OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“Laudato si’, mi’ Signore.” (“Praise be to you, my Lord.”) In the words of this beautiful canticle, St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life … and a beautiful mother, who opens her arms to embrace us.” (Pope Francis, in the 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’”)
The echo of the encyclical “Laudato Si’” recently came alive during the historic October synod of bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, calling all to hear not only the “cry of the earth” (as fires were burning down Amazonian rainforests), but also to answer the “cry of the poor,” indigenous peoples and migrants living in those unprotected areas. The Amazon synod at the Vatican brought together nearly 200 participants — bishops, priests, sisters and laity from the region — to discuss our shared sacred connection to the earth and to address the church’s responsibility in caring for our common home in order to nourish all.
French Guiana Bishop Emmanuel Lafont of Cayenne said the synod’s fundamental message is, “We have to take “Laudato Si’” more seriously. We have to promote a change in the way of living.”
Bishop Walter McElroy of San Diego, California, spoke of how our Christian relationship to nature must be “one of intimacy, sacredness, giftedness and care.” The synod celebrated a relationship that embraces the diversity of cultures and species with shared vulnerabilities and responsibilities of living with the earth in a loving way that sustains our common home.
Synod participants recognized that the Pan-Amazon region, like the rest of our planet, is home to many migrants reflective of the diverse faces of God. They emphasized the vital role the region plays in the health of our world, calling all to live “Laudato Si’” by caring for the earth and its peoples.
In Hawaii, “Laudato Si’” continues to inspire the diocese’s One Ohana: Food and Housing for All ministry. On the Big Island, the Pahoa Sacred Heart Parish food pantry’s “bucket garden” raises fresh produce to accompany donated food distributed to hundreds of hungry families once a month. This food pantry also gives keiki at the public school across the street backpacks filled by the parish youth group with healthy food. Parish youth ministers also provide meals to kupuna left homeless by the recent lava flow who are now living at the Sacred Heart Shelter transitional housing.
On the other side of the Big Island, parishioners at St. Michael Parish in Kona, through their Sharing Garden, have been providing fresh produce since 2015 as a healthy alternative for people who need a little extra help feeding their families.” We thank all of our parish volunteers throughout the diocese who are living “Laudato Si’,” connecting malama for the aina and malama with the most vulnerable.
Another inspiring example is the Sisters of St. Francis’ Our Lady of Keaau retreat center on Oahu, where formerly homeless persons now live at “Mother Marianne’s Farm,” doing gardening and maintenance services. With other volunteers they also provide hot meals for homeless families at Waianae Harbor and in Leeward shelters and for homebound disabled adults.
Our Lady of Keaau also offers a quiet natural space overlooking the aina from mauka to makai where everyone is welcome to deepen their faith and spirituality. Recently more than 100 youth from local churches enjoyed a nature retreat at the site.
This Thanksgiving, Our Lady of Keaau continues its annual tradition of gathering folks from all over the island to give thanks for God’s earthly blessings and to share a huge community imu full of turkey and pork. The center is committed to following in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Marianne Cope.
These are all examples of living “Laudato Si’,” connecting our spirituality to stewardship, connecting the cry of the earth to the cry of the poor, connecting our faith to action. For more information on living “Laudato Si’” through One Ohana: Food and Housing for All here in Hawaii, please visit our website, www.officeforsocialministry.org.
Mahalo and malama pono,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
