“Let us say ‘no’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality, where money rules, rather than service. That economy kills. That economy excludes. That economy destroys Mother Earth.” (Pope Francis, Bolivia 2015)
Pope Francis delivered this strong message on his recent journey to Latin America. Soon he will be in the United States where he will address the United Nations and the U.S. Congress. Bishop Larry Silva will lead a Hawaii pilgrimage to join the pope in Philadelphia in September for the World Meeting of Families. We can accompany that journey by listening and responding to the pope’s message which has consistently asked all of us to give priority to those people who are excluded and hurting in our society.
PICO — an national network of faith-based community organizations founded by the Jesuits in Oakland when Bishop Silva was a pastor there — has been working with communities across the U.S. to respond to Pope Francis’ message. It has suggested we prepare for his visit by doing the following:
- Pray that God opens our hearts and minds to hear God’s word in the pope’s visit.
- Reflect on Scripture excerpts from Pope Francis’ two major documents, “The Joy of the Gospel” and “Laudato Si’ — On Care for Our Common Home” as well as other resources of Catholic social teaching.
- Examine the signs of the times in our own context — the kinds of economic and social pressures affecting our families and communities, especially those “excluded.”
- Discern what concrete steps God might be calling us to take together, as a parish and diocese, to work for changes that support family and community life in addressing the needs of the vulnerable.
Pope Francis says the Gospel calls for “a truly communitarian economy of Christian inspiration” constructed through the collaboration of “social poets, creators of work, builders of housing and producers of food, above all for people left behind by the world market.”
During the last several months, parishes all over Hawaii have been coming together to address Pope Francis’ challenge of creating “One Ohana: Food and Housing for All.” Pope Francis and Bishop Silva have called us all to look beyond the pews to the most vulnerable in our communities.
An example of this are the “camps” of homeless individuals and families in Kakaako. People who work with these folks tell us that some of the families were forced out of public housing because of over-crowding and the lack of affordable rentals. Hawaii’s rents are among the highest in the nation, increasing at a rate double that on the Mainland. Is this a reflection of what Pope Francis calls an “economy that excludes?”
Some are addressing this question through the inter-faith initiative Housing Now, including three Oahu Catholic parishes — Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John Vianney. Housing Now organizers are beginning to work with PICO in their efforts to live out their faith in action. For more information about how Housing Now can help respond to Pope Francis message, contact: Kathy JayCox at jaycox@hawaii.edu. Kathy is a St. John Vianney parishioner and a member of Bishop Silva’s Diocesan Pastoral Council.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
