NKCC

Correction about Baptismal Preparation

Please note that all Baptismal Preparation classes will be held at Immaculate Conception Hall in Holualoa.  In November, your choices of a class are either Wednesday, Nov. 16th at 7PM OR Sunday, Nov. 20th at 1PM.  Both parents must attend.  The class will last one hour.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Each year, every parish in the country has one collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  CCHD is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ educational arm on issues of poverty and justice.  Funds are used to support several initiatives, the greatest of which is awarding grants to low income groups to assist in raising people to a higher level of self-worth and productivity in society.

Dress a Girl Around the World

Imagine a world where every little girl owned a dress!  The St. Michael's Book Club initiated a program to help reduce human trafficking by providing dresses for girls in impoverished nations.  Since May, local volunteers have made over 300 dresses.  One shipment was already made to Cambodia and at least two more are planned for Africa.

Join us at our sewing day November 12th at Immaculate Conception Hall.  We can use help cutting, pinning and pressing even if you don't sew!  We will begin at 9 am and wrap up by 3pm.  Refreshments will be provided.  If you are able to bring a sewing machine, please contact Sue Costa by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone: (989) 859-2323.

Schedule for the Parish Mission

Saturday/Sunday, Nov. 19/20

• Fr. Cieslak will speak at all Masses at St. Michael’s

Monday, Nov. 21

• 10:30AM Mission talk at Immaculate Conception followed by noon Mass
• 6:30 PM Mission talk at St. Michael’s

Tuesday, Nov.22

• 10:30AM Mission talk at IC followed by noon Mass
• 6:30 PM Mission talk at St. Michael’s

Wednesday, Nov. 23

• 10:30 AM Question & Answer period followed by noon Mass
• 6:30PM Communal Penance Service

Social Justice Book Club

The Social Justice Book Club will be discussing A Persistent Peace: One Man's Struggle for a Nonviolent World by Father John Dear at its November 4th meeting.  John Dear has been arrested more than 75 times.  He has spent more than a year of his life in jail because he so fervently believes in peace.  The reader follows his conversion to Christianity, his calling to become a Jesuit, and his life dedicated to living out the radical, forgiving love of Jesus.  John shows readers that the most important disarmament of all is the one that happens inside each heart when we finally let go of our own self-righteousness, resentment, and anger.  All are welcome to join in the discussion of the book and issues related to non-violence.  The Book Club meets on November 4th after the noon Mass at 12:30pm in Immaculate Conception Hall.

National Hunger and Homeless Week

Each year we observe one week in November dedicated to hunger and homelessness.  The first event this year is on Tuesday, November 8th in Waimea.  It is the Big Island Strategic Planning on Homelessness.  It is a planning conference to offer solutions, ideas and to bring resources.  Anyone interested, please go to http://tinyurl.com/3mdhuk6.

Look for information on the free luncheon and community service fair at the Old Airport Pavilion on Nov. 17th.  It is customary for St. Michael’s volunteers to help with the meal, folding clothing, and writing thank you notes, greeting the attendees and other things.  They need all the help they can get.  If you are willing to join the group of St. Michael’s volunteers, please call Susan at 326-7771.  Watch the bulletin for further information on the event.

All Souls Day Envelopes

All Souls Day is Wednesday, November 2nd.  Special envelopes have been made available at all the Churches for you to write in the names of your dearly departed.  They will be remembered at the Masses on that day.  You may include a donation in the envelopes for your special intentions if you wish to do so.

Food Pantry Day Changes to Sat.

The Food Pantry has moved to Mokuaikaua Church, and like any change, some adjustments have to be made.  The Food Pantry will now be on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9AM to 10AM.  The change to Saturday was made in order to avoid the congestion from the Preschool.  There is parking behind Mokuaikaua Church.

Adoration

The Franciscan archives credit Saint Francis of Assisi (who died in 1226) for starting Eucharistic Adoration in Italy.  This process then spread from Umbria to other parts of Italy by the Franciscans.  Francis had deep devotion to the Eucharist and St. Bonaventure commented that Francis would be swept in ecstasy after receiving Communion.  For Francis the adoration of the Eucharist amounted to “seeing Christ.”

The Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance every Friday at Immaculate Conception from 7:30AM to 5:30PM.  Benediction is held at 5:30PM.  You are invited to visit during the day for individual Eucharistic Adoration.

Celebration Summary

With the waning days of Ordinary Time come an expectation of the waning of history, as the liturgy turns its focus to the revelation of God's judgment. The prophet Malachi (first reading), among the last of the ancient Hebrew prophets, gives us a taste of those end times, imagining the God of Israel as a great king who judges most harshly those who are entrusted with the covenant. Especially condemned are those who judge with "partiality," in other words, those who favor themselves or their friends. It seems corrupt people have been around for some time!

Jesus' equally harsh words seem directed only to the religious leadership of his time, describing his opponents as those who occupy "the chair of Moses" (Gospel), but his words apply to any who claim privilege for themselves based on their religious affiliation. The true test of faith, at least according to Jesus, is not outward displays of piety but humility.

Practicing what we preach, then, seems to be the key today, and so we acknowledge "the limits which our failings impose" and ask God to "remove the selfishness that blurs the vision of faith (alternative opening prayer).

This week's celebrations of the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls) call for the parish Book of the Dead to appear this week. Place it in a suitably prepared place, where parishioners can add the names of their own beloved dead; be sure and include these and all the dead in the prayers of the people.

By John Paul Heil | © 2005, OCP. All rights reserved.

Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10

Main Theme: God wants leaders to faithfully lead the people of God.

After establishing his universal kingship and thus leadership over all nations, God, in this reading from Malachi, enjoins the priests, the religious leaders of his people, to give glory to this universal royal leadership of God by faithfully instructing God's people. If they fail in their role of properly leading God's people, God will ironically transform their priestly blessings into curses. But, in fact, they have failed--"You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction." As a result God has made them contemptible in the eyes of the people who are supposed to respect them as leaders. They are not honest and just in leading the people, showing partiality in their decisions. But God is the one God and father who created both his people and their leaders. The religious leaders, then, are to be faithful to the universal royal leadership of the one God by not breaking faith with the people God has entrusted them to lead.

Religious leaders of today often lose their credibility in the eyes of their people by not being totally open and honest in dealing with critical issues (e.g., clergy child abuse, etc.) This reading calls us to pray for leaders who will be faithful to God, the ultimate leader, by faithfully leading the people of God.

By John Paul Heil | © 2005, OCP. All rights reserved.

Stewardship Report - Oct. 22-23, 2010