Valderci Trindade, 24, who lost his house, tried to save useful items May 14 in an area flooded by heavy rains in the Serraria neighborhood of Porto Alegr in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state. (Diego Vara / Reuters / OSV News)
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“Let us pray for the cry of the earth. If we took the planet’s temperature, it would tell us that the earth has a fever. And it is sick, just like anyone who’s sick. Are we listening to this pain?” (from Pope Francis’ prayer intention video, “For the Cry of the Earth,” for September)
Pope Francis’ monthly prayer intention for September calls us to recognize the critical connection between the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.
The Holy Father asks, “Do we hear the pain of the millions of victims of environmental catastrophes?” The pope points out that as climate disasters such as floods, heat waves, droughts and wildfires increase, it is the poor who often bear the brunt of the pain.
The pontiff reminds all that responding to these connected cries requires action on multiple levels — ecological, social, economic and political. His September prayer encourages us to “commit ourselves to the fight against poverty and the protection of nature, changing our personal and community habits.”
Recently when Hurricane Hone threatened to impact Hawaii, more than two dozen staff members of HOPE Services Hawaii sprang into action. In groups of two or three, they set out to help houseless residents as 18 inches of rain fell in some areas of East Hawaii, flooding roads in the Kau district and the bayfront area in Hilo.
These “off-duty” HOPE staff continued their efforts throughout the weekend: “Some of our colleagues signed up to come straight off a 12-hour shelter shift, to do another four-hour shift out in the community,” said HOPE Services Hawaii CEO Brandee Menino, expressing her sincere appreciation for the compassion and determination of many to ensure vulnerable people were safe.
In total, the HOPE Services Hawaii outreach teams helped more than a dozen people in Hilo, including a 74-year-old kupuna who was struggling to survive on a muddy cliff, secure temporary shelter and later permanent housing. According to HOPE Services Hawaii staff, about 30 other people chose to stay outside and were offered supplies and directions, in case they changed their minds.
“We know not everyone will choose to go to the shelter, and we want to respect that choice, and still care for them the best we can,” said Carrie Hoopii, one of HOPE’s outreach team leaders. “We were getting tarps, food, water, flashlights, ponchos, bandages, towels, dog food — anything to help them ride out the storm in safety, and hopefully make it a little more comfortable. We were handing out supplies and talking story, and we made connections and assisted them if they chose to get into a shelter.”
From hurricanes Iselle to Hone, HOPE Services Hawaii, which is affiliated with the Diocese of Honolulu, has long been listening and responding to the cry of the poor as they are impacted by natural disasters and human struggles on Hawaii island. It does so daily by inspiring hope and making a positive difference with houseless persons through outreach and street medicine teams, as well as developing transitional shelter, and permanent affordable housing throughout the Big Island.
Currently HOPE Services Hawaii is working with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on the Hamakua coast to develop needed single-occupancy rental units as well as case management and health care supportive services in Honokaa (just as the organization collaborated successfully with Sacred Heart Parish in Pahoa to provide transitional and permanent housing to formerly houseless persons in the wake of the Puna lava flows).
To learn more about HOPE Services Hawaii and how to support its work, visit www.hopeserviceshawaii.org. For the full two-minute video of Pope Francis’ “For the Cry of the Earth” prayer intention, please see the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network at www.popesprayer.va.
This month’s papal prayer ends with the following hopeful, inspiring words from Pope Francis: “Let us pray that each of us listen with our hearts to the cry of the earth and of the victims of environmental disasters and climate change, making a personal commitment to care for the world we inhabit.”
Mahalo,
Your friends in the Office for Social Ministry
