Honolulu faith leaders highlight collaboration for justice at annual Red Mass
Connie Mitchell, Executive Director of the Institute of Human Services (IHS) on Oahu, addressed the Diocesan Red Mass at St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral on January 14. Mitchell, who has worked with homeless individuals in Oahu for four decades, spoke about social ministry and its foundation in scripture, particularly Micah 6:8.
Mitchell highlighted the importance of community collaboration rooted in faith and compassion. She referenced Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral letter and stated, “Service is not only living charity, it is unifying.” Her remarks coincided with the national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., drawing connections between King’s vision of a Beloved Community and ongoing efforts to build authentic relationships within neighborhoods and society.
According to Mitchell, homelessness results from multiple factors such as high rents, untreated mental illness, addiction, family breakdowns, and fragmented care systems. She emphasized that each statistic represents an individual—someone’s elder or neighbor—and urged attendees to have “the courage to re-examine policies, assumptions, and structures that no longer serve the common good.” Mitchell called for honesty about systemic shortcomings when vulnerable people fall through gaps in healthcare, legal frameworks, or social services.
She noted that justice must be relational and accompanied by mercy. “Mercy listens and responds with compassion that is rooted in relationships,” she said. Both Mitchell and Dr. King were cited as examples of leaders who model compassion by honoring the stories of those in need.
Mitchell also discussed humility in service work: “Building justice is not a solo effort… although we may not live to see the completion of our mission, we can trust that what we build together—policy by policy, relationship by relationship—will bless generations yet to come.”
She pointed out challenges like homelessness and poverty are crises of belonging as much as policy issues: “Homelessness, poverty, and division are not only policy problems; they are crises of belonging.”
In Hawaii, Mitchell highlighted parish ministries collaborating with community organizations—for example Food Bank distributions at St. Theresa Co-Cathedral or IHS partnerships with St. Augustine Church for outreach in Waikīkī—as models where people are treated as ʻohana (family). These collaborations embody Gospel values by lifting up human dignity through practical acts of support.
The Diocese of Honolulu manages multiple parishes across Hawaii’s islands (official website) and supports multicultural faith communities while providing education and social programs aimed at addressing spiritual needs throughout the state (official website). The diocese operates within the Catholic Church (official website), led by Bishop Clarence Silva (official website), offering services such as youth initiatives and marriage preparation (official website).
As this year begins anew, participants were encouraged to recommit themselves to building a community based on faith, compassion, responsibility—and ensuring no one remains unseen or unsupported.
For more information about community collaborations with IHS visit www.ihshawaii.org.
