Dear Parishioners:
 
I want to thank all the Parishioners for donating money to the Peace and Social Justice Ministry which allows us to help the homeless, poor and the most vulnerable in Hawaii and abroad. If you thought the money was being used specifically for the homeless in Hawaii at the Next Step Shelter, please know that we also use the money donations for all the projects of the Peace and Social Justice Ministry. If you would like your donations restricted only to the Next Step Shelter, please notate “Next Step Shelter” on the memo line of your checks. Otherwise, we will use the donations for other projects within the Peace and Social Justice Ministry. With your generous donations, the Peace and Social Justice Ministry projects include:
 

• Providing meals for the Next Step Shelter, Waikiki homeless Ministry, and families with babies living in tents on the sidewalk.
• Purchasing diapers, clothing, school supplies and Christmas gifts for Hawaii homeless children.
• Providing food donations to Sts. Peter and Paul food pantry and Angel NetWork food pantry.
• Purchasing supplies for the Hygiene kits which are distributed to the homeless here in Hawaii.
• Partnering up with IHS’ relocation program to reunite the homeless with families on the mainland by providing a home and a support system.
• Aiding homeless families moving into housing.
• Providing food to parishioners in need.
• Participating in the Honolulu Habitat for Humanity where we build homes and hope for people of Hawaii.

 
      And with your help last year we were able to:
 

• Bring clean water filters to Africa and Indonesia.
• Supply hygiene kits to the poor and homeless in the Philippines and Indonesia who have no access to medical care.   

We are working on placing the order for the water filter kits for which we currently raised funds;   additionally, allocating funding for a community that does not have toilets as sanitation and clean water go hand in hand; and allocating funding for the most vulnerable in society, the unborn.
 
The Peace and Social Justice Ministry at Mary Star of the Sea is listening to the voice of the poor and vulnerable and being moved to action. And the “peace” we seek with justice must be constructed day after day with compassion, solidarity, fraternity, and collaboration on everyone's part. God bless you and thank you for doing your part to bring peace and social justice to the least of our brothers.
 
With God’s Peace,

Deacon Fernando Ona