Bishop's Messages

BISHOP'S MESSAGES

The Bishop's Wednesday Bible Study video messages will no longer appear on this page, but on his Bible Study page HERE.

Latest Messages:

Urgent Message from the Bishop: Hurricane Relief Fund
September 30, 2022

Please give today to the “Hurricane Relief Fund” of our own Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD). Working with partners and impacted dioceses, ERD will reach vulnerable communities devastated by Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Fiona, and other catastrophic storms. As ERD continues to assess ongoing needs in impacted areas, your urgent gift will enable ERD to respond now — and in the long run — to aid in recovery.
READ MORE

Reflections from the Bishop
(From the Hawaiian Church Chronicle dated September 22, 2022)

September 16, 2022 - The Future of Religion
I have recently been asked about the Pew Research Report: Modeling the Future of Religion in America.

The report suggests that the United States will soon follow Western Europe in the loss of religious affiliation. The questions before us are, I think, twofold: (1) What does this mean for the future of the Church? (2) What are we – here I mean you and me, lay and clergy, - to do about it – if anything?

First, let us set aside any notion that this is a problem to be fixed. It is a socio-cultural reality. Yes, it will have consequences. You and I are not called to fix it.
READ MORE
September 21, 2022 - Queen Elizabeth II & Hymns:
Na ke aloha o ke Akua ma loko o Iesu Kristo, e aloha iā ʻoukou ā pau!

As I have talked with folk about the events around the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, I have noted how they reacted. Leaving aside the political reality of monarchy and the heritage of colonialism, some responded to the pageantry and others the physical spaces of the events. I was drawn to the words of the prayers and the hymns. READ MORE

Special Message on the Death of Queen Elizabeth II

The death of Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was announced today. We can all honor and celebrate her long life marked by a keen sense of duty and of faith. Her messages (especially her Christmas messages) often reflected her deep faith. I think this passage from her 2016 Christmas message best expresses her life: READ FULL MESSAGE

Special Message following the shooting at St. Stephen's in Alabama
(June 17, 2022)

It was only three weeks ago that I wrote to the Diocese with A Special Message from the Bishop regarding the shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde. Texas.

I am reminded of what I wrote to you in March of 2021 (Atlanta, Boulder, Sin and Hope), in August 2019 (The Bishop's Reflection on Gilroy, El Paso & Dayton), and way too many other times during my years as your Bishop.

I have no new words. I am left with prayers of lament and repentance. I keep praying Psalm 130 (CEB translation): READ FULL MESSAGE

Special Message on the recent violence and shooting in Uvalde
(May 24, 2022)
How long will you forget me, Lord? Forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long will I be left to my own wits,
agony filling my heart? Daily?
How long will my enemy keep defeating me
-- Psalm 13:1-2 (CEB translation)
READ FULL MESSAGE

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

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

The Rt. Rev. Robert L. Fitzpatrick

Past Messages

2022

2021

Earlier messages can be found on the archive page:

Message Archive