Sharing Garden volunteers. Photo: Courtesy Beth Bartell
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“I am working for God and do so cheerfully.” (St. Marianne Cope of Molokai)
These inspiring words were printed on a beautiful magnet given out at a Mass celebrated Nov. 8 by Bishop Larry Silva at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace commemorating the saint’s arrival in Hawaii 135 years ago and honoring the service of the Sisters of St. Francis in Hawaii ever since. As the holidays begin, we can get swept up in the hustle and bustle of the season and miss simple moments to give thanks for our blessings, including the blessing of working cheerfully in the harvest of the Lord.
Take St. Michael Parish in Kona for example. Since 2015, the church’s Sharing Garden has provided a healthy alternative for people who need a little extra help feeding their families. By donating fresh produce to food banks and pantries around the Big Island, the Sharing Garden affirms the human dignity of each person. As a program report stated, “Everyone in life needs help in one way or another. It is open to all, not just the homeless but also those who need that extra little bit of help to get through to the end of the month. It’s nice to be able to add a good fresh fruit or vegetable to your family’s meal. It makes your home a much brighter place.”
The Sharing Garden works an acre of parish property, providing fruits and vegetables for HOPE Services Hawaii, the Friendly Place for Homeless, the families in Ulu Wini public housing, and the food pantries at St. Michael and Annunciation parishes. Volunteers cheerfully grow kale, lettuce, spinach, green beans, eggplant, citrus fruits and avocados. Volunteers pick the produce in the morning and it is usually given away by the next day. It’s a wonderful source of fresh nourishment for children, many of whom are only used to canned foods.
The garden’s harvest has more than doubled from its first year, from about 5,000 pounds to 11,000 in 2017. Despite nature’s recent challenges — storms and volcanic eruptions — dedicated volunteers are on track to harvest 12,000 pounds of produce by the end of this year. St. Michael is looking for more volunteer field workers for Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. They may work as little as one hour or as many as three to four. There is no set schedule.
The Sharing Garden’s cheerful workers provide one bountiful harvest. There are many other opportunities to work joyfully for God and encounter Christ in serving with and for the vulnerable. Other examples of fruitful ministries happening this holiday season include:
Prison and Going Home Ministries “Star Light Star Bright” celebration at the Women’s Community Correctional Center, connecting mothers, children and family caregivers from around the state;
HOPE Services Hawaii Sacred Heart Shelter in Pahoa, serving daily meals to some of the most vulnerable victims of the recent lava flow who are struggling to find permanent housing;
One Ohana Backpack, programs in dozens of island parishes providing hungry children with backpacks filled with nourishing food to take home on the weekends;
Ohana Mass, gathering families with disabled persons to celebrate the holidays together;
Outreach parish ministries, visiting nursing homes, hospitals and hospice care.
For more information on how you can share in this bountiful holiday harvest of joy, hope and peace, visit www.officeforsocialministry.org.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
