“Be not afraid … everything is possible with God.” St. Luke 1:26…47 Mary’s response to the angel set a perfect example for Advent and all seasons. Her selfless “yes,” immediately followed by her visit to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, was her way of giving thanks to God. Today, parish volunteers across the diocese follow our […]
Office for Social Ministry: Our thanks-giving list!
“I will give thanks to God with my whole heart.” (Psalm 9:1) “Made your list yet?” We’re not talking about your shopping list, or your list for Santa, or your Christmas card list. We’re talking about a thanks-giving list to God as we begin this holy season. Our thanks-giving list was way too long to […]
Photo: Helping hands
Volunteers were on hand to help out homeless servicemen and women during the Veteran Stand Down, Nov. 6 at the Hawaii National Guard Bower’s Armory in Wahiawa. The event was organized by the diocesan Office for Social Ministry, which partnered with various community groups to provide veterans with clothing, grooming, medical services, housing and legal […]
Office for Social Ministry: Working on the poverty line
“Never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity!” (Pope Francis) These words from Pope Francis are on the 2014 collection poster for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development or CCHD. Every November, the U.S. bishops ask to contribute to this appeal. But where do the funds go? Locally, some CCHD […]
Talk story | Office for Social MInistry: Reaching out, offering hope
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace … where there is despair, let me bring hope.” (Prayer of St. Francis) With a lava flow threatening, these words of St. Francis summed up why folks gathered in Avery Hall of Sacred Heart Parish in Pahoa for a Sunday potluck town meeting at noon on Oct. […]
Office for Social Ministry | Talk story: One body in Christ
So we, who are many, are one body in Christ … made up of many parts” (Romans 2:5). Aloha, If we are one body, when one part is affected, what is the response of the other parts? Our sisters and brothers at Sacred Heart Parish in Pahoa wake up every day facing an uncertain future. […]
Office for Social Ministry | Talk story: Preparing for disasters
Aloha, “The scandal that millions of people suffer from hunger must not paralyze us, but push each and every one of us to act: singles, families, communities, institutions, government, to eliminate this injustice.” (Pope Francis) The recent news that 183,500 of Hawaii’s people — 14 percent of the population — receive emergency food assistance is […]
Office for Social Ministry: Collaborations, connections
Aloha, The Gospels for the Sundays before and after Tropical Storm Iselle hit Hawaii were about Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes for the hungry crowd and then calming the storm, saying, “Be not afraid.” These readings illustrate how faith can help us face whatever challenges arise and how we can collaborate in God’s miraculous actions. […]
Cancer ministries: The church reaches out to those affected by the devastating disease
Cancer survivors Ann Jones of Holy Trinity Church and Iwie Tamashiro of the diocesan Office for Social Ministry will be on hand at an Aug. 23 event at St. Stephen Diocesan Center to provide information on starting cancer support ministries at local parishes. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz) Cancer survivors, caregivers and those […]
Office for Social Ministry: Standing up for our veterans
Aloha, On Aug. 6, many were preparing for Hurricanes Iselle and Julio to hit Hawaii, including a good number of the state’s full-time National Guardsmen. That same day, it was announced the state had received additional funding, hundreds of thousands of dollars, to help house homeless veterans. One out of every three homeless males in […]