A group photo from this summer’s Christian Leadership Institute at St. Stephen’s Diocesan Center. (Photo courtesy OYYAM)
By Anna Weaver
Hawaii Catholic Herald
After a two-year gap, the Christian Leadership Institute returned to St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe.
CLI trains promising Catholic high schoolers in Hawaii to be leaders in their parishes. This year 24 students participated in the weeklong seminar from June 26 to July 1.
“I’m always so impressed with the growth of the participants as they attend the various workshops throughout the week,” said Lisa Gomes, the director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, which organized the institute. “We experienced beautiful liturgies each evening and super fun socials, all planned by the participants.”
Fourteen adult team members helped lead the week, including vocations director Father Joseph Diaz, who served as CLI chaplain, and Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians Sister Wansuk Kyndait from Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Pearl City, who was a small group leader.
“We are so grateful to all of the adults who volunteered their week to teach and serve our young people,” Gomes said.
Gomes shared some feedback from this year’s participants.
CLI activities (Photo courtesy OYYAM)
“This experience helped me in being a leader because I realized that I am not afraid to open up to my community/parish,” said Michelle Castillo of Christ the King Parish in Kahului, Maui. “I don’t get nervous feelings talking to my peers, leaders, and a large group of people.”
Jesus “Jay” Kenyel of St. Ann Parish in Waihee, Maui, also said that he gained speaking confidence.
“I also learned that sometimes I have to take charge to get the job done, and other times, I should just listen and be supportive,” he said. “I also learned how to plan events and how to use resources efficiently.”
Kelli Lung, a twelfth grader from Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa, said she gained friends during the week.
“I would have never thought I could get so close to a bunch of people I’ve known for only five days,” she said. “It’s truly amazing how close we all got at CLI and I will definitely cherish the fun we had.”
For Noah Santiago of St. Theresa Parish in Kihei, Maui, a key lesson learned was about compromise.
“If I were going to talk to my peers about what being a leader is, I would tell them that you have to be able to listen to your group members and make room for compromise if you want to work together effectively.”
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pearl City, participant Alexia Mae Eleccion said, “I was able to learn from and be a part of an amazing community full of youth, like me, who answered a call to lead our church family. This program helped me to discover more about myself and the specific qualities I possess. I am a person with my own interests and talents in a family with so many others who are unique, yet we all follow and thrive in God.”
“CLI called me,” said Royshelle Trixie Agngarayngay of Our Lady of Good Counsel. “It called me back and strengthened my bond with God. Every single day, I felt the presence of God, whether He visited during morning prayers or when He came down to the altar during our nightly Masses.”
CLI activities (Photo courtesy OYYAM)
Portugal-bound
Thanks to the state’s strong Portuguese heritage, Hawaii participants might be especially interested in the location of next year’s World Youth Day: Lisbon! The 2023 international gathering will be in Portugal’s capital city on the sea in early August.
Gomes has started organizing trip packages for interested youth and young adults. Diocese of Honolulu participants will travel with Diocese of Orange participants from California.
Gomes held a Zoom info session on July 26 to give out initial information and plans to hold another one in the near future.
While package details haven’t been confirmed, the plan is to offer two options for WYD: A 10-day trip that includes going to Fatima and a 17-day excursion that includes Rome and “Days in the Diocese” pre-WYD events. The 10-day trip will cost around $4,400-4,600 a person with an additional $1,000 cost for the 17-day package. Gomes hopes this gives groups ideas for fundraising purposes while costs are confirmed.
Lisbon was originally set to host World Youth Day in 2022 but the event was delayed by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Another opportunity for Catholic high schoolers to gather is the upcoming National Catholic Youth Conference in Long Beach, California, Nov. 10-12. Gomes says 21 confirmed participants are going from Hawaii so far. This year’s theme is “Walking on Water,” and the conference is hosted by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry.
For questions on any of these events, contact Lisa Gomes at lgomes@rcchawaii.org.
