Annunciation Catholic Church and Ascension Mission Newsletter — May 2021

SUMMER 2021

Annunciation

&

Catholic Church

Ascension Mission

INSIDE OUR PARISH

BIBLE STUDY:

Sharing in a Faith Adventure with Fellow Parishioners

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hen it comes to studying Scripture, as Bible Study organizer Terry Cromwell points out, it’s not about knowing “all of the answers.”

“We are all simply on an adventure of knowing Jesus better,” Terry says.

Nearly two years ago, Mike and Terry Cromwell saw a need for a Bible study at Annunciation, so they worked with Fr. Steve Macedo, our pastor at the time, and received the approval to start one. They’ve gone through several different studies ever since, from the Gospel of Matthew to Acts.

“Holy Scripture was recorded to teach and inspire mankind through the ages,” Terry says.

“Being in a study gives us the opportunity to Bible Study participants attend a session via Zoom in mid-March take time and be serious about examining the from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. About four Word while infusing our Lord’s teaching deep to six hours is required per week, in order to be into our hearts in order to live out His will.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic precautions were fully prepared for each session. There are weekly put in place, the group transitioned from meeting reading assignments, along with questions and a at the mission parish in Puako to meeting via the 50-minute video with Jeff Cavins, in addition to the Zoom videoconferencing platform. This has been 90-minute Thursday session. The last few studies very convenient for members. The group meets have been through Ascension Press. continued on back cover

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

Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE USES TALENTS TO KEEP OUR FAITH HOME IN GREAT SHAPE

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hen we all use our talents to serve the parish, all of the work gets done and, ultimately, we are participating in bringing God’s kingdom to earth. The members of the newly organized Building and Maintenance Committee have been using their talents to preserve the parish assets and plan upgrades and expansion by overseeing the entire church property including the residential facilities in both communities of Waimea and Puako. They keep up with maintenance, various repairs, new projects, construction, and services that happen in and on the property to make sure our buildings and grounds are in the best shape possible, beginning with a survey of maintenance needs and prioritizing projects.

Recently, the most extensive project we had in the parish was the restoration of the house in Puako, supervised by Building & Maintenance Committee chairman Herb Antone with the help of committee members Bob McBride and Mike Hoover.

Over the course of about six months, beginning last April, the committee members, along with some additional workers, remodeled the home.

The house is used to accommodate visiting priests as well as church meetings.

The yard, which is also being upgraded, is used for

Work was done on the Puako Cottage in spring 2020.

overflow at Sunday Mass where Mass is live-streamed on big screen TV; and for past and future parish hospitality gatherings.

“It’s nice to have that as an overflow area, especially for holidays and with the current social distancing,” Herb says.

Herb moved to this area from San Francisco about 15 years ago. He spent his career working as a contractor, but now, he’s mostly retired. He started leading this committee about one year ago. Herb is thankful for the rest of the team because they are willing to work hard and lend their experience.

Herb knows how important it is to be involved and to use his talents to serve the Lord. His wife, Debbie, also shares her time and talents, helping out at the parish food pantry. “We want to do what we can to help,” Herb says. “We want to make the parish a place that people want

to come to and be a part of. It’s a special place and deserves to be well maintained.”

In addition to the remodeling in Puako, the committee works on other miscellaneous projects for all parish buildings. More people are brought in to help, as needed. Some of the most recent needs, such as restoration of the old church, which is used for Religious Education offices and classrooms; a new septic tank behind the parish hall and fencing of the property in Waimea have been completed.

In addition, with the help of David Bahr who installed and supervised, and Toni McPeek who organized the Saturday work volunteers, a fence was installed at the Puako house in the spirit of volunteerism for a minimal cost. The rectory and parish hall in Waimea, as well as the Church roofing in Puako are next in line for repairs and maintenance.

If you would like to get involved with the Building and Maintenance Committee, please contact Herb Antone at 808-896-1581 or vistawaikoloa@hawaii.rr.com.

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SUMMER 2021

A Letter from Our Administrator

Dear Parishioners,

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s we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which is one of the most significant events in the life of the Church, I can’t help but relate the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples as “the birth of stewardship.”

As a stewardship parish, we have come to understand it in our personal lives and our parish life as the work of the Holy Spirit, active and inspiring us to be the disciples Jesus called us to be, just as He did those very first disciples. Our parish and personal stewardship continues, in spite of the pandemic through our ministers and volunteers assisting before, during and after all Sunday and weekday Masses which have been and continue to be celebrated safely, accommodating the increasing number of parishioners and visitors returning to Mass (additional Masses will be offered as needed); through the Saturday work group volunteers who maintain the church buildings and grounds in Waimea and Puako; through the volunteers who have continued the parish food pantry outreach every Tuesday; through the

financial contributions by those who make it possible for the parish to continue our services and outreach programs.

It just makes sense to once again realize and acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in our decisions to be authentic disciples of Jesus Christ.

As every parent knows, birth brings new life to a family, and the “birth of stewardship” here in our parish has brought new life to us, personally and communally, and continues to do so. We had a “Pentecost event” when the message of stewardship was first brought to our parish, and it hasn’t been the same since. Many curious people of our parish and from around the country ask the question, “How did all of this begin?” The only answer is, “moved by conversion, we knew stewardship was going to be the ‘plan’ for our future as disciples and as a parish.” It makes sense.

For some, like me, it took a conversion of sorts to move us from unbelievers to believers, and from fear or suspicion to courage and confidence in the values and ideals of stewardship.

Reading the accounts of the Acts of the Apostles, it wasn’t much different for them. Their experience is our experience and continues to encourage us to be open to the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. That “Spirit” renews the “Pentecost event” in each of us, as we practice discipleship as we know it through the stewardship way of life.

Also, as with each new birth,

the life that begins needs to be nourished, nurtured and loved.

Through our understanding of the four pillars of parish stewardship — hospitality, prayer, formation and service — we each are called to nourish, nurture and love our parish family with the gifts we bring to each other. And without ever really knowing how much of an impact we have on each other’s spiritual lives, we trust the Holy Spirit to continue the “good work of faithful stewardship” in each of us and to those around us. Isn’t that what the first Pentecost event started, and isn’t that what you see in our parish, especially since our own “birth of stewardship”?

God has blessed our parish family and continues to do so, as the Holy Spirit continues to pour out gifts upon us and send us forth to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. As we grow and mature in our stewardship efforts, how fortunate we are that the stewardship way of life has become our way of life.

May we always give thanks to God for the Holy Spirit’s gift to each of us — for, when we do, it seems only natural to be inspired to live discipleship as it was intended to be lived in the first disciples and in each of us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Anthony “Tony” Pangan, SSS

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Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

ASCENSION MISSION CHURCH LIVESTREAM

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ast year, the global pandemic that began changing the way Americans live — and worship — was an entirely unprecedented event. Annunciation, like all Catholic churches across the world, had to adapt to new ways of serving God’s people. Our Tech Ministry, highlighted in the February 2021 newsletter, quickly sprang into action to find

new and better ways of keeping our faith community connected in a time of social distancing.

At our mission church of Ascension, one parishioner has gone above and beyond to make the livestream of our Masses available to all.

Fred Costanzo and his wife, Andrea, have been parishioners of Ascension in Puako ever since

The livestream setup outside Ascension Mission Church allows for overflow seating.

Tech Ministry helper Liz Chock with Fr. Tony and Fred and Andrea Costanzo at Puako house after Palm Sunday Mass

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their retirement brought them from Northern Virginia to Hawaii eight years ago. The couple had long been active in their Virginia parish, so it came naturally to them to dive right into life at Ascension. In addition to serving as a lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Fred is also on the Parish Pastoral Council.

In the summer of 2020, Fred heard that Fr. Tony wanted to begin livestreaming the Masses from Annunciation and Ascension. With a background in engineering, Fred decided to lend his talents to this new Tech Ministry. The first order of business was to help the mission church acquire a strong enough Wi-Fi signal to enable the livestream. Next, Fred identified and donated the necessary livestream cameras.

Over the past year, Fred has found his involvement in the Ascension livestreaming very rewarding.

“The livestream allows people to stay connected with their fellow parishioners,” he says.

“Even if they aren’t comfortable being here in person, they can see their fellow parishioners coming into the church or receiving Communion, and they witness the offering of Mass.

Even if we reach out and just reach one person who otherwise wouldn’t experience the virtual Mass that week, it’s a good thing.

I’ve had nothing but really good feedback from people. Praise the Lord that we are making

SUMMER 2021

BRINGS LITURGY AND COMMUNITY TO ALL this available to them.”

Thanks to Fred, the weekend Mass livestream from Ascension is certainly reaching more than just one person — typically, a Sunday Mass will end up with between 200-300 household views! In addition to providing an experience of the liturgy for those who are confined to the home due to health restrictions and concerns, the livestream is also drawing “visitors” from around the world who remember our mission church from a past vacation on the island.

“We have a lot of one-time visitors, and that’s what we touched on with the livestream,” Fred says. “We are seeing comments from people far away saying, ‘Hey, we love coming there when we are in Hawaii.’

The fact that we are reaching both the homebound and distant visitors — that’s a blessing.

It’s very rewarding, and we are really reaching out to people in more than one way.”

Another tremendous blessing to come from the Ascension livestream is the ability to broadcast the Mass outside on the parish property next to the church parking lot in Puako.

During peak visitor times and holidays such as Christmas and Easter, there is often a need to accommodate more people than the church itself allows. With a large-screen TV and quality loudspeaker, this new outdoor space can accommodate about 45 socially distanced chairs. A large blanket is also set out for

small children to sit up front.

Eucharistic Ministers walk over from the church when it is time to distribute Holy Communion.

“The open-air environment at this location provides a unique spiritual setting from which several parishioners and visitors can safely participate in the Mass,” Fred says. “Sometimes, there might be a family of five or six coming from the resort hotels, and they’ll peek in and

The livestream camera is set up and ready to record Sunday Mass.

if it’s crowded, they’ll leave.

Now we have the overflow area that is really nice. It’s under the shade of a mango tree, and you’re outside in Hawaii. We try to make it more convenient for visitors to continue their faithfulness to the faith while on vacation.”

Over the last year, Fred has been the primary volunteer working to bring Mass from our mission church to hundreds of people weekly. He is thankful for the help of his wife, Andrea, and the new members of the Tech Ministry now learning the ropes. Moving forward, he hopes to see this ministry continue to grow and serve the faithful both near and far.

“As with any successful ministry, we can always use additional tech-savvy volunteers to assist us in providing this timely and valuable service to our parish ‘ohana,” Fred says.

“We will gladly provide the necessary training to anyone who is interested. It’s such a rewarding and satisfying feeling knowing that we’re able to reach many of our Christian brothers and sisters who may otherwise miss out on sharing the spiritual benefits of our liturgies during Mass.”

If you are interested in helping out with the Tech Ministry and our livestream Masses, please contact the parish office at 808-887-1220.

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Annunciation Church & Ascension Mission

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY: S

trong families are a source of life and love — and for us as Catholics, marriage and family are the foundations upon which our Church community is built. Our parish’s Marriage and Family Life Ministry — working in tandem with the national Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) organization — provides ongoing growth and development for couples and families through enrichment, fellowship, support, and spiritual formation.

“Our tag line is ‘Strong Marriages, Strong Families, Strong Communities,’” says ministry coordinator Linda Lewandowski. “That’s what it’s all about.”

The ministry originated in 2018 as an initiative within the West Hawaii Vicariate to provide marriage enrichment programs for married couples on the Big Island, as opposed to having couples travel to Oahu or Maui. Annunciation was one of the first parishes to partner with WWME to host a one-day Marriage Enrichment session that same year — the following year, the parish hosted a full Marriage Encounter weekend.

“Participation in enrichment events helps couples with good marriages develop even stronger relationships between themselves, their family members, and their faith,” Linda says. “The format of the enrichments allows couples to hear other couples describe their experiences as well as learn about new tools they can use to improve their communication.”

After couples have attended a Marriage Encounter, they are given the opportunity to continue growing with other Encountered couples in sharing groups.

These groups meet on a monthly basis and provide ongoing support for their marriage relationship, family life, and relationships with others around them.

“Monthly gatherings of couples over time build a solid community that can learn from each other, support each other, as well as become a strong force within our parish community — we become like a family,” says Linda, whose sharing group is called the Red Hot Lavas. “Prayer is always a huge component.

We ask our couples to pray for other couples going through the same experience, and we’ve gotten great participation through that.”

As interest in these programs grew, Annunciation moved forward to define and formalize the launch

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SUMMER 2021

Upholding the Foundations of Our Church Community of the parish’s Marriage and Family Life Ministry, or M&FL, in the fall of 2019. The ministry’s goal is to expand beyond Marriage Encounters and Enrichments to provide a continual focus on strengthening marriage and family life. The ministry officially kicked off at the beginning of 2020, outlining three main areas — marriage preparation and enrichment, family life challenges (known as Real Life Ohana within the ministry), and family enrichment. While two Encounter weekends were planned for 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately, forced these events to go virtual. Nonetheless, as the pandemic continued, the ministry did not skip a beat.

“The WWME community in Hawaii was able to rapidly shift gears to provide the events in a professional and engaging manner for our parish couples,” Linda says. “We launched a sixevent mini-series of online enrichments, which included everyday family life issues like finances, children and handling disagreements. Six couples participated and it turned out to be a good and fun experience. Fr. Tony kicked off each session with a prayer and stayed with us throughout the series, even though he was new to the parish.”

In early 2021, the ministry held a series of virtual Enrichments and Encounter Experiences. These events were also structured to include couples seeking to have their civil marriages convalidated in the Catholic Church, which required much advanced planning and coordination with WWME, the vicariate, and the diocese. Bishop Larry Silva will preside at a convalidation ceremony at St. Michael’s in Kona on June 5. This past April, the ministry also hosted two Zoom sessions in partnership with the Hawaii Catholic Conference, covering a Catholic approach to prolonged medical care, treatment, pain relief, Advanced Health Care Directive, and moral teachings associated with end-of-life issues. The ministry hopes to be able to schedule in-person family enrichment activities and events once COVID restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so.

The M&FL Ministry can always use an extra hand to help coordinate its activities, and all are

invited to get involved as much or as little as they are able.

“Strong marriages, families, and communities are the foundation of every parish and the whole Church worldwide. If we don’t have that, then we don’t have a Church,” Linda says. “When someone volunteers to help out, they of course make an impact at the family level and the parish level. This then leads to stronger families and communities, and that allows them to make a direct impact on the larger world.”

Any previously Encountered couples are welcome to join the ministry’s monthly sessions scheduled on the first Sunday of each month, from 4-6 p.m. Please contact Jim and Robbie Breidenbach at 719-460-8590 or jim.robbie.breidenbach.wwme@gmail.com for more info. For more information on how you can help our team promote marriage and the domestic church, please contact Linda Lewandowski or Van Chertavian at lmlew@arjan.com or 808-756-5989; or Sara or Tom Heath at saraspicerh@yahoo.com or 864-787-6797.

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

BIBLE STUDY Mike and Terry both enjoy helping lead the Bible Study.

Learning more about Scripture has helped them grow in faith and knowledge of the Lord.

“I enjoy the family-like relationship that we have built with the faith-filled members of our group,” Mike says.

“If our goal in this life is to live according to God’s will and plan, then what could be better than studying Scripture with likeminded parishioners?” says Bible Study member Cindy Kennedy.

“It’s helpful to follow these studies to increase our knowledge of our Lord’s teachings and admonitions, not only for ourselves but to share with all along this journey of life.”

“If you’ve ever thought about

continued from front cover joining a Bible Study group, don’t wait,” add Bible Study participants Bill and Sandy Price.

“It has enriched our faith to share our learning journey with others, especially during the 2020 pandemic.”

A study on Paul’s New Testament Letters begins in July. The first session will group three studies over 24 weeks, including Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians. The session will be immediately followed by an 11week study on First Corinthians.

Mike and Terry say it is best to start

with The Bible Timeline study, but parishioners are welcome to join at any time, as each study stands alone.

Mike and Terry would like to find a parishioner to lead an ongoing study on The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation, which will help set the stage for parishioners to take part in more Bible Study programs.

“One of the beauties of our faith is that it contains mysteries and paradox, so one will never know all, but a lifetime of study opportunity awaits,” Terry says.

If you would like to get involved in the Bible Study, please contact Mike or Terry Cromwell at michaelcromwell808@gmail.com or 808-443-3950. Please refer to the bulletin for upcoming session dates. Time is needed to order workbooks and other materials.

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