By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald
For more than 25 years, Catholic youth on Hawaii island have been gathering for a unique day to strengthen their faith and meet new friends from across the diocese.
Known as Big Island Youth Day, this year the event included participants from Hawaii island, Molokai and Oahu: 101 middle and high school youth, 36 adult chaperones and 14 young adult volunteers from EPIC Ministry’s Hilo chapter.
The Feb. 21 youth day took place at St. Joseph High School in Hilo and was planned by the school’s Campus Ministry team, with support and guidance from St. Joseph campus minister Chrislyn Villena; Edwina Fujimoto, coordinator of youth ministry at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Kailua-Kona; Mark Rebellon, youth minister at Annunciation Church in Waimea; and Lisa Gomes, director of the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
“An event like this helps young people encounter Christ in a real and personal way,” Villena said. “It provides space for solid Catholic catechesis, meaningful small group sharing and participation in the sacraments within his holy church,” as well as fellowship and social interaction.
The event’s theme was “Rooted in Christ, Growing in Love, United in Faith.” Throughout the day, youth participated in presentations, small group discussions and personal reflection, inviting them to deepen their relationship with Jesus and grow in love and unity.
Special visitor
Bishop Larry Silva visited the gathering during his trip to Hawaii island for the East Hawaii Vicariate’s rite of election Mass at St. Joseph Church in Hilo later that day. He met with students and spoke about their mission as representatives of Christ.
The bishop told participants that as part of being rooted in Christ, their faith needs to be nurtured and watered through prayer. He explained that a healthy prayer life moves beyond standard prayers, such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary, despite their importance.
“Prayer should be a discussion with God, sometimes just thanking him for the blessing you have,” Bishop Silva said. “Sometimes, maybe pressing him a bit with some of the questions you have or some of the difficulties you have, or sometimes pleading with him to guide you, to enlighten you. That is real prayer.”
The bishop encouraged students to encounter Jesus personally. He said when praying, the youth should “never be afraid to say whatever is in your heart to God,” which includes listening to God, especially during trials.
Most importantly, they should want to bear fruit by being an example of the love and joy they find in Jesus for people they meet, especially other students, teammates and community members. Bishop Silva said they are all called to be the body of Christ.
Led by young people
A first-class relic of St. Carlo Acutis brought from Oahu was available for veneration throughout the day. Gomes said the relic offered a “powerful reminder that holiness is possible for young people today.”
The youth also attended the Saturday evening Mass at St. Joseph Church, braving a downpour during the half-mile walk from the school to the church and back.
“There were many highlights throughout the day, but for me, the most meaningful part was supporting the young people who planned the event,” Gomes said. “They took their responsibility seriously and were deeply committed — not only in the planning, but in every detail of the day itself.”
Gomes said she was especially grateful to Jaselle Kamaka-Mauhili, a St. Joseph School senior who served as the event chairperson, for her leadership and the example she set for others.
Kamaka-Mauhili’s classmate, Michaela Costales, also helped coordinate Big Island Youth Day.
“I think it was an amazing turnout,” Costales said. “It’s awesome seeing all the parishes come together — people from outside of the Big Island come to experience this day together and just fellowship and build this community.”
Braden Cabael-Kaahanui, a junior at Molokai High School who attends St. Damien Church in Kaunakakai, said he attended the event to “go further” in his faith and meet new people.
Precious Algoso, a sophomore from Leilehua High School on Oahu and a parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Wahiawa, traveled to Hilo for the event to further her faith experience.
“I’m using this to help me grow my faith more and just to go on more retreats to learn more,” Algoso said.
Learning and growing
Fujimoto, the youth ministry coordinator at St. Michael the Archangel, joined 21 youth and other chaperones who made the trek from Kailua-Kona to Hilo. She has assisted with 18 Big Island Youth Days since the turn of the millennium.
“Big Island Youth Day is an opportunity for youth to rediscover their faith, build meaningful relationships and experience the peace and joy of Christ’s presence by stepping away from distractions in their everyday lives,” Fujimoto said. “This event invites youth to know Christ deeply, show his love through action and grow together as the body of Christ.”
St. Theresa Church in Mountain View had eight youth in attendance and two chaperones.
Parishioner Joshua Foronda said he appreciated the lessons he learned about the definition of love and how to live it out in action.
Fellow St. Theresa youth Isaia Wong said he learned that love is a sacrifice for others, shown through actions, just as Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross. Wong said if he saw someone sitting alone, he could choose to show the love of Christ by sitting beside that person and asking, “Hey, how are you?”
“This is one way to express the love of Christ,” Wong said. “It is important to follow his teachings and act on them in our daily lives instead of going away and choosing to ignore (them).”
Linda Villena of St. Theresa Church in Mountain View contributed reporting.
Above: Bishop Larry Silva addressed Big Island Youth Day participants Feb. 21 at St. Joseph High School in Hilo. (Lisa Dahm / Hawaii Catholic Herald)