Bishop's Messages

BISHOP'S MESSAGES

Be sure to also visit the "Ask the Bishop" webpage HERE, and the Bishop's Bible Study page HERE.

Latest Messages:

A LETTER TO THE DIOCESE FROM THE BISHOP
Numbers: A Look Back as We Move Forward
July 10, 2026

Aloha my dear Siblings in Christ,

During a recent visitation, I was asked by a parishioner what I thought the impact of the Pandemic and disasters have had on the Diocese. It gave me a moment of pause to reflect on the past few years and all that has happened. The impact of the Pandemic and Maui fires have been profound.

For the first ten years of my time as Bishop, we were one of the few Dioceses that was growing (slowly) in average Sunday attendance. Some will remember articles in the Episcopal News Service noting that reality. Part of the reason is that demographically we do have parishioners who live to amazing old ages. It was also a time of growth as the world recovered from the financial crisis of 2008. The visitor industry was thriving.
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BISHOP BOB'S 4TH OF JULY VIDEO MESSAGE
July 4, 2026

Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick shares a special Fourth of July video message on this day, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence!

A Reflection on the Bishop Transition
June 24, 2026

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

I am writing this on June 24th, the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and the 40th anniversary of my ordination to the transitional diaconate in Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis. It is also a bit over a month since Libby was elected as the sixth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi. She has received the needed consents to her election from Bishops and Standing Committees. Her ordination to the episcopate is now set for November 14th. She is our Bishop-elect.

As a Diocese and as individuals, we are in a liminal time. The word originates from the Latin word limen, which means "threshold". During liminal time, you are suspended on the threshold of change. It is time marked by ambiguity, expectation, uncertainty, and transformation. It is time to look back and to look ahead. It is, I think, a normal time for Christians. We are always caught between the gift of Easter and the hope of the fulfillment of God. We live in the world, but also in the realm of God’s already and not yet. This is just especially such a time for the Diocese of Hawaiʻi.

As I look back to the election last month, Libby, Andrew, and Tim opened themselves to discernment and the movement of the Holy Spirit. One always enters such discernment imagining what the future will hold. Each was asked to describe a ministry and a future for a diocese about which they only had an inkling. It was a personally risky undertaking.
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A Reflection on Transitions: The Bishop-Elect
May 28, 2026

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

The author of Ecclesiastes is referred to in Hebrew as Qoheleth, “Teacher of the Assembly,” in the very first verse. Chapter 3, verses 1-7, are the most famous lines from the book:

There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens:

a time for giving birth and a time for dying,
a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted,
a time for killing and a time for healing,
a time for tearing down and a time for building up,
a time for crying and a time for laughing,
a time for mourning and a time for dancing,
a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones,
a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces,
a time for searching and a time for losing,
a time for keeping and a time for throwing away,
a time for tearing and a time for repairing,
a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking,
a time for loving and a time for hating,
a time for war and a time for peace.

I hold these words close as I look to a time transition within our Diocesan ‘ohana.
READ FULL MESSAGE

A Reflection on Transitions: The Rev. Canon Sandy Graham
May 14, 2026

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

There are times that life does not go as you plan. As we look to elect the sixth Bishop of Hawaiʻi this coming Saturday, we received the notice that Dean Heather Patton-Graham has answered the call to become the senior chaplain at St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, Virginia. I do pray for her as she returns full-time to her vocation as a school chaplain.

This, of course, means that Canon Sandy Graham will be moving to Virginia and will, therefore, resign as Canon to the Bishop. This is a keen loss for the Diocese. I am particularly saddened not to have Sandy with me for my last months as Bishop Diocesan.

The role of Canon to the Bishop (sometimes called “Canon to the Ordinary”) is very special. I often joke that it is like being the Godfather’s consigliere. The Canon serves as the Bishop’s advisor and sounding board. The Canon is often called upon to step into difficult situations. The Canon often holds the concerns of clergy and congregations. The Canon is the advisor and guide during transitions. Finally, the Canon must step back and allow the Bishop to step forward. It takes a special person to serve as the Canon to a Bishop.
Sandy has done so faithfully and well for the past ten years. He knows the Diocese better than anyone – dare I say – except for me. He has guided many congregations in search processes for clergy. This is no easy task in our times of a clergy shortage.
READ FULL MESSAGE

Special Message from the Bishop Regarding the Dean of The Cathedral of St. Andrew, Honolulu
May 11, 2026

My dear Siblings in Christ,

As you will see from the message below to the congregation, the Dean of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, the Very Reverend Heather Patton-Graham, has accepted a call as the Upper School Chaplain at St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia. She will conclude her ministry with the Cathedral at the end of the school year, to begin her new ministry on July 1, 2026.

As Dean Heather prepares to leave the Cathedral and the Diocese, I want to express my deep appreciation for her ministry. It has been a blessing to the congregation and to me as bishop.

Elizabeth Conklin, a member of the Cathedral Chapter and former treasurer of the Cathedral, shared, in a message to Dean Heather when the Chapter was informed, “You are by far the best thing that's happened to the Cathedral since I moved here in 2006, and you will be deeply missed.”

I echo those words. It has been a gift to me to have a priest in charge of the Cathedral with a keen liturgical sense, a pastoral heart, and an understanding of the unique mission of a cathedral.
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Reflection on Discernment
April 23, 2026

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

I am walking with the Diocese of Taiwan as our siblings there are looking to elect their Bishop the week before we do so in our own Diocese. I have been asked to say something at the start of their electing meeting about discernment.

With Ke Aloha Kākou Candidate Meet & Greet gatherings underway, I have been pondering the request from Taiwan for us. What is discernment? What does it mean for those of us voting in the election on May 16?

Discern the will of God in our context. In the situation of the calling of the next bishop, we must first learn about our own congregation, our own immediate community, and our own island. What are things like right now? Who lives around me? What are the stresses in my life and the lives of my neighbors? What will life be like around me five years from now? We then ask what is reality in my broader community (Micronesia, the state of Hawaiʻi, and the United States) and Church (the Episcopal Church and the Diocese) right now. How does this Diocese fit with the mission of God in Asia and Oceania?

READ FULL REFLECTION

Special: Super Typhoon Sinlaku Impacts Guam & Saipan: Prayers & Donations Needed
April 16, 2026

Hafa Adai,
I have been in touch with Canon Irene Maliaman about the impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku on Guam and Saipan. They are just now cleaning up and evaluating the impact. Much of Guam is still without power after four days, and with very limited contact with Saipan, conditions are likely worse there. Please keep our siblings on Guam and Saipan in your prayers:
Compassionate God, source of all comfort, we pray for the people whose lives have been impacted by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Bring them comfort, we pray. Protect the vulnerable. Strengthen the weak. Have mercy on all those working to rebuild. And may our response to their suffering be generous and bring you praise. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
I will ask Diocesan Council to send an emergency grant to St. John’s Church (including the congregation’s preaching station on Saipan, St. Paul’s) to help with recovery.
You can make a donation directly to St. John’s Church via the church’s website:
Episcopal Church of St. John the Divine
or checks can be sent to: The Episcopal Church of St. John the Divine, 911 North Marine Corps Drive, Tamuning, Guam 96913
Easter Blessings!
+Bob

The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick
Bishop Diocesan
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i
The Episcopal Church in the Hawaiian Islands, Guam and Saipan

A Second Pastoral Letter from the Bishop to the Diocese of Hawaiʻi on Just War Doctrine and the Rhetoric of War
April 14, 2026

“Sin is the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation.” - “An Outline of the Faith commonly called the i” of The Book of Common Prayer, page 848

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

Last month, I shared a reflection on the military action being taken by the United States in Iran: The Bishop’s Reflection on Just War Doctrine and Current Military Action in Iran. Just War Doctrine is a centuries-old Christian ethical framework holding that armed conflict may be morally permissible only when certain conditions are met. I sought to apply historic teaching regarding engaging in military action by nations to the conflict in Iran. Frankly, nothing that has been shared by the Adminstration has altered my opinion about the actions of the United States.
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BISHOP'S EASTER MESSAGE 2026
April 2, 2026

A Special Letter from the Bishop
March 26, 2026

[March 26, 2026] During a meeting of the Convention Plans Committee, I was asked to write an article about what to expect during the Special Convention on May 16, and to offer some thoughts on discernment as we prepare for that special day. I then attended the House of Bishops meeting (March 17-23). We discussed the changing landscape of the Episcopal Church and current issues ... READ FULL LETTER

The Bishop's Reflection on Just War Doctrine and Current Military Action in Iran
March 3, 2026

My dear siblings in Christ Jesus,

We again live in a time of war.

As I write on Monday, March 2, 2026, the U.S. and Israeli attacks, and Iran’s retaliatory attacks throughout the Middle East, have led to multiple casualties, including six U.S. service members, 11 Israelis, five in Gulf states, 31 in Lebanon and at least 555 Iranians, according to government reports. At least 153 of the Iranian fatalities came from a reported strike at a girls’ elementary school in Minab.

We have already shared the messages from the Presiding Bishop:
Letter from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Military Strike on Iran

And from the Primate of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East:
Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East shares pastoral letter in light of escalating conflict

As a parent of a son who is an officer in the US Army, such days bring back memories of his deployment in Afghanistan. I remember the worry. The thought of the men and women in harm’s way, and of their families, leads me to prayer:
READ FULL MESSAGE

Ash Wednesdsay 2026
February 18, 2026

Aloha my dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

As we prepare for a holy Lent, I am keenly aware that we live in complicated times. I am also cognizant that this has been true for most of history and throughout the world. The brokenness of anxious and finite humanity can lead to anger, division, hate, and violence. It is too often the innocent and the powerless who most suffer.

As the followers of Christ Jesus, we call the world to another way. In his book The Love that is God: An Invitation to Christian Faith (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2020, p. 13, Kindle Edition), Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt opens his introduction with: “Being a Christian is difficult. It is difficult because love that goes all the way to the cross is difficult, both to receive and to give. It has always been difficult, though at different times and places that difficulty has been felt in different ways. In our own time and place, the postindustrial West, difficulties include those arising from the nature of the modern world that make Christian claims seem in-credible: a narrowed understanding of truth, suspicion of traditions, ever-increasing individualism.”
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The Virtues and President Trump's Words & Posts
February 10, 2026

Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick shares an important message reminding us of our responsibilities as Christians to recognize in ourselves and others, the Virtues that Scripture tells us to heed.

Joint Letter from 154 Bishops of The Epsicopal Church: Whose dignity matters?
January 31, 2026

A message to our fellow Americans
We, the undersigned bishops of The Episcopal Church, write today out of grief, righteous anger, and steadfast hope. What happened a week ago in Minnesota, and is happening in communities across the country, runs counter to God’s vision of justice and peace. This crisis is about more than one city or state—it’s about who we are as a nation. The question before us is simple and urgent: Whose dignity matters?
READ FULL MESSAGE

Follow-up to a Special Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Hawai'i
January 24, 2026

My Dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

In light of events today in Minneapolis, I have asked that my Pastoral Letter of January 9, 2026, be shared with Diocese again. We again have seen another killing in the streets of that city that demands an independent investigation. We are seeing a rise in the use of force by poorly trained Federal immigration enforcement officers in masks that are heavily armed. Many religious leaders and members of congregations are taking part in nonviolent protests.

Kelly Morrison represents Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District. She is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Excelsior and has been serving in Congress since 2025. During an interview yesterday about the crisis caused by Federal immigration enforcement officers in her state, she asserted the moral demand to “respect the dignity of every human being.” She provided a profound example of living the demands of the Baptismal Covenant.

That must be our response. Violence is unacceptable. We must also strive to live into our Baptismal Covenant — especially at this time, to respect the dignity of every human being. This demands our diligence, our peaceful action, and our prayers.

Please pray for the person killed today, for those protesting, and for our nation.

With my prayers,
+Bob

(See previous letter sent below)

A Special Pastoral Letter to the Diocese of Hawai'i
January 9, 2026

“Sin is the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation.” (“An Outline of the Faith commonly called the Catechism” of The Book of Common Prayer, page 848)

My dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

As Christians, we have been challenged in recent days by wars in Palestine/Israel and Ukraine. The events in Venezuela have brought into question the world order and the possibility of more military action. The threat of the government of the United States to acquire Greenland “the easy way” or “the hard way” is frightful.
READ FULL LETTER HERE

Bishop's Christmas Message 2025
December 23, 2025

View the Bishop's Christmas video message below:

RIP: The Reverend Canon Haaheo Guanson
December 15, 2025

The Reverend Canon Haaheo Guanson (September 25, 1951–December 14, 2025) died this past Sunday following a recent health crisis.

She was ordained to the transitional Diaconate on Saturday, June 9, 2018, in the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and to the Presbyterate on March 9, 2019, at the Parish of St. Clement in Honolulu, where she was serving as Curate. Her ministry in the Episcopal Church continued at the Cathedral as an Associate Priest and as Dean of the Waiolaihuiʻa Center for Ministry (the local Diocesan ministry formation program). She was an advisor to the Bishop. Following her retirement, she was installed as an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral of St. Andrew (filling the Kaʻiulani Canon’s Chair) on November 24, 2024.
READ FULL MESSAGE

To view more of the Bishop's video messages, visit the Diocesan YouTube channel:

The Rt. Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick

Past Messages

2026

2025

Highlighted Message in 2025
The Bishop's Resignation (4/25/25)

Earlier messages can be found on the archive page:

Message Archive