HCH File photo
East Hawaii Island parishes extend Christmas greetings to HOPE Services Hawaii shelter guests
By Gwen DeCoito
Special to the Herald
This Christmas, East Hawaii Island parishes delivered 120 hot lunches “to go” to six homeless shelters managed by HOPE Services Hawaii in Pahoa and Hilo. By noon on Christmas Day, each shelter guest had received a delicious meal of turkey, gravy and all the fixings.
HOPE Services Hawaii is the diocese-affiliated non-profit organization that ministers to the Big Island’s homeless population.
Parish priests and stewardship leaders mobilized their fellow parishioners to respond to HOPE Services’ request for help at this time of year. This included asking for donations of turkeys, gravy, rice, corn and cake. Thanks to parishioners from Malia Puka o Kalani Parish in Keaukaha, Sacred Heart Parish in Pahoa and St. Joseph Parish in Hilo, the people-power needed for preparing the lunch menu items, plating the food in containers and delivering the meals to all the shelters was secured.
The need was greater this year, because of the impact of COVID-19. More families are laid off from work and struggling. Thus, in response to the pandemic and many more families in need in our community, St. Joseph Church in Hilo and Sacred Heart in Pahoa joined HOPE Services in distributing boxes of fresh produce. The boxes were made possible through USDA grant funds awarded to food distributor Ham Seafood and Produce.
Since May 22, both parishes and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Kona joined 22 other community partners in HOPE’s weekly distribution of fresh produce (and sometimes frozen meats and milk) to members of the community. In December, Malia Puka o Kalani, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Papaikou, St. Benedict in Kona, Annunciation in Waimea and Our Lady of Lourdes in Honokaa joined this distribution effort. Unless USDA continues this initiative, the final distribution was Dec. 22.
This commitment of collaboration to serve members of the community focused on ensuring that each shelter guest received a special meal on Christmas Day.
Tanya Pataray, vice principal of St. Joseph Elementary School in Hilo, responded to parish religious education director Chrislyn Villena’s request for Christmas cards and messages to be distributed with the meals. Students made greeting cards and drawings conveying messages of Christmas joy.
Father Samuel Loterte of St. Theresa Church, Mountain View, wrote the prayer for HOPE Services’ Christmas day shelter guest’s lunch. The prayer was circulated in the vicariate and recited at noon on Christmas Day for the special intentions of HOPE Services, their shelter guests and the community they serve.
Brandee Menino, chief executive officer of HOPE Services Hawaii, expressed her appreciation to the East Hawaii Island vicariate pastors, parishes, the Hilo community, and all who support HOPE’s mission to end homelessness.
“We are truly grateful for our partnership in witnessing Jesus and serving those most vulnerable in our community,” said Menino. “We look forward to continuing to be in service together in 2021 as well.”
On Christmas Day, amid the coronavirus pandemic, East Hawaii Island parishes are happy and grateful to respond to the stewardship message of witnessing to Jesus by providing a delicious meal, messages of joy and a prayer for the wellbeing and safekeeping of shelter guests and the staff members and volunteers of HOPE Services Hawaii.
Gwen DeCoito is the East Hawaii Island vicariate representative to the diocesan Stewardship and Development Commission.
A PASTOR’S PRAYER
E M M A N U E L (God with us)
By Father Samuel E. Loterte, SSS
Special to the Herald
God of Compassion,
You came to be one with us. Though you are rich, yet for our sake, you became poor, so that we through your poverty might become rich.
You came to remind us that we are your beloved sons and daughters.
You came to give first place to the last and marginalized.
You came to give warm welcome to those who are lost and abandoned.
You came to give comfort to those who are suffering.
Help us to be your eyes to see the pain of others.
Help us to be your ears to the cries of injustice.
Help us to be your voice in speaking out love and acceptance.
Help us to be your feet in visiting the sick and the imprisoned, in walking beside those in need.
Help us to be your hands in clothing the naked, in giving food to the hungry, in giving drink to the thirsty.
Help us in giving hope that you are with us.
And so, with the prophet Isaiah, we say,
Hands that are feeble, grow strong!
Knees that are weak, take courage!
Hearts that are faint, grow strong!
Fear not; see our God is coming to save us.
Amen.
Blessed Sacrament Father Samuel Loterte is pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Mountain View.
Hilo students give overlooked gift
HOPE Services Hawaii extends a warm mahalo to St. Joseph School, Hilo, for the donations of hygiene items through their Advent Giving Tree project.
Classes from kindergarten through grade six gathered washcloths, liquid soap, toothbrushes, deodorant and more for their annual Advent collection drive. Often hygiene items are overlooked when caring for our unsheltered neighbors, but they are just as necessary as food and clothing.
The children also colored and wrote Christmas wishes on handmade greeting cards to lift the spirits of their neighbors in need. “The reason we have gifts is so that we can be gifts for others,” said Pope Francis on World Day of the Poor.
“We would like to acknowledge the St. Joseph ohana for setting an example of this spirit of service in our community,” said Kristen Alice, the director of community relations for HOPE Services Hawaii Inc. “We are grateful for the partnership and support of the East Hawaii Vicariate, the Diocese of Honolulu, and Catholics across the world as we celebrate the joy of giving this Christmas.”
