Bishop's Messages

BISHOP'S MESSAGES

Beginning in June, the Bishop's Wednesday Bible Study video messages will no longer appear on this page, but on his new Bible Study page HERE.

Latest Messages:

Bishop's Easter Message 2022
(April 15, 2022)

Happy Easter! Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick shares his Easter message with quotes from former Archbishop Rowan Williams, Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, and a prayer by Father George Potter. VIEW VIDEO

Bishop's Concluding Lenten Reflection: The Book of Job & The Nature of Suffering
(April 13, 2022)

In his final Lenten reflection for Holy Week 2022, the Bishop offers a message on suffering in relation to the story of Job and our faith in Jesus Christ. In it, he quotes George Herbert, Simone Weil, and Elie Wiesel VIEW VIDEO

Bishop's 2022 Lenten Series: The Book of Job & The Nature of Suffering
(April 6, 2022)

The Bishop continues his 2022 Lenten Series with his weekly Wednesday Message on "The Book of Job & the Nature of Suffering." This week in chapters 38-42, the Lord answers Job from the whirlwind. As the Book concludes, the problem of individual suffering is set in the context of the vastness of creation and the totality of the Divine. VIEW VIDEO

Bishop's 2022 Lenten Series: The Book of Job & The Nature of Suffering
(March 30, 2022)

The Bishop continues his 2022 Lenten Series with his weekly Wednesday Message on "The Book of Job & the Nature of Suffering." This week in chapters 32-37, we meet Elihu, the brash young man who defends God, and chastises Job and his three friends. VIEW VIDEO

House of Bishops' Meeting
(Chronicle, March 24, 2022)

The Bishop attended the first in-person House of Bishops’ meeting in two years. Please share the attached Pastoral Letter, Resolution and Statement from the Bishops with all congregations in the Diocese of Hawaiʻi and the Convocation of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia. READ MORE

Bishop's 2022 Lenten Series: The Book of Job & The Nature of Suffering
(March 23, 2022)

The Bishop continues his 2022 Lenten Series with his weekly Wednesday Message on "The Book of Job & the Nature of Suffering." This week, he covers Job's conversation about judgement and suffering continues with his three friends in chapters 15-30. VIEW VIDEO

Bishop's 2022 Lenten Series: The Book of Job & The Nature of Suffering
(March 16, 2022)

The Bishop continues his 2022 Lenten Series with his weekly Wednesday Message on "The Book of Job & the Nature of Suffering." This week, he covers chapters 8-14 from the Book of Job. VIEW VIDEO

Membership of Standing Committee
(Chronicle, March 9, 2022)

Following the resignation of the Rev. Daniel Leatherman, the Standing Committee elected the Rev. Andrew McMullen (St. Michael and All Angels, Lihue, Kauai) to fill the open At-Large Clergy seat until the next Annual Meeting of Diocesan Convention in October... READ MORE

Bishop's 2022 Lenten Series: The Book of Job & The Nature of Suffering
(March 9, 2022)

The Bishop continues his 2022 Lenten Series with his weekly Wednesday Message on "The Book of Job & the Nature of Suffering." This week, he covers chapters 3-7 from the Book of Job. VIEW VIDEO

Bishop's Ash Wednesday Reflection
(March 2, 2022)

The Bishop kicks off his 2022 Lenten Series with a timely Ash Wednesday Message on suffering. The subject of his series is "The Book of Job & the Nature of Suffering." Every Wednesday during Lent, the Bishop will release a video message on the topic. READ FULL MESSAGE

Visit his Study page HERE to view Lenten series.

Donate to ERD to help Ukrainian Refugees
(Special Announcement: March 2, 2022)

"Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) is mobilizing with Anglican agencies and other partners in order to provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine."

Help Ukrainian Refugees by donating online HERE. Your immediate support will help Episcopal Relief & Development and other Anglican partners help in this international crisis

Star Bulletin Editorial on Minimum Wage
(Chronicle, February 23, 2022)

Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick penned an editorial that appeared in the Star-Advertiser, February 11, 2022, in support of the minimum wage increase. Bishop Larry Silva of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu and the Rev. Dr. David Popham of the United Church of Christ, joined their voices with the Bishop in this effort:

As Christian leaders in the islands of Hawaii, we write to urge the Legislature and governor to raise the minumum wage as proposed for the current legislative session in Senate Bill 2018. Our faith demands concern for the poor that is the tap root of the Christian ethic of economic justice. Our biblical heritage teaches us that caring for the poor, the least among us, the stranger, and those on the edge of society is central to our understanding of the mercy and love of Christ Jesus, and to our responsibility to love our neighbor as ourselves... READ MORE

Appeal for Tonga
February 10, 2022

“Episcopal Relief & Development, in collaboration with the Anglican Alliance, is supporting the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia and Anglican Missions after the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai Volcano eruption on January 15, 2022. The underwater volcano’s eruption caused a tsunami that damaged many Tongan islands with 5-10 foot waves. Additionally, ashes from the eruption have contaminated water and food supplies.” See the Press Release from ERD.

Please donate to Episcopal Relief and Development (be sure select INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE) today to help.

Update on Our Diocesan Commitment to Address the Climate Crisis

[Chronicle, January 26, 2022] At the annual meeting of the Convention of the Diocese of Hawaiʻi in October, the clergy and elected delegates overwhelmingly resolved to have this Diocese address “the climate crisis and global warming, to urgently accelerate and expand the level of discourse on these topics with the members of the congregations.” Please take a look at the full text of the adopted resolution and share it within your congregation – especially with the members of your Vestry/Bishop’s Committee.

We resolved to do some things within our congregations:

Form a “Green Team” in every congregation (or hui of congregations) and begin by identifying one member to act as an “Environmental Coordinator” who will serve as a liaison to the Diocesan Creation Care and Environmental Justice Task Force.

READ FULL MESSAGE HERE

AN EPIPHANY MESSAGE
January 6, 2022

Aloha my dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

Today, January 6, 2022, is both the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ and the first anniversary of the insurrection at the United States Capital. We are also fast approaching the second anniversary of the COVID pandemic as an international crisis.

The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation” or “appearance.” The word is used in 2 Timothy 1:9-10 to explain the believers’ relationship to God through Jesus Christ: “God is the one who saved and called us with a holy calling. This wasn’t based on what we have done, but it was based on his own purpose and grace that he gave us in Christ Jesus before time began. Now his grace is revealed through the appearance of our savior, Christ Jesus. He destroyed death and brought life and immortality into clear focus through the good news.” During the Season of the Epiphany, we are reminded how to “see” God through the lens of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. READ MORE

In his 2021 Christmas Message, the Bishop reflects on the continuing challenges of the pandemic and on one of his favorite Christmas Hymns, "Christmastide." Click HERE for the text version.

November 24, 2021 - The Bishop shares a Thanksgiving message, reflecting on St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

September 22, 2021 - In his weekly video message, the Bishop talks about COVID-19, Job, and Love.

Release of Corona Virus Vaccination Policy!
September 21, 2021

The ongoing reality of COVID-19 has presented many challenges to the Church as we try to engage the governmental guidelines and the instruction from health care professionals. In the Episcopal Church, we have listened closely and tried to follow the direction of the best that medical science and civil authority can offer.

With the Delta Variant and other possible variants extant in the world today, what should we do? First and foremost, we must continue to encourage every member of the Episcopal Church who is medically eligible to be vaccinated. There is no reasonable reason whatsoever for someone in the Episcopal Church to seek a religious exemption from being vaccinated based on the teaching, practice, or spirituality of the Episcopal Church. An individual may claim such an exemption for a personal reason, but we need to be clear that this is not because one is a member of the Episcopal Church. READ MORE

September 8. 2021 - This week's video message is on sin, will and love, in light of the upcoming anniversary of 9-11.

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

The Rt. Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick

Past Messages

Earlier messages can be found on the archive page:

Message Archive