This issue's header features 'Iolani School's Lower School students (and "pets") during their annual St. Francis Blessing of the Animals in St. Alban's Chapel. The following is an excerpt from their post on social media: "All of God's creatures were blessed, including stuffed animals and pictures of pets that students brought to school today. St. Francis of Assisi is known for his love for all of God’s creatures. It is a tradition in the Episcopal Church to bless animals on or near his Feast Day (October 4)."

October 8, 2026

Season of Pentecost: Proper 23

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

IN THIS ISSUE:

REGULAR FEATURED SECTIONS:

Bishop's Corner - A Pastoral Word to the Episopcal Church from the House of Bishops; Reflections on the House of Bishops Meeting; Renewal of Ministry at St. Elizabeth's
Growing in Grace - Emotional Intelligence: Making Room for Grace
Kahuaola: St. John's Guam Celebrates Season of Creation
Island Happenings - At The Cathedral; MAUI: A Very Special Service in Lahaina; O'AHU: St. Elizabeth's Celebrates a New Ministry with The Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers
The Episcopal Church & Beyond - News links from around the world

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING:

Bishop Search & Transition - RSVP & Donation Updates
Convention 58 - Annual Meeting documents now posted; Online registration is closed but registration available at the door
Clergy Transitions - The Rev. George Wong Called to St. Christopher's
Camp Mokulē'ia - Mark your calendars! 2027 Diocesan Youth Retreat
"Vote Faithfully" Networking Calls; Voting as a practice of Faith by Dawn Morais Webster
Coming Up: See what's happening in your neighborhood and around the Diocese

THE BISHOP'S CORNER

Recommended by Bishop Bob:

A Pastoral Word to The Episcopal Church from the September 2026 Gathering of the House of Bishops

Introduction

The bishops of The Episcopal Church gathered from September 22-28, 2026, at Camp Allen Conference Center in Navasota, Texas. Our gathering included 118 bishops and bishops-elect, representing 93 dioceses and special ministries across 17 countries and territories. Mindful of the pressures and challenges facing our world and our church, we are grateful for this time set apart for spiritual renewal and focused work. We leave this meeting with deepened relationships and renewed commitments to the ministry we share in Jesus Christ.

READ THE LETTER HERE

Reflections on the House of Bishops Meeting

With Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick & Bishop-elect Libby Berman

I returned from my last meeting of the House of Bishops in my time as the Bishop Diocesan of Hawaiʻi with a sense of both thanksgiving for those who have gone before me and hope for the future. The House of Bishops has changed since my first meeting in March of 2007. Then, the number of women bishops could gather around one table. Now, nearly half of the active bishops are women. Then, there was division with some bishops walking out over being an inclusive Church. That has all settled into memory. There was tension within the Anglican Communion as the Episcopal Church was disinvited from some meetings. This year we welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury into our midst.

At this meeting, we heard about the Presiding Bishop’s hope for the restructuring of The Episcopal Church, and the use of resources for congregational development and church planting. We had deep and honest conversations about the state of the Church and of theological education. We faced together the reality of being The Episcopal Church in a changing and conflicted world.

I was delighted to see Libby warmly welcomed into the House. I was reminded of friends no longer present. I thought of the continuity of God’s mission for the Church “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”

Now, once I am a resigned bishop, I am still welcome to attend House of Bishops meeting with seat, voice, and vote. Such attendance will likely be infrequent. I am thankful for my years in the House of Bishops. It is a community of mutuality and support. It is above all, a gathering of faithful and prayerful servants of Christ Jesus. It is the living embodiment of being fully a part of the “one holy catholic and apostolic Church.”

– Bishop Bob

It was a great blessing to attend my first meeting of the House of Bishops in Navasota, Texas. I have met extremely thoughtful colleagues from across The Episcopal Church, all of whom indicated their support for our new ministry together and encouraged me to reach out about things they might be able to assist us with. Their generosity of spirit moved me deeply. Our daily worship inspired me, as well, with fine preaching about the life of discipleship that we all share.

I was assigned to a working “table” with the Rev. Keith Chen-Cheng, who will be ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan on November 7. There has been a warm and long-standing relationship between our two dioceses, stewarded on our side by Bishop Bob. I look forward to deepening our connections. I also enjoyed conversations with others in our own Province VIII, which includes not only Taiwan, but most of the western United States.

It is difficult to share in a short note the sense of unity that I felt with the bishops across our church. Our time together was a beautiful example of the faith and passion we share for doing Gospel work. I hope many of you will have the opportunity to attend an event that gives you a similar sense of who we are as The Episcopal Church, all together. It is a mighty force for good and we are all in it together!

– Bishop-elect Libby

Renewal of Ministry at St. Elizabeth's!

Bishop Bob was both very pleased and relieved to be with the people of St. Elizabeth's this past Sunday, October 3, as they celebrated the Renewal of Ministry for the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers, their new priest in charge. St. Elizabeth's faced many challenges as they went through their search process for a new priest that has taken years. To see a congregation full of life and smiles has been a long time coming! More photos of this service can be found in the Island Happenings section further below. (Photos from Facebook, St. Elizabeth's and Brian Rallison)

Be sure to stay informed with the Bishop's latest messages by clicking on the button shown. All video messages also appear on the Dioceseʻs YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

100% of all donations go directly to relief efforts! (Credit card donations are less merchant processing fee.) Please also donate to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) HERE for worldwide relief.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DIOCESE

Visit the Diocese's Calendar page HERE for Diocesan events & activities.

RSVP & Donation Updates for the Consecration & Ordination of the Sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

The Bishop and People of

the Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i

invite you to join us in celebrating the

Ordination and Consecration of

the Reverend Elizabeth Berman

as the Sixth Bishop

of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i.

Saturday, November 14, 2026

at 10:00AM

The Cathedral of St. Andrew

229 Queen Emma Square

Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813

Click here to RSVP by October 22.

Have you RSVP'd yet? Just steps from the Cathedral, seating in Tenney Theatre and St. Paul's will be available for livestream-viewing. Please note that an RSVP is required and all seating is first come, first served. You will not be able to select a seating venue if it reaches capacity before you RSVP. Click HERE to reserve your seat now.

For information about booking a hotel and the most up-to-date information about this event, visit the Ordination & Consecration website HERE. Churches are welcome to share the information outlined above in their newsletters. If you have any questions, email the Bishop Transition Administrative Assistant HERE.

DONATIONS WELCOMED - Many have reached out to inquire about how to contribute towards this historic event, so we’ve launched a donation form available HERE (or scan the QR code shown). Donations made through this form will help cover costs for a selection of gifts to be presented to the bishop-elect that include a stole, ring, chasuble, mitre, as well as the Ke Kipa ‘Ana Reception, flowers and decor. Any funds donated in excess of the value of the above will be added to the Bishops’ Vestment Fund.

Convention 58: Annual Meeting Documents Posted

Online registration has closed

*** You may still attend by registering at the door ***

ANNUAL MEETING DOCUMENTS NOW POSTED: We are just a week out from Convention 58 and all voting clergy and delegates should take the time to review and familiarize yourselves with the Annual Meeting documents that are now posted on the Convention 58 webpage. These documents include:

New! Bishop's Report to the Convention
New! e-Workbook, full version
New! e-Workbook, abbreviated version
Diocesan Council Proposed Budget and Presentation recording
Nominations for Governance Committees (New! Updated Standing Commitee list)
Resolutions

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR CONVENTION 58 HAS CLOSED, but it's still not too late to attend any or all of the five different events taking place from Friday through Sunday. Just be sure to arrive early to register at the door (and pay if required). If you are unsure whether you registered for a specific event, please email Kaori Matsumoto HERE or call her at (808) 536-7776, ext. 305. Convention 58 events are: Friday ('Iolani School) – Education Day, Convention Opening Eucharist with Bishop's Cross Presentation, and Ka Ha‘alele ‘Ana Farewell Reception for Bishop Bob; Saturday's Annual Meeting of Convention ('Iolani School); Sunday Evensong at The Cathedral of St. Andrew for the Class of 2026 Honorary Canons

For details on all activities, click on the buttons below. All are welcome to attend any and all of the Convention 58 events.Child care is available at most events.

Clergy Transitions

The Rev. George Wong Called to St. Christopher's

After four years serving on the Valley Isle, the Rev. George Wong will he heading to O'ahu where he was called to be the priest-in-charge at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Kailua. Wong is currently at St. John's Episcopal Church in Kula, where he has been since 2022. During the past four years, he has seen the congregation through the devastating Maui fires of 2023 and other natural disasters, but also celebrated major milestones, like their 125th anniversary.

After a 25-year career in corporate finance and international business development, Wong's life path shifted to a spiritual calling and he was ordained in 2013. Prior to moving to Hawaiʻi, he served as rector at two Episcopal churches in New Jersey.

Wong's last service at St. John's will be on Sunday, October 25, and he will begin at St. Christopher's on December 1, 2026.

Mark your calendars! 2027 Diocesan Youth Retreat

Start planning now for the 2027 Diocesan Youth Retreat at Camp Mokulēʻia next April, wth guest speaker, the Rev. Charles Browning of St. Mary's in Honolulu. Click HERE for more information on the event webpage, or scan the QR code below to register now!

Emotional Intelligence: Making Room for Grace

By the Rev. Canon Andrew J. Arakawa, Canon for Ministry Formation

A difficult email arrives. Someone questions a decision we have made. A conversation takes an unexpected turn. Before we fully understand what’s happening, we may already feel defensive, anxious, or frustrated. These ordinary moments can become invitations to formation, not because our feelings are wrong, but because they invite us to notice what’s happening within us and choose how we will respond.

Viewed theologically, emotional intelligence is not a technique for controlling emotions or managing people. It is a lifelong practice of becoming more truthful about ourselves, more attentive to others, and more free to respond in ways shaped by the love of God. READ MORE

(To read previous articles, go to the GIG page on the diocesan website HERE.)

St. John's Guam Celebrates Season of Creation

The yearly worldwide observance of the Season of Creation came to a close on October 4, and our brothers and sisters at St. John the Divine in Guam hosted an ecumenical service on Friday, September 25. The Season of Creation is a time dedicated to renewing our relationship with the Earth and reflecting on our shared responsibility as stewards of the planet. (Photo from the St. John Facebook page)

"Vote Faithfully" Networking Calls

The Episcopal Church's Public Policy and Witness team has been hosting a series of half-hour online networking calls on Zoom called “Vote Faithfully” that began in June. The calls offer guidance on a range of topics, to support voter engagement in ways consistent with Episcopal values. During the calls, hosts share resources and ideas to help congregations promote voting and civic participation while remaining nonpartisan (avoiding support for specific political parties, candidates, or platforms). The final call will be held on Thursday, November 5, at 8:30 AM (HST). To sign up, click HERE.

Voting as a practice of faith - In a related article, Dawn Morais Webster of St. Elizabeth's in Honolulu, shares a reflection on voting that originally appeared in the Hawaii Catholic Herald in August. As a member of the Hawai'i chapter of Pax Christi USA, she believes churches of all denominations can do much more to galvanize voters in Hawai'i. Click HERE to read her insightful reflection.

OPPORTUNITIES

ORDAINED POSITION OPENINGS:

(Visit the Diocesan website HERE for more information.)

Part-time Vicar - Grace Episcopal Church, Ho'olehua, Moloka'i

LAY POSITION OPENINGS:

(Visit the Diocesan website HERE for more information.)

Part-time Director of Music - Trinity Episcopal By-the-Sea, Kihei, Maui

CONVENTION 58: October 16 -18, 2026 - 'Iolani School, Honolulu, O'ahu (Education Day, Convention Eucharist, Ka Ha'alele 'Ana farewell reception for Bishop Bob, Annual Meeting, and special Convention Evensong at The Cathedral on Sunday)
VETERAN'S DAY EVENSONG: November 11 - The Cathedral of St. Andrew, Honolulu, O'ahu, Bishop Ann Ritonia of the Armed Services and Federal Ministries
CONSECRATION & ORDINATION OF THE SIXTH BISHOP OF HAWAI'I: November 14, 2026, The Cathedral of St. Andrew, Honolulu, O'ahu, with Ke Kipa ‘Ana Welcome Reception to follow
SPECIAL SERVICE IN LAHAINA: November 15, 2026, 9:00 AM, at the site of Holy Innocents Church, Celebrant Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe

ISLAND HAPPENINGS

Visit the Diocese's Community Calendar page HERE for ongoing activities in your neighborhood.

AT THE CATHEDRAL...

CATHEDRAL WORKDAYS

Come help the Cathedral prepare for the consecration of the Sixth Bishop of Hawaiʻi! We will work on various projects inside the cathedral and throughout the grounds. You can sign up for the days you want to attend HERE.

CATHEDRAL RUN CLUB

Meeting Monday's, 6:00 pm at Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park, next to the parking lot. For a good walk and talk and connect time! All are welcome!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25: AT THE MOVIES

Our Series continues on October 25 at noon in the Von Holt room with Kathleen Norris, where we will watch Mr. Nobody Against Putin.

The Cathedral of St. Andrew: 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813

www.cathedralhawaii.org

MAUI: A Very Special Service in Lahaina

An Invitation to Worship with the Presiding Bishop

Sunday, November 15, 2026

9:00 AM

Holy Innocents Episcopal Church 561 Front Street, Lahaina – Parking is available directly across the street in the Prison Street public parking lot.

You are warmly invited to join us for a special celebration of the Holy Eucharist with The Most Reverend Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, who will be our celebrant at the historic site of Holy Innocents Church on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM.

Presiding Bishop Rowe will be in Hawaiʻi for the consecration of our Sixth Bishop of Hawaiʻi, the Rev. Elizabeth “Libby” Berman, taking place the day before on Oʻahu. As part of his customary practice on the morning after the consecration, the Presiding Bishop visits a congregation remote from the Cathedral and the diocesan offices — a congregation chosen by the newly elected bishop. This helps ensure that the focus at the Cathedral remains centered on the new bishop’s ministry, while the Presiding Bishop extends his pastoral presence to the wider diocesan ʻohana.

Bishop‑elect Libby Berman has selected Holy Innocents, Lahaina for this meaningful post‑consecration visitation — a gesture of deep aloha for a community that continues to rebuild with courage, faith, and hope. The service will take place on the grounds of the church that was lost in the Maui wildfires, and we will gather outdoors with folding chairs under shade tents. To ensure we have adequate seating, please RSVP HERE or scan the QR code shown in the announcement.

We look forward to welcoming Presiding Bishop Rowe and gathering together for this joyful occasion.

O'AHU: St. Elizabeth's Celebrates a New Ministry with The Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers

The folks at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Honolulu officially welcomed their new Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers, this past Saturday, October 3, 2026, in a Renewal of Ministry service with Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick. These photos are from a post on their Facebook page along with the following message:

We rang in a joyful next season on Saturday, with the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers as our Priest-in-Charge! Mahalo to the people who worked behind the scenes to make the celebration run smoothly and joyfully - to the many hands who cleaned and landscaped beforehand, to folks who created and arranged flowers for the altar and tables, to our musicians, bell choir, Tongan singers and Sunday School, to our vestry and participants in the service, folks who brought and set up food, and those who cleaned up the joy afterwards. We also love you, Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick - thank you for your constant support of Saint Elizabeths on our faith journey!

COMING UP!

What's happening in your neighborhood?

Reminder: The Hawaiian Church Chronicle goes out on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. For inclusion in this "COMING UP!" section, churches should submit event graphics to Diocesan Communications HERE by the Monday before release date.

THIS WEEKEND! OCTOBER 9 & 10

St. Clement's, 1515 Wilder Ave., Honolulu, O'ahu

THIS SATURDAY! OCTOBER 10

Emmanuel, 780 Keolu Drive, Kailua, O'ahu

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

St. John the Divine, 911 North Marine Corps Drive, Tamuning, Guam

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30

All Saints', 4-1061 Kuhio Highway., Kapa'a, Kaua'i

THROUGH OCTOBER 31

St. Clement's School, 1515 Wilder Ave., Honolulu, O'ahu

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

St. Elizabeth's, 720 N. King St, Honolulu, O'ahu

NEW DATE! SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

St. Augustine's, 54-3801 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaau, Hawai'i Island

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

St. Michael & All Angels, 4364 Hardy St., Lihue, Kaua'i

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

The Cathedral of St. Andrew, 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, O'ahu

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14

St. John's, 8992 Kula Highway, Kula, Maui

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Site of Holy Innocents, 561 Front Street, Lahaina, Maui

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Holy Apostles, 1407 Kapiolani St, Hilo, Hawai'i Island

SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5

St. James', 65-1237 Kawaihae Rd, Kamuela

The Episcopal Church & Beyond...

Church’s armed forces bishop suffragan weighs in on Defense Department’s religious affairs office

(10/2/26) In a “State of the Force” address on Sept. 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs that would elevate “spiritual health at the same level as physical health.” The office, and its director, would report directly to him, Hegseth said, to ensure soldiers have “religious support” in the form of chaplains with religious expertise rather than “secular careerists” and “lawyers.”

(Photo: Courtesy of The Episcopal Church Office of Communication)

Reminders (Previously Announced)

The United Thank Offering Board announces the opening of its 2027 annual grants process, with a focus on projects that seek to connect churches, dioceses, and provinces with the unique needs of their local communities. Applicants for this round are asked to observe three deadlines to complete the process: Dec. 4, Jan. 8, and Feb. 5. For more information and to apply, click HERE.

Ho'imi Pono Training for your Congregation! Ready to schedule Anti-Racism training for your church leadership, clergy, vestry, and Bishop's Committee? Contact Mary Carpenter HERE or call 808-221-4367

Required Safe Church Training - This is a reminder that Safe Church training is mandatory for all clergy, employees, vestry members, and most volunteers. Please read The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i Safeguarding Policy and the Diocesan Safe Church Training Webpage. This training needs to be renewed every three years. Contact your church's Safe Church Administator or priest for more information, or if you have questions, email Nani Carroll.