At the Jan. 25-26 meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Shirley Samonte of Lanai was welcomed as the new Lanai/Molokai representative. The introduction led to a discussion about each island needing its own representative. As a result, Molokai will get its own member beginning July 2014.
The Diocesan Pastoral Council is Bishop Larry Silva’s mostly lay, 16-member advisory group. It meets on one weekend every quarter at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.
The January meeting heard reports on local Year of Faith activities, the Maui Liturgy and Arts Conference and upcoming clergy and religious assignments.
Because most of the DPC members represent vicariates, Bishop Silva reviewed the role of “vicars forane,” his priest representatives in those geographic areas, in order to improve ways council members work with them.
The bishop also announced the appointment of the diocese’s new adult faith formation coordinator Kristina deNeve; the continuing work of the Damien/Marianne Commission which is considering pilgrimage opportunities; the new class of deacon candidates that started in January; and land and facilities issues faced by parishes in high population growth areas.
Bishop Silva also asked for “prayers-for-vocations” pledges for his participation in the Akua Run, done in conjunction with the Great Aloha Run.
He reported that many Hawaii Catholic schools continue their struggle to remain open. Parishes and schools are being challenged by the schools’ Systems for Success strategic plan to work together to create regional proposals to determine which schools are needed.
Diocesan chancery staffers Elina Simon and Diane Lamasao gave a presentation on the new diocesan website and a preview of features to be added over the next year.
Among the training associated with the Year of Faith, the diocese will offer a “Theology of the Body” workshop that will show participants from each island how to share information about a positive ethic of human sexuality. Another will demonstrate how to start a parish program to reach inactive Catholics.
Also discussed was the bishop’s plan to encourage parishes to offer additional opportunities for confession during Lent.
In light of the completion of six DPC members’ terms this June, suggestions were made to try to recruit more young adults.
Mark Clark, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, described the biblical basis of stewardship and the professional basis of development. He said the concept of stewardship is being refocused as a “need to give,” and that parishioners should be encouraged to plan their annual giving and to renew that commitment each year. His office hosted a Stewardship Day event on Feb. 3 featuring three speakers who began stewardship programs in their parishes.
Clark also reported that pledges for the “With Grateful Hearts” diocesan capital campaign will end in 2014, but that money will continue to be received through 2015. His office has collected $27 million to date and hopes for a final total of $35 million. The bulk of the funds implement the priorities of the Diocesan Road Map. Parishes also receive their share of the pledges which they use for ministries, repairs and maintenance.
The Office of Stewardship and Development is planning a follow-up to the Grateful Hearts campaign. After much discussion, council members recommended that the diocese conduct an annual campaign for the short term and develop a stewardship mentality for the long term.
The president of Chaminade University, Marianist Brother Bernie Ploeger, explained the partnership and collaboration between his school, Hawaii’s only Catholic university, and the diocese. He added that he always welcomes new initiatives. He cited Chaminade resources such as the virtual learning community for faith formation program offered by sister schools University of Dayton and St. Mary’s in San Antonio.
The next Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting is April 19-20.
