By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Ohana in Christ annual $1 million-plus diocesan fundraising campaign begins its third year in parishes the weekend of Sept. 30-Oct. 1. The appeal, which helps fund diocese-wide efforts such as the formation of clergy, evangelization, finances, social ministry and youth and young adult ministry has a new look this year.
Parishioners will be met at church with bright green and yellow banners and posters, watch a video by Bishop Larry Silva, and go home with contribution material and a donation envelope.
Debuting this year is a six-foot high Ohana in Christ banner of the statue of the Sacred Heart at Sacred Heart Parish in Pahoa on the Big Island.
Bishop Silva will introduce the appeal with a brief video. Also speaking on the video is Keith Tamashiro, chairman of the diocesan Stewardship and Development Commission.
Parishioners will be encouraged to take the envelope home and mail in their gift or give online.
Some parishioners — those who previously donated directly to the Ohana in Christ campaign — will receive a letter from Bishop Silva in the mail.
In the video, the bishop thanks the faithful for their generosity and encourages them to continue their support.
“Through this appeal, we are able to fund many programs in our diocese that ultimately help our parishes,” he says.
The collection supports priests, seminarians, deacon formation, youth and young adult ministry, services to the poor, administrative and financial offices, diocesan communications and more.
“I want to thank you for your participation and for your generosity,” he says. “I encourage you to continue that generosity so that we can continue to give witness to Jesus.”
The overall goal remains the same as the first two years at $1,125,000. Most parish individual goals also remain the same, though parishes are now required to meet 75% of their target, up from 50% a year ago.
Ohana in Christ finished its second year, 2022-2023, collecting $1,040,205, an increase of 8% over the first-year total of $959,790.
Last year, 34 of the diocese’s 65 parishes exceeded their target goals — eight more than the first year.
In his letter to parishioners, Bishop Silva, says that “each day, the Catholic Church in Hawaii shares the Spirit of Christ throughout our ohana of parishes, schools, social agencies, and communities across the Islands.”
The annual appeal helps pay for “the material and spiritual needs of the greater church,” he says, services and ministries that no single parish community could meet alone.
“I am deeply grateful for the ways you have contributed to this work in the past,” he writes. “Once again, I humbly ask for you to prayerfully consider making a generous gift to this important appeal.”
He closes his letter with the exhortation, “In the Spirit of Christ — and together as ‘Ohana in Christ — we can and will respond to the Lord’s call and continue to build His Kingdom.”
Ohana in Christ is the primary annual appeal for the Catholic Church in Hawaii. It started in the fiscal year 2021/2022, replacing the Bishop’s Circle Appeal, an earlier campaign of previous bishops that Bishop Silva revived in 2013 to fund diocesan ministries, programs and services formerly supported by the With Grateful Hearts Capital Campaign, which was initiated in 2008.
Parishes are given a target goal based on their annual assessment, the amount parishes already give to the diocese. This year parishes are required to raise a minimum of 75% of their target goal.
Parish assessment fees cover many diocesan expenses, but not all. Ohana in Christ helps close the gap.
Donations are received, processed and acknowledged by the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation, which also manages the funds and how they are allocated to the diocese.
The appeal has six donor “societies” classifying different levels of giving: Catholic Ohana Society, $625; Witness to Jesus Society, $1,250; Joseph Dutton Society, $2,500; St. Damien/St. Marianne Society $5,000; Our Lady of Peace Society, $10,000; and the Stewards of the Gospel Society, $20,000. However, any amount will be accepted.
Bishop Silva will celebrate a special Mass for ‘Ohana in Christ donor society members, 10 a.m., Sept. 30, at St. Stephen Diocesan Center Chapel, 6301 Pali Hwy., Kaneohe. A brunch reception follows.
For questions or further assistance, contact Mark Clark, mclark@rcchawaii.org, (808) 203-6723, or CatholicHawaii.org.
What the appeal pays for
Priests and deacons
- Professional development
- Recruitment and assignment
- Permanent deacon formation
- Clergy health and wellness needs
Parish services
- Staffing and training
- Finance and insurance
- Savings and loan
- Safe environment
- Stewardship
- Information technology
- Cemetery and real estate
- Emergency preparedness
People programs
- Youth and young adult
- Catholic schools
- Adult faith training
- Catholic social ministry
- Food and shelter assistance
- Evangelization and respect life
- Hospital and prison ministries
Other services
- Hawaii Catholic Herald and diocesan eCommunications
- Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
- Diocesan chancery
- St. Stephen Diocesan Center
- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Pope Francis
