By Alfred Hagen
Special to the Herald
“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” (St. John Paul II)
As a reflection of the Holy Family, the human family is one of the most sacred of God’s gifts. Beginning with a marriage between one man and one woman, the family is the very foundation from which all human life flows. As people of faith, we believe that a strong Christian family holds the core of all fundamental freedoms enjoyed by the human family. But we also know the family is under attack by a multitude of evil forces coming from a culture of death that pervades our society.
Thus, the theme of the upcoming Life Symposium: “Sacred Environment: Family Under Siege.”
An ecumenical event sponsored by the Diocese of Honolulu Respect Life Office in collaboration with the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the Life Symposium will take place at the Oahu Kroc Center in Kapolei, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9. This event is for adults and youth in grades 6-12.
Father Shenan Boquet, who led the first Hawaii life symposium in 2016, will again be keynote speaker. He will be joined by vicar general Msgr. Gary Secor, Duke and Vivian Aiona, Deacon Mike Weaver, Karlie Lodjic and MaryRose Timmons-Colton.
The emcees are Paulette Vernay, director of the Respect Life Office, and Lisa Gomes, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
Father Boquet will address the attacks against the family — what they are, where they come from, the agenda of those who make the attacks — and what we, as people of faith, can do to combat these assaults to restore the family to good health and its proper place in society.
Father Boquet will conduct three sessions for adults: on the sacred environment of the family; the obstacles to that sacred environment; and solutions to insure the family as a sacred environment.
Father Boquet was raised in the small town of Bourg, Louisiana, in a devout Catholic family and community. His earliest and most influential models were his parents, grandparents, godmother and parish priests. As a youth, he was very active in Catholic Charities and other groups that ministered to families, the elderly, the sick, the poor and marginalized. His active faith grew naturally into a vocation to the priesthood. In preaching the church’s teaching on life and family, he remains steadfast and dedicated to Catholic truths and advocacy.
As president of Human Life International, Father Boquet travels the world spreading the Gospel of life.
Duke and Vivian Aiona will introduce to the symposium a personal account of the many challenges they have faced building families around Christian values, especially in the context of Duke’s profession as a family court judge where he witnessed firsthand the many and often painful struggles of families in distress.
Deacon Michael Weaver will present the “Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities” represented by the four pillars of public information and education, pastoral care, public policy, and prayer and worship. Deacon Weaver will stress that it is our responsibility to support the campaign of life and that, as a people of God, we should be unified in building a culture of life.
For middle and high schoolers
New this year to the Life Symposium is a track for middle and high school youth. Moderated by Karlie Lodjic and MaryRose Timmons-Colton, youth in grades 6-12 will be able to participate in their own breakout sessions and activities, including a session with Father Boquet where he will talk about “virtue as the building block of life.”
Lodjic is the Washington regional coordinator for Students for Life of America. She grew up Catholic, going to church with her family, becoming involved in the pro-life movement when she was in high school.
One week after graduation from college, Karlie started her position at Students for Life. She helps start, equip and manage student groups in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.
Karlie is also the sponsor of pro-life Initiative-1004 in Washington State, which would require physicians to notify parents at least 48 hours before their minor child can obtain an abortion.
Her goal is to develop a culture of life, and to provide the resources and tools needed to end abortion in our lifetime.
MaryRose Timmons-Colton is the youngest child of Filipino immigrant parents, born and raised in Southern California. She has served the church as a retreat leader, a motivational speaker, hip-hop dance coordinator, youth minister, confirmation coordinator and respect life coordinator.
Timmons-Colton traveled the country as a Catholic Missionary for NET Ministries USA, served on InHim Ministries Team Hawaii, was a board member for the Pearson Foundation and a counselor for its pregnancy center. She is a life-long member of the Militia Immaculata, a worldwide evangelization movement started by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 that encourages total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Prior to the Life Symposium, Father Boquet will give a number of presentations at parishes and other locations. Here is a schedule:
- Nov. 1-3: Retreat for parish respect life ministries, St. Stephen Diocesan Center
- Nov. 4: Dinner and dialogue with young adults, Resurrection of the Lord Parish, Waipio
- Nov. 5: Workshop on how to present and discuss moral issues with teens and others, St. Theresa Parish, Kihei, Maui
- Nov. 10: Presentation to the diaconate formation class, St. Stephen Diocesan Center
There will also be training sessions for priests and deacons in the “ministry of encouragement” on Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii Island.
The Life Symposium will include morning refreshments, lunch, Mass, speaking sessions, and many exhibitors with helpful resources and services for families and churches.
The cost of the symposium is $25 for youth in grades 6-12, and $35 for adults. Limited financial assistance is available.
The deadline to register and apply for financial assistance is Oct. 28 via www.catholichawaii.org/2019lifesymposium. Those without computer access can register by phone at (808) 203-6722. Also available on the website is Father Boquet’s entire Hawaii schedule, Nov. 1-10.
