Holy Family Catholic Church

830 Main Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 Telephone: 422-1135 Fax:423-0389 Email: HFC830@gmail.com and Sebchacko@hawaii.rr.com Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time February 23, 2014 PASTORS CORNER

Mass Schedule
Monday-Saturday: 7:15 AM Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM & 7:00 PM 1st SundaySamoan Mass-2 PM 3rd Sunday-Pohnpeian Mass-2 PM Confessions Saturday: 4:004:45 PM and after daily Masses First Friday of the Month Benediction After 7:15 am Mass

In this week-ends Gospel, which is the fourth part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained the only way that would offer a possibility for any human being, to be perfectly happy here on earth: Good relationships between brothers and sisters, between spouses, between neighbors would have assured them some peace! Christ knew our human weakness and frailty, and yet He asked them to be perfect like our Heavenly Father. Because, every person that entertained any kind of hatred for his/her brother/sister/neighbor could never be happy here or after ones earthly life. When Jesus started preaching, many of those who came to Him, where hoping that He would confront the enemies of the people of Israel and set them free to live in peace and harmony, just they by themselves only! After all, they were looking for the Savior, the Messiah. By exhorting His disciples to love their enemies, He was directly and radically challenging them to seek better goals in life, than exterminating their enemies. Christ was pointing out to His disciples the need to adopt certain attitudes and behavior, that were contrary to human nature and human reasoning, but that which would bring them at least a certain amount of peace, joy and happiness here on earth. He promised them that complete and perfect happiness would only be attained in Heaven. In this fragile human condition, one must learn to accommodate others as they are, and forgive their behavior which one might not like, to prepare oneself for perfect happiness in Heaven. Fr Sebastian

2014 THE YEAR OF THE CONSECRATED LIFE Come Follow me.

Matthew 4:19

WEBSITES PARISH: Holyfamilyhonolulu.org ACADEMY Hfcahawaii.org

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

BLESSED SEBASTIAN OF APARICIO (1502-1600)

Sebastians roads and bridges connected many distant places. His final bridge-building was to help men and women recognize their God-given dignity and destiny. Sebastians parents were Spanish peasants. At the age of 31 he sailed to Mexico, where he began working in the fields. Eventually he built roads to facilitate agricultural trading and other commerce. His 466-mile road from Mexico City to Zacatecas took 10 years to build and required careful negotiations with the indigenous peoples along the way. In time Sebastian was a wealthy farmer and rancher. At the age of 60 he entered a virginal marriage. His wifes motivation may have been a large inheritance; his was to provide a respectable life for a girl without even a modest marriage dowry. When his first wife died, he entered another virginal marriage for the same reason; his second wife also died young. At the age of 72 Sebastian distributed his goods among the poor and entered the Franciscans as a brother. Assigned to the large (100-member) friary at Puebla de los Angeles south of Mexico City, Sebastian went out collecting alms for the friars for the next 25 years. His charity to all earned him the nickname "Angel of Mexico." Sebastian was beatified in 1787 and is known as a patron of travelers.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Feb. 24-Monday-6:30 pm-Bible Sharing Feb.25-Tuesday-6:30pm Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mar. 3- Monday-6:30 pm-Bible Sharing Mar. 4-Tuesday-6:30pm Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mar. 5-Ash WednesdayLent begins Mar. 7-Friday-after 7:15 am Mass-Benediction And World Day of Prayer Mar. 9-First Sunday of Lent

First Holy Communion Parents and children are requested to mark their calendars: First Holy Communion will be on Sunday April 27- At the 8.30 Mass for the Academy and at 11.00 AM Mass for the Parish. First Reconciliation will be on April 5th at 11.00 AM for ALL. Lenten Retreat and Parents Meeting will be on March 28 at 5.30 PM New Lectors/Eucharistic Ministers We thank the many New Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers for attending a Training Session this week-end. All those who attend and have proved to be ready will be inducted into Service next Sunday at the week-end Masses. You will be assigned to serve immediately after ASH Wednesday in March. Thank you. Once again I like to thank the Parish for all your love and prayers and gifts for my Birthday. THANK YOU. I hope that all of you have received a letter of thanks that I had sent by post. Fr Sebastian

Our Weekly Offerings

February 16, 2014 5:00 PM $ 950.93 8:30 AM $1,302.65 11:00 AM $704.40 7:00 PM $1,450.06 Funeral $500.00 Other donations $180.00

GRAND TOTAL $5,088.04

Church Bulletin: EditorJoe Padron, Phone 423-2439. Bulletin deadline is Tuesday 12:00 noon. Please email notice and picture if applicable to pad.ronjoe@gmail.com

Hospitality Ministry March 2 The next Hospitality Ministry is scheduled for next Sunday March 2nd, after the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Masses. Your donation of pastries, cookies, cakes, or other refreshments to share with fellow parishioners will be greatly appreciated. If you can assist with this ministry or have any questions, please contact Chet Malins at 456-3933 or email (malinsc001@hawaii.rr.com) What determines the date Easter Sunday falls on or when Lent begins? The Council of Nicaea, in 325 A.D., determined that Easter should be celebrated the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. To determine the beginning of Lent, count back six Sundays before Easter. The Wednesday before the first of these Sundays is Ash Wednesday. Rediscovering Baptism The season of Lent has a twofold character: primarily by recalling or preparing for Baptism and by penance, it disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the word of God and devote themselves to prayer, to celebrate the paschal mystery. This twofold character is to be brought into greater prominence....Hence, more use is to be made of the baptismal features proper to the Lenten liturgy. The same is to apply to the penitential elements. It is important to impress on the minds of the faithful not only the social consequences of sin but also that essence of the virtue of penance which leads to the detestation of sin as an offense against God..

LENTHAVE YOU GIVEN UP ON GIVING UP?

A year ago, I was facing Lentagain. I was ready to repeat the routine of what I usually do for Lent: no sweets or complaining, extra prayer, and the usual fasting and abstinence. I realized, though, that I wasnt growing or being challenged. I decided to find a practice that would remind me daily of this penitential season and join me to Jesus sacrifice of h i s l i f e f o r o t h e r s . What if I gave away one thing a day for the 40 days of Lent? I wanted to live a simpler lifestyle both for spiritual reasons[Jesus] said to them, Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor moneynot even an extra tunic (Luke 9:3) and also to declutter my life. I decided to take this on as a challenge and a sacrificehoping it would clean out not only my closets, but also my heart and soul. This kind of sacrifice may not appeal toor be appropriate for everyone, but it may prompt you to consider what you can give up for Lent that will make more of a difference than losing a few pounds. I started my Lenten giveaway with shoes. I thought this would be easy since Im not a big collector of shoesor so I thought. I moved on to clothes. I had many clothes that I seldom wear now that I work at home. I discovered that I had enough extras to give more than one thing away a day . In addition to giving things to charities, neighbors and friends, I discovered Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) and Vietnam Veterans of America.

In the light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, stewards know that serviced is the way to peace, happiness and everlasting life.

With thanks and praise, we acknowledge that God is the source of all that we have and all that we are.

NEW PARISHIONERS: Newcomers are encouraged to register with the parish and are welcome to participate in all parish activities and ministries. Registration forms are available in the back of the Church.

Things to Love About the Mass

The Massfrom the Latin, Missa; in Greek, Leitourgos, meaning the work of the people. It is the most sacred and solemn action whereby heaven and earth meet. It is the place where Catholics find their weekly (even daily) sustenance before heading out anew to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in whichever milieu we find ourselves. It is the holiest of hours. Based onbut not an exact replication ofJewish liturgy, it is the communal and public act of worship par excellence to almighty God. It is he who calls us in Christ Jesus. It is he who gathers us in the Holy Spirit. In both the Jewish liturgy and the ritual Passover meal a siddur is followeda word meaning orderhence the term Seder meal; it follows a strict order and no part may be omitted or altered. Unlike many independent nondenominational services, the Catholic Mass uses a specific order of worship (as do many of the mainline Protestant groups). What makes Mass different from Protestant worship is the belief in the True and Substantial Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. At Mass, Jesus IS always present in three ways; all three are confirmed in Sacred Scripture. The first is Jesus presence in the gathering of the faithful: Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Mt. 18:20). The second is in Gods Word which Paul asserts is living and effective, (Heb. 4:12). We know this to be true because of its power to change hearts toward our merciful Father because the Word is sharper than any two-edged swordable to discernthoughts of the heart. The third manner in which Jesus is present is in his own Flesh and Blood as he himself states

(continue from column 1) in language that is rather straightforward: Whoever eats (gnaws) my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal lifefor my flesh is true food and my blood is true drinkwhoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him (Jn 6:54-56). ButHow can this man give us his flesh to eat?. It is the Holy Spirit who consecrates the sacred elements through the hands of a validly ordained priest using the words and gestures as set forth in the New Roman Missal: Lord, send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts and make them holy so that they may become for us the body and blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Form is important. The priest extends his hands over the gifts reminiscent of the Holy Spirit who hovered over the waters and of the same Holy Spirit who came upon the Virgin Mary so that the power of the Most High God overshadowed her and filled her with his presence. The manna in the desert was highly symbolic the daily bread of the Israelites for their journey, yet still supernatural in origin. From there it is utterly impossible to go from something of supernatural origin in the OT to merely symbolic in the New Testament. Had Jesus meant for the Eucharist to be merely symbolic he would have called back those who left him and explained the hidden meaning of his wordsbut there were none for he was speaking quite literally. The Jews themselves have a term that they use for their Passover Seder meals even todayit is Zikkaron which is the act of taking something from the past and making it present now. Jews who gather at the table speak with great joy and thanksgiving at our salvationwhat God did for us not just their ancestors. The Mass is an un-bloody participation in the one bloody sacrifice of Jesus the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. We offer ourselves (for better or for worse), our gratitude and sorrow and weird neighbors and annoying co-workers along with Jesus perfect offering. In fact, I put all my cares, concerns, loved ones and gratitude into the ciborium as it passes by me in the offertory procession. My cares are not always taken away but rather are deeply transformed and given back to me and others in the form of Bread of all breads, Food of all foods. Again, no form of symbolism has that power.

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