By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Meeting more than 100 young adults packed in a university conference room might make a person feel nervous, but not Bishop Michael T.T. Castori, SJ.
He approached an hour of both rapid-fire and introspective questions posed to him Oct. 3 during a young adult meet-and-greet at Chaminade University of Honolulu with the kindness, candor and zeal of a person who genuinely enjoyed discussing all issues with Catholics in the 18-39 age group.
Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Chaminade University and EPIC Ministry, the event drew young adults from 40 parishes across all islands in the diocese to meet their new bishop and to engage in fellowship with other young Catholics.
“Some of them flew in just for this event — it’s exciting,” said Kainoa Fukumoto, associate director for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. “We have a new bishop after 20 years, so most of them probably don’t even remember (Bishop Emeritus Larry Silva) not being their bishop.”
Fukumoto said that young adults have expressed that they want more events in person instead of virtually, such as over Zoom meetings.
“The vast majority (of attendees) were from different parishes representing different age groups,” Fukumoto said. “There were the college young adults, and then there’s the older young adults and those that are late millennials (30-45 years old), early Gen Z (14 to 29 years old) type of young adults. It was really cool having an event that was very reflective of all young adults.”
The meet-and-greet doubled as an EPIC Ministry podcast, hosted and moderated by Malcolm Zara, executive director of EPIC Ministry.
EPIC Ministry is a lay organization with branches on several islands focused on the young adult demographic. It strives to provide these Catholics with ways to connect with each other, their faith, and the wider Church and community.
Zara, who posed questions submitted by participants when they registered for the event, said Bishop Castori was “very easy to speak with.”
“He came prepared but was also candid, relational and humorous,” Zara said. “His responses reflected both a high level of intelligence and a grounded, pastoral approach. As the conversation progressed, his energy and comfort with the room continued to grow.”
Zara said his favorite parts of the meet-and-greet were the bishop’s reflections on discernment, particularly for young adults, and on becoming a Jesuit and a priest.
“Drawing from his own experience, Bishop Michael spoke about the restlessness he has felt when resisting where God was leading him and the peace that comes when he moves toward God’s will,” Zara said. “His response was both practical and deeply encouraging, and I think it resonated with many of the young adults in the room.”
According to Zara, Bishop Castori said that listening is an important priority in his ministry as bishop — not only listening to what people say but paying attention to what they see and experience.
“That stood out to me as an indication of how seriously he wants to understand the people and communities he has been called to serve,” Zara said.
Fukumoto said that one of the themes that emerged from the event was that young adults are experiencing a sense of loneliness and isolation and want to have more opportunities to meet in person.
“You would think in a world that where we feel more connected, they actually feel more disconnected, and that’s not just here, it’s nationally,” Fukumoto said.
The bishop asked the young adults if they knew why there is now an increase in religious interest among Gen Z males.
According to Fukumoto, one of the young adults replied that “they grew up really in an age where everything’s so available, but nothing can be trusted, and that includes relationships.
“So they’re looking for authenticity, and they find that in religion. As they search for what truth is, they find it in religion, and not just any religion. They’re finding it in their Catholic faith.”
Lisa Gomes, director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, said that the bishop is eager to attend events with young people and has agreed to continue the Bagels with the Bishop program, inaugurated by Bishop Silva, in which he will visit each of the Catholic high schools for an informal question-and-answer event.
“I think I saw more clearly at the event is that the bishop wants to hear from young people and wants to understand where they’re coming from, what their needs are,” Gomes said. “I felt that he really has a heart for young adults, and so he is willing to be in that space with them and to talk with them, to have (a) conversation with them.”
As the event came to a close, Bishop Castori expressed how much he enjoyed the gathering and remained engaged in one-on-one conversations with young adults until the end of the evening.
“I think the evening accomplished exactly what we had hoped — it allowed young adults to feel more connected to Bishop Michael and to encounter him not only as their bishop, but as a person,” Zara said. “My initial impression is that he appreciates the gravitas of the role entrusted to him while also caring deeply for the people he has been called to shepherd.”
