Attendees at the Jan. 27 morning vigil Mass, which closed local World Youth Day events, gather with Bishop Larry Silva in Chaminade University’s Mystical Rose Oratory. (HCH photo | Dann Ebina)
By Kacie Yamamoto
Special to the Hawaii Catholic Herald
The culmination of World Youth Day in Hawaii took place at an overnight event on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Chaminade University’s Mystical Rose Oratory. It centered on food, new friendships and a renewed sense of faith. The event drew young adults from around Oahu.
The oratory was brightly lit, with tables and chairs scattered on its adjoining courtyard. The atmosphere was relaxed, with attendees easily engaging in conversation as light music played in the background. A photobooth and various games and activities livened up the night. Chatter began to fill the air as the news spread of the anticipated livestream of the last day of World Youth Day events in Panama at around 2 a.m.
“Because we are the youth of the church, we are the future of the church. The earlier that we get involved, the more in-depth we can be,” said Tadashi Domingo, 19, of St. Rita Parish in Nanakuli, one of the vigil attendees. “We can help our younger siblings and the other younger parishioners at whichever church we’re at by listening to the sisters, fathers and brothers from around. Hearing their perspectives of the church can help us carry on what the church has become in Hawaii and the culture that it’s created.”
For brothers Allen Orense, 24, and Alex Orense, 18, of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Parish in Mililani, the night’s event was another chance for them to become involved with their faith. They are members of Catholic band “Refiner’s Worship” that played for the praise and worship service Saturday night and at the 6 a.m. Sunday Mass that concluded the local World Youth Day vigil.
“I feel blessed to be able to give back because God gave us these talents,” Alex said. “I think music is a great way of showing that you can help people who are struggling and you can guide them in the right direction, because oftentimes, music is known as the universal language. Music is a way to connect people together.”
Church of today
“You often will hear that the young adults are the church of the future, but we’re actually the church of today. Becoming involved in whatever you can is very important because we are a part of this growing movement,” said Allen. “The young adults seem like a lost generation. At church, you see children and you see adults, for the most part. There’s that missing piece in the middle, which is us.
“I think that it’s very important that we need to try to close the gap and involve our fellow young adults.”
World Youth Day Hawaii attendees were also struck by the community they found at the over-nighter, which capped off a week of evening events at different parishes around Oahu to parallel the weeklong World Youth Day going on in Panama.
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Wahiawa, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace and the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu, St. Ann Parish in Kaneohe and Immaculate Conception Parish in Ewa Beach all took turns hosting a World Youth Day Hawaii night between Jan. 21-25.
Jan. 26’s vigil at Chaminade University of Honolulu’s Mystical Rose Oratory was the final gathering. There was dinner, Evening Prayer, an adoration garden with the Blessed Sacrament, a praise and worship concert, a ministry and vocations fair, and activities between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“Association is so important to us nowadays, and honestly, I feel like too many of us don’t have enough positive associations,” said Joseph Almuena, 21, of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu. “So, when you’re around people who believe in the same things that you believe in and have the same faith, it changes a lot of different things.”
“Being able to be around a crowd and everyone else here has been really helpful for me in my own personal journey,” Almuena said.
Michael Sparks of the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu values that connection.
“If anyone has the opportunity to go to a real World Youth Day, I think that being surrounded by thousands of young adults who are the same age who are strongly believing in the faith and are going on their own journey is hugely important,” said Sparks, 24. “Community is important, but to be able to witness that the church as universal is huge.”
Kacie Yamamoto is a senior at Moanalua High School where she’s the yearbook editor. She is a parishioner at St. Stephen Parish in Nuuanu.
