Annunciation Catholic Church and Ascension Mission Newsletter — Dec 2021/Jan-Feb 2022

Annunciation

DECEMBER 2021

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Catholic Church

Ascension Mission

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Spending the Best Time on Earth with Jesus

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n Matthew Chapter 26, Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Crucifixion.

Peter and the two sons of Zebedee fall asleep — Jesus asks them, “So, you could not keep watch with me for one hour?”

How fitting it is that we have the opportunity to keep watch with our Lord here at Annunciation from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Eucharistic Adoration means that the Blessed Body of Christ is exposed in what is called a monstrance.

Time spent in adoration is essential to Jan Brencick’s life — she would be lost without it. It’s become a regular part of her week.

“Jesus is my friend,” she says. “Adoration is when God, the Father, lets His Son come play with His friends.”

On Fridays, Jan spends at least an hour with Jesus in adoration. She fills the time with praying a Rosary and singing in her head, among other things.

Adoration precedes the noon Mass on Fridays.

“You can always bring the things which are bothering you to Him,” Jan says. “He will rebuke the storm like when he was on the Sea of Galilee continued on back cover

65-1235 Kawaihae Rd. • Waimea, HI 96743 • www.bigislandcatholicchurch.org • 808-887-1220

Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

CHRISTMASTIME STEWARDSHIP

How We Can Bring His Son to the World I

t is not uncommon to give gifts during Advent and Christmas, but it is never enough just to leave it at that. True, Jesus gave Himself to us at the first Christmas. And, as always, we should strive to imitate Him by giving of ourselves in some way as we celebrate the anniversary of His birth. But there is a way to give even more than just ourselves — by giving the gift of Christ to others. The seasons of Advent and Christmas are perfect opportunities to share the love and message of Jesus with others in a beautiful way.

Of course, giving of ourselves in imitation of Jesus is a beautiful thing. But it is just as important to remember that, as human beings, we bear the likeness of God. As Christians, Jesus Himself inhabits our very souls. As Catholics, our Lord literally dwells within us when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Based upon this logic, we do so much more than imitate Jesus when we selflessly give of ourselves to others. Indeed, just as Mary carried Christ in her womb when she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and just as she brought Him in her arms to Simeon as a newborn child, we can also literally bring Jesus Christ to the world.

What a profound task Our Lord has laid out for us this season! As He grew in Mary’s womb, Jesus could only go where Mary chose to take Him. Of course, He couldn’t do anything — He couldn’t even speak. Mary became His hands and feet, and even His voice. Mary could have stayed at home during her pregnancy, resting and preparing for life with a newborn, as most mothers do. But instead, the Blessed Mother helped her Son begin His mission by bringing Him to her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, in much the same way, Christ invites us to share Him with the rest of the world. He chooses to make His presence known through us. And so, as the spiritual writer Caryll Houselander beautifully stated, “We must carry Jesus in our hearts wherever He wants us

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to go, and there are many places to which He may never go unless we take Him to them.”

How do we bring Jesus to those in our parish and community? There are many ways. We might visit with a sick parishioner over the holidays, providing fellowship and support in their time of need. We may consider serving a local soup kitchen or food bank, and doing our part to make sure that the hungry are fed. We can sing Christmas carols for our neighbors, bringing true joy and love to their homes. Perhaps we could help a tired friend clean her house, making her life a little bit easier during this busy season. Or we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. We might even try going to work with a cheery disposition, or donating money so that a starving child in a poor country can have something to eat. These are just a few examples of how we can practice stewardship.

We may sometimes feel as if our efforts are in vain — especially when it is hard to see the effects of our evangelization. This temptation is particularly strong when we offer our treasure as a gift to God. The positive effects of monetary gifts aren’t always as visible as gifts of time or talent. But when we give of our treasure, the love of Jesus can travel to places we could never go. While our gift may not directly affect someone in a positive way, it very well may enable someone else to do it for us. Sometimes, God doesn’t just ask us to be His hands and feet, but to enable someone else to be them, as well.

Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and disciples of His Word. God has put us in a particular place, given us a certain amount of time, and asked us to perform particular tasks and selflessly share a portion of our gifts. This is all for a singular purpose — to bring His Son into the world, and make Christ’s presence just as real as when He first became man more than 2,000 years ago.

DECEMBER 2021 A Letter from Our Administrator

A STEWARD’S RESPONSE TO THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GIFT Dear Parishioners,

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hristmas is America’s favorite holiday. The effort we put into decorating our homes and churches, the money we spend to buy presents for family members, friends, and coworkers, the hours we devote to addressing Christmas cards and attending seasonal get-togethers is staggering.

Whatever’s next, Valentine’s or Halloween, or Thanksgiving, can’t hold a candle to our investment in Christmas.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas, too.

But I’m afraid that many of us somehow miss the main reason for our Christmas celebrations.

I’ve sometimes heard people say things like, “Getting everything ready for Christmas becomes so hectic, I don’t want to do it every year. But, you know, Christmas is really for the children.”

I’ve also heard people say Christmas is about the hope a newborn baby brings to the world.

Both those sentiments are wrong because they’re too limited. Christmas is really for adults!

Of course, many of our Christmas customs are indeed for the children. And it’s true that the birth of any baby brings joy and hope to all those around. Yes, many of our Christmas celebrations are centered on the children, and the birth of a child offers a promise for the future.

But I’ll still maintain that Christmas is for adults. Because, at Christmas, we celebrate not just any baby, but a particular baby. And we celebrate this birth because of Who this baby is

and what He did as an adult, and only those with an adult faith can fully appreciate the significance.

Any human baby is certainly a wonderful creation made in the image of God. But Jesus is more than that, not less, for He is God the Son, Who took on human nature to redeem us from the results of the sin into which we had fallen.

He didn’t stay a baby. He grew up and taught and preached and healed. Finally, He was put to death “for our sake” as the Creed affirms and rose from the dead. That’s why we celebrate His birth more than 2,000 years later. That’s why normal routines are suspended for a few joyful days each year.

Yes, Christmas is for adults. And it’s for children as well, for people of all ages benefited from this birth. In response to the gift the Father gave us with the birth of His Son, we joyfully exchange gifts with each other and share with the poor and offer our gifts of time, talent, and treasure to the Church. God gives to us; as stewards, and we do our best to faithfully use those gifts.

A joyful and blessed Christmas to all of you, whatever age you are!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Anthony “Tony” Pangan, SSS

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Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

The Environment Ministry: Drawing Us Closer to God and the Liturgy with Vibrant Decor

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ur churches are blessed to be surrounded by beautiful and vibrant local flora. The trees and flowers that fill the island are the fingerprints of our Creator. Darlene Walencewicz, who heads the Environment Ministry, honors the Lord by bringing the beauty of His creation into the church.

“When I first volunteered, I was under the impression that the Environment Ministry was just caring for the plants and decorating the church on certain occasions,” Darlene says.

“This was not so! Being in this ministry opened up a whole new world of Church learning and creativity.”

Darlene knew that the local trees and flowers held great potential to beautify the church, but she had a lot of learning to do when she first came into the ministry. As she began to study church teaching, she learned why using real, local plants contribute so much to the liturgy.

“As Catholics, we are blessed with deep traditions and symbolism taken from the Bible,” Darlene says. “I learned the meaning and symbolism of living plants and plant cuttings.”

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A powerful example is the small purple orchid at Ascension Mission. This orchid comes from the past Lenten season. The original bloom died, but the orchid bloomed again in time for Advent.

Darlene does most of the arrangements herself, in the work sacristy at Annunciation Church, but she has many parishioners who bring her plant cuttings from their own gardens for her arrangements. Darlene is working with Fr. Tony and Toni McPeek (Saturday Work Group Coordinator) on starting a garden at Annunciation Church to grow flowers with which the church can be decorated.

Darlene attends both Annunciation Church and Ascension Mission and she has come to understand the nuanced differences between the two churches and their locations.

“Puako is a lot drier,” Darlene says. “They have more eucalyptus and silver dollars.”

At Fr. Tony’s request, Darlene will make a small grotto by the Puako house next to Ascension Church; and she plans to plant some cacti there.

As Christmas approaches, we often have

DECEMBER 2021

certain expectations about the decorations. Pine wreaths are traditional and Darlene has found ways to combine the native plants with the traditional pine and cypress.

“At Annunciation Church, we have two huge magnolia trees,” she says. “I’ve cut down a couple of the branches and plan to make a magnolia garland and incorporate the local plants. I’ve been hunting around looking for different plants that we can also use for Christmas.”

The children in Darlene’s class have been learning about the Jesse Tree and as they study

the Scriptures, they create little lanterns to hang on the tree. The Jesse Tree is made from stumps from both Annunciation and Ascension.

It will be displayed at the back of Annunciation Church at Christmas and the children are so excited to show what they have created together.

Darlene is always looking for volunteers to help decorate both churches. She loves to share what she has learned about the Church’s traditions and she always welcomes another creative eye or pair of hands. Children are welcome to help as well!

“When I first volunteered, I was under the impression that the Environment Ministry was just caring for the plants and decorating the church on certain occasions. This was not so!

Being in this ministry opened up a whole new world of Church learning and creativity.” — DARLENE WALENCEWICZ If you are interested in offering your creativity or working with your hands with the Environment Ministry, please contact Darlene Walencewicz at rainastutu@yahoo.com.

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Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

THE Origin AND

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Beauty OF THE Nativity Scene

ith all the commercialism surrounding Christmastime, it’s far too easy for us to lose sight of the true reason behind the season.

Overwhelmed by our endless to-do lists and the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping, our focus quickly shifts away from the Christ Child’s birth. And yet, hidden amongst the holly wreaths and garlands, the Christmas Nativity remains a tangible reminder of the Incarnation, pulling us back into time for a moment as we reflect upon the incredible gift of Christ’s birth.

Interestingly, it was circumstances much like our own today which first led St. Francis of Assisi to recreate the Nativity scene nearly 800 years ago. Frustrated with the growing materialism and greed that seemed to pervade 13 th century Italy, St. Francis wanted a way to visually remind people of Christ’s humble beginnings — to show them that Christmas isn’t about pomp and circumstance or material goods, but rather about unselfish love. Describing the idea to his friend Giovanni, St. Francis wrote, “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger...”

And so St. Francis’ idea took form on

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Christmas Eve in 1223. This original Nativity scene was a living one, even including live animals. Villagers were deeply moved by the silent display of humble beauty, and the Nativity tradition soon spread throughout Italy and surrounding Europe. It is a tradition that remains today in nearly every Christian church and in many homes. In fact, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without a Nativity scene somewhere.

Coming in various sizes and styles, each Nativity replica continues to focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas — to help us remember that Christmas isn’t about the amount of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth. Many families have a tradition of hiding the Infant Jesus, only placing Him in the crib on Christmas morning. This helps build anticipation during the Advent season as we anxiously await the Divine’s birth. Others go a step further, actually wrapping up the Christ Child to be opened as the very first gift of Christmas.

Yet, whatever your family’s particular traditions, we hope that the Christmas Nativity continues to draw your heart heavenward this Christmas season — to center us all on the greatest gift ever given, our Incarnate Lord.

DECEMBER 2021

MINISTRY TO THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND Brings the Eucharist to Fellow Parishioners

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e often pray as a community for the sick and the homebound, and here at Annunciation, we give those individuals the opportunity to receive Jesus even though they are unable to attend Mass. Through the Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, we share the spirit of Christ with them as well as the Body of Christ, ensuring that they are able to participate in the life of the Church.

While this ministry was active several years ago, over the past couple of years the ministry’s activity faded, primarily because ministers had difficulty getting authorization to see Catholic patients in the hospital.

Although Fr. Tony still brings Communion to patients in the hospital, and parishioners who are Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist do bring Communion to the homebound, the ministry has not been officially reinstituted until now.

“Fr. Tony would like to see all that are homebound and unable to come to church be able to receive the Eucharist, and be visited by the

parish,” says Mary Erickson. “That’s the goal.”

Mary, who is an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, has been serving as a minister for over 10 years and has been bringing Communion to a homebound parishioner for the past two.

She enjoys serving in the ministry because it allows her to help homebound parishioners stay connected with the parish and the Church.

“It helps them to know that their church cares about them and that God cares about them,” Mary says. “It’s important for them to be nourished by the Eucharist, especially when they are down and out. It keeps them connected with the parish and connected with God.” In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ministries like these are more important now than ever. Many parishioners don’t yet feel safe attending Mass in person or have disabilities or other reasons that do not allow them to attend. Now that the ministry is active again, it can better meet the needs of the sick and homebound.

“It helps them to know that their church cares about them, and that God cares about them. It’s important for them to be nourished by the Eucharist, especially when they are down and out. It keeps them connected with the parish and connected with God.” — MARY ERICKSON The ministry is open to any current Extraordinary Minister, and volunteers will be trained for the job by Fr. Tony — for more information, please contact him at the parish office at 808-887-1220, or approach him at Mass. Homebound and sick parishioners are also encouraged to reach out to the parish office if they would like a visit from the pastor or a minister, and to have Communion brought to them.

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Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission Annunciation / Ascension Parish 65-1235 Kawaihae Rd. Waimea, HI 96743

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION with the disciples.”

Jan has loved adoration since she was a child attending school at St. Joseph’s in St. Louis, Mo. She’s been regularly attending adoration since the second grade.

“Being with the Lord is my privilege,” she says.

It’s easy to look around and see all the rough spots in our world today — for Jan, adoration is a break from all of that. Jan will often read The New York Times in the church parking lot to remind herself that God is in control.

“He helps remind me that I need to keep the

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faith, and everything will be okay,” Jan says.

Jan also loves the Rosary — she prays it four times per day to reflect on all of the mysteries. She also prays the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Chaplet of St. Michael.

“I can’t go a day without the Lord,” she says. “I talk to Him during the day a lot.”

Adoration and prayer are very ingrained in Jan’s life — she recommends that everyone take part in adoration. “It brings you so much joy,” she says.

“It’s joy and pleasure. You are right there and the Lord is listening and talking back to you.”

“You can always bring the things which are bothering you to Him. He will rebuke the storm like when he was on the Sea of Galilee with the disciples.” — JAN BRENCICK All are invited and welcome to attend Eucharistic Adoration from 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays.

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m. (Waimea) | Sunday: 8 a.m. (Waimea) & 10 a.m. (Puako) | Confession: Saturday 4 p.m. (Waimea)