On Sept.1, Bishop Larry Silva will open a new church office to promote and develop affordable housing in Hawaii. He has named Msgr. Terrence Watanabe to be its first director (see bishop’s message, page 2).

Msgr. Watanabe will run the diocesan Office of Affordable Housing for 12-18 months during which time he will get it established and publicize its purpose to island parishes and the broader Catholic community. After that a permanent lay director will be hired.

The office will be located at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.

Msgr. Watanabe will leave his post as pastor of St. Philomena and Holy Family Parishes in Honolulu by June and spend the three summer months taking CPE (Clinical Pastoral Experience), a hospital ministry program he said is unrelated to the housing position. He will then go on a week’s retreat before stepping into his new office. He will live in the rectory at Blessed Sacrament Church in Pauoa Valley.

According to the message published by the bishop in this issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald, the purpose of the new office is:

n   To mobilize Catholics in addressing Hawaii’s homelessness and affordable housing crisis;

n   To lead efforts to acquire land, money and human resources for the creation of new affordable housing;

n   To form partnerships with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other denominations to address homelessness and affordable housing.

Msgr. Watanabe, 56, has been active in community organizations that deal directly or indirectly with the housing problem, including the Institute for Human Services (IHS), Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE), Family Promise and Mental Health Kokua.

As affordable housing director, Msgr. Watanabe said that one of his first duties will be to speak to all the parishes about the issue and to explain why Catholics should be involved.

He said he also hopes to find Catholic architects, realtors, bankers, lawyers and property owners willing to join the diocese in the effort to develop affordable homes.

“The main thing is the church needs to take a leadership role in this,” he said.

The diocese will not come close to solving this problem, he said, “but it’s important to put our faith into action.”

In his message, Bishop Silva said, “One key component in solving the challenge of homelessness is the development of a sufficient stock of affordable housing throughout our islands.”

More than a year ago, the bishop assembled a 14-member Task Force on Affordable Housing to come up with a plan to involve the wider community in addressing this problem. The group recommended opening this office.