NKCC

One ‘Ohana

One ‘Ohana will be held today Sunday, December 11th at 12noon.  As usual, we will begin with lunch. This month’s topic will be the SACRAMENT of MARRIAGE.  The event for the month is preparing for Christmas and celebrating the Holy Family.  Father Marvin Samiano from the Marriage Tribunal in Honolulu will conduct the adult session.  Father will talk about marriage, the freedom to marry, and annulment.  There are always so many questions about this subject and Father will be here to help provide answers.

Pick-up Liturgical Calendars This Weekend

The 2012 Parish Liturgical Calendars will be distributed again this weekend.  They are free to parishioners because they are funded through the generous support of our advertisers.  Pick up a calendar for your family while supplies last.  Additional calendars are available for $5 at the Gift Shop.

Social Justice Book Club

The Social Justice Book Club will be discussing Imagine No Religion: The Autobiography of Blasé Bonpane, by Blasé Bonpane.  This is the personal story of the life of Blasé Bonpane.  The Book Club will meet in Immaculate Conception Hall on January 12, 2012, after the noon Mass.

Baptism Class

The second session for January Baptism will be held on Wednesday, December 14th at 7PM in the Church at Immaculate Conception.  For those who cannot make the class on Wednesday, it will also be held on Sunday, Dec. 18th at 1PM at Immaculate Conception Church.

Respect Life

January 22nd is the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision on abortion.  As Catholics, we respect all life, including the life of the unborn.  Pastors and Respect Life representatives from each parish in the West Hawaii Vicariate invite you to join them in sign-waving in Waimea on Sunday, January 22nd from 11AM to 1PM.  Meet at Annunciation Church in Waimea; then all will walk over to the Parker Center where the sign-waving will take place.  Mary Erickson is available after Mass for parishioners to sign up.

St. Michael’s Feast Day 2012

It is never too soon to begin to prepare.  Therefore, Father Lio has already brought together the Feast Day Planning Team to begin meeting.  Don’t wait to be asked to volunteer – get aboard right away.  Pitch in and help doing something you enjoy.  Look for sign-up sheets soon.

The 2012 Feast Day celebration will be a community effort to build our new Church.  This is a goal that we are all anxious to achieve.

End-of-Year Decisions

At the end of the tax year, many people make last minute decisions about making extra charitable donations.  If you are one of these people, please consider St. Michael’s Building Fund a worthy recipient.  Thank you and May God reward your generosity.

Simbang Gabi

The St. Michael’s Filipino Catholic Club wishes to invite all parishioners to join them in Simbang Gabi, the nine-day evening Masses before Christmas, an Advent tradition that is observed by Catholics in the Philippines.  Masses will be held at St. Michael’s Church from December 16th through December 24th at 6:00PM on weekdays; 5PM on Saturday, December 17th; 9AM on Sunday, December 18th and 7:30AM on Saturday, December 24th.  Light refreshments will be served after Mass.

Altar Servers, Please Note!

Altar Servers with no albs are asked to stop by the Sacristy container to pick one up.  Parents will be responsible to keep them clean (wash & dry; press if needed).

Volunteer Drivers

The HOPE Services is looking for drivers to take clients to doctor’s appointments, court, probation appointments, etc.  Volunteers must have a clean driving record.  Vehicle, fuel and insurance are provided by HOPE Services.  Mon. and Wed. needed most.  Interested?  Call Jeanne Russell at 933-6062.

Special Collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious

This special collection will be taken up this weekend at all the Masses.  Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have offered their lives in service to others.  Today many are frail, elderly, and in need of care.  Collection envelopes were included in last week’s bulletin.  Make your tax-deductible check payable to “St. Michael’s Church” and write “RFR” on the memo line.  Thank you for your generosity.

Drawing and Bazaar Success!

Congratulations to Mary Dahlager, resident of Kealakekua and the lucky winner of our Quilt Drawing!  We hope the beautiful quilt keeps her warm and happy.  Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for the drawing.  Our Building Fund continues to grow because of your generosity.

So many people helped to make the St. Michael's Bazaar a great success.  To those who donated, purchased or just plain helped, we are grateful.  We hope God will bless you greatly with His love and peace this Christmas.  Mahalo from the "Holy Kapa" Quilt Group.  Attention:  "Holy Kapa" Quilt Group members will not meet again till the 9th of January, 2012.

Cause for Rejoicing!

Today we rejoice in the news that Blessed Marianne Cope’s cause for canonization has been cleared by the Vatican.  Blessed Marianne, a Franciscan nun, devoted the better part of her life to caring for those afflicted with leprosy here in Hawaii.  In 1888, Blessed Marianne went to the island of Moloka’i to work with St. Damien in Kalaupapa.  She stayed on Moloka’i and, with great compassion, she cared for the sick until her own death in 1918.  We are indeed blessed to have not one, but two saints in our Diocese of Honolulu.

Food Pantry Slips to be Distributed

This weekend at all the Masses, Food Pantry slips will be made available.  Please take a food slip from the basket and bring the food item listed on it with you to Mass next weekend.  This monthly plea to parishioners to help bring in food for our hungry brothers and sisters has been a Godsend to many individuals and families in the Kona area.  God bless you for your kind generosity!

Mahalo to Arrion Llantos

Many thanks to Arrion, a student at Kealakehe High School, for sponsoring a bake sale at Wal-Mart on Saturday, December 1st.  Arrion and his classmates donated his $187 in proceeds to St. Michael’s Building Fund.

Prayer

Lord, we are caught up in the midst of transitions affecting our prayer.

Help us be positive, and help us clothe ourselves with a sense of prayerful joy.

Help us guide our assemblies with an attitude of exuberance in the midst of change.

Guard us against those things that diminish the radiance of our heart’s diadem: the voices of despair and cynicism.

Keep the voice of our heart singing “Gaudete!”

Steven C. Warner, Office of Campus Ministry
University of Notre Dame

Stewardship Report - Dec. 3rd-4th