Founders’ Week Celebrates Community and Service

“LET US THEN COURAGEOUSLY PUT OURSELVES TO WORK, NOT LETTING OURSELVES BE FRIGHTENED

BY THE GREATNESS OF THE TASK. LET US THINK ONLY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THE MOMENT, OF

DOING IT WELL, FOR IT IS ONLY IN THE FIDELITY AND PERFECTION WITH WHICH WE DO OUR ORDINARY

ACTIONS THAT OUR PROGRESS IN VIRTUE CONSISTS.”

–ADÈLE DE BATZ DE TRENQUELLÉON, LETTERS, AUGUST 3, 1814.

It is in this spirit that once a year, the Chaminade 'ohana comes together to celebrate and honor the three Marianist founders—Father Chaminade, Mother Adèle and Marie Thérèse. The week-long winter celebration incorporates moments of fun, fellowship and prayer—and of course, moments where we “put ourselves to work” to serve our community.

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“There’s a strong service component linked to Founders’ Week because of the sense of service that Fr. Chaminade, Mother Adele and Marie Therese had,” says Bro. Edward Brink, vice president for mission and rector at Chaminade University. “After the French Revolution, the main effort was to rekindle the Catholic faith in the lives of people. But for our three founders, faith and service to others are profoundly connected. We can’t be good followers of Christ if we neglect the needs of others.”

This year’s celebration began on Monday, January 20, with Chaminade’s participation in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March in Honolulu. On Tuesday, Chaminade students gathered to make lei in the Vi and Paul Loo Student Center. That afternoon, Chaminade and St. Louis School joined together for a lei-draping ceremony at the Father Chaminade statue at the entrance to campus.

On Wednesday, Chaminade faculty, staff and students came together at a special Founders’ Day Mass where the Heritage Awards were presented to three outstanding members of the Chaminade community who exemplify Marianist values. The Mass and ceremony were followed by a community celebration lunch in the Mystical Rose Garden Courtyard. On Thursday, Chaminade volunteers served meals at the Next Steps Shelter in Kaka'ako, and on Friday, students enjoyed lunch while playing Marianist Bingo in the student center.

The week culminated on Saturday at the Founders’ Day of Service, where nearly 30 volunteers from the Chaminade community joined together to work at the He'eia Fishpond in Kaneohe.

Since 2005, Chaminade has helped the nonprofit, Paepae o He'eia, restore the He'eia Fishpond to its original ecological and cultural function. The partnership brings to light the overlapping values of Marianist heritage and Native Hawaiian culture, and it provides our students with a handson opportunity to learn about spirituality, culture, and the union of the two.

“Community is an important aspect of our Marianist charism, where all have a role in the building and functioning of the community,” says Maimoa Fineisaloi, campus minister at Chaminade. “He'eia Fishpond can teach us how a community works, and how it requires every member to participate.”

The environmental focus is also central to Catholic social teaching and how we care for our communities.

The fishpond is part of an ahupua'a, a Native Hawaiian agricultural land division that ensured communities had access to their entire watershed—from the mountains to the sea. The land they lived on, the mountains they used to grow produce on and the sea they fished in were all interconnected and required cohesive management efforts.

In Catholicism, care of God’s creation is an essential part of Pope Francis’ teachings. “Care for the environment and care for the poor go hand in hand,” says Fr. Marty Solma, the Chaminade University chaplain. “What harms one harms the other. Our Catholic view is one that keeps the ‘common good’ front and center, both ecologically and economically.”

“Going to He'eia provides students with the sense of working together on a project that benefits others,” adds Bro. Brink. “And it has the added benefit of being rooted in Hawaiian culture.”