Dear Diocesan Family,
My beloved in Christ, the images of the unimaginable destruction and the faces of those who have lost everything in the wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui remain fresh in our minds as the news coverage continues. As a result of this natural disaster, so many lives have been affected by the fires aftermath. We pray for those whose lives have been lost, and their families left behind to grieve.
There are four (4) Episcopal churches on Maui, the second largest Hawaiian island: Church of the Good Shepard in Wailuku, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kula, Trinity Episcopal Church by the Sea in Kihei and Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Lahaina (site of much death and destruction).
Excerpted from the Diocese of Hawaii’s website: "Lahaina was devastated. Historic Holy Innocents Church is on Front Street where the fire very quickly swept into old Lahaina town. Those old buildings made out of wood, went up in flames quickly. Some of the buildings destroyed date back to the days of whaling and when the town was the seat of the monarchy (early 1800s). Likely, this includes our church, Holy Innocents, based on an aerial photo sent to the office. The Sanctuary, vicarage, preschool and office appear to be completely gone (as does the public elementary school next door). Whole Lahaina neighborhoods are gone. Because of evacuations, downed landlines and cell towers, and the chaos of the situation, no one other than first responders are allowed into Lahaina, and we have had no first hand confirmation of the losses."
"The clergy have reported in as safe."
Considering the devastation and destruction that surrounds us, we give thanks for the safety of our homes and loved ones. In the spirit of our many blessings, I ask that you reach out in your abundance and make a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development (ER&D) to aid those impacted in Maui.
The humanitarian needs are many, and ER&D stands ready to dispense much needed funds quickly. Your gift will provide our ER&D partners on the ground with critical supplies, such as food and water, pastoral care, and other urgent needs. You will also be assisting with the long-term effort needed to rebuild and heal. Please be generous with your gifts.
