Annunciation Catholic Church and Ascension Mission Newsletter — February 2021

FEBRUARY 2021

Annunciation

&

Catholic Church

Ascension Mission

WORKING TOGETHER

Despite the Pandemic

T

hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it has sometimes been a struggle to remain connected to the parish community. As we’ve learned to navigate a “new normal,” Fr. Tony wanted to develop a ministry that would bring people together to allow people to both serve the parish and build fellowship, while still maintaining safety protocols — thus, to enhance the “stewardship way of life.” The ministry helps in augmenting costs of jobs contracted out, especially during this pandemic when our collections are down.

Fr. Tony approached parishioner Toni McPeek, who agreed to coordinate a Saturday workgroup in Waimea. So, the first meeting was held on Nov. 21 to plan and strategically organize the work to be done during this pandemic.

Toni McPeek shared, “When we started the workgroup, we were surprised at the good turnout of volunteers who shared their time and talent with us. We have a wide variety of parishioners who come — young families, young adults, and even our kupunas. A family working together bonds them more, and it shows. Children may ask the parents

why they are doing this, and the parents can teach them why and who they are doing it for. It’s a great way to get families back to church, and, hopefully, it can inspire other families.

“The group meets every other Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon in Waimea. Fr. Tony has organized parishioners who go to our mission Church in Puako on alternate Saturdays for similar work on the grounds there — and he joins them there as well. continued on page 2

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

Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

WORKING TOGETHER DESPITE THE PANDEMIC “We go around and clean, cut the grass, trim trees, and beautify the church grounds. We have people that go in and clean the areas of the church, parish hall and storage rooms from top to bottom, including windows. Before Christmas, we had people decorate. There are a lot of jobs to do around here!

“We keep our masks on and work at a safe distance — it’s really important to us to make sure everyone is safe. It’s volunteer-based. We have a steady core group that always comes, but others come and go. We’ve had up to 25 people at a time, but the projects we have are spread out all over the parish grounds.

“Just before noon, small groups will come in shifts for some lunch and drinks provided by the parish, as well as parishioners who are ‘excellent chefs.’ The half-day project, with a big-delicious meal provided, is a perfect opportunity for parishioners of all ages to get involved.

“The fellowship that parishioners have found in this group has been rewarding for everyone involved. Since the parish is closely following COVID-19 safety precautions, this ministry is just one way that we can reconnect to the parish community while also keeping each other safe.

“Since we take precautions very seriously, our church is probably one of the safer places to

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meet. Our workgroup allows parishioners to see friends and other parishioners they haven’t seen in a while and helps them to feel like part of the parish family again. I think it can really help them to not lose sight of what our faith is all about, see that our church is a safe place to be and that they are more than welcome here.

“It has been so rewarding to see the joy in their eyes [because of the masks]. They are doing some hard work, but there’s this joy that they are doing the work with their parish ohana.

You can see that they really enjoy it. We always get comments from people that it’s so wonderful to be around people again. COVID has kept us away from each other, but we’ve found a way to be together safely.

“I’ve always been involved with my parish community, and I really enjoy being a part of it,” Toni says. “It can be a challenge at times, but that’s all a part of the faith-growing experience. Hopefully, even when COVID goes away, we can continue this, and we may even get more help! We understand why a lot of people can’t come now — but whenever it goes away, I think we will get more.”

Fr. Tony hopes that this workgroup will be sustained as a new stewardship ministry in the parish that will continue even after the pandemic is over.

FEBRUARY 2021

PROTECTION-OF-LIFE ACTIVITIES AT ANNUNCIATION PARISH

BY M A R Y E RIC KS O N , RESP EC T L I FE COMMI TTEE

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n the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, and in solidarity with the Vigil Mass and Adoration, and the Virtual March for Life in Honolulu and throughout the nation, Fr. Tony celebrated Mass for the Protection of Life on the evening of Jan. 21, followed by Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament scheduled through midnight.

Fr. Tony’s excellent homily began by referring to the Apostles’ Creed stating that by our faith, we are a people of life. He quoted Fr. Pavone of the Priests for Life who said “to stand with Christ is to stand for life; and to stand for life means that we stand against whatever destroys life.” Fr. Tony added that based on a 2018 study, there is an abortion in the United States every 11 seconds — 7,800 a day! Abortion destroys more life in one year than any disease or natural disaster or wars combined. Over 62 million innocent lives have been taken in the U.S. since the Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973.

On a positive note, Fr. Tony advised of life-affirming alternatives, such as the Pregnancy Center, which helps women and men facing an unplanned pregnancy know their options and empowers them to make informed choices. They provide a holistic

approach, providing tests, medical referrals, and advocacy throughout the pregnancy and after the birth of the child. We are fortunate to have such a center right in Kona.

For those who have had an abortion, the Church helps them know the infinite mercy of God and welcomes their repentance, and references the excellent program of healing known as “Project Rachel.”

Fr. Tony stated that we are all called to be pro-life advocates, and suggested taking pamphlets on abortion, on what to say if a friend is considering abortion, on Project Rachel, and prayer cards, safely situated on a table at the church entrance, to read and keep on hand.

Those in attendance — approximately one-third of our current Sunday Mass attendance — left Mass more knowledgeable and inspired to get involved in prolife issues.

On Friday, Jan. 22, Fr. Tony, together with Respect Life Committee members and other parishioners — approximately 20 — held a March for Life in Waimea town from 4-6 p.m. The “March for Life” banner was prominently displayed, and those present held pro-life signs and waved to those passing on the highway — reinforcing the fact that every human life is a gift from God and every person, born and unborn, needs to be protected.

“ WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES...”

FR. TONY

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Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

The Confraternity of the Holy Rosary:

Understanding the M I

Founders of our local chapter of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, Dennis “Devo” Voss (second from right) and his wife, Carrie (center), along with their daughters Kaila (left) and Tali (second from left), son, Tanu (right), and two grandsons, weeks before their daughter Tali’s passing.

f you think back, can you picture your grandmother’s worn fingers, passing effortlessly over her Rosary beads, lips moving silently, as she sat in her favorite rocking chair? Maybe you recall your family’s Lenten resolution to pray at least one decade each Sunday night, before the start of the upcoming week. And yet, the Rosary is a prayer that you’ve never quite managed to adapt into your own practice of the faith.

You’re not alone. Although many Catholics probably own a Rosary, many still find themselves daunted by the prayer, and the beads remain generally untouched.

This was the case for Ascension Mission parishioner Dennis “Devo” Voss until several years ago. Devo began attending Mass with his Catholic wife when their children were young. He became Catholic through the RCIA process not long after, and then started becoming involved in stewardship, but God’s work in His heart was nowhere near complete. One night, continued on page 5

“When you pray the Rosary, slow down, pronounce the words, understand what you’re saying because the words of the Rosary are massively powerful. By praying the Rosary, you start learning the mysteries, you start understanding your Bible. The Rosary helps me understand the mysteries of our faith.” — Dennis “Devo” Voss

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FEBRUARY 2021

Mysteries of Our Faith while struggling to sleep, he stumbled upon a book that changed his life.

“I see this book called The Secret of the Rosary and it catches my eye,” says Devo. “I see, ‘secrets’ and I love that kind of stuff.”

Devo didn’t sleep that night. Instead, he spent the entire night reading, and the next day researching and learning how to pray the Rosary.

“I go online and I’m learning how to pray the Rosary, and I’m practicing it, and my wife comes home and I say, ‘I’ve been practicing the Rosary, I think we ought to pray it,’” Devo says. “I start explaining the Rosary, and where it’s from, and how it’s the most powerful weapon Mary has given us. Then my wife goes to the closet, pulls out this box and it’s got her grandparents rosaries that the pope had blessed — and the whole time, we’ve had this stuff.”

That was three years ago, and since then, the Rosary has helped to realign Devo’s entire life. He and his wife, Carrie, began praying the Rosary, and one day, while researching and reading, he discovered an international organization — the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary — a group devoted to praying all 20 decades of the Rosary, a practice to which he was already personally committed.

Devo quickly realized that this group was exactly what he was looking for. The former Ohio State Trooper had previously hoped to start an organization within the parish focused on emergency preparedness and defense in case of a violent event. However, upon discovering the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, he quickly realized that the defense needed was not of a physical nature, but rather, a spiritual one.

He began gathering a group of people to pray the 20-decade Rosary in his home each week — it wasn’t long before the group became too large, so they moved to pray at the mission parish in Puako. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group moved the weekly Rosary to a video call. The goal of the group is to

teach people the Rosary, pray together, and empower Catholics to share the prayer with others.

Praying the Rosary has also helped Devo come to a greater understanding of his Catholic faith.

“When you pray the Rosary, slow down, pronounce the words, understand what you’re saying because the words of the Rosary are massively powerful,” Devo says. “By praying the Rosary, you start learning the mysteries, you start understanding your Bible.

The Rosary helps me understand the mysteries of our faith.”

Last fall, Devo and Carrie, suffered the tragic loss of their middle daughter. Amid intense grief and suffering, they found strength and comfort in their faith and the Rosary.

“Without the Rosary, I have no idea what would’ve happened to us,” Devo says. “We’ve gotten deeper into our faith and stronger, and it’s the love of Mary, and the angels, and saints, and God, that keeps us going.”

Devo encourages his fellow parishioners to come and see what the 20-decade Rosary is all about and consider the role our Blessed Mother may want to play in your life, leading you closer to her Son. “The confraternity is such a blessing,” Devo says.

“Knowing we’re praying this 20-decade Rosary with this confraternity group across the world, it’s more impactful. You’re part of this big thing, and the Holy Spirit is there. It’s very powerful.

“Your Blessed Mother loves you,” he adds. “She wants to get to know you more.”

If you would like more information on the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, or to join the weekly Rosary, please contact Devo Voss at devo808@aol.com or 808-345-3409. The group meets on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m.

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Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

2020 FINANCIAL

Report

July 1- December 31, 2020

Income

July 1, 2020-Dec. 31, 2020

Saturday, 5:00 p.m. Mass - Waimea

$14,595.00

Sunday, 8:00 a.m. Mass - Waimea

$15,933.74

Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Mass - Puako

$12,977.25

Online Sunday Giving

$47,115.00

Sunday Mailed In, Weekday Noon Mass, Initial Offerings & Dipjar

$31,356.36

Holy Days (All Souls, Immac.Conception & Christmas offerings) Maintenance offerings (includes $1520 online)

$8,805.08 $4,515.00

Food Pantry Donations (incl. HFK -$1777.50 &CareKit- $1027.50)

$52,064.00

Online Food Pantry ($12765.00) & Hunger Free Keiki ($2765.00)

$15,530.00

Interest Income

$2,366.27

Candle Offerings

$2,974.56

Evangelization/Stewardship Donations (incl.25.00 online) Other Income:Payrl.Prot.Funds; sacrament,RE & misc donations Anonymous Grant to parish TOTAL INCOME 2nd Collections (money disbursed)

$455.00 $39,492.85 $75,000.00 $323,180.11 $2,622.00

Expenses Priest Expenses (Salary, medical, retirement, cell ph.)

$34,926.32

Lay Expenses (Wages, medical, & insurance)

$27,850.29

Office Expenses

$25,317.00

TAXES: General Excise, Property & Employer

$2,901.04

Puako Lease

$40,742.88

Puako repairs, maintenance & improvements

$89,496.27

Puako Utilities & Communications (church/house) Diocese Assessment Stewardship Expenses Liturgy Expense (incl.candles $1212.39) Equipment & Furniture

$8,910.00 $7,114.30 $22,006.16

Other Expenses (Retreats, (Travel/lodging, professional subscriptions, Faith Formation Convocation, Youthfees, Days, textbooks) etc.)

$3,966.82 $1,083.52 $1,083.52 $5,254.29

Other Professional Services Food Pantry Expense

$5,254.29 $697.59 $697.59 $47,270.31

Hunger Free Keiki Expense & misc. outreach Parish Tithing (support to other Parishes/relig.org., etc)

$47,270.31 $225.70 $225.70 $5,600.00

Parish Tithing (support to other Parishes/relig.org., etc)

$5,600.00

Food Pantry Hunger Free Expense Keiki Expense & misc. outreach

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$2,846.82 $26,346.00

$3,328.76

Evangelization (books, newsletter printing/mailing, Cath.Herald) Other Professional Services

If you would like to give to the parish electronically, please visit our website at bigislandcatholicchurch.org/giving/

$6,262.12

Appreciation Expenses & Ministry Food

Faith Formation (Retreats, Convocation, Youth Days, textbooks) Evangelization (books, newsletter printing/mailing, Cath.Herald)

Mahalo nui loa for your generosity!

$6,779.18

Waimea repairs, maintenance & improvements

Waimea Utilities & Communications (all buildings)

We are working very hard to minimize parish expenses to be good stewards of the parish resources.

$5,209.81

Insurance: Property & Liability (billed annually)

TOTAL EXPENSES TOTAL EXPENSES Net Ordinary Income (Income minus Expenses) Net Ordinary Income (Income minus Expenses) Temp. Restricted Donations (Unreleased Food Pantry Grants)

$374,135.18 $374,135.18 -$50,955.07 -$50,955.07

Temp.

Restricted Donations (Unreleased Food Pantry Grants) Net Income

$83,500.00 $83,500.00 $32,544.93

Net Income

$32,544.93

FEBRUARY 2021

TECH MINISTRY

KEEPING PARISHIONERS CONNECTED AND SAFE DURING PANDEMIC

E

ver since the onset of COVID-19 last spring, we have all had to find creative ways to stay connected and involved with our families, friends, community, and parish. As Masses went virtual — and then later on, as parishioners began to return to Mass — the need for a good technology team became apparent.

“The Tech Ministry grew out of the need for livestreaming Masses, communicating the songs and responses we are using during the Mass to the congregation, and figuring out what we’d need in the future due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says ministry leader Lisa Wells. “We started out with four members and have added two others who have volunteered to help with getting projectors, cameras for doing the live feeds of Masses, and communication to the community. We have had to communicate in new ways with our church family, and we hope that soon we can welcome back more of those who have been relying on the livestreams.”

The ministry works with

Mark Rebellon, Fr. Tony Pangan, and Lisa Wells are three of the six members of the Tech Ministry.

Fr. Anthony Pangan to acquire and use the equipment necessary to livestream the Mass as well as project song lyrics, announcements, and video messages both during and after the Mass.

“We don’t know what the future holds as far as our ‘new normal,’ so if we are completely phasing out all missals, then we will need to use technology to transmit

songs during our Masses,” Lisa says. “I do want this ministry to also become a communication format both for parishioners and also to the greater Catholic community — for example, by submitting articles to the Hawaii Catholic Herald.”

Going forward, Lisa sees the ministry as an important asset to the parish, even in post-pandemic times. Lisa hopes that more continued on back cover

“I know that we could continue to livestream Masses for those who are homebound and cannot attend our Masses. I see that as a great outcome from this pandemic. I think there will be ways of using our new technology to welcome people to our liturgies.” — Lisa Wells 7

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

TECH MINISTRY

continued from page 7

parishioners, especially younger and more techsavvy people, will get involved.

“I know that we could continue to livestream Masses for those who are homebound and cannot attend our Masses,” she says. “I see that as a great outcome from this pandemic. I think there will be ways of using our new technology to welcome people to our liturgies. I hope that we can get more youngsters involved in helping to run the livestreams of the various Masses so that it doesn’t always fall

to one person to do it. We will also be training those who might need to use it in the future.

“I will really be so overjoyed when we are able to get the congregation to sing with us once again and welcome back all our parishioners who we have missed seeing since the lockdown,” she adds. “There are so many little things that we take for granted, and this ministry has helped me to see just how important it is to connect and communicate with our parish family.”

The Tech Ministry welcomes any volunteers, especially those with Microsoft Word experience, or who could provide technical consultations. For more information, contact Lisa Wells at 808-885-0945 sign up via your Stewardship Commitment Card, or contact the parish office at 808-887-1220.

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