NKCC

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I – Jb 7:1-4, 6-7 | Psalm – Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Reading II – 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 | Gospel – Mk 1:29-39

Listen to this week's readings courtesy of the USCCB.

Ministry of Jesus

Tireless Discipleship - The Gospel of Mark, unlike those of Matthew and Luke, has no infancy narrative, nor does it have a lengthy prologue to introduce it, as John’s Gospel does. In Mark’s account, one could say, Jesus hits the ground running. The stories we’ve been hearing these weeks come from the very first chapter of Mark, and they show us the public ministry of Jesus in its infancy. Today’s account shows some of the strain or adjustment of his new life of preaching the reign of God, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Notice that after sunset, when darkness ended the workday, people brought the sick and possessed to Jesus. The following day he rose before dawn to get away by himself to pray, but to no avail. Simon Peter and the others don’t just look for him, they pursue him, filled with the fervor that his ministry has incited. With the self-sacrificing example he gave until the end of his earthly life, he tells his followers that this is his whole purpose. Through Mark, he is also telling the early church, and he is telling us, that this is our purpose, our vocation: to be tireless in our pursuit of proclaiming the Good News, and in bringing the healing, reconciling touch of Christ to the world.

© Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.

By this time, most of you have met our new Parochial Vicar, Father Anthony Rapozo.  His socialization into his role is occurring very quickly because of the kinds of requests for pastoral assistance there have been since his arrival.  He has been fully initiated into the priest’s role of pastoral care of the sick at Kona Hospital.  In addition, Father has made home visits to the sick; he is also available to do house blessings.  There are numerous committees and other group meetings at which Father is having the opportunity to meet more members of the parish.

See Fr. Anthony’s column in the bulletin entitled LITURGY MATTERS.  Read it and learn important things about Liturgy…things you may not already know.  Liturgy is the heart and soul of our worship.

Thanks to all who played in our annual Golf Tournament.  I hope you enjoyed your day.  God did His part by giving us a beautiful, comfortable day.  My thanks to all the volunteers who made the day a success, and special kudos to the Committee who planned it.  The proceeds from the tournament were $16,142. This includes a $10,000 donation from Ms. Diane Heiman offered during the Live Auction for “Dinner for Ten” cooked by Sam Choy in Ms. Heiman’s home.

Don’t forget the Valentine Dance next Saturday, February 11th.  The Knights of Columbus promise you an opportunity to dress up, be with friends and dance the night away.  Tickets are still for sale after Mass.

Peace in Christ,

Jesus cared for the poor and the sick and those marginalized by society.  But He never forgot the source of the healing which He did—His heavenly Father, whom He called “Abba,” or “Dad.”  He kept in close contact with the Father throughout His life.  Your challenge this week is to reflect on the relationship between prayer and action in your own lives—as individuals and as a family or household.  Do you have a healthy and holy pattern of prayer which is part of your daily routine?  Do you let that prayer lead you to the actions which God wants you to take to help heal a hurting world?  Remember that part of a vibrant prayer life is letting God speak once you are done.  Listen to what God wants you to do just as Jesus did when He lived on earth.

In recognition of World Day of the Sick, on February 11th the 5PM Saturday Mass will include a communal celebration of Anointing of the Sick.  Catholics sometimes misunderstand this sacrament as one that is received only when nearing the point of death.  In reality, it is one of the Church’s most meaningful sacraments.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “the Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as accompanying them with her prayer of intercession.”  This sacrament is NOT only for those at the point of death, but for any member of the faithful who has a serious illness, one who is planning to undergo major surgery soon, or any fragile, elderly person.

Liturgical Ministry Recruitment & Training

E Komo Mai!  Parishioners are asked to consider fulfilling their baptismal call by serving as liturgical ministers at St. Michael’s and at our Mission Churches:  Holy Rosary, Immaculate Conception and St. Paul’s.  We encourage those of you who meet the basic requirements to join one or more liturgical ministries:  Arts and Environment, Choir, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist at Mass and to the Hospital and Homebound, Funeral, Greeter, Lector, Sacristan, and Usher.   A table will be set up with Liturgical Ministry information forms available after Masses on February 11th and 12th at all Churches.  Members of the Liturgy Committee will be at the table to answer any questions you may have.  All new and current liturgical ministers are asked to complete one of the information sheets.

The following Saturday morning, February 18th, there will be a Liturgical Ministries Training in St. Michael’s tent.  We will begin with a Continental Breakfast at 8:30AM, followed by liturgical training for all ministries at 9:00AM.  This is a mandatory meeting for all new and current weekend and daily Mass liturgical ministers from all Churches.  Anyone who does not attend will be sent a letter from Fr. Lio offering them an opportunity to attend an alternate training session.  If they neglect to attend they will be removed from the schedule. Mahalo!

Big Island Faith Formation

ENRICHMENT DAY is for everyone who wishes to celebrate our Catholic Faith.  Come be with us on Saturday, March 10th, 2012 at Annunciation Church in Waimea.  Hear a variety of topics, each of which will deepen your understand of our Faith.  Registration is $10, which includes lunch.  Make your check payable to “Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii.”  Send to M. Fujimoto | St. Benedict Church | 84-5140 Painted Church Road | Captain Cook, HI  96704.  Schedule:  8:00AM Registration; 9:00AM Mass; 10:15AM-2:30PM Workshops.

Social Justice Book Club

The Social Justice Book Club will be discussing Imagine No Religion: the Autobiography of Blasé Bonpane, at its February 9th meeting.  This is the personal story of the life of Blasé Bonpane, a practitioner of liberation theology and a former Maryknoll priest.  All are welcome to join in the discussion of the book and issues related to liberation theology.  We will also be discussing future titles and activities for the Book Club.  Join us on February 9th after the noon Mass, at 12:30pm in Immaculate Conception Hall.  For more information call Shirley David at 756-1633.