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From Chicago to Hawai‘i: Sharing Christ’s Love in the Year of Hope

June 30, 2025

(Jacob_09 / Shutterstock.com)

“In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Christ, who is our hope, indeed calls all of us to come together, that we might be that true living example: the light of hope in the world today.” Pope Leo XIV video message, Chicago, June 14, 2025

Recently, thousands gathered at the Chicago White Sox stadium to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, a native of the city’s south side. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich led the sold-out Mass, which featured a virtual video message from Pope Leo XIV himself. Pope Leo XIV concluded his heartfelt message with this invitation: “I would like to invite all of you to take a moment, to open up your own hearts to God, to God’s love, to that peace which only the Lord can give us. To feel how deeply beautiful, how strong, how meaningful the love of God is in our lives. And to recognize that while we do nothing to earn God’s love, God in his own generosity continues to pour out his love upon us. And as he gives us his love, he only asks us to be generous and to share what he has given us with others.”

Chicago also recently celebrated Memorial Masses for the passing of two beloved persons who were shining examples of sharing God’s unconditional love. Sister Rosemary Connelly and Bob Erlenbaugh were remarkable people who offered compassionate care and shared their loving presence with vulnerable children and adults with developmental and physical challenges. For more than 50 years, Sister Rosemary and Bob (with his wife, Mag) opened their hearts daily as true living examples of Christ’s mercy through the Misericordia home which provides a wide range of services designed to maximize potential and foster dignity, inclusion, and hope.

Misericordia currently serves more than 600 residents providing a quality of life on its 37-acre campus and through satellite homes in surrounding neighborhoods. Misericordia residents come from diverse racial, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many are wards of the State or have no families and 20% come from households living in poverty. Misericordia offers a continuum of care to meet their diverse needs for each resident to live as independently as possible in the highest level of community integration feasible. Misericordia’s residential settings include: apartments, group homes and a skilled nursing residence on campus; and Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) for small groups in neighborhood homes outside the campus. Some Misericordia residents work regularly at Chicago businesses. Other businesses outsource projects to be performed on-campus by Misericordia residents. Community volunteers also bring their expertise to Misericordia and accompany residents and their families regularly on community excursions for social and recreational events. Misericordia strives to involve its residents in all feasible aspects of community living.

Misericordia describes itself as a community of believers joined together in Catholic values and traditions striving to embrace those of all faiths as well as those with no religious tradition. While Misericordia is operated by the Sisters of Mercy under the auspices of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, which generously provided the property upon which Misericordia stands, its programs, renovations and new buildings are made possible through private fundraising. For more on Misericordia, please visit, www.misericordia.com .

Hawaiʻi also has living beacons of light reflecting Christ’s mercy and compassion. These include many persons involved in the works of St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaiʻi, founded by the Sisters of St. Francis; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, founded by the Maryknoll Sisters; and HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, founded by the Diocese of Honolulu Office for Social Ministry. We are also blessed with many parish-based ministries such as food pantries, outreach to home-bound persons, and special gatherings such as the ‘Ohana Mass involving families with members who have special gifts (sometimes referred to as special needs or disabilities). As Pope Leo XIV’s recent June message to Chicago reminds us, we are all invited to be and share living examples of Christ’s light, especially with the most vulnerable. For more on ways to respond to this call in Hawai’i, please visit www.stfrancishawaii.org, www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org, www.hopeserviceshawaii.org and www.officeforsocialministry.org . We pray that in this Jubilee Year that we all continue finding ways to be pilgrims of hope always and wherever we are. Mahalo.