in responding to the needs of the homeless and victims from the lava flow on the Big Island. Please remember that 25 percent of the collection’s proceeds stay in our diocese to hear and respond to the cry of the poor and some of the most vulnerable in our own islands.
The second collection on the weekend of Nov. 18 is the primary source of CCHD funding, which helps bring change to communities across the country and empowers those living in poverty to transform the places they live into reflections of the Kingdom of God. Pope Francis says he 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.” In that spirit I strongly encourage all to give generously to this CCHD collection as a way to witness to Jesus.
Mahalo, and God bless you!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Larry Silva
Bishop of Honolulu
