Initially starting as a weekly youth Rosary group, "Saints Helping with Adults and Youth" became a method of Youth and Young Adult Ministry developed by Keith Febrero. It has evolved into a multifaceted and intergenerational ministry that is built on daily prayer communities, weekly implementation of spiritual exercises and opportunities to perform works of mercy. The youth and young adults from around Hawaii who are participants in this ministry are invited to strive to be saints through Eucharistic Devotion, Marian Devotions and individual resolutions to practice virtue according to the various states of life.
Weekly Prayer Communities are situated during the Mass and reconciliation times of a given parish in cooperation with the given priest and Youth Ministry. After the Mass is finished, youth and adult leaders gather together for the prayer community. The Weekly Prayer Community is divided in 4 parts:
- Opening Prayer
- Introductions
- Gospel
- Closing Prayer
Communities are led by SHWAY CORPS, the leaders of SHWAY who have gone through training during leadership cycles. Leaders participate in Daily Spiritual Exercises (DSEs). These take the form of privately going over the upcoming Sunday readings in preparation to lead a community. Communities are centered upon preparing for the upcoming Sunday Liturgy, being aligned with the present ligturgical calendar and proximate feast days.
An ORDER is an intercessory prayer circle of participants who pray for each other during the week, invoking a particular patron for their group. Participants in these small groups commit to daily prayer and sacrifices, regular communication with a spiritual mentor such as a priest through confession or just talking weekly with the Youth Coordinator, and weekly attendance of a prayer community. Orders are encouraged to invite peers outside of the parish to join them in prayer and faith discussions, bringing them to Mass or prayer communities. Each Order is accountable for their own members by encouraging each other to keep their resolutions and pray throughout the week.
The climax of SHWAY takes place during the pilgrimages when all tribes gather to pray at a host parish. These pilgirmages take the form of clustering with other parish Youth Ministries. SHWAY communicates on a monthly basis with other Youth Ministries, inviting that Youth Ministry to lead the Rosary format for the pilgrimage. The given piligrimage day takes the form of clustered community service projects and fellowship on a given Saturday to be followed by the typical SHWAY schedule at the host parish. The host parish leads SHWAY. At the end of the pilgrimage, the parishes exchange information and calendars to make way for future clustered events that may take place at the next pilgrimage or at an inter-vicariate event.