Hawaii civic leaders pray the Our Father at the Red Mass for the Diocese of Honolulu Jan. 18 in the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu. (Photo courtesy of Dann Ebina)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
On the day the COVID-19 infection rate roared to a new single-day record of 6,252 in Hawaii, a positive message was being heard at the annual Red Mass, Jan. 18, at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace — the story of how Hawaii’s Catholic schools faced down the pandemic.
The Mass, celebrated during the week of the opening of the Hawaii State Legislature, is the annual prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom for Hawaii’s civic leaders. Bishop Larry Silva presided.
The superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools Llewellyn Young, this year’s guest speaker, related how the schools, with a vigorous combination of faith and science, made the conscious decision to “thrive” during the pandemic rather than merely “survive.”
In fact, he said, to “survive” wasn’t an option.
The first step in their strategy was prayer, said Young, a Kauai-raised administrator with a doctorate in education.
We “needed to start with our faith,” he said. “We asked all schools to continue to pray for healing, understanding, wisdom and knowledge about the virus and how we could effectively respond.”
Then came the science: “masking, physical distancing, hand washing, cleaning and sanitizing, defining bubbles or cohorts, etc. from our partners at the Departmeent of Health.”
The schools planned for in-person classes, plus “effective alternatives,” Young said.
“The grand majority of Catholic schools across our state opened effectively in the fall of 2020 for in-person instruction,” he said.
Hawaii has 27 Catholic schools with a total enrollment of about 7,000.
“They did this with tremendous care and caution taking every recommended mitigation and strategy very seriously,” he said, while acting with humility.
Superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools Llewellyn K. Young speaks at the Red Mass. (Photo courtesy of Dann Ebina)
“At the end of the 2020-2021 school year, we saw a total of just over 30 cases of COVID among all Catholic schools contracted by staff and students,” he said. “But all of these cases were contracted off campus.”
And thanks in part to the schools’ diligence, Young said, “We saw, for the first time in 14 years, a significant upturn in enrollment.” This year the schools all together added 288 students.
“Our schools have led with faith, science, love, wisdom, compassion, understanding and innovation,” he said, “staying true to our mission of evangelization, being witnesses to Jesus, and stewards of the Gospel.
Young thanked his staff and “all our awesome Catholic school administrators, faculty, and staff.
“There is still so much uncertainty with this pandemic, but the Lord saw us through, and he is at the heart of our successes,” he said.
In his homily, Bishop Silva contrasted the impact of the invisible coronavirus with that of another powerful force also invisible, faith.
“Faith in God keeps us grounded; faith in God drives us on,” he said.
Even the smallest amount of faith has a “incredibly powerful influence on the world,” he said, giving meaning to countless people.
It is the reason Catholic schools exist, he said. It is also the foundation of prudent governing.
The Goliaths we face today — homelessness, mental illness, the disrespect for life — can be conquered by the “tiny stone of faith,” he said.
This is why we gather to pray for our civic officials, he said.
The Red Mass normally packs the cathedral. But this year’s Mass was probably the least attended ever because of the widespread omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus.
Eleven civic leaders came, the same number as last year.
State senators who attended included Kurt Fevella, Donna Mercado Kim and Bennette Misalucha.
State representatives included Henry Aquino, Ty Cullen, Greggor Ilagain, Sylvia Luke, Bob McDermott, Val Okimoto and Jackson Sayama.
Honolulu City Councilman Calvin Say was also present.
Bishop Larry Silva presides. (Photo courtesy of Dann Ebina)
Where there are typically several dozen men and women colorfully representing royal Hawaiian societies, this year saw only five. Pews marked off for religious orders were empty.
Social distancing was not in force, but it was not necessary in the sparsely populated pews. There were only about 20 miscellaneous congregants.
One ecumenical guest minister attended, Pastor Brandon Duran of Central Union Church of Honolulu.
After Communion, the priests and Protestant minister raised their hands in the direction of the standing civic leaders as the bishop recited a prayer of blessing.
The pageantry normally provided by rows of Knights of Columbus and members of chivalric orders made do this year with only five Knights of Columbus.
Nine priests concelebrated, fewer than usual.
Offsetting the thin congregation, organist and cantor Robert Mondoy gave the liturgy a rich musical setting.
Hardy potted poinsettias, there from Christmas, painted splashes of red throughout the sanctuary.
