OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“Social friendship and universal fraternity necessarily call for an acknowledgment of the worth of every human person, always and everywhere …” (Pope Francis, “Fratelli Tutti”)
As we celebrate Veterans Day to remember and honor the men and women who have risked their lives for our country, let us not forget the hundreds of houseless veterans who are living among us right here in Hawaii. Many are alone with no one to talk story with; carrying nothing but a backpack of their life’s possessions. How do we pay tribute to these forgotten soldiers? Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” reminds us that every person deserves to feel acknowledged and loved, regardless of his or her plight: “In the depths of every heart, love creates bonds and expands existence, for it draws people out of themselves and towards others … The existence of each and every individual is deeply tied to that of others: life is not simply time that passes; life is a time for interactions.”
Although personal interactions are limited during the pandemic, it certainly has not kept parishioners from reaching out to those in need. Over the past year, the veteran ministry of Resurrection of the Lord Parish in Waipio has been collecting donations of new and gently used household items — bed, bath and kitchen necessities — with plans to host a “housewarming party” for previously homeless vets. Earlier “housewarming parties” had been held at the Kamiano Center at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace and the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa’s cafeteria, but with lockdowns and closures, volunteers have had to cancel these events and store the donated goods at their Waipio parish.
The group is finally able to share its gifts with four veterans transitioning from temporary shelter to permanent homes. On Oct. 30, the pastor of Resurrection of the Lord Parish met with the staff of the Institute for Human Services to determine ways to assist veterans who recently received state housing vouchers to move into their very own apartment rentals. Parishioners are providing dishes, bedding, pillows, toasters, rice cookers, pots and other household goods to “warm the homes” of these new tenants. The Office for Social Ministry is also collaborating with St. Stephen Parish, Nuuanu, Knights of Columbus to provide groceries and food bags for previously homeless veterans being placed into housing. This is one way to acknowledge the dignity of every human person and create bonds that draw people out of themselves.
Sharing family saints
Another way is through the new Diocese Adapted Family Faith Formation program. In October, the diocesan Ministry for Persons with Disabilities piloted a faith formation program with lessons created by the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities (NCPD). Parents coping with special needs appreciate the extra support in teaching and reinforcing catechism lessons with their children. Since the onset of the coronavirus, NCPD has created monthly “family friendly” curricula structured by “4 Keys for Practicing Faith”; 1) Caring conversations, 2) Family devotions and prayer, 3) Family rituals and traditions, and 4) Family service. The theme for the month of October was the Rosary. This past Halloween weekend, families dressed in costume for the virtual session, which began with a brief memorial prayer service for All Saints and All Souls, while participants called out names of loved ones who have passed away. The group also talked story and shared photos of their “family saints,” as well as unique rosaries that had been given to them from a special person. November’s theme for the adapted lesson will be “All Souls.”
November is also when the U.S. bishops hold their annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) second collection. CCHD supports projects recognizing the dignity of all persons by helping empower people living in poverty to transform their families and communities into reflections of the Kingdom of God. In Hawaii, the CCHD funds raised from this annual parish second collection have helped homeless and formerly incarcerated women secure housing and job training. This year, Bishop Larry Silva is encouraging “all to give generously to this CCHD collection as a way to Witness to Jesus” during the COVID-19 pandemic which severely impacts the poor.
These are some ways to put into action the concluding prayer of “Fratelli Tutti”: “Lord, Father of our human family, you created all human beings equal in dignity: pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit and inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter dialogue, justice and peace. Move us to create healthier societies and a more dignified world, a world without hunger, poverty, violence and war. May our hearts be open to all the peoples and nations of the earth. May we recognize the goodness and beauty that you have sown in each of us, and thus forge bonds of unity, common projects, and shared dreams. Amen.
For more on how to put this prayer into action, please visit the OSM website: officeforsocialministry.org.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry