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Sacred Hearts School Sends Their Thanksgiving

November 25, 2023

From the Office for Social Ministry

As we begin this holiday season with Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday, Bishop Larry Silva is sharing a special video message of gratitude featuring the uplifting story of Sacred Hearts School which belongs to the Lahaina parish of Maria Lanakila. The video can be found HERE on YouTube or on the Office for Social Ministry website at www.officeforsocialministry.org.

The Diocesan “giving-thanks” video is an unscripted, from the heart narrative of faith, resilience and aloha as the Sacred Hearts school is rising from the ashes like a beacon of hope beaming from their temporary classroom tents. The video beautifully opens with young school children, teachers and parents singing a song of gratitude with choreographed hand movements expressing “thanks be to God” in various languages spoken here in Hawaii. It shows how the parish school has embraced its mission of providing learning opportunities not only for the students who were previously enrolled, but also for many from the public schools which were entirely consumed by the fire. The Sacred Hearts School opened its doors to provide impacted keiki a safe learning space which incorporates the values of the Gospel faith in its heart. As Msgr. Terry Watanabe succinctly summarizes in the video, “Catholic education is so important because this is where we’re able to share the values of the gospel message of Jesus Christ with our students, even if they’re not catholic. Faith in action, aloha spirit in action…all of that is making a difference!”

The story of Sacred Hearts School is not just about surviving, it’s about thriving and rebuilding Lahaina’s future. Sacred Hearts School needs financial donations to continue assistance with tuition for the school’s diverse population devastated by the fires. The Sacred Hearts School Tuition Assistance Fund has already begun to help many of their students, assistance it hopes to sustain for as long as possible. For more on how to help build the Sacred Hearts School Tuition Assistance Fund, please visit the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation at https://tinyurl.com/MauiSHSFund.

On Thanksgiving day there was also a very good article in the Star Advertiser about Sacred Hearts School in Maui. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/11/23/hawaii-news/lahainas-sacred-hearts-school-carries-on-with-gratitude/

This year during the holidays let us continue to pray for all impacted by the wildfires and give thanks that brings hope by helping the remarkably resilient Maui ohana rise again. Let us also remember Bishop Larry Silva’s inspiring message immediately after the Maui wildfires.  “In our collective prayers, we ask for strength, resilience, and healing for the fire victims and their families. May we find the grace to rebuild our families, their livelihoods, and the physical structures that were lost. Let our faith guide us as we navigate the challenges ahead, knowing that with the grace of God, all things are possible. May God bless you all abundantly, and may our efforts bring comfort and hope to those in need.” Mahalo!