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Stewardship and Care for the ʻĀina

July 15, 2024

From the Office for Social Ministry

“To hope and act with creation means above all to join forces and to walk together with all men and women of goodwill.” Pope Francis’s message Hope and Act with Creation for the 2024 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

The intense summer heat and extreme weather we are currently facing around the world are clear indicators of the pressing climate change crisis, a critical issue that Pope Francis has repeatedly addressed in his previous papal messages including the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si' (Care for Our Common Home). In his groundbreaking message nearly a decade ago, our Holy Father recognized the connection between care for the environment and care for humanity, especially the poor. Now his recent 2024 message on Hope and Act with Creation emphasizes an urgent need to respond to global warming impacts with unity, love, and a commitment to sustainable practices that honor both our faith and our environment.“As people who dare to dream, we must dream with our eyes wide open, impelled by a desire for love, fraternity, friendship and justice for all.”

This year’s our Holy Fatherʻs summer message is partly inspired by St. Paul's Letter to the Romans which speaks of the divine connection between creation and the children of God. This scripture reminds us that our stewardship and care for the ʻāina (land) and our ‘ohana (brothers and sisters) are integral to our faith. Pope Francis urges all to hear the cry of the earth and the poor with the realism of faith and hope. “Hope is an alternative reading of history and human affairs. It is not illusory, but realistic, with the realism of a faith that sees what is unseen. As Jesus reminded his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew, “All things are possible with God.” Pope Francis’s message reminds us “hope can be seen as the possibility of remaining steadfast amid adversity, of not losing heart in times of tribulation.”

Since 2007 Christian churches around the planet have joined together at the end of summer for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This tradition began in response to a growing concern for creation, when the Third European Ecumenical Assembly proposed celebrating a “Season for Creation” from September 1 (the Orthodox Churches commemoration of God’s creation) to October 4th (the commemoration of Francis of Assisi in the Catholic Church). During this period, Christian churches worldwide renew their faith in the God of creation and join in prayer and action for the care of our common home.This call to care for creation is deeply aligned with the Hawaiian concept of aloha ʻāina and ‘ohana which means love and respect for the land family. By embracing the values of aloha and mālama, we honor the sacred bond between the land and its people, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship.

Here in Hawaii, as we continue to recover from the Maui wildfires a year ago, there are signs of people of good will and faith are coming together in hope and action with creation that reflecting these values. The Pūʻā Foundation, a Hawaiian non-profit founded by the United Church of Christ in Hawaii, has launched the Punahoa Heritage Forest initiative on the Big Island of Hawai’i. This initiative aims to restore and preserve a 1,300-acre parcel of land, returned by the United Church of Christ as partial reparation for their role in the 1893 illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. The long-term goal is for the Punahoa Heritage Forest to be a place of Hawaiian cultural and environmental best practices, enabling Hawaiians to know, care and connect with their heritage.  The initiative’s mission is to preserve and protect the natural state of the forest, helping it flourish by creating a place of gathering, rejuvenation and cultural expression for all who embrace the Hawaiian culture. The values of the mission are: Mālama ʻĀina (care the land); Mālama Kānaka (care for the people); Mālama Honua (care for the earth); Mālama i ke kai (care for the sea); Mālama i ka wai (care for the water); all with Haʻahaʻa  (humility) and Aloha  (love).

For more on the Punahoa Heritage Forest initiative please visit their website www.punahoaheritageforest.org  And for the full text of Pope Francis Message for the 2024 World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, please go to www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/cura-creato/documents/20240627-messaggio-giornata-curacreato.html Let us this summer join with others in the Laudato Si Christian prayer in union with creation: “God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth. O Lord help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty. Praise be to you!” Amen. Mahalo.