Saint Rita Catholic Church

Parish Mission Statement - "We, the people of God of St. Rita Parish in Nānākuli, are united in our belief and in our commitment to Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Aloha, we respond to Christ's mission of love and freedom with our care, concern and communal action. This is expressed in the stewardship of our treasure through tithing and in the gift of our time and talents through shared ministries.

As a fast growing rural parish with a large Hawaiian population we feel a special calling to stand together in truth and justice for the rights of the first people (kanaka maoli) of this land. As part of the universal Church, our outreach extends beyond our boundaries to the global community and we affirm the human dignity of all peoples.

As a parish family we enthusiastically participate in bringing about God's reign of peace. We continue to evangelize, welcome and invite all of God's people to St. Rita Parish."

Parish Values - With our deep roots as a mission church to Native Hawaiians, the modern parish community:

1. Expresses our faith in the use of 'olelo makuahine (the mother tongue -- the Hawaiian language) in addition to English in liturgy.

2. Expresses our worship through artistic traditions to include:

a. Hula and oli as a sacred gesture

b. Use of native implements including ipu hekeole, pu ili, uli uli, pahu in addition to guitar, drums and ukulele

c. Use of native flowers and plants in church environment

d. Use of koa and other native hardwoods in altar, tabernacle, crucifix, and sacred vessels

e. Use of lei in liturgy (placing lei around the Book of the Gospels, placing lei around consecrated hosts and chalice)

f. Congregational singing in English and Hawaiian languages using traditional Hawaiian melodies

g. Use of Samoan fine mat when preparing the altar for Liturgy of the Eucharist

3. Support our church 'Ohana that are nurtured by and contribute to the larger community by incorporating all cultures and traditions into our expression of what it means to be the universal and Catholic church:

a. Celebrate annual Misa de Gallo Christmas Novena

b. Celebrate birthdays and wedding anniversaries through community blessing before Mass

c. Welcome all visitors with lei greeting

d. Extend our parish outreach to meet needs of the poor including maintaining our parish emergency food pantry and monthly "Feeding the Brethren" community hot dinners

e. Maintain sister parish relationships with other parishes

f. Encourage new parishioners to get actively involved in parish activities

g. Support the Kupuna Project in services to our elderly