Mark Clark speaks at the 2019 Stewardship Day. (HCH File Photo)
The day will include the annual Mass and reception for diocesan Ohana in Christ donors
Tithing, building a parish columbarium, a bishop’s stewardship experience, and parish communications are the topics for this year’s diocesan Stewardship Day, Saturday, Oct. 1, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at St. Ann Church, 46-129 Haiku Road, Kaneohe.
The day will conclude with the annual Mass and reception for diocesan Ohana in Christ donors.
Kamalani Rodrigues, business coordinator for St. John Vianney Parish in Kailua, will head an informal roundtable of parish staff and volunteers sharing best ideas and helpful strategies to better spread the good news along with the ministries, services and events parishes have to offer. Participants will share tools, techniques and methods of engaging parish stewards.
Father William Kunisch, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Kailua, will discuss the discipline of tithing, the practice of returning 10% of your blessings to God, not based on the needs of the church, but given in recognition of God’s blessings. Father Kunisch will teach the benefits of generous giving and explore concepts and practices found in Scripture and in personal money management. Participants will hear stories and learn techniques rooted in spiritual foundations that can help parishes through both good and challenging times.
Sacred Hearts Father Herman Gomes and Duane Pavao, director of Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries, will tell the story of the soon-to-be-built columbarium at St. Ann Parish in Kaneohe. Father Gomes will walk through the process of building a cremation columbarium for parishioners of St. Ann. Pavao will share the diocese’s vision of creating a well-managed, parish-based columbarium program, where generations of the faithful can be laid to rest at their place of worship.
Bishop Larry Silva will lead an informal question-and-answer session about his personal journey of stewardship, a spiritual choice that is his response as a caretaker of God’s blessings. He will share insights about growing up in California, his priestly vocation, and his time as Bishop of Honolulu.
The diocesan Office for Stewardship and Development is this year combining Stewardship Day and the annual special Mass and reception for Ohana in Christ donor society members, which director Mark Clark calls “a coming together of stewardship and development.” Ohana in Christ last year replaced the Bishop’s Circle as the diocese’s primary fundraising campaign.
The diocese needed a bigger venue for the donor Mass because of an increase in contributors. Invitations will be sent to approximately 270 donors, 100 more than last year. The 26 parishes that have reached their target goal will also be recognized.
At the end of Mass, Clark hopes to show the new video for the 2022/2023 Ohana in Christ appeal.