St. Michael the Archangel Parish The Return Ministry
Prayer Group Formed to Bring People Back to Catholic Faith
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he statistics are disheartening. Many young adult Catholics and many older adults have stopped practicing their faith over the last decade. Fifty percent of millennials raised Catholic no longer identify as Catholic. Twenty-five percent of Americans identify as having no religion. The St. Michael Pastoral Council recently read the book, Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church, by Brandon Vogt. Shirley David gave one to each member as a summer reading gift. After reading Deacon Sándor Hernández Morales and Shirley David and discussing the book, Pastoral Council members each decided to start praying for someone specific who had become disengaged with the Catholic Church. Many members prayed for more than one person. The council decided this good and important work should continue at our parish and be expanded into the St. Michael Return Ministry. While formal meeting times and plans are still developing, the organic way this came about shows the movement of the Spirit calling back local Catholics to reconnect and live out our faith. “It is our responsibility as Catholics to spread the Good News that God loves us and that there is a place for everyone in His Church,” Shirley says. continued on back cover
In this Issue Can We Model 2 How the Faith for Our Keiki?
God’s 3 Honoring Gifts and Blessings to Us
4 Celebrating Our 2021 Living
Stewards Recipients
into 6 Entering Kalema How We
Can Make the Most of the Sacred Season of Lent
Funeral 7 The Ministry: Offering
Compassion and Aloha at a Difficult Time
75-5769 Ali`i Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (808) 326-7771 stmichaelparishkona.org PEPELUALI/FEBRUARYMALAKI/MARCH 2022
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
How Can We Model the Faith
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for Our Keiki?
he Church has made it clear that parents are primarily responsible for the spiritual and cognitive development of their children in matters of the faith. As the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, states, “Husbands and wives find their proper vocation in being witnesses of the faith and love of Christ to one another and to their children” (Chapter 4, Section 35). The Catechism of the Catholic Church further emphasizes this vocation, by pointing out that the moral education and spiritual formation of children is not only the right, but the responsibility, of their parents: “The right and the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable... Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children” (CCC 2221, 2223). But how can we as parents create an environment in the home conducive to spiritual and moral development? As busy adults, how are we to disseminate the knowledge and understanding of the tenets of the faith to our keiki in the way that a trained and experienced catechist can? Furthermore, how do we strike a balance between teaching our children in the home and not interfering with the faith formation and sacramental preparation they are currently receiving through their parish religious education program? The answer to all of these questions is stewardship. Indeed, it is important that we reinforce the lessons that our keiki learn in religious education classes by talking to them about the faith, reading Sacred Scripture with them, and spending time in family prayer. And there are several authoritative resources online that can help parents in this task, including Catholic Parents Online at www.catholicparents.org. This site links parents to numerous other websites and documents that can help them in talking to their children about the faith. But the best way that we can teach our children is by serving as a living example to them of how to live as disciples of Christ. If we want our children to
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grow up as strong Catholics and to display a lifelong commitment to their faith, then it is important that we ourselves live a committed faith life. This includes an ongoing commitment to our own faith formation as adults and active participation in the sacraments. It also includes the giving back of our time, talent, and treasure in service of our community in thanksgiving for the gifts that God has given us. Parenting can be a tough vocation, and keiki deal with many influences in their lives that exist in stark contrast to the values that their parents often hope to instill within them. Fortunately for parents, the stewardship way of life provides a simple and effective model for teaching our children in matters of the faith. By living as stewards of God’s gifts and reaping the spiritual rewards that accompany this lifestyle, we are tangibly showing our keiki that sharing of our gifts and talents leads to a life of happiness and spiritual fulfillment. In doing this, we give them a good opportunity to follow in our footsteps and make their faith a top priority for the rest of their lives.
A Letter From Our Pastor
Honoring
God’s Gifts and Blessings to Us My Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
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t has been several years since we began our journey to become a stewardship parish — a parish that would be noticeably focused on hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. We have made amazing progress! What I have learned is that stewardship never ends. Despite any challenges we may face, we must continue and not be afraid. Yet, when fears and anxiety begin to fill our hearts, a simple solution is to focus on gratitude. When we choose to focus on all of the ways that God has
abundantly blessed us, all of the ways that He has been there to carry us through our trials, we can feel our fears and anxiety begin to diminish. Now is the time that we need Jesus more than ever, and we must rely on God’s grace, which is always sufficient. It is that grace that has allowed us to persevere through the earthquake, through worshipping in tents while we awaited the building of our beautiful new church, through the pandemic, and through the long wait
for the parish center to come to fulfillment. After much prayer and discernment, I have decided to name our new parish center the Grace Parish Center in honor of this free and undeserved gift with which God continues to bless us. I encourage you to join me in praying for its prompt completion and I look forward to celebrating with all of you at the dedication later this year. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Lio Faletoi
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St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Celebrating Our 2021 Liv Ho`omaika`i `ana to our 2021 Living Stewards award recipients. Mahalo for sharing your time and talent with the parish! Mayra Izel Barboza Susan Bender Danny Blanco Bob Borns Hin & Sally Cheung Dr. R. Scott French Debbie Gallo Lynne Hartz Janice Lacro Marc Leman Jim & Gail Lomonaco Rose Lorica Claudia Lowman Teri Luke Margo Lundstrom Mike Murray Dennis & Beth Nemmers Monica Pasco Kevin Poblocki Amalia Bielma Ramirez Ludwig Remo Nicolo Remo Grant & Cheryl Roderer Nancy Araceli Sanchez Rey Simpliciano Ed & Bonnie Smialek Steve Smith Catherine Sugiyama Ricardo Torres Michael Tringali Dominga “Domi” Wagasky Robert & Donna Whitmyer
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ving Stewards Recipients
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St. Michael the Archangel Parish
Entering into Kalema
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How We Can Make the Most of the Sacred Season of Lent
ow might we make the most of this solemn, sacred season? There are three main aspects to Lent in which the Church asks us to engage — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We don’t need to take on many things in order to make this season worthwhile, but it is important to consider how we might deepen our faith lives during this time of year. Perhaps we might be inspired to take each aspect of Lent to heart, and pick something we can do within each category, so to speak, in order to truly enter into this sacred season. Each one — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, provides us an opportunity to grow spiritually and prepare for Easter. Prayer Let us start with prayer. In order to grow our personal and communal prayer lives, we need not spend the entire day in the chapel. Rather, perhaps consider adding one new devotion to your prayer life. For example, if you aren’t already spending time each day in prayer, maybe it’s time to start spending five or ten minutes each morning with the Lord while enjoying your breakfast and coffee. If you usually start your day by opening your computer and phone to check messages and emails, start instead with a morning prayer or Scripture, offering your day up for the Lord and whatever may come. If you already have a regular prayer routine, perhaps you might consider adding a daily Divine Mercy chaplet at 3 p.m. during the hour of mercy, or a family Rosary after dinner cleanup. Fasting While we often think of food when it comes to fasting, there are other ways we can fast during Lent as well. Fasting means abstaining from something in order to grow spiritually. This could mean giving up Social Media time or cutting down on screen time. Perhaps you might consider fasting from watching your
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favorite TV series and instead watch daily Mass. Another idea of fasting is giving up takeout or delivery and instead using that extra money to give to the poor. Almsgiving Giving alms may be the less obvious of the three but is no less important for growing spiritually. Giving alms can mean a number of things. Perhaps this means giving a bit of extra money to charity during these 40 days. It might also mean visiting with a grieving friend, listening, and helping out those in need. You might also consider stepping out and helping in a new capacity, whether in a new ministry or volunteer effort. Lent affords us a wonderful opportunity to renew our spiritual lives. While it may not always seem so easy, it is necessary to use this time to prepare our hearts and lives for Easter. We might be tempted to simply look ahead to the joy of Easter without considering the sacrifice of Lent, but in that way, we would be missing out on the chance to grow, learn, give, and pray. We cannot have the Resurrection without the Cross. Lent is a reminder not to be filled with sadness and dread over our sacrifices, but to take up practices that help us engage in our spiritual lives, purify ourselves with God’s help and rejoice when Easter comes around.
The Funeral Ministry:
Offering Compassion and Aloha at a Difficult Time
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hen a loved one dies, planning for the funeral can be a daunting task for the family. However, here at St. Michael Parish, our Funeral Ministry is prepared to take the `ohana into their care to help them make the decisions necessary at this time. Ministry coordinator Aunty Caroline K. Smith has been involved in this service for more than eight years. Besides herself, there are eight ministry members. Their service begins when the family of the deceased calls our parish office. Their contact information is passed on to Aunty Caroline, who calls the family to arrange a meeting date and time at the church. “At this time, we go over everything that the family wants to do regarding the funeral — whether they want a Mass or a service, and what readings and music they want to have,” Caroline says. “Our members conduct the readings, and we also advise them that the music must be liturgical. Our Music Ministry can choose the music for the funeral. We also go over what we can and cannot do with the COVID restrictions. We print up a guide sheet for them to give to their families so they
have the COVID requirements, especially regarding the seating and mask use.” The funeral date is set during this meeting, as well. Pandemic restrictions have meant that the Funeral Ministry members seat the guests before the service, and do not bring in the immediate family until shortly before the ceremony, when they may process in with the casket or urn if they choose. The family may have a photo of the deceased displayed during the ceremony, as well as printed on the program prepared for the service. “A lot of people come who aren’t Catholic, so the card helps them follow the service or order of Mass,” Caroline says. “Sadly, we can’t have those attending gather after the service right now.”
On occasion, several ministry members will accompany the priest of deacon to the cemetery for a brief service there. The ministry’s care does not end on the day of the funeral. At the end of the year, all those families who have lost a loved one are sent a card acknowledging their loss and inviting them to attend the All Souls' Day Mass in November. The Funeral Ministry members know their work has been appreciated, thanks to the notes they receive from the ‘ohana. “They are so grateful,” Aunty Caroline says. “So many have no idea what to do when this happens, and this is a great help. I feel good that we can help them. It’s really a rewarding ministry.”
Interested in joining the Funeral Ministry or want more information? Contact Caroline K. Smith at 808-329-3076.
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St. Michael the Archangel Parish 75-5769 Alii Drive Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
The Return Ministry
continued from front cover
“The Eucharist is the source and destination for everything we do as Catholics, and the sacramental life of the Church is incomplete if some of our people have disconnected,” Deacon Sándor Hernández Morales says. Group members will be asked to read Brandon Vogt’s book and each start praying for at least one specific person to return to the sacramental life of the Church. Additional activities will be planned based on recommendations in the book. "Return" will follow the example of St. Monica, who was able to bring her son, St. Augustine, back to the Church through prayer. Deacon Sándor says this ministry also looks at ways to make St. Michael’s more welcoming. If we want people
to come back, we need to be sure they have a positive experience and feel connected when they return. “There is an introspective aspect to this ministry that challenges each one of us to work harder for the Kingdom of God to become realized right here at St. Michael,” Deacon Sándor says. “We want all who come here and anyone who has left or ever felt left out to want to return and stay. Once you are baptized, you forever belong to Christ and His Church. These folks are truly Catholics forever! We are hoping to make our church a welcoming place that they want to belong to. Their absence reminds us to work harder to be more like Jesus so they return and so no one ever wants to leave."
If you would like more information on the Return Ministry, please contact Shirley David at shirleydavid49@gmail.com or Deacon Sándor at SHernandez@RCCHawaii.org. Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m. • Sunday: 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (English), 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Spanish) Daily: Mon-Sat 7 a.m. • Mon-Tues-Thurs-Fri 5 p.m. • Confessions: Saturday 9 a.m. • Adoration: Wednesdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
