The senior class of Saint Francis poses with Bishop Larry Silva, front row center, and head of school Casey Asato, front row third from right, after “Bagels with Bishop” on March 14. (HCH photo | Anna Weaver)
Saint Francis seniors savor their final visit with the bishop at their school, which closes this year
By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Saint Francis senior class crowded into their gym’s multipurpose room the morning of March 14. It was Career Day during the Manoa school’s Spirit Week, and the twelfth graders were dressed up to go along with their future career aspirations.
They snacked on bagels, pastries, fruit and coffee while Bishop Larry Silva mingled with them as part of “Bagels with Bishop.”
In his talk, Bishop Silva asked the seniors to make Jesus real in their lives. (HCH photo | Anna Weaver)
The annual event, now organized by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, brings Bishop Silva together with the senior class at every Catholic high school in Hawaii for bagels (and other breakfast food), a short talk by the bishop, a question-and-answer session, and individual photos with him.
It’s a chance for the high schoolers to relate more personally with the leader of the Diocese of Honolulu and their faith, said Lisa Gomes, the director of OYYAM.
“It’s really to help them to stay connected to their faith when they go to college,” or head into the workforce, she said.
This year the bishop’s talks have centered on having a personal relationship with Jesus.
“If there is one thing that I can leave with you it is that you will get to know Jesus as a real living person, if you don’t already,” Bishop Silva told the Saint Francis seniors. “That he’s not just someone who you read about in the history books. He is alive.”
Bishop Silva talked about a friend’s son who ended up in jail after a hard life. The young man wrote to the bishop saying that despite his situation, he still had faith in God and thanked the Lord.
“He is free even though he is in prison,” the bishop said of his friend.
He also shared a story of another acquaintance who was struggling with drugs and about to lose his family before a night of crisis turned into a reconnection to his faith.
“You might have a life that’s challenging, but you will be able to get through it because of the fidelity to a friend who loves you more than you can imagine,” Bishop Silva said.
“Get to know Jesus in whatever way he presents himself to you.”
Before his talk, Gomes shared information about her office and ways for the high schoolers to keep connected with the local church or on college campuses in the future. She also showed a slideshow introducing who Bishop Silva was and some of the things he does in the Diocese of Honolulu.
The last ‘Bagels’
Later on during the question-and-answer section that followed Bishop Silva’s talk, the students asked about his hobbies and learned that he likes to hike on his day off each week, travel (his favorite place is Rome), enjoy good food and read. Other questions touched upon how he became a priest and if he thinks everyone should be Catholic.
The Saint Francis seniors this year are a unique group in that they will be the last graduating class at the Manoa Catholic school, which will close at the end of the year due to financial difficulties.
Senior Breann Andrade came to Saint Francis in sixth grade and says the school closure “kind of sucks.”
“The school isn’t there to tie us together anymore, which is kind of sad,” she said.
Fellow senior Kylee-lei Bednar said its sad to see her non-senior schoolmates she’s gotten to know have to find new schools to go to.
Bishop Silva addressed the school’s closing in answer to one of the questions he received from the twelfth graders.
“Thank God for Saint Francis School, for the many years that you’ve been here, for the many years that others have been here and have been able to share the legacy of Saint Francis School,” he told the students.
“You are that legacy, and people will remember Saint Francis School because of you,” he added. “You are a part of this body, and you’re witnesses about Saint Francis School.”
“Life is full of difficulties. Things don’t always go as planned,” he said. “The important thing is to not allow depression to set in. Not to allow negativity to takeover. That’s your choice.”
The bishop said he hoped the younger grades at Saint Francis would settle in well into their new schools and make new friendships.
Seniors reflect
Both Andrade and Bednar said they appreciated the chance to meet with the bishop before they graduated.
“This is very cool. Not many people get to do this,” Andrade said.
“Especially for the last class of Saint Francis,” Bednar chimed in. “This is probably never going to happen again.”
Saint Francis senior Benjamin Torres said he’s met Bishop Silva before at his parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel. He said the bishop’s visit “felt like home” to him and described the bishop as approachable.
“Just having another day, other than Sunday, during the week to talk about God and Jesus and all that just really makes me feel complete for the day,” he said.
