Announcements - Jan. 9, 2011

New Date for Golf Tournament 2011

The new date for the Golf Tournament is JANUARY 29th and the place is the Mountain Course at Kona Country Club. You will play 18 holes from a two person golf cart, and you will enjoy lunch at the Yacht Club.

As previously announced, the "St. Michael Golf Tournament was scheduled to be held on Jan. 8th on the Ocean Course of the Kona Country Club. Unfortunately, these arrangements have been altered to accommodate those who wish to attend the funeral for Junior Kanuha.

For more information, contact Peter Callahan at 315-7609.

Visa, MasterCard & Discover
Now Accepted at the Gift Shop!

For the convenience of our parishioners and guests, credit cards can now be used for the purchase of items in our Gift Shop. Anyone wishing to make a general donation, Building Fund donation or a donation to a specific ministry may also do so by using their credit card. Visit Carolyn at the Gift Shop for details.

Hospital Ministry

We need two more Hospital Ministers. I have been trying to assign ministers to go visit only two times a month, although several people have offered to do more, if needed. There are two more days to cover and I would like a back-up person to help with vacations, etc. It takes about 1 hour of your time depending on where you live.

As I go to the hospital on my own assigned days, I hear wonderful stories about what our St. Michael’s ministers are doing for Catholic patients. The person who is making the visit, offering the Eucharist, and praying with the patient and/or family often is unable to appreciate the gift they have given.

Ministering at the bedside of an ill or dying patient is the place where God comes closest to human frailty and vulnerability and you, the Eucharist Minister, are a participant in this meeting.

Whether you are a full-time or a part-time resident, we will be happy to train you. If you are interested, please call Cynthia at 960-0734.

One ‘Ohana

Last Sunday, Father Lio led One ‘Ohana in an afternoon of Christmas Carols and stories to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. The teens led the singing for us while the children all gathered with Father around the Crib. There were gifts for the children and the adults. The adults brought samples of their Christmas cookies which everyone shared with punch. There were even enough cookies for everyone to take a little assortment home for snacking.

The next official One ‘Ohana will be Sunday, February 6th. We will have our regular lunch, prayer and age-related groups with sharing to follow. Please note this date on your calendars. We ask that you please remember to register. This is particularly important for anyone in any of the four years of sacramental preparation. Registration is the best way for us to keep track of attendance.

Pancake Breakfast

The Knights of Columbus St. Michael the Archangel Council will be putting on a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, January 23rd after the 7 and 9AM Masses on St. Michael’s grounds. Pancakes, Portuguese sausage, orange juice, and coffee with all the trimmings will be served.

DONATION: Adults: $6, Children under 12: $3, and a family of two adults and two children under 12: $15. All are welcome to enjoy good food and good friendship.

Food Pantry Needs More Food

We recently hit a snag in acquiring food for our Friday distribution, and are experiencing a lack of enough food to give at the present time. Although this “snag” has been corrected and most likely won’t happen again, we need your extra help! Canned and dry foods are always welcome, but if a few people could also give breads or produce from their gardens, it would help tremendously. Thank you for always stepping up and giving so generously.

National Federation of the Blind

Meetings are held the second Monday of each month. The next meeting will be held January 10th from 10am to 12noon at Hale Halawai. For more information, contact Brandi Konrady at 989-9299.

Reminder to Parents

If you have a child preparing to receive First Communion (1st or 2nd year) or Confirmation (1st or 2nd year), please check your schedules and/or the bulletin for the dates and times of mandatory classes. Time is slipping by quickly. First Communion is scheduled for Sunday, May 8th and Confirmation is on the calendar for Saturday, May 14th at St. Michael’s.

Book Club

As Fr. John said in his homily on the first Sunday of Advent, Advent is a time of preparation to put on something new. I would like to start our new year by organizing a new book club.

Each week last summer, Cynthia Taylor recommended books both fiction and non-fiction that focused on themes related to Catholic Social Teaching. We could read and discuss some of the books Cynthia recommended. At the October 31 One `Ohana we briefly discussed the contributions of saints both in our lives and officially recognized by the Church. I am currently reading a book I bought at the Gift Shop called, My Life with the Saints by James Martin. This book is often discussed at parish book clubs over more than one session. We could also read more about some of the saints we identified at One `Ohana and books that our members recommend.

Over the last several years, three groups of parishioners participated in the JustFaith program. JustFaith included 33+ weeks of reading as many as two books a week, discussing what we learned, participating in outreach activities and retreats. The book club would focus on Catholic Social Teaching just as the JustFaith program does but we only read one book a month. I think that we could all learn from our book discussions without having to make such a huge time commitment.

Are you interested? Email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your contact information and a couple of days of the week and times that are best for you. We would meet no more than once a month. You can also call me at 756-1633. An organizational meeting will be called once we have a group of people who would like to participate.

Free Parish Liturgical Calendars

These calendars are available to each registered family at the parish office. The calendars are also for sale at the Gift Shop for $5. These calendars were produced by the Heritage Committee with historical and recent pictures of our churches and parish events. Liturgical colors, saints’ feast days, parish events and information are also included on the calendars. The new liturgical year begins this month. Pick up your calendar while the supply lasts.

Grief Counseling

If you are grieving the death of a loved one, you don’t need to do it alone. You are invited to participate in a free and confidential Bereavement Group. The group offers a respectful and safe environment in which to share your story, express the many feelings that come with loss and learn about grief. Individual sessions with an experienced counselor are also available by appointment. There's no fee for participating in the group or individual sessions.

For more information or to make an appointment, email Lisa Ferraro at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 808-345-6471. If you prefer to contact Lisa in person, you can find her singing at St. Michael’s Church every Sunday at the 4pm Mass. Also, more information will be available at our website soon!

1st Year Confirmation Classes

Jan. 16, 2011 Retreat (starts with the 8AM Mass at Immaculate Conception followed by activities in the Hall. 8AM-2PM. Lunch and snack will be provided.

Mar. 20, 2011 2nd Class; Kamiano Hall, 1:30PM-3PM.

The Baptism of the Lord

The Readings for this feast have an obvious focus, the baptism of Jesus. So it is that we have one of the famous songs of the suffering servant from the Book of Isaiah in the First Reading, reminding us that Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God, but is the chosen one to save the people from their sins and lead them home. Christ's way of saving is also noted, that He will not come with brute force, but rather with kindness and healing.

The Psalm for the day brings us to the baptism of the Lord by speaking of the voice of God hovering over the waters, the voice that we hear about in Saint Matthew's Gospel. The Reading from Saint Paul is crucial for this feast, because it makes the Baptism of Jesus an extension of the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord - Jesus' baptism means that all peoples will be welcomed into the kingdom of God. Saint Paul also shows us something that we might otherwise overlook: the life of Jesus cannot be separated into individual moments. The birth of Jesus is tied to His baptism, is tied to the good that He did in His ministry. And for those who claim Christ as our Savior, His death is not separate from any of this - it is all one great act of love for us, an act we celebrate every time we gather for Mass.

Reflection

How unlike us God is to show no partiality. It’s so easy for us, in the flurried activities of our lives, to say: “I can’t deal with you right now.” In fact, we scream partiality at every turn. And yet Jesus enters the waters of the Jordan for each and every one of us—so that the blind can have their sight restored, the confined can be set free, and those living in darkness can see the brightness of day.

The Triune God shows no partiality in the bestowal of mercy. Jesus comes up out of the waters of life so that the Spirit may be poured forth on all those who believe and so that we might be called children of the Father. No exceptions.

R. Gabriel Pivarnik, cssfop. Providence College
Providence, Rhode Island

My First Christmas in Heaven

This poem was written by a 13-year-old boy named Ben who died of a brain tumor on December 14, 1997, after a four-year struggle. He gave this to his mom before he died. We include it as a reminder of the hope we Christians share in life everlasting.

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear;
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year,
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away; we really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones; You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessings or love He has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Prayer

O ineffable Triune God,

The revelation of your mercy in the waters of the Jordan makes us your children in the Son, that we might call out to you: “Father!”

Through the power of the Spirit, make us yours.

R. Gabriel Pivarnik, cssfop
Providence College
Providence, Rhode Island