Pray for our brothers in sisters in Japan!

Imagine if this had happened to us...

ABC's before and after shots of Japan

...imagine, then pray for those whom it has happened to.

Hope

Ok, so I'm not much of a fan of American Idol. (I mean, Catholics and the whole "idol" thing don't have a friendly history, and shouldn't.) But these two stories caught my eye.
(Yeah, they're kind of long....but bear with me, these are definitely worth it.)

Chris Medina:


Paris Tassin:


Hollywood being, well...Hollywood and all, I admit I'm more than a little skeptical.
Yet when you hear stories like these, a bit of real hope kindles in your heart. Not just the hopeful kind of hope either. You start to think that, maybe the entire world isn't as messed up as you thought. There are still people like Chris and Paris who, even if they may not be Christians, still have good hearts and are willing to do the right thing despite what it costs them.
Recently my Hawaii community has had several happenings that, as a Catholic Christian, I know do not bode well for us physically and morally. It's times like these when you want to pack everything, set sail, say "adios", and leave everyone with the huge mess that they're making. But then you attend something like a pro-life rally and see hundreds, if not thousands, of young people stand up for something that most of their friends would condemn.
Chris, Paris, and all those young people...it reminds you that there's still some good in this world. And that good is always worth fighting for.

Update 2/1:
Guess what Father said in his homily today? "As long as there is life, there is always hope."

So what'cha doing this week?

NATIONAL VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK
January 9 – 15, 2011
From Fr. Peter Dumag, Director of Vocations
Source: Catholic Hawaii

January 9 – 15, 2011 is National Vocations Awareness Week. It begins with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Let us remember to pray for priests and consecrated men and women this week, and for married couples and families. Send a card to a priest or consecrated person this week, thanking them for the gift of themselves given to Christ and to his body, the Church. Pray for more vocations to priesthood and consecrated life, and consider a vocation to priesthood and consecrated life.

So here's the checklist:

1. Did you pray for priests, consecrated men and women, married couples and their families?

2. Did you thanked your parish priest today? Last week? Last month?...Last year?
"Without the priest, the passion and death of our Lord would be of no avail. It is the priest who continues the work of redemption here on earth...What use would be a house filled with gold, were there no one to open its door? The priest holds the key to the treasures of heaven: it is he who opens the door: he is the steward of the good Lord; the administrator of His goods...The priest is not a priest for himself, he is a priest for you." ~Saint John VianneyDo you know any consecrated people who have made a difference in your life? Maybe a Nun is your teacher?

3. Diocesan Prayer for Vocations

Heavenly Father, your divine Son taught us
to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His vineyard.
We earnestly beg you to bless our Diocese and our world
with many priests, deacons and religious who will love you
fervently and gladly and courageously spend their lives
in service to your Son's Church,
especially the poor and the needy.
Bless our families and our children, and choose from our homes
those whom you desire for this holy work.
Teach them to respond generously
and keep them ever faithful in following your Son Jesus Christ,
that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
and with the inspiration of Saint Damien and Blessed Marianne
the Good News of redemption may be brought to all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Are you discerning a religious vocation? =) Well, here are some links to help you with #4:
Ministry of Vocations, Hawaii
Are You Discerning God's Will For Your Life? (a local blog)
A Nun's Life, Vocation Forum
VISION Vocation Network

Our Bishop's Letter

Happy All Saints' Day, by the way! =)

A quick word/post about tomorrow's election day:

The following pulpit announcement was read at all Masses this past weekend:

"Dear Parishioners:
We Catholics have a mission: to proclaim the good news of Jesus, who came to announce the Kingdom of God. It is a kingdom where love reigns, even in difficult circumstances. Our faith embraces many values, including the sanctity of human life, the sacredness of God’s plan for marriage and family, economic justice for all, and freedom to practice our faith not just as a private matter but as a contribution to the welfare of the entire community. The leaders we elect are extremely important, so I urge every Catholic who is eligible to vote to do so in this week’s general election. Let this sacrifice of your time be a pleasing offering to God. Let us always pray for our community and our civic leaders."
+ Bishop Larry Silva

Since our family serves during Sunday Masses, I heard this letter being read three times. And our Bishop is right. As Christian Catholics, we are entrusted with the mission of proclaiming Christ in everything we do - including voting. Tomorrow when we who are eligible to vote step up to the polls, will we be able to say that we are truly acting as Christ's messengers; proclaiming Him King through our actions? Or are we going to proclaim ourselves in His place?
I pray that each and every one of you will make the right choice.

The Unexpected

(Tsk, tsk. So messy. ^_^)


This Saturday, our parish Youth and Young Adult group is holding a movie event in time for the 1 year anniversary of Father Damien's canonization. So in preparation, we've had meetings these past two Fridays to get ready with some poster boards on Father Damien. Since everyone knew were were in the middle of our moving process, my siblings and I weren't placed in charge of anything. Whew! "Thank goodness for that," we thought. Unfortunately, our relief was too good to be true and very short lived. We skipped one meeting, but attended the recent one ('cause we're finally done moving ^_^), wondering what became of everyone during the first meeting. Sure enough, we found that only 2 out of 3 poster boards were actually being worked on (and not quite done at all), and my little sis and I were to roll up our sleeves to work on the last one. Ack. Yup, I could hear God laughing at me from that bare tri-fold cardboard. =P
In no way am I condemning the people who didn't show up to do their assignments. For all we know, they had a good reason not to be there. But it did remind me that we always have to be ready and willing. We might not be expecting God to hand a project to us immediately after we'd just finished the last one, but He often does just to keep us busy and on our toes. ;) Like in today's Gospel, the poor servant had just come from plowing the fields and keeping the sheep, when his master goes and tells him to "prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink". Well...after all, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty."
We must always be ready and willing to accept the unexpected happenings in our life, and perhaps one day we might hear: "Well done good and faithful servant...Come and share your master's happiness!"

Btw, you are all invited to this Saturday's movie event. XD If you haven't yet guessed, the movie will be a film on Father Damien. If you're on the island and can make it, join us at the Cathedral Kamiano Center at 7pm!

In Adoration

Quote of the week! ...To me anyway. =) Found this in the book "Life for the World" by Sister Marie Paul Curley, FSP.


"Avoid all formalism.
This holds good for all prayer, but especially for the Eucharistic Visit.
The real Visit is a spirit which pervades the whole of our time, thoughts,
relationships, and life.
It is a sap or life-giving current which influences everything
and communicates its spirit to the most ordinary things.
It shapes a spirituality that is lived and passed on.
It shapes the spirit of prayer which, once cultivated, changes all kinds of work into prayer...
Tell Jesus everything; if you have some troubles, if your heart is full of hope, full of the desire to be united with Him...
Confide even those worries that you dare not say to anyone...tell Him even if your shoe hurts.
Tell Jesus everything with the simplicity of a child."
~Father James Alberione


Oh, and please say a prayer for one of my and CT's friends who is entering postulancy with the Daughters of St. Paul tomorrow (or today, depending on your time zone), along with two other young women! Mahalo. ^_^ And please take some time to visit the Postulants' blog!

Father Jon Cabico's Ordination

"You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek..."

Where on earth has Cy been?!?!

Well, I have been on earth...but last week I wasn't anywhere near the Pacific ocean. CT and I attended the St. Paul Summer Program with the Daughters of St. Paul in Boston!

It wasn't a retreat all the way really, but it was sort of a camp/program/retreat.
There were classes given by the Sisters on their Charism and Founders as well as a writting class, art class, and media class.
It was a retreat in a way that we got to join the Sisters everyday for morning prayers and Mass, and had an hour of Adoration each day. We did have a half day silent retreat on friday.
Basically, we were able to see how the Sisters lived and what their community life was like.






Of course, we had outings to some places of note! We went to Isabella Stewart Gardner Art Museum, the largest art museum I'd ever been to. Then we went to Louisa May Alcott's house and went on a tour.
CT and I made friends with girls from across the US and sometimes laughed until we doubled over at whatever jokes we had made up during the week with the Sisters. We had a great time - it was the best summer trip we've ever had and we wished it didn't have to end!
But it did, and now we're all back safe and sound and with a memorable experience.



Thank for all your prayers, BTW!

Photos by CT!

Items of a soon to be Saint

Sorry for not posting...got used to not using the computer for Lent. :P


Father Damien's feast day was last week and we had an exhibit at the Cathedral! Click to enlarge...


Some letters, birth certificate, bills (all with really, really nice handrwiting!), his walking stick, some tools, and his pipe.

Funeral vestment, chalice, some items for Mass, and a tool for making the hosts for Mass.

...and my little brother's favorite, Father Damien's vestment for Mass. My brother stood in front of it and pretended to wear it! :-)

Pictures by Cy, CT, and younger brother

Love Song for a Savior

Last day of Vocation Awarness Week. Sorry, I've been lazy waiting till the last day to post something...:-P
...but if you hadn't yet (ack, why haven't you yet? she has a much better blog!!!) visit CT's blog. She's been posting everyday this week and has great quotes and links! :-D


Love Song for a Savior - by Jars of Clay

Feast Day

Happy Feast to my friend, Saint Saturninus!!
Acctually, I'm not sure if he is my patron saint for '08 or another Saint Saturninus

...but a happy feast to both of them




"...indeed, we are called to join them."
The saints are holy men and women who have attained their glorious reward in heaven...
...and ultimately, isn't that our goal as well?

A letter to grown-ups voting

"Dear grown-ups,

Could you help me out? 'Cause I've been hearing about things going on in America these days everywhere; the TV, radio, internet, and anywhere in between. I can't understand much of what's happening, so if you please?
Well, first, could you define the word 'change'? I know the one in the dictionary says 'the process of becoming different', but could you explain it further? Isn't change supposed to bring you closer to God and your Faith? Isn't change supposed to help you grow in holiness? Isn't change supposed to benefit one's ability to help others? Basically, isn't change supposed to make life better?
Like Pope Benedict and the Traditional Latin Mass some months back. Was that change good? Well, are our lives more centered on God? Are we closer to Him than before? Did that change reduce the list of wrongs before the change? That's what I mean.
Hey, how about abortion since it's one of the topics most heard about? Will this change benefit the good in America? Will our lives become more centered on God because of it? Will we become closer to Him due to it? Will it reduce the number of wrongs? Can abortion truly draw one closer to God and increase holiness?
Just wondering.
Now could you define 'country first'? Does it have to do anything with 'Do nothing from selfishness or conceit' or 'Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others'? Just wondering 'cause I heard it at Mass today.

Sincerely,
Anna Namous"

Sites to see!

Posting in between days...




Yesterday was Saint Faustina's feast day!
We attended a Divine Mercy conference during the past weekend and a pro-life youth rally. Interesting way for kids to spend an entire weekend :-) but yes, we had tons and tons of fun!!
Click here for a Divine Mercy Site

Tomorrow is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary♪
Click here for another site
...and another one with a million versions of Ave Maria♫
(alright, not a million, but a whole lot!)

What CT, Cy, & Sunny did during the Summer

Hide from the camera


Fill up gazillions of boxes


Carry them...somehow...


Read lots'n'lots of books


Get dizzy from rides on the swirly chair


Attend a couple of retreats (Cy and CT)

Explore!


Go camping...the tent is much bigger than it looks!


Play


Watch plants grow



...Oh, and eat cookies!!!!

We thank God for a fantastical summer!!!

Hope you had a great summer!
Well, back to school! Another year of learning fun. Yup, fun!! Who says reenacting the Civil War complete with swords, costumes, and music was boring? :-D

An invitation for you

For those of us here in the middle of the ocean.
Here's what is says on the brochure:

Daughters of St. Paul and
The Pauline Cooperators
Present


St. Paul and
His Spirituality
for Today

Where: Pauline Books & Media
(downtown near the Cathedral)

When: Thursday Evening:
September 25, 2008
October 16, 2008
November 20, 2008
January 15, 2009
February 19, 2009
March 19, 2009
April 16, 2009
May 21, 2009
June 18, 2009

Time: 6:00-8:00

Registration fee: $20.00
Registration: September 25, 5:30-6:00 p.m.
or by mail, email, or phone.
Please see registration form.

Topics included:
-Paul's conversion experience
-Who is Jesus for Paul? Who is Jesus for me?
-The Eucharist
-The mystery of sin, death, and resurrection
-Holiness
-The Mystical Body and living in charity


The St. Paul and His Spirituality for Today course combines:
-Reflection of aspects of St. Paul's life and thought as found in Scripture.
-Applications for contemporary spirituality and life as found in the Pauline thought and spirituality of Blessed James Alberione.

The participant is enabled to know Saint Paul better as a person, apostle, and lover of Jesus Christ and to become more like him by living the Pauline spirituality.
The methods used in this course facilitate adult learning and integration the content into personal life. These include PowerPoint presentations, prayer, activities, discussions, study and personal sharing.

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil 1:2-5)


For registration forms, please contact my Mom.
Hope to see you there!! :-D

Picture from Patron Saints Index

Good, Better, Best

Father Marvin is one of our favorite priests and one of the reasons for this is because he actually spends time with us kids...in playing tag!


Yes, he gives good homilies, and his homily today was on the rich young man who kept the commandments but couldn't go farther than that. What he needed to do was well within his reach, but instead he settled for second best.
When one becomes the best he can be, it is not out of pride for what his accomplishments can reach, but for the greater glory of God.

As the saying goes:
"Who I am is God's gift to me.
Who I become is my gift to God."

Feast of the Assumption

Magnificat anima mea Dominum,
et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo,
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae.
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,
quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies
timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
dispersit superbos mente cordi sui;
deposuit potentes de sede
et exaltavit humiles;
esurientes implevit bonis
et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum,
recordatus misericordiae,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

Picture from Patron Saints Index

UPDATE
Here's a link for the translation: Click here!
Sorry...

WYDH 2008

As it says in CT's blog, we attended a WYDH retreat at the Diocesan Center here! Haha, no computers so I've got some catching up to do...but it was well beyond worth it!! Youth from various parts of the diocese came by plane just to attend it; they had given up their weekend for something greater. Of course, it was tremendous fun too! :-)

Over the course of three days we had Stations of the Cross, we prayed all four mysteries of the Rosary, catechesis, all night Adoration, Confession, and Mass this morning. With the musicians leading the melody, there was never a dull moment.

Since many of us here cannot afford to travel to Australia, we were very blessed to have this opportunity.



(whoops, dinner time...)
My favorite part of the activities shown on EWTN was the Stations of the Cross.
Click here to watch it!
...and I hope the link works.

Lookit! Lookit!

Anyone remember Sister Emi from the Pauline Bookstore downtown? (oops, sorry...here, I mean)
She was here last year autumn until last January.
Click here!

Happy Father's Day!

Picture from Patron Saints Index

Kind of late already in most places, but Happy Father's Day to our dads and priests! Priests are fathers too! :-)

(a song again, but I couldn't find a video and YouTube is prohibited :-D but at least it makes a good poem)

Waiting in the Wing
Point of Grace

Hearts of hope seem hard to find these days
As darker deeds Have their time on center stage
We watch it all unfolding scene by scene
And a happy ending seems a fading dream
Fear and desperation have their day
At least until faith steps up to say

I believe though God is out of sight
He's working in the middle of all things
Evil may have its time in the spotlight
But love is waiting in the wings
Love is always waiting in the wings

It's your life as it plays out don't forget it
Heartache comes but the story’s not done yet
When shadows come, your courage wants to fade
But in a moment, everything can change

I believe though God is out of sight
He's working in the middle of all things
Evil may have its time in the spotlight
But love is waiting in the wings
Love is always waiting in the wings

There's always more to any story
Than just what's here and now
There's not one hopeless situation
That can't be turned around

I believe though God is out of sight
He's working in the middle of all things
Evil may have its time in the spotlight
But love is waiting in the wings
Love is always waiting in the wings


Saint Joseph worked very hard for his Holy Family. More often than not, he probably didn’t understand what was happening. Yet he worked on though he couldn’t see, trusting God in each event.
Happy Father’s Day to all hardworking fathers!

Oh, and please go to CT's for a special treat!