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CHanTTIES HA\rAI.I
September 2014
Dear Friends:
God blesses us in Hawaii with so much. The beauty is breathtaking. The weather, except for the rare hurricane, is mild and revitalizing. The people are welcoming. The culture and food are rich and diverse. And most of us live here with a measure of material security and comfort. In so many ways Hawaiit portrayal as paradise is appropriate. you and I know, paradise has its dark side. Homelessness. Abuse. Poverty. Abortion. Divorce. Neglect. Violence. Drugs. Hardship.
But,
as
As witnesses to Jesus, we are commanded to do something about these eviis. The task may seem impossible, but God has shown us how. He gavg us St. Marianne.
St. Marianne Cope, whose remains were recendy enshrined in the
Cathedrd Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, is our model. In a humble dismissal of her own desires, this Sister of St. Francis embraced those whom the rest of society wouldnt touch, joining them in their place of abandonment, accepting the same harsh life sentence they were given. And she did so eagerly, with a smile. St. Marianne's extreme sacrifice may not be expected of most of us. Nevertheless, through our own Catholic Charities Hawai'i, there is much we can do. Like Molokai's beloved saint of a century ago, today's Catholic
Charities brings real help to the poor, welcome to the stranger, and hope to those mistreated and neglected. It acts in our name, we who are a church communiry followers of Christ, hearers of the Gospel.
But Catholic Charities Hawai'i cannot do their work - our work - without our support. The challenges are daunting. Their ministry is demanding. But their mission is essential. I encourage you to give to Catholic Charities Hawai'i in the cheerful generous spirit of St. Marianne. 'We
in Hawaii who have benefited from Godt generosity are obligated to be generous in kind. tWe who have experienced the light of Christ are compelled to spread that light. Those of us who have felt Godt merry must share Godt mercy. And when we do, Jesus tells us, we will have returned our blessings in glory and praise to him. "As each one has received a gift, use Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Xryfi^
Most Rdveren'd Larry Silva Bishop of Honolulu
it to serve one another as good stewards of Godt varied
grace." (1 Peter 4:10)
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Each year, Catholic Charities Hawai'i provides services to tens of thousands of people statewide. Here are a few ways your support made a difference in our communities throughout O'ahu, Maui County, Kaua'i and Hawai'i Island last year.
1,124 55
I
individuals were identified, assessed, trained and licensed to provide foster resource families services Stateuide. emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth were provided a non-institutional therapeutic foster family environment on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island.
5,325 families with children were provided individual and family counseling, parenting skills development, supervised visits between parents and children in foster care, outreach services and group parenting classes on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island.
1,881
seniors were kept active, healthy, and connecred to the community through educational, recreational, and social
activities on O'ahu.
481 seniors were provided advocacy services, case management, professional counseling for psychological and social problems, assessment of needs, and bereavement counseling through 12 O'ahu senior housing projects and 2 parishes.
247
299
915 3,059
individuals were provided transitionai housing services focusing on families with children. Services included transitional housing, case management, employment training, budgeting, and educational classes to heip families become self-sufficient and obtain affordable permanent housing on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island. families with children found and secured housing with rent or security deposit assistance payment to help the families avoid or Ieave homelessness on O'ahu. individuals were offered social service and emergency basic needs assistance of past-due rent, utility payments, food, and clothing on Kaua'i, Maui and Hawai'i Island.
with resolving housing crises, eviction prevention, counseling, and placement into affordable housing on O'ahu. seniors were helped