- God's House of Aloha
- Project Summary
God's House of Aloha - Expanding the Dominican Sisters' Ministry
In response to an expressed spiritual need of the communities for place of solitude, prayer and reflection, the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary felt a strong call to expand in their ministry the call for conducting retreats. People of all ages, race and religious background have expressed the need for physical and spiritual renewal and nourishment in a supportive, religious environment. This need became the Dominican Sisters vision, and in December 2000, together they pulled whatever savings and resources they have to put a down payment towards the purchase of a 5-acre property in Poamoho in the northern part of Oahu, Hawaii. This will be the site of God's House of Aloha, the name of proposed center designed to conduct retreats, spiritual practices, and contemplative arts where people can reflect individually or as a group. The capital project will include an Elder Care Home to serve the many elderly in the community. Because of a dramatic aging population in Hawaii, this Home will address the physical, medical, social and spiritual needs of the elderly.
Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary
The Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary is a Roman Catholic congregation of religious women involved in a variety of ministries in Hawaii, San Francisco and the Philippines. They started their ministry in Hawaii in 1064. In 1986, the Sisters were able to establish the Dominican Center Hawaii in Waipahu, which became their regional house and "home" and evolved into a training ground for candidates of missionary work. The Dominican Sisters' ministry includes education, orphanage services, healthcare, visitation of the sick and elderly, and pastoral works in the United States. They serve the following schools: Rosary Preschool and Kindergarten (Waipahu, Oahu), Saint Elizabeth (Aiea, Oahu), St. John the Baptist (Kalihi, Oahu); St. Joseph (Makawao, Maui); Holy Angels School (Colma, CA), St. Charles Borromeo (San Francisco, CA), St. Finn Barr (San Francisco, CA).
Objectives of God's House of Aloha
- To provide retreat venue as well as spiritual guidance through directed prayerful and meditative activities to the many members of the Oahu community and people coming from other regions of Hawaii, United States and the rest of the world.
- To establish an interfaith center for retreats, spiritual practices and the arts that is not only affordable but also open to people of different ethnic, religious and health backgrounds.
- To provide solemnity and closeness to the Provider during prayer and allow petitions for special needs.
- Develop young men and women to become effective and active Christian leaders and ministers who would reach out to evangelize.
Fund Raising
The full completion of the God's House of Aloha will require a total amount of $6 million. The need for financial support is top priority. The source of funding for this project will mostly come from donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and organizations. Monies raised will be used to start and finish construction of the God's House of Aloha, the Elder Care Home, and to upgrade the roads. A fundraising plan is in place and activities will start in the Summer of 2002. In March, 2002, Sr. Leonarda Montealto, O.P., the Dominican Sisters Regional Director, appointed Ben Fernandez to direct the fundraising campaign for this project and to assist in writing grant proposals, solicitation letters, prospecting, and formation of the Advisory Committee both in the Bay Area and Hawaii. The Master Plan was approved and supported by the Bishop of Hawaii, Most Reverend Francis DiLorenzo. Fundraising is underway and major projects are slated to begin in summer of 2002 when the following will take place: grant proposal entries, personal solicitations, direct mail, and fundraising events. The addition of a much-needed Elder Care Home will help sustain funding needs for the God's House of Aloha once built.