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Parish Social Ministry Listening Sessions

January 10, 2022

From the Office for Social Ministry

Catholic Social Teaching and the principle of respect for the dignity of persons, states that each person should be positively valued in their own right and given respect. Often, the thoughts and opinions of people who are poor or marginalized are overlooked by society. 

Our Parish Social Ministry volunteers work hard to care for our dear neighbor, particularly those whose voices go unheard. Whether food insecure, imprisoned, homeless or disabled, our mission of care is meant to serve the disenfranchised and vulnerable and to ensure they are not ignored. Serving the growing number of people in need during the COVID pandemic is a challenge that many in our parishes do with fearless conviction. They proclaim the living Jesus Christ in our food pantries, in the prisons and vulnerable populations throughout the community. We owe a debt of gratitude to these volunteers

In response to Bishop Larry Silva’s call-out to our Church in preparation for the 2023 Synod of Bishops with Pope Francis, the Office for Social Ministry will be conducting Virtual COFFEE HOUR Listening Sessions with parish social ministry volunteers and staff. Before the holidays, food ministry coordinators serving pantries in West Hawaii gathered on zoom to talk story. We will continue to Talk Story with the remaining vicariates beginning with KAUAI on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 7:00 PM. The zoom link is being forwarded directly to volunteers and staff. 

We are also having these synod listening sessions with diocese and parish outreach volunteers serving with persons returning from prison, individuals struggling to overcome homelessness, families with person with disabilities, migrants and organizations working for citizenship etc. Our time together will be spent sharing updates and affirming the good work being done through your parishes. We will reflect on the voices of those with whom we are blessed to serve and how to help them be heard. This is one way we will respond together to the synod’s question:

How can all the members of the Catholic Church be more effective in
proclaiming the living Jesus Christ to the world?