Youth and young adult ministry in the Diocese of Honolulu was a substantial topic of discussion at the third meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) on April 20-21.

Council advisory member vicar general Father Marc Alexander said, “The DPC now is really focusing its attention on some critical issues that have emerged in our strategic planning process.” One of those he says is to “get our kids on fire” for God and the Catholic Church.

The 14-member Diocesan Pastoral Council, made up mostly of lay people, is one of Bishop Larry Silva’s advisory bodies.

Eighteen people from campus ministry, parish and lay association youth programs, and the diocesan youth and young adult board met with the bishop and the DPC on April 21 to discuss what they saw as important issues facing young people and how the diocese could better serve them.

Prior to the meeting, the youth advisors each submitted their list of priorities. At the meeting they were asked “If you were the bishop, what would you do in response to the need for youth and young adult ministry.”

Dallas Carter, the chair of the diocesan youth and young adult board, was there. “We definitely don’t have a bad, bad situation [in Hawaii],” he said. “But we realize that we need to rethink what we’re doing and make a solid plan” on a diocesan level.

“It’s not just a one answer solution,” he said.

DPC East Honolulu representative Tom Pangilinan said, “[The meeting] continued the focus of the DPC to assist the bishop in terms of making an effective diocese that supports all of its parishioners.”

The council formed committees to look into three issues: how to get priests more involved, how to provide resources and training for parish youth ministry, and how to get money to pay for these programs.