CSL Kaua‘i celebrates 8th birthday, July 11

KAPA‘A — The Center for Spiritual Living Kaua‘i, the island’s only Science of Mind spiritual community, will celebrate its eighth anniversary, and a year of growth and solidarity, on July 11.

“We have so much to celebrate,” said Rev. Rita Andriello, co-minister and co-founder of CSL Kaua‘i. “During this past year of pandemic lockdown and restrictions, we not only survived, but thrived by creating new and innovative ways to stay connected to our members, and the local community. Despite the challenges, we actually grew both our island membership as well as our membership around the world.”

Receiving no federal assistance during the pandemic, CSL Kaua‘i turned its facility in Kapa‘a into a broadcasting studio to accomplish its growth.

“CSL Kaua‘i has had many people from both on and off-island tuning in and donating every week during our livestream Sunday services,” said Rev. Patrick Feren, co-minister, co-founder, and Rev. Rita’s husband. “We never missed a service, and neither did our musicians nor our practitioners. We had been broadcasting our services since 2014, so we are blessed to be able to transition to 100 percent online delivery.”

Following the signing of a three-year lease in October, CSL Kaua‘i celebrates its eighth birthday with a fun(d)-raiser — To infinity and Beyond.

“Our members and supporters are invited to help us take our next leap of faith forward by donating any amount that has an ‘8’ in it — from $8 to infinity,” said Rev. Rita. “All donors giving $88 and more will be featured on our Infinity Wall.”

The initial July 11 anniversary will be followed by the CSL Kaua‘i’s second annual six-hour livestream telethon on Sept. 18.

During the course of the past year, CSL Kaua‘i has been able to host a variety of online offerings, including Sunday services, meditations, virtual hospitality meetings, online classes and workshops, concerts, individual counseling sessions, a monthly spiritual cinema, a children’s “Young Masters Program,” as well as Rev. Rita’s daily Facebook Live meditations.

“We even went mobile with our bookstore with free, hand-delivery,” said Rev. Patrick.

When the COVID-19 restrictions lifted a bit, CSL Kaua‘i was able to celebrate its Seventh Anniversary in-person in the Kapa‘a center on July 4, practicing the recommended protocol with limited seating and the introduction of reservations only.

“In September, our children’s program resumed,” said Rev. Rita. “And, we held our first-ever telethon livestream fun(d)raiser that featured five-and-a-half hours of local entertainers who generously gave their time, talent, and resources to give us an infusion of cash and help us stay afloat, financially.”

Rev. Patrick said the response was amazing with more than 1,000 viewers from across the United States.

CSL Kaua‘i brought holiday cheer to island residents in December with a virtual, livestream Christmas Concert performed by local singers. Video and audio CDs of the concert were hand-delivered to all the inpatient care and hospital facilities across the island.

“Our support of the community continued through our tithing program,” said Rev. Rita who said that over the past eight years, CSL Kaua‘i has contributed more than $100,000 to nonprofits in the community, and throughout the world. “We are so grateful to our congregants and the many, many friends we’ve made in the community so have so generously supported us. There are a number of individuals associated with CSL Kaua‘i — Kumu Sabra Kauka, Emilia Knudsen’s free food pantry, and the volunteers of Pandemic of Love Kaua‘i — who spiritually nourished and financially contributed to help the greater island community through the pandemic. CSL Kaua‘i also opened its doors to Suicide Prevention Kaua‘i, providing a resource to conduct training classes during the pandemic.”

Rev. Patrick said, “Our mission in life is to elevate consciousness and inspire people. We have a lot of exciting plans, such as creating a 24/7 healing and teaching center on property that CSL Kaua‘i owns. We are working to bring that to fruition in the next few years.”

Information and donations can be made by visiting www.cslkauai.org.

•••

Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.