e-newsletter Tuesday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time (V: 26) Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr June 28, 2011

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1 Diocese of Honolulu e-newsletter Tuesday, 13th Week in Ordinary Time (V: 26) Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr June 28, 2011 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life -- for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us -- (1 John 1: 1-2) [All articles and pictures may be copied and used in parish/school bulletins and newsletters.] In this Issue: New Events/Announcements Bishop Larry Silva Launches 3- Year Plan for Affordable Housing Word of Life Intercessions for Life July 3, 2011 Respect Life: Natural Family Spacing The Latest Blog Financial Systems Solution Project (FSSP) Second Collection for Men in Formation for the Priesthood, July 9-10 Holy Father s Prayer Intentions for July 2011 Attention Diocesan Priests! New Resources to assist Engaged and Married Ministry Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament, July 8 Bulletin Announcement: Living in Love A parish-based retreat workshop for married couples Bulletin Insert: Homelessness & Affordable Housing Kupuna Kokua! Bulletin Announcement: Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend USCCB LIFE ISSUES FORUM Hemlock s Twisted Logic I Saw it in the enews and Read it in the Herald Previous Events/Announcements July/August Roman Missal Workshops for Music Ministers Roman Missal General Parish Catechesis Save $50 and Register Now for Marianist BILAC 2011! World Youth Day Pilgrims Prepare for Departure Bulletin Insert: Ponahawaiola Community Reintegration Program Key Dates for our Priests Key Dates for our Permanent Deacons ephotos 1

2 Bishop Larry Silva Launches 3-Year Plan for Affordable Housing Submitted by Carol Ignacio, Director, Office of Social Ministry Service and action, charity and justice are complimentary components of parish social ministry. Neither alone is sufficient; Both are essential signs Of the gospel at work. U.S. Bishops Communities of Salt and Light, 1993 BISHOP LARRY SILVA LAUNCHES AMBITIOUS 3-YEAR PLAN FOR PARISHES TO INCREASE AND SUSTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS HAWAII Honolulu Hawaii -In response to Hawaii s growing problem of homelessness and lack of affordable housing, Bishop Larry Silva is moving forward with concrete plans for the Catholic Diocese to engage parishioners in constructing, renovating, converting and/or preserving 720 affordable housing units by Visit the link below to read the full OSM press release and to download the Homeless Affordable Housing Plan Brochure: es_3-year_plan_for_affordable_housing_in_hawaii To read the article in the June 24, 2011 issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald, visit: Word of Life Intercessions for Life July 3, 2011 From Deacon Walter Yoshimitsu, Chancellor July 3rd Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time For the leaders of our nation: that they may remember that the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness apply to all people, from conception to natural death; We pray to the Lord: 2

3 Bulletin Brief One notes with sadness, that homes are coming under increasingly adverse conditions caused by rapid cultural changes by educational programs that trivialize sexuality and by false ideologies. We cannot remain indifferent to these challenges Christ with his grace urges us to work with diligence and enthusiasm to ensure that each family, founded on the indissoluble union between a man and a woman, accomplishes its mission of being a privileged environment in which human life is welcomed and protected, joyfully and responsibly, from its beginning until its natural end. ~ Pope Benedict XVI, Message to the Meeting of Bishops who Head Episcopal Commissions for the Family and Life in Latin America and the Caribbean, March 28, 2011 Respect Life: Natural Family Spacing Submitted by Melissa Crisostomo, St. John Apostle and Evangelist Do you feel something missing in your marital life? Consider that it might be the result of unnatural forms of birth control. Get off those unhealthy methods and learn the natural way to plan your family with the Couple to Couple League. Its philosophy is in full accord with Catholic teaching. Learn a natural method that is just as effective as the Pill, with no harmful side effects. The series starts: Friday, July 22 nd 7:00 to 9:00pm St. John Apostle & Evangelist parish center, 2 nd floor classroom Kuahelani Ave., Mililani Course fee: $135 per couple. $25.00 refundable discount for registered parishioners of St John Apostle & Evangelist Church: $110 per couple. (Scholarships and childcare are available for those in need). To register: Go to Couple to Couple League Website and select the register on-line tab. For additional information contact: Ed and Betty Coda, Instructors at CODAFAM@aol.com 3

4 The Latest Blog Financial Systems Solution Project (FSSP) Submitted by Diane Lamosao, Financial Systems Analyst The Diocesan Finance Office has started a blog to update parishes and schools on the Financial Systems Solution project. Team Finance is committed to updating the blog at least once a week, on Wednesdays, so click on first thing Thursday morning for the most up to date FSSP information. Attention Tweeters! The blog will also feature the CatholicHawaii Twitter feed. Second Collection for Men in Formation for the Priesthood, July 9-10 Submitted by Fr. Peter Dumag, Director of Vocations SUPPORT OUR SEMINARIANS! Attending Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wisconsin Nick Brown of St. Theresa Co-Cathedral, Honolulu Attending Mount Angel Seminary, Mount Angel, Oregon Attending St. Patrick s Seminary, Menlo Park, California: Anthony Rapozo of Immaculate Conception, Lihue Makana Aiona of Resurrection of the Lord Church, Honolulu Brian Apo of St. Theresa Co-Cathedral, Honolulu Alfred Guerrero of St. Theresa Co-Cathedral, Honolulu Hung Lee of St. Theresa Co-Cathedral, Honolulu EJ Resinto of Immaculate Conception Church, Lihue David Soares of St. Joseph Church, Hilo Anh Vu of St. Theresa Co-Cathedral, Honolulu Holy Father s Prayer Intentions for July 2011 From the Vatican General Intention: That Christians may contribute to alleviating the material and spiritual suffering of AIDS patients, especially in the poorest countries. Missionary Intention: For the religious who work in mission territories, that they may be witnesses of the joy of the Gospel and living signs of the love of Christ. 4

5 Attention Diocesan Priests! New Resources to assist Engaged and Married Ministry Submitted by Frank P. Hannigan, Director, Family Ministries Office, Archdiocese of Chicago Problem #1: You are preparing a couple for marriage but they can t attend the local marriage preparation program because one or both are out of town. One may be deployed in the military or far away at college. How do you help them prepare for their Catholic marriage? Solution: The first of its kind Online On-Demand Catholic Marriage Prep Class was developed by the Family Ministries Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago in collaboration with The Marriage Group specifically targeting couples separated by distance. Based on the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage, Theology of the Body and solid Catholic teaching, the program has received an Imprimature from Monsignor John Canary, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago. This program is unique in that not only is it available 24/7/365, it includes the Catholic Couple Checkup premarital inventory, e-book resources on Spirituality and Finances and twelve months of follow up enrichment sent to every couple. Check out the details at Problem #2: You want a couple to take a premarital inventory but their schedule doesn t allow them to meet with a facilitator. Solution: Catholic Couple Checkup Developed by the Family Ministries Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago, in collaboration with Life Innovations Inc., developers of the highly acclaimed Prepare Enrich inventory, the all new Catholic Couple Checkup provides, immediately upon completion of the inventory, a page Checkup Report including a discussion guide that may be viewed and printed by the couple. There is no other premarital inventory that offers such a complete personalized guide for each couple. The cost of the Catholic Couple Checkup is only $29.95 if you register through If your couple is taking the Online On-Demand Catholic Marriage Prep Class, the Catholic Couple Checkup is included free as part of the class. 5

6 Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament, July 8 Submitted by Melissa Crisostomo, St. John Apostle & Evangelist Church St. John Apostle & Evangelist Church Knights of Columbus Council is hosting their first golf tournament at Mililani Golf Course on Friday, July 8 th. The tournament will be a 4 Man Scramble/Best Ball (singles will be paired up). Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. with a Shotgun Start at 12:00 noon. ENTRY FEE: $100 per person, $400 per four man team. Registration is open to the first 36 teams, so get your team together, write your checks payable to Knights of Columbus, and register soon! Fabulous prizes include a chance at $5,000 cash, UH Football and Women s Volleyball tickets, golf items, food gift cards for area restaurants and much more. Lunch and banquet dinner buffet is included with the entry fee. If you have any questions, or if you want to reserve a spot in the golf tournament, please call either Mike Stehn at (808) or mikestehn@yahoo.com or Dennis Tulang at (808)

7 Bulletin Announcement: Living in Love A parish-based retreat workshop for married couples Submitted by Ed & Betty Coda, Authors of Passionate Parent Passionate Couple St. John Apostle and Evangelist Mililani July 9-10, 2011 Holy Trinity Honolulu- August 13-14, 2011 A delightful experience designed to put the fun and romance back into marriage! This retreat workshop affirms, energizes, and frees husbands and wives to live in love the way they always dreamed they would. Living in Love offers liberating insight from Pope John Paul II s Theology of the Body into how differently men and women prefer to achieve intimacy and helps couples get in touch with the resources that draw them to each other and fuel their passion. The workshop consists of a series of lively, inspirational presentations, followed by questions for reflection, private couple time, and a brief communal prayer. There is no large group discussion or open sharing. Saturday s time schedule is 8:00AM - 9:00PM and includes a lovely, romantic candlelight dinner. Sunday ends by 4:00PM and includes Mass. To get more information please call Ed & Betty Coda, authors of Passionate Parent Passionate Couple, at or them at codafam@aol.com. Also, you can visit to register. Bulletin Insert: Homelessness & Affordable Housing Kupuna Kokua! Submitted by Fr. Robert Stark, Office for Social Ministry Talking Story #1: NA LIMA HANA NO KO KAKOU MAU KUPUNA Translated means, Helping hands for our elderly. This unique ministry, more fondly referred to as the Kupuna Project, came as an inspiration of St. Rita parishioner, John Minard. John s back was hurt thus forcing him into early retirement, or so he thought. John describes the message that was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit: I ve given you all the knowledge, I ve healed your back, and now I m asking for a little favor in 7 return. John responded: How can you say no to God? He and his wife Cathy prayed and discerned about what was to be done.

8 The ministry began in August of 2010 to provide kokua in and around the homes of the parish kupuna. After drafting a plan of action with wife Cathy, John spoke to pastor, Fr. Alapaki Kim, who fully supported the idea. John then spoke to the Social Ministry leader and then addressed the congregation at all Masses. He could not believe the outpouring of support from his fellow parishioners. John expresses a special pride in the teenagers and pre-teens as they make up a good bunch of the volunteer corp. Many of them approached John after he spoke at Mass wanting to be the first to sign-up. Their motivation and openness to participate was and still is genuine, regardless of whether they are in Confirmation Class and need to make service hours. Many families come to volunteer together, young and old. Today the ministry is up to 52 volunteers with ages ranging from 3 years old to 65 years young! One of the advantages of being a small faith community is knowing nearly every person who enters the parish doors. John and others have grown an acute awareness of seniors who appear to have limited mobility. An informal interview is conducted in the home to determine what kinds of services the volunteers can provide. The services do not include major construction but volunteers are able to do minor repairs. One volunteer works in construction and provided the expertise and resources that made it possible for the team to fix a ramp at the home of an elderly female parishioner. With another, the team painted the exterior and some of the interior of the house while volunteers dusted and cleaned. The volunteers do house cleaning if that is what the kupuna needs and wants. Once a determination is made, a team of volunteers is deployed by John and together they get the job done. People in the parish donate money to help defray expenses for supplies and equipment. 8 The group started with scheduling one project a quarter. It s moving in the direction where volunteers are being sent at least once a month. People in the broader community are starting to take notice and requests are much more frequent than originally anticipated. Right now, John s biggest challenge is to maintain balance so as not to burn out his volunteer corp. This calls for trusting that the Holy Spirit put them on this road of compassionate service and will continue to guide them where they need to be! Talking Story #2: Keeping Kupuna in Their Homes : Preventing Homelessness Ministry A Catholic Charities case manager has been working with a kupuna, an 80-year-old Asian woman we will call Auntie May who has difficulty with mobility because of nerve damage. Auntie May relies on a motorized scooter to get around and lives on a fixed income. Because a HUD inspection is coming up soon, Auntie needed help to clean and maintain her apartment to avoid eviction. Unfortunately, Auntie May does not qualify for Medicaid, which could cover the cost of chore services. CCH helped Auntie May apply for Kupuna Care chore services, but she has been on the waitlist for over a year. The Catholic Charities case manager was able to find a volunteer who agreed to help Auntie May do a thorough cleaning of her home as well as to help keep it clean. The volunteer also now helps Auntie with some shopping on a regular basis. The services provided by the CCH volunteer allow Auntie May to live in her apartment instead of a care home. CALL TO ACTION: What can we do to prevent homelessness? As Bishop Larry Silva always calls us to do, the first thing we can all do is pray for homeless people and for more affordable housing to help prevent homelessness -- and share these

9 prayers weekly, even daily in our parishes. We can also find ways how all the ministries in the parish from choirs to youth to RCIA reflect and pray on this. We can also find ways in which we can discuss and pray in our homes about homelessness and affordable housing. Bishop Larry Silva is calling on all Parishes to form a homelessness and affordable housing committee (for homeless housing ministry) to develop and coordinate the parish engagement in this Diocesan strategic priority. The Diocesan Office for Social Ministry and Affordable Housing will provide materials and workshop support for establishing, growing and sustaining these committees. If you are interested, please contact your parish social ministry coordinator and/or the Office for Social Ministry or toll free ext 734. For more information about social ministry opportunities, please go to the new Office for Social Ministry website to find out other ways for you to share your time, talent and treasure in a variety of ways. Bishop Larry Silva is also suggesting that the Catholic Church needs to partner with other organizations in the public, private and nonprofit sector to effectively address homelessness and affordable housing. Some parishes and persons in the diocese are already living out their faith commitment to addressing Homelessness and Affordable Housing by doing Kupuna Kokua Ministry and working with Catholic Charities to help keep Kupuna in their homes. This Catholic Charities of Hawaii program Keeping Kupuna in their Homes can be done by individuals who would like an opportunity to help keep seniors in their homes and avoid premature long term institutionalization. It involves volunteering to be a friendly visitor and provide the following services: Provide chore/housekeeping services to the senior Provide possible grocery shopping Possibly help sort mail Seniors have a difficult time maintaining their own homes and apartments. Because of diminished physical abilities, they may not be able to clean their units or do grocery shopping. Many seniors who live in senior housing also have yearly HUD inspections which if not passed will result in their eviction. This is something you can help to avoid. Volunteers will be trained in providing services and reporting requirements. Volunteer times and frequency will be at times convenient for both the volunteer and the senior. Commitment required: Hours per week: 2 hours a week for one year Days of the week: any day of the week, to be negotiated with the client Must agree to criminal background check Interested persons should call: Oahu Kauai 241-HOPE (4673) Maui 873-HOPE (4673) Big Island 935-HOPE (4673) For more information about Catholic Charities Hawaii, go to ww.catholiccharitieshawaii.org. MAHALO! 9

10 USCCB LIFE ISSUES FORUM Hemlock s Twisted Logic From the Respect Life Office On June 16 the Catholic bishops of the United States approved their first-ever policy statement focused on physician-assisted suicide, To Live Each Day with Dignity. This prompted a response from the group formerly known as the Hemlock Society, which now goes by the euphemism Compassion & Choices (C&C). The title of C&C president Barbara Coombs Lee s blog, Dogma vs. Dignity, nicely sums up her argument: Assisted suicide (though she refuses to call it that) has proved that it serves the freedom and dignity of seriously ill patients in Oregon; C&C promotes comprehensive palliative care that includes this option; and the only remaining objection is religious dogma, illustrated by the bishops insistence that one religious authority can overrule the most personal decisions of individuals of every faith. What s wrong with this account is, well, just about everything. First, if you read the bishops statement you ll find that its key arguments are not theological, and its claims are backed up by fact sheets citing respected secular sources ( These general concerns are widely shared, as a Gallup poll recently found that 48% of Americans think physicianassisted suicide is morally wrong (with 45% seeing it as morally acceptable). Second, no discussion of palliative care can ignore the centuries-long role of Catholic hospitals, hospices, doctors and nurses in providing compassionate support and relief of suffering for seriously ill patients. The idea of a lethal drug overdose as medicine is the recent and unwelcome intrusion here, threatening to undermine society s commitment to care for those we cannot cure. Third, what of C&C s claim that the Oregon assisted suicide law doesn t harm anyone, that many are comforted by it? Well, that assumes that for the 65 Oregonians who took the lethal dose last year, death was no harm because lives like theirs have no value. The suicide enthusiasts at C&C brag that they are involved in 97% of the cases; only one of the 65 had any evaluation to check for treatable depression. All reporting is by the physician himself, often one selected by C&C. Does this look like freedom and dignity, or a closed system for encouraging death? What it says to people with similar conditions is clear: For you, too, doctor-prescribed death is no harm. If you do not want to kill yourself, why not? That message is not comforting but alarming to many people with illnesses and disabilities. Coombs Lee displayed her full understanding of compassion and choices in 2008, when Barbara Wagner and other cancer patients received a chilling letter from the Oregon Health Plan: The state s health care rationing program would not support the treatment their doctors recommended that might extend their lives, but would pay for what C&C charmingly calls life-ending medication. Coombs Lee, a former managed care executive, defended the policy: After all, she said, the state can t afford futile treatments, those which offer little chance of 5 year survival. But if health care is for survival, wouldn t that logically mean not funding drugs that kill you? Ah, but patients who kill themselves save money. Now I get the logic. A law like Oregon s is not about compassion or choices not for patients like Barbara Wagner, at any rate. It is about government dismissing some people s inherent worth. You don t have to be Catholic to be worried about that. In fact, if you re not worried, maybe you re being a bit dogmatic. Mr. Doerflinger is Associate Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. See the bishops new statement and related materials at 10

11 Bulletin Announcement: Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend From Jose & Mary Elizabeth Alvior, WorldWide Marriage Encounter Upcoming date on Oahu: September 9-11, 2011 at St. Anthony Retreat Center. Married Couples - It has been said that the greatest gift you can give your children is two parents very much in love with each other. Polish up this gift and put a bow on it at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. You deserve the best and your children need to see you reaching for it. For more information call Jose & Mary Elizabeth Alvior at or visit their website at: I Saw it in the enews and Read it in the Herald From Elina Simon, Executive Assistant to the Vicar General Grateful Hearts Campaign / Road Map Priorities: Funding Rekindles OnFire! Youth Nights is our second installment of a series of articles on how money collected by the diocese s With Grateful Hearts capital campaign is funding the Road Map diocesan strategic plan. Marcos Brackins is a board member and founder of InHim Ministries. He writes about the revitalization of OnFire! Youth Nights by funding from the Grateful Hearts Campaign through the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation. Visit the link below to read the article in the June 24 issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald: For a copy of the Hawaii Catholic Herald call or herald@rcchawaii.org and ask about the "Pass it On" Policy which allows you to share an issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald with a friend. Herald staff will send your friend a free copy. If you give your copy away, the Herald will send you another one while supplies last. Previous Events/Announcements July/August Roman Missal Workshops for Music Ministers From Fr. William Kunisch, Office of Worship The following workshops are planned for Music Ministers to review new service music based on the new translation of the Roman Missal and strategies for implementation. Please note the new dates/times/locations highlighted below: 11

12 July 2, 9 am 12 Noon St. John, Apostle & Evangelist, Mililani (Leeward/Central Oahu Vicariates) July 15, 7-9 pm Annunciation, Waimea (Big Island Vicariates) July 30, 9 am 12 Noon Immaculate Conception, Lihue, Kauai August 6, 9 am 12 Noon Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa (East/West Honolulu, Windward Vicariates) For more information, contact Jonila at the Office of Worship, Roman Missal General Parish Catechesis Submitted by Fr. William Kunisch, Office of Worship In July, Pastors are asked to begin some catechesis one Sunday of the month at all the Masses on a portion of the Roman Missal Third Edition. This can be done before Mass, during the homily, or after the Mass. July s focus will be the Introductory Rites. Some suggested talking points have been sent to all Pastors. Please contact the Office of Worship, , should you have any questions. Save $50 and Register Now for Marianist BILAC 2011! Submitted by Bro. Dennis Schmitz, S.M., Special Ministries, Marianist Center of Hawaii Marianist BILAC is a Liturgy and Arts Conference which builds on the communal and welcoming spirit of the host culture of Hawaii. The conference features concerts, prayer, ministry workshops, keynote presentations and more in an atmosphere of loving Ohana. Register now and save $50. The $150 registration fee includes: 3 concerts, 2 continental breakfasts, 2 boxed lunches, 2 keynotes, 4 workshops and a full spectrum of liturgical worship. Guest artists include internationally known David Haas, Marty Haugen, Tony Alonso, Lori True and more. The conference begins with a concert on November 3rd and continues through to a closing Eucharist in the early evening on November 5th. For more information and online registration, go to and click on the links for "Marianist BILAC 2011." You can also call Bro. Dennis Schmitz, S.M. at

13 World Youth Day Pilgrims Prepare for Departure Submitted by Lisa Gomes, Director, Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry 13

14 Bulletin Insert: Ponahawaiola Community Reintegration Program Submitted by Fr. Robert Stark, Office for Social Ministry Making a Difference through HOPE Services, Inc: Ponahawaiola Community Reintegration Program A tear slides down the side of the homeless man s weathered face. But his smile is beaming as he proudly shares that he now has been sober for 3 months for the first time in 47 year. He only wishes his mother could have seen him. He enthusiastically joins several others in cleaning the spotless hallways and tending to the community garden gathering area at the Kano shelter. There repeatedly you hear folks saying Mahalo for a second chance in life. You deserve it, we all do is the instant and constant response of the dedicated staff. Many of them also have been homeless and are now giving back. HOPE s CEO, Brandee Menino simply but proudly points out that HOPE hires formerly homeless folks in staffing their transitional residential shelters and also employs people previously incarcerated for the community re-integration programs. HOPE Services Inc. strives to live up to its name and walk the talk. HOPE s mission is: To bring to life the gospel values of justice, love, compassion and hope through service, empowerment, and advocacy. HOPE s goal is to help Hawaii s homeless persons increase their stability in the health, housing and social areas so that they may be able to obtain and retain permanent housing and maintain economic independence and self-sufficiency for the long term. HOPE Services was founded by the Catholic Church in 2010 when the Office for Social Ministry, Care-A-Van Department of the Diocese of Honolulu, became HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc. to expand this ministry. The Diocese continues to strongly support HOPE Services innovative and effective programs such as the following. 14 Talk Story: Example One Recently the nationally televised PBS program Religion & Ethics featured Ponahawaiola (PO) Community Reintegration Program as how faithbased support of ex-offenders makes a difference /february /prisoner-reentry/8181/. This HOPE project provides transitional housing services for men and women returning to Hawaiian communities from incarceration and is staffed 24/7 and is a sober living environment. Daily evening classes include: house meetings, Hazelden relapse prevention groups, gender specific groups, meth groups, new hire club, budgeting, renter s education and other life skills classes. Staff works closely with the Going Home Consortium which includes workforce, education and health care partners, Hawaii Intake Center, Hale Nani Furlough facility, and Parole, Probation and Drug Court representatives. This Consortium works to create a seamless re-entry system to reduce recidivism and prevent homelessness. Persons returning to communities often have nowhere to go and do not know what to do once they are released from incarceration. Currently this program is serving mostly women exoffenders re-entering their Hawaiian communities. This program is a hopeful example of how to prevent homelessness. Talk Story: Example Two Kihei Pua Emergency Homeless Shelter provides 24/7 short-term emergency shelter services to homeless

15 persons through case management, life skills opportunities, on-site pantry, clothing bank and laundry facilities. Preference is given to unsheltered families with children. HOPE s Beyond Shelter Transitional Housing Program consists of apartment style units with six (6) two-bedroom units, one (1) one bedroom and one (1) studio providing transitional housing services for families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness or transitioning from another shelter program. On-site classes include renter s education, linkages to community resources, budget management, financial literacy and health education. This apartment complex is owned by St. Joseph Church in Hilo, while HOPE provides the management and maintenance. Wilder & Kuleana Transitional Housing Programs are single family homes (in scattered sites throughout the community) providing transitional housing services to families with children that are currently homeless or transitioning out from another shelter program. Talk Story: Example Three Valerie is small, pretty, and confident as she speaks in front of a gathering at Ponahawaiola, a residential program for men and women coming out of prison. She s here today, partly for this interview, but also to share her story of struggle with current participants. She laughs as she shares, You might think I look like I have it together now, but I looked like this when I was dealing drugs. I really didn t look much different. I thought I had it all working for me, that I was just doing a job. I thought it was all about me. But know I know I was actually destroying lives I was messing with families not just my own. She tells me later that she had been placed in a school for troubled kids when she was 14 and that she had a really low self esteem. I come from a family of 8 in Kona, and I was the black sheep stupid. So I lived by that label. I wanted to be recognized so I became a drug dealer. Valerie constantly refers to her drug abuse as her insanity. I got pregnant, but lost him at six months. He was living in an incubator in the hospital as I continued my insanity and I thought everything was normal because he was being taken care of. She dealt drugs in Kona, but was warned by a classmate who was a police officer. He told me to clean up my act and that he was trying to help me and that I had to stop. But I didn t think I would get caught. But I did. When I went to court, my whole family was in the court. To see my mom at age 72 and to see my son with his head down. She stops for a moment holding back tears, I realize that I have not just hurt myself, but I ve hurt my family and my community They never even let me kiss my family goodbye. That s when reality hit. She talks about sitting in jail, one year and then two years, and how the chaplain came in one day and brought an OSM brochure saying, Here s a new beginning a new source of life. Valerie was serving a 3 year and 6 month prison term. When she was released from jail, she was accepted into the Phonahawaiola residential program. This program gave me the tools and the guidance including love and support. They taught me to believe in myself. All of the knowledge and education that I received from Ponahawaiola and the activities with the P.I.L.R. participants has helped me to be successful today. Valerie is now a full time college student, and a part time deep fry cook at New China Restaurant in Hilo. She is working on a relationship and reunification with her son Kawena. CALL TO ACTION: Suggested activities for follow up Bishop Larry Silva is calling on all Parishes to form a Homelessness and Affordable Housing committee to develop and coordinate the parish engagement in this Diocesan strategic priority. The Office for Social Ministry will provide materials and workshop support for establishing, growing and sustaining these committees. If you are interested, please contact your parish social ministry coordinator and/or the Office for Social Ministry Bishop Larry Silva is also suggesting that the Catholic Church needs to partner with other organizations in the public, private and non-profit sector to effectively address homelessness and affordable housing. Some parishes and persons in the diocese are already living out their commitment to address Homelessness and Affordable Housing by investing their time and skills at HOPE Services Hawaii, INC. Some people help promote HOPE Services outreach. HOPE Services is seeking volunteers to assist ex-offenders to successfully reenter our community. This will include providing exoffenders with assistance with developing social skills and obtaining services in HOPE Services local communities; promoting public support for such programs; and connecting ex-offenders with resources and contact information for services in their communities. Examples of these volunteer opportunities include assistance with resume building, interview skills, legal assistance, family strengthening activities, mentoring, substance abuse relapse prevention education, pre-employment classes, parenting classes, life skills classes, and financial management classes. If you are interested in volunteering and assisting HOPE Services Hawaii with homelessness and prison re-entry initiatives. Please contact Kimi Palacio at or by at kpalacio@hopeserviceshawaii.org. MAHALO! 15

16 From Fr. Manny Hewe, Vicar for Clergy Key Dates for our Priests: August 4, 2011: Thursday 10a.m. 2p.m. Priests Gathering. Place is yet to be determined. August 17-18, 2011: Wednesday 8a.m. Thursday 1p.m. St. Stephen Diocesan Center. Orientation for International Priests (first session). October 10-14, 2011: Monday 8a.m. Friday 1p.m. St. Stephen Diocesan Center. Orientation for International Priests and Religious (second session). December 30, 2011: Friday 6p.m. Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Priesthood Ordination of Rev. Mr. Anthony Rapozo. January 8-13, 2012: Sunday 8p.m. Friday St. Stephen Diocesan Center. Priests Retreat. Fr. Dennis D. McManus will direct the retreat. Fr. McManus is the theologian of the Archdiocese of New York. May 7-11, 2012: Monday 3p.m. Friday 12p.m. Turtle Bay Resort. Annual Convocation: Mandatory. May 13-17, 2013: Monday 3p.m. Friday 12p.m. Place is not yet determined. Annual Convocation: Mandatory. Available Spiritual Directors for Priests and Deacons: Roland Bunda, SM rolbunda@aol.com John Chandler, SJ frjohn@newmanhawaii.org John Klobuka, SM - john.klobuka@chaminade.edu Paul Minchak, OFM Cap. plminchak@aol.com Michael Owens - mjo57lbe@mac.com Russell Roide, SJ - frruss@newmanhawaii.org Ken Templin, SM ktemplin@netserve05.chaminade.edu Paul Zaconne, SS.CC. pczac@aol.com Gus Coe autin.j.coe@us.army.mil Br. John Campbell, SM jhpcsm@gmail.com 16

17 Fr. Joseph Sullivan is a 58 yr old priest in good standing with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane WA. Fr. Joe is pastor of five parishes one of which is a Native American tribe and works with their spirituality in the Catholic Church. He is currently living in Newport, WA and is willing to offer a few weeks a year for fill in. If you can use his service please contact Fr. Joe through this address: materdei@catholic.org. ***The Upper Room Crisis Hotline is to provide 24/7/365 telephone hotline services for Roman Catholic priests, deacons and vowed religious brothers. The services provided are counseling, information and referral, suicide prevention/crisis intervention, and reassurance calls to the elderly *** Key Dates for our Permanent Deacons: July 15 17, 2011: Friday Sunday. Malia Puka O Kalani, Hilo. Annual Summer Gathering. December 30, 2011: Friday 6p.m. Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Priesthood Ordination of Rev. Mr. Anthony Rapozo. ephotos: Submitted by Jayne Mondoy, Director, Office of Religious Education June 23, 24 & 25: The Oahu Faith Formation Conference was a huge success with attendance hitting record numbers! Above, Joe Paprocki, D.Min, of Loyola Press begins his keynote address: Living the Mass: How One Hour Can Change Your Life. Joe s keynote was streamed live over the web and is archived at Mahalo to videographer John Fielding, to Holy Family Catholic Church and Academy, outstanding facilitators, volunteers, and attendees. It truly was a celebration of family and life. 17

18 e-newsletter is published every Tuesday for the benefit of the parish and diocesan communities of the Diocese of Honolulu. Article submissions are due no later than Monday, 10:00 a.m. For article guidelines and submissions, please contact Elina Simon ). 18