Hawaii Catholic Herald

The heavens contributed its blessing, sending showers on the Catholic Charities Hawaii Feb. 12 groundbreaking that began the renovation of its new headquarters at its Clarence T.C. Ching Campus in Makiki.

The rain had stopped by the time Bishop Larry Silva, Catholic Charities president Jerry Rauckhorst, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona, and other officials emerged from a big white tent and picked up shovels to, in the words of Rauckhorst, “kick off the beginning of a more cohesive future.” The bishop also blessed the site with the traditional ti leaf and koa bowl of water, adding holy water to the already soaked ground.

Once renovated, the facilities will gather most of the agency’s Oahu services and programs, now dispersed at various locations around the island, under the figurative tent of the 2.2-acre campus, the former site of First Presbyterian Church.

Approximately 220 staff will move there once construction is completed in December.

The facilities will have a commercial kitchen, a 5,000-square-foot multi-purpose hall, and meeting rooms, all of which Catholic Charities will make available to other non-profit organizations. The renovation will install environment-friendly features such as energy-efficient plumbing features, low-voltage lighting and solar windows.

Catholic Charities will continue to provide services in high-need areas throughout the community.

The groundbreaking also kicked off the public phase for the agency’s $28 million capital campaign. Catholic Charities to date has raised more than 60 percent of its goal. The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation last July contributed a $5 million grant. Mayor Hannemann commented in his remarks that the foundation could go by the name Santa Claus due to the many pledges it has made in recent months.

After the speeches, blessing, and groundbreaking photo opportunities, attendees snacked on fruit, cookies, juice and other refreshments.