Aloha,
The Ohana Mass, which just celebrated its first year anniversary in our diocese, is a liturgy where most of the liturgical ministers (lectors, altar servers, eucharistic ministers) are persons with disabilities. All persons, including those who use walkers and wheelchairs, are encouraged to participate in the Ohana Mass in a variety of ways, such as dramatic presentations of the Sunday Gospel.
The Eucharist gathers us all as one ohana, and as our keiki often remind us, quoting the Disney movie “Lilo and Stich,” “Ohana means family and family means no one is left behind or forgotten.”
The Ohana Mass is building a faith community network. As lay leadership develops among these families, new possibilities for catechesis and sacramental preparation are emerging. The Ohana Mass is celebrated on the last Sunday of each month at Holy Trinity Church in East Honolulu and on the third Sunday at Resurrection of the Lord in Central Oahu. We look forward to developing additional Ohana Masses throughout the diocese.
If you have a family member with a disability and would like to learn more, we strongly encourage you to attend the upcoming Oahu Faith Formation Conference session “We Are Ohana” on Saturday, June 21, at St. Joseph Parish and School in Waipahu. We will discuss ideas for nurturing our ohana’s faith and learning skills for doing ministry. The conference will begin on Saturday with Mass celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva. It will be an adapted liturgy welcoming persons with disabilities.
Join us in celebration for “it is in Christ, the image of the invisible God, that all have been created in the image and likeness of the Creator. It is therefore in Christ, Redeemer and Savior, that the divine image, disfigured in man by the first sin, has been restored to its original beauty and ennobled by the grace of God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry