NKCC

Lenten Corner for Families

1 Samuel 16.1, 6-7, 10-13 • Ephesians 5.8-14 • John 9.1-41

When you go to Mass this Sunday, you will hear Readings from the Bible.  To prepare yourself and your family to truly hear God’s Word, read and discuss this short article before you go.

John 9.1-7 • See the World Through Jesus’ Eyes

In Jesus’ time, a blind person had three strikes against them.  The first was obvious:  the person couldn’t see.  The second was a cultural belief that blindness and other disabilities were caused by the sins of the person or by the sins of his or her parents.  Third, blind persons were discriminated against or simply ignored, as if they weren’t even there.  In another sign, Jesus countered all three strikes.  1) He acknowledged the blind man’s presence.  2) He told His disciples that blindness was not the result of sin, but an opportunity for God’s power to be made visible.  And 3) He gave sight to the blind man.   What groups seem to have strikes against them today:  those who are homeless, undocumented, disabled?  How can you and your family see them through Jesus’ eyes?  How can you acknowledge them, call them blessed, and bring good news to them in Jesus’ name?

This article appears on p. 1331 of the Catholic Faith & Family Bible, produced by the Center for Ministry Development, published by HarperCollins, © 2010.  Order your copy at www.catholicfaithandfamilybible.org.

St. Michael’s Tennis Tournament

Twenty-seven days from today, St. Michael’s will sponsor our first Annual Tennis Tournament.  April 30^th-May 1^st are THE days! The event will be held at the Holua Tennis Center.  Proceeds from this event will be donated to the St. Michael’s Building Fund.  Our committee, chaired by Lovette Llantos, is working very hard to make this a grand event for our parish.  We need your support.  No tickets are necessary, just come to cheer the players AND OUR CHURCH.

St. Michael’s will prepare a tasty lunch free of charge for all the players.  Some of you good cooks, please contact Renee-Mae Ota and volunteer to prepare a dish for either Saturday or Sunday.  Renee’s correct number is 322-2838.

We still need prizes and items for our Silent Auction.  When you hear about some of the things that will be available at the Silent Auction (Saturday only), you will rearrange any plans you might have just to be at the Holua Center.  The generosity of some of the donors will take your breath away.  Isabel Vinson is responsible for the Silent Auction.  You can reach her at 326-2420.

REGISTRATION for the Tournament must be done through Lovette Llantos online at http://www.gonnalove-it.com/tennis Once online, click on April 30-May 1:  Team Tennis Fundraiser for St. Michael’s Church.  There will be instructions on how to pay the $25 registration and an address where to send the check.

Vacation Bible School

Twelve of the twenty-four spots for Vacation Bible School are filled.  All the Preschool places are filled.  Kdgn, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grades are still available.  VBS will be July 11th-15th from 8:30AM–noon.  The location has not definitely been decided, but there is a strong possibility that we may use St. Paul’s.  This would provide outdoor play space for the children.

April 3rd One ‘Ohana

Today is One ‘Ohana day.  We will begin One ‘Ohana after the 11AM Mass.  Come for lunch and spend the afternoon in prayer and learning with Frs. Lio, John and the One ‘Ohana volunteers.  Please do not forget to register.  The topic will be preparation for Holy Week.

One ‘Ohana Families

How are you doing on your Lenten Journey?  This Sunday we will be reviewing our journeys and then learning about Jesus’ last days on earth and about some of the symbols we use to remember Jesus.  Each Friday during Lent we are invited to remember Jesus by following His journey at the Stations of the Cross.  There are excellent Stations of the Cross for children and their families written by Lucille Perrotta Castro at www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/stations/. These Stations are written in children’s language and with each Station there is commentary that encourages children to think about how the message of the Station relates in their everyday life.  It is recommended to introduce just one Station per day.  Try using them as a family activity on 15 days of your Lenten journeys.

Our Afternoon and Evening with Thomas

Thomas Awiapo brought us a message of inspiration from his homeland in Ghana, Africa.  On Thursday afternoon of last week, Thomas spent time with a small group of adults.  Most of those who attended were graduates of JustFaith.  Thomas discussed some of the justice issues that have influenced his personal life, growth in the faith, and the impact of CRS on these things.

In the evening session, 33 people, mostly youth, gathered in Kamiano Hall to hear him tell his life story and how one little snack he received each day in school brought him to the point he is now…husband, father and Catholic Relief Services community leader with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.  Thomas works in the little village in Ghana where he was born.

After his words of taking Good News to the poor, it is certain that our Operation Rice Bowl collection on Holy Thursday will demonstrate our new appreciation for the work of CRS.

Cookies, Cakes, and Candies Baked and Sold for the Benefit of St. Michael’s Building Fund

Who would imagine that a parish we have never heard of would have a wonderful fundraiser for our building project?  We found out recently that such Christian love does exist.

Gary and Brenda Gorball are frequent visitors to our island.  Actually, that makes them part of our ‘Ohana.  After their last visit, they went back to their parish in Antioch, Calif.  With their pastor’s approval, they began preparing to have a bake sale at Holy Innocent’s Church to help us at St. Michael’s.  You will know how hard they worked for us when you hear how much they raised!  The proceeds from their sale were $800.  They also sent a donation from their Deacon for $200.

Thanks to Gary and Brenda, their pastor, Father Robert, and all the helpers who did this for us.  Gary and Brenda will be here in August so we will have an opportunity to thank them personally.

Filipino Catholic Club Dinner Dance

St. Michael's Filipino Catholic Club, Kailua-Kona will host its second annual Dinner Dance at the Maka’eo Events Pavilion, Old Kona Airport on May 13th (the time of the event was not given to us when the bulletin went to print).  The Filipino Catholic Club's objective is to help those in need in our community, and as a Club, we believe that there is no better way than to help rebuild St. Michael's building.  Your participation will help us raise funds to benefit the Church Building Fund.  The event will include dinner, dancing, raffle prizes & cultural presentation.  Tickets will be sold after each Mass beginning Saturday, April 2nd for $20.

Next Baptism Session Coming Up

Parents wishing to baptize their babies must attend the “Mass-then-Class” session coming up Sunday – April 17th.  Your child must be 6-years-old or younger.  The session is scheduled as follows:

April 17th: Parents and child must arrive for the 11am Mass no later than 10:45am; we would like all families whose children will be baptized to sit up front during the Mass.  Shortly after the Mass begins, the priest will introduce the families, and then he will anoint the babies with the Oil of Catechumens.  This is the beginning of the Baptism ceremony.  If you miss this part, you must wait for the next session to have your baby baptized.

Immediately following the Mass, parents and godparents must attend the Baptism class that will be held in Kamiano Hall beginning at 12:15pm.  At this point, if you think your child would not be able to sit through another hour without fussing, then perhaps you could leave your baby with a relative while you and the godparents attend the class.  *If the godparents are from another parish and cannot attend our Baptism class, they must attend at their home parish and their priest must send a letter to our parish office confirming that they attended class.  This letter must arrive in our office no later than Thursday, April 14th.  (If we don’t receive this letter in time, then you must choose other godparents who will be able to attend our class.)

April 30th – May 1st:  This is when the Baptisms will occur.  Parents will choose on which day and at which Mass they would like to have their baby baptized (Saturday evening at 5pm; or any of the Sunday Masses).

For more information or to sign-up for the next session, please call the parish office:  326-7771.

Holualoa Cemetery

Heritage Committee members will  meet with parishioners who have family members buried in Holualoa Cemetery to map out and identify gravesites.  There are many unmarked graves that have not been identified.  If you know of someone who can identify any of the unmarked graves, please contact Joyce Trask at 322-0915.

What Will You Do to Help Relieve the Suffering in Japan?

• PRAY - for all those who have been directly affected by the tsunami in Japan
• FAST - by offering the money you would have spent on whatever you are giving up for Lent
• ALMSGIVING - Make a donation to Catholic Relief Services.  Workers for Catholic Relief Services are standing by to help wherever it is needed.

Write your check to St. Michael's Church and mark it CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (JAPAN)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN HAWAII

How much do you know about affordable housing in Hawaii???

We need no longer be in darkness regarding the realities of the homeless. We need the light of the Holy Spirit to take action in finding the solutions to this growing problem.

• Hawaii has the highest rents in the nation. The fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1610/month. To have that be 30% of income, a total household income would have to be $64, 396.
• The annual Hawaii’s wage is $26, 811. Hawaii’s minimum wage is $7.25/hour. A household needs more than 4 minimum wage earners working 40 hours/week year-round to afford renting a two-bedroom fair-market-rated apartment.
• SSI pays $674/month. It would take 6 people on SSI, paying 30% of their income to afford renting a one-bedroom apartment at $1270/month.
• Hawaii Public Housing Authority Section 8 Program has on an average a 7-10 year waitlist for renting affordable housing.

St. Michael the Archangel Boy Scout Troop

St. Michael the Archangel Parish has sponsored a Boy Scout Troop for over eight years and currently has over 20 boys in the program.  Boy Scouts is a youth program supported by the Catholic Church around the country.  Our parish continues to support this program as one of our youth programs and they are now in need of volunteers to assist in several areas of Troop operation.  If you are interested in this program, especially if you have had previous experience with the Scout program, and would like to offer your time and talents, please call either Scoutmaster Bruce Soto at 938-4926 or Rick Erick at 325-0458.  Thank you.

Stewardship Report - March 27th and 28th