By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Bishop Larry Silva’s “Bishop’s Circle” letter will be headed for your mailbox sometime over the next couple of weeks. This year, his particular concern is “priests” — specifically, “our priests.”
“They make a special commitment,” he writes, “especially given the demands of ministry and the complexity of leading a parish in today’s world.”
“As we ask our priests to handle a myriad of responsibilities in building the Kingdom of God, we also have a duty to care for them,” the bishop says, “from the early days of nurturing their vocation, and covering their seminary education, through their pastoral ministry, and after decades of service into their golden years.”
The Bishop’s Circle is the annual diocesan campaign that emphasizes the third part of the stewardship’s “time-talent-treasure” refrain, asking for monetary contributions, primarily large ones.
The campaign is coordinated by the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development.
This year’s goal is $350,000, same as the last four years. Last year, the diocese raised $303,000 from 620 contributors.
The campaign runs through June of next year.
Contributions are encouraged at six “donor society” levels, which start at $625, though any amount is welcome. The Office of Stewardship and Development suggests a base gift of $200 to honor the 200th anniversary of the Catholic missionary arrival in the Islands in 1827.
Bishop Silva will host an appreciation event for all donor society members. He will also offer a special Mass for all contributors to this year’s appeal.
Every gift is important and welcomed, including checks, credit cards, appreciated stock and IRA distributions. Donations may be made online at www.catholichawaii.org.
Here are the donor societies:
- Stewards of the Gospel for donations $20,000 or more
- Our Lady of Peace Society for gifts $10,000-plus
- St. Damien/St. Marianne Society for gifts $5,000-plus
- Joseph Dutton Society for gifts $2,500-plus
- Witness to Jesus Society for gifts $1,250-plus
- Catholic Ohana Society for gifts $625-plus
While the bishop is emphasizing the support of priests this year, it is “not to the exclusion of the other areas of our diocesan mission,” he said.
“Your generous gift will help sustain many vital ministries while also helping to provide direct assistance to parishes, schools and service agencies throughout the Islands,” he said.
Donations may be made online at catholichawaii.org. For more information, visit catholichawaii.org/stewardship or call the Office of Stewardship at 203-6723.
