After five years of working for the Episcopal Church in Hawaiʻi, I am sad to share that Danny Casey is resigning to move to North America for family reasons. His last day in the office will be in November, but he will continue as a consultant through the end of the year.

Danny joined the Diocesan Support Center staff as our Treasurer, Peter Pereira, had to take extended medical leave. Danny was invaluable as he stepped into the role of accountant to support the Diocese and Peter. He was then on the frontlines during the Pandemic doing much of the hardwork to get congregations the available grants. Finally, over the past year following Peter’s retirement, Danny has filled the role of Controller as we reorganized following the tenure of a beloved thirty-year Treasurer.

I have found Danny particularly helpful in clearly explaining our diocesan finances. He has worked diligently to present the finances in a clear and transparent way, so the Council and I clearly understand the funds available. In his quiet and very hard-working way, he has provided the Diocese a steady hand through unusual – and sometimes difficult -- five years. I deeply appreciate Danny’s time on staff, and I have valued his input and advice. He goes with the prayers and blessing of the entire Diocese.

Yours faithfully,

+Bob

P.S. A Task Group of Dixie Kaetsu, Trip Lynch, Paul Lillie, Rae Costa and Danny have been hard at work on a transition plan for the “business” side of the Diocesan Support Center. More about the plan will be forthcoming.

Brother Randy Greve from the Order of Holy Cross will lead the upcoming annual Clergy RETREAT that will be taking place January 9-11, 2023, at Camp Mokule'ia. This will be a "true" retreat, far from the city, the noise, the distractions of daily life. For more information and to register, click HERE.

The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop invites all Episcopalians to participate in a survey. The responses will help the committee develop a profile of the skills, qualities, and gifts the church seeks in its next presiding bishop, considering what the church and world may look like in the next decade. For more information click HERE, and to take part in the survey, click HERE.

The latest installment in the Retired Clergy Families Talk Story Project is now posted on the Diocesan website HERE. In this issue, the Rev. John Connell and the Rev. Edwin Bonsey are featured. The Talk Story Project is a (growing) collection of stories from Diocesan-related retired clergy, spouses, and widows. Stay tuned for more updates!

The Shine Your Light team invites members of all faiths to join us in prayer and meditation for the upcoming elections and the social justice issues that are at stake. Our weekly meditations (found HERE) cover a variety of social justice topics, such as voting rights, immigration, and gun safety issues that would insure our ability to live and worship in safe spaces. We will also be holding weekly prayer/meditation times on Facebook Live. These will be held every Wednesday up to the week of elections, from 6:00 to 6:15 PM, starting October 5, led by the Rev. Dr. Scott Landis.

The Shine Your Light team is composed of three UCC ministers (Rev. Danette Kong, Rev. Kealahou Alika, and Rev. Dr. Scott Landis), one Episcopalian Priest (Rev. Dr. Robert Nelson), one Buddhist Priest (Kerry Kiyohara) and members of various faith groups, Dr. Ellen Caringer, Connie Kissinger, and Robin Leong.

Come get your spook on at Camp Mokule'ia this Halloween! Join us October 28-30, 2022, for pumpkin carving, a sand monster contest, a movie night of Hocus Pocus, spooky campfire stories, paddle boarding, zip-lining, and trick or treating. Family friendly costumes are encouraged! Lodging, meals, and activities are all included in one great price! Spots are filling up so click HERE to register your family today!

On Sunday, October 16, 2022, St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church will celebrate its 120th anniversary of ministry in Palama. To commemorate this special event, a beautiful history wall (pictured above) was created by Stuart Ching and Allen Low design company, and was installed in their Shim Hall. It recounts the marvelous, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural heritage of this inner city church located at the gateway for immigration into Hawai'i. A special liturgy will be held during the Sunday service with Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick presiding, and many clergy and lay friends of St. Elizabeth’s in attendance. After the wall is blessed a potluck celebration will follow! St. Elizabeth's is located at 720 N. King Street in Honolulu. (Contributed photo)

The Parish of St. Clement is holding a unique fundraising event called The Book & Treasure Sale, taking place on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. You won't find clothing here, but you may find some treasures. They will have books and items valued at $5 and above, to include paintings, knick knacks, toys, kitchen appliances, housewares, backpacks and more! St. Clement's is located at 1515 Wlder Avenue in Honolulu. For more info, call the church office at (808) 955-7745.

Holy Nativity will be holding their annual Fall Festival and Christmas Sale on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 900 AM-2:00 PM. There will be a silent auction and lots of holiday decorations, jewelry, artwork, clothing, accessories, housewares and much more for sale! All proceeds are given to organizations that serve our community. Holy Nativity is located at 5286 Kalanianaole Hwy in Aina Haina. Church Office: (808) 373-2131

Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in Kilauea is now receiving names for a full-time Vicar, through December 31, 2022. They are currently building a vicarage on campus that should be completed by summer 2023. For more information and to view the church profile, visit the Diocesan website HERE.

The recent rains that drenched Maui last month were welcomed by farmers, but wreaked havoc on Trinity By-the-Sea Episcopal in Kihei. They were featured in a Hawaii News Now segment on October 3, HERE, where the church's outdoor sanctuary was inundated with mud and debris.

With school back in session, students have turned up in force to help with the different outreach ministries of St. James'. Pictured above left, 4th and 5th graders from Waimea Country School restarted their community service program by bringing food donations collected from the school and St. James' to neighboring Annunciation's Food Bank Program. At right, over 50 students from Hawai'i Preparatory Academy spent the afternoon volunteering at the Thrift Store and Community Meal Ministries. (Photos from the St. James' weekly e-news)

St. Columba's Thrift Sale is scheduled for October 14 and 15, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Lots of good things that everyone needs. We will have our $5 a bag sale, along with specially priced boutique and household items. St. Columba's is located at 43-1425 Hauola Rd, in Pa‘auilo.

[October 7, 2022] Episcopal dioceses and congregations are preparing services and celebrations marking Indigenous Peoples’ Day as part of the nationwide movement away from honoring the Italian explorer whose federal holiday, Columbus Day, is the second Monday in October. (Photo: Associated Press) READ MORE