[Written by Kirra Low, Class of 2024]
This past week was busy for our SJS Campus Ministry, as they hosted an online Tri-Campus Catholic School Prayer Service and an East hawaii Vicariate Youth Ministry Presentation/Training.
The Tri-Campus Prayer Service was held last Friday, October 20 and consisted of St. Michaels on Oahu, Sacred Hearts, Lahaina on Maui, and St. Joseph on Hawaii Island. This prayer service was not only to pray for all three schools, but also to stand in solidarity with students of Lahaina.
We wanted to offer to our brothers and sisters who were affected in the fires our presence, prayers and peace. Mariah Carter, a high school student from St. Michaels, assisted in organizing the prayer service and ensured the attendance of both Sacred Hearts and St. Michaels. Jaselle Marie Kamaka-Mauhili, a Campus Ministry member at St. Joseph said, “Although in the beginning of our prayer service, I was really nervous and didn't know what to expect. Mariah called us to prayer briefly as she sensed our anxiety and it helped settle us. By the end, I was definitely filled with lots of joy. Leading this tri-campus prayer service was a great way to interact with sister Catholic schools.”
Another Campus Ministry member, Kirra Low, said, “I was so excited to meet with Sacred Hearts and St. Michaels because just like Jesus said, ‘Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.’ Being able to directly pray with the students from Lahaina was touching. I also got to see the final product of all the hard work from SJS Campus Ministry, while inspiring other students to lead their own campus ministries. Hopefully we can do more together in the future.”
The East Hawaii Vicariate Youth Ministry Presentation and Training was hosted on Saturday October 21st by the St. Joseph School Student Campus Ministry. The morning consisted of prayer, presentation of what Youth Ministry/Church is, ice breakers, discussion, faith sharing and fellowship at the end.
Many of the SJS campus ministry members had a lot to say about this training: “I really loved the fact that we had good interactions with the other youth & adults from different parishes and the little games that we did to have fun at the end. I helped contribute in my group for the discussions,” said Connor Faletoi. Michaela Costales said, “Saturday’s meeting was very good. We got to meet new people and get to know about them. We were able to teach them about what youth ministry is, what we’ve practiced and learned about it. We told them what we do, for example plan liturgies and gave them ideas that they could use in the future at their parishes.” “I really enjoyed that we could meet with other parishioners and interact with new people. Being able to share what youth ministry is to us and teach them our practices was truly an amazing experience,” said Goretti Allen. Jaselle Marie Kamaka-Mauhili said, “At Saturday's meeting, it was great to be able to speak out to other parishes, and to help them, strengthen, build or sustain their youth ministry. It was really enjoyable to be able to talk with these other parishes.”
The youth are valued members of the total Christian community. They only need to be invited to share their stewardship.
St. Joseph Catholic School Student Campus Ministry is the working model of this valuable vision.
"Go, in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!"