Recent strategic planning by the Office of Social Ministry has resulted in the closing of its Maui office and the moving of the Maui director, Sister of St Joseph of Carondelet Roselani Enomoto, to the Oahu office.

According to Carol Ignacio, the social ministry’s diocesan director, the change will strengthen the diocesan office and enable it to offer more parish services statewide.

After 14 years at the Maui office, which also served Molokai and Lanai, Sister Roselani’s move in July will result in two full-time social ministry staff members at St. Stephen Diocesan Center. The Office for Social Ministry’s headquarters is in Hilo.

The planning process emerged from a $30,000 “Compassion Capital Capacity Building Grant” received last year by the Office for Social Ministry.

The purpose of the grant was to strengthen the social ministry infrastructure of Hawaii’s 66 Catholic parishes and the Office for Social Ministry in order to create more effective programs and maximize resources.

The grant focused on three areas: strategic planning, data and program evaluation and volunteer management. Its goal is to turn each parish into a “community of salt and light” as described in the Gospel of Matthew (5:13-16).

The document “Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish,” published by the U.S. bishops in 1993, describes the parish as a caring and welcoming community that seeks to alleviate human suffering, create a more just society and bring about the kingdom of God.

“The task,” the bishops wrote, “belongs to every believer and every parish’ and “is an essential part of what makes a parish Catholic.”

According to Ignacio, her office’s strategic plan is a framework that will help put Bishop Larry Silva’s vision into action. The bishop has approved the plan which will soon be distributed to all island parishes.

Sister Roselani said that Maui parishes are already “stepping up” to be “communities of salt and light.” She will continue her relationships with Maui vicariate parishioners and with those in all the vicariates of the diocese.