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Below please find the text of a letter from the Most Rev. Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, as well as the priest vicar for the island of Maui, which is struggling to recover from the recent devastating wildfires. Please consider posting the donation link to your parish social media pages. To see some of the relief efforts underway, visit the Facebook page of Maria Lanakila (Our Lady of Victory) Church, which survived the wildfires in Lahaina: https://www.facebook.com/marialanakila.church.
Below please find the text of a letter from the Most Rev. Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, as well as the priest vicar for the island of Maui, which is struggling to recover from the recent devastating wildfires. Please consider posting the donation link to your parish social media pages. To see some of the relief efforts underway, visit the Facebook page of Maria Lanakila (Our Lady of Victory) Church, which survived the wildfires in Lahaina: https://www.facebook.com/marialanakila.church.* * *
August 11, 2023
To our Catholic Faithful in Hawaii and Beyond:
Peace be with you!
Today our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the island of Maui. As a community of faith, we are called to come together and provide unwavering support to those who are suffering. It is in times like these that our collective love, faith, and compassion can make a tremendous difference.
In 2008, the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation (HCCF) was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation to support our parish and school communities. We have set up a dedicated webpage for donations to go directly to HCCF to support the relief efforts for our fellow community members affected by the Maui wildfires.
This is an opportunity for us to show our solidarity as a Catholic faith community and lend a helping hand to those who have lost so much. You can make a tax-deductible contribution by visiting the following link: https://tinyurl.com/
Let us also remember the power of prayer. 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. Maria Lanakila (Our Lady of Victory), pray for us!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Larry Silva
Bishop of Honolulu
Rev. Msgr. Terrence Watanabe
Vicar Forane of Maui-Lanai
Photo: Burned houses are seen adjacent of Maria Lanakila Catholic Church on Aug. 11, 2023, in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii. | Paula Ramon/AFP via Getty Images