Aloha,
Lent is that time to renew the focus of our life’s journey through prayer, fasting and works of mercy. We’d like to share an example of one parish providing special programs for this Lenten journey.
Malia Puka O Kalani Parish in Keaukaha on the Big Island tries hard to link prayer, faith formation and service. Parishioners are encouraged to walk with Jesus in weekly Stations of the Cross. They are invited to weekly lectures about their faith based on the words of Pope Francis. They are also urged each week to learn about a special social ministry and to participate in it.
For example, on the first weekend of Lent, Brandee, a parishioner and member of Malia’s social outreach committee, brought along Alvin, a homeless Vet, to talk story at the Saturday and Sunday Masses. As a result, the parish promised to help Alvin find and furnish an apartment. The parish also committed space to HOPE Services Hawaii, where Brandee works, to keep the parish’s efforts against homelessness going.
Another weekend in Lent at Malia will focus on helping ex-prisoners gain their normal lives back. One former inmate told her story at the weekend Masses. For these folks, the parish is collecting nice outfits to wear on job interviews and is providing a meeting space for mentoring and job training.
Norman, a Malia parishioner and song leader, is also a horticultural expert in composting at UH-Hilo. He’s running a parish-university project to expand Malia’s garden to provide fresh produce for the parish food pantry.
The third and fourth weeks of Lent will focus on hunger in the community. Malia and Kuhio Chapel, a local Protestant church, will cook and serve meals for the homeless. They’ll also spread the news that Malia has a food pantry that serves local families year-round.
Last and far from least, Malia will reach out more to the sick and homebound. The parish will begin to celebrate Mass regularly at a local nursing home. It will also encourage parishioners to visit people in the hospital and those stuck at home.
Through these Lenten programs, Malia hopes to deepen the faith of the parish and step up its mission to serve, all year long, our brothers and sisters outside the walls of the church. We invite you to share your parish Lenten journey story with us, so we can share it with others.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
