Ceru orlc 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 livehere with a measure of material security and comfort. In so many ways

Hawaiit portrayal as paradise is appropriate.

But, as you and I know, paradise has its dark side. Homelessness. Abuse.

Poverty. Abortion. Divorce. Neglect. Violence. Drugs. Hardship.

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 ofabandonment, 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 CatholicCharities Hawai'i, there is much we can do. Like Molokai's beloved saint of a century ago, today's CatholicCharities 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 CatholicCharities 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 mustshare 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 it to serve one another as good stewards of Godt varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10)

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Xryfi^Most Rdveren'd Larry Silva

Bishop of Honolulu

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Each year, Catholic Charities Hawai'i provides services to tens of thousands of peoplestatewide. 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.

AIY

wtrh-mI7

1,124

55

5,325

individuals were identified, assessed, trained and licensed toprovide foster resource families services Stateuide.

emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth were provideda non-institutional therapeutic foster family environment onO'ahu and Hawai'i Island.

families with children were provided individual and familycounseling, 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.

299

1,881

481

247

individuals were provided transitionai housing services focusing onfamilies 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 orsecurity deposit assistance payment to help the families avoid orIeave 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.

seniors were kept active, healthy, and connecred to thecommunity through educational, recreational, and socialactivities on O'ahu.

seniors were provided advocacy services, case management,professional counseling for psychological and socialproblems, assessment of needs, and bereavement counselingthrough 12 O'ahu senior housing projects and 2 parishes.

seniors were helped with resolving housing crises, evictionprevention, counseling, and placement into affordable housingon O'ahu.

915

3,059