NKCC

Retreat

Father Armand Nigro, SJ will be here once again to direct our pre-Lenten Retreat. Father’s talks will take place on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of February at 10:30AM at Immaculate Conception in Holualoa. Father is a former university professor. He is best known for his retreats, parish missions and Biblical Institutes. His strong commitment to his ministry, even in his retirement years, has inspired him to offer his service without charging a fee.

Father will celebrate the noon Mass after which he will be available for confessions and spiritual direction. There will be a signup sheet at Immaculate Conception on the 27th. Each person may have 20 minutes with Father. Those who encountered Father last year, know that he is a very spiritual man and a special human being.

Social Justice Book Club

Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America, by Thomas Friedman is the subject of the next Social Justice Book Club discussion.  At the last meeting, members discussed what social injustices are there on the Big Island.  The high cost of energy and our dependence on fossil fuels when there are so many other eco-friendly alternatives is one of those injustices.  As Catholic Christians do we have the responsibility to protect the environment that God has created for us?  Come join the discussion on March 8th at Immaculate Conception Hall-Holualoa at 12:30pm after the noon Mass.  Bring a bag lunch.  For more information call Shirley David at 756-1633.

One ‘Ohana

One ‘Ohana will be held on Sunday - March 11, 2012.  The topic will be Baptism.  The occasion or event we are preparing for is the Easter Vigil at which time The Elect (Russell Spencer, Taylor and Jordan Bear) will be welcomed into the Church.  They will receive the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.  We, the Faith community, will promise to support them in their growth of the Faith.

Rice Bowl

This year’s theme for Rice Bowl, “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat,” reminds us that when we serve our brothers and sisters in need, we also serve Jesus.  In Lent, we answer the call to serve the “least of our brothers and sisters” through Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl.  Since 1975 Operation Rice Bowl has offered Catholics in the United States a way to connect with our brothers and sisters around the world.

This Lenten Season, CRS invites Catholics to pray with their families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas; and give contributions to those in need.  Everyone will receive a Rice Bowl in which to place our small sacrificial offerings.  We will distribute them in March at One ‘Ohana and other group meetings.  The Rice Bowls will be returned on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Please Note!

During Lent, Benediction will be held at 4:30pm.  This will give people time to travel to St. Michael’s for the Stations of the Cross, which begins at 5:30pm each Friday during Lent.

Ash Wednesday

All Masses will be at St. Michael’s on February 22nd. Masses will be at 7AM, 12noon, 5PM and 6:30PM in Spanish.

Brothers and Sisters in the Philippines Are in Need

We have read in the newspapers and seen pictures on the internet of the devastating floods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. People are suffering in ways we can’t imagine. The Visayan Catholic Club is asking for our help. Jane Clement, President of the Visayan Club is coordinating the effort to collect donations, in collaboration with the office of Mayor Billy Kenoi. Mayor Kenoi is planning to send a 40-ft. container to the Philippines with donations of children’s clothing, underwear and shoes, hygiene items, school supplies, blankets, and kitchen utensils and nonperishable goods collected. He will ship this container prior to his arrival there in March. If you are interested in contributing, please take your goods to the Mayor’s Office at the West Hawaii Civic Center on Kealakehe Parkway by Wednesday, February 22nd.

Who can be a Godparent or a Confirmation Sponsor?

Selecting a godparent for your child who is to be baptized or a sponsor for your teen who is preparing for Confirmation requires thoughtful prayer and reflection. There are criteria that the Church requires and it is our responsibility to ensure that these criteria are met.

A child being baptized may have two godparents or one godparent and one Christian witness. The witness may be of another Christian Faith. Both must participate in at least one preparation class. If the godparent belongs to another parish, he or she may attend their required class in their own parish and present a letter from that pastor to Fr. Lio indicating that they attended. A Confirmation sponsor from another parish needs either to present a letter from their own pastor saying that they are in good standing or they may present our form to be signed by their pastor. Whether you are a godparent or a sponsor, the following criteria apply:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• May not be the biological parent
• Must be a registered member in a Catholic Parish
• Must have received the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation
• Attends Sunday Mass and receives the Eucharist to give witness to our Faith
• If presently married, has received the Sacrament of Marriage in a Catholic ceremony
• Is willing to support the parents and child in the Faith

Big Island Faith Formation

ENRICHMENT DAY is for everyone who wishes to celebrate our Catholic Faith. Come be with us on Saturday, March 10th, 2012 at Annunciation Church in Waimea. Hear a variety of topics, each of which will deepen your understand of our Faith. Registration is $10, which includes lunch. Make your check payable to “Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii.” Send to M. Fujimoto | St. Benedict Church | 84-5140 Painted Church Road | Captain Cook, HI 96704. Schedule: 8:00AM Registration; 9:00AM Mass; 10:15AM-2:30PM Workshops.

Free Tax Help

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are available to prepare tax returns for persons with low and moderate income, especially for those 60 and older. Three locations are available in the Kailua-Kona area. All sites are on a walk-in basis and clients should arrive 45 minutes prior to the posted closing time to insure time to complete your return. Hours of operation are:

Tuesdays (February 7 to April 10) Noon-4PM at Catholic Charities Ste B201 – Kamanu Center mauka of Costco; Wednesdays (February 1 to April 11) 9AM-Noon at Yano Hall, Captain Cook; · Thursdays (February 2 to April 12) 8AM-Noon at Hale Halawai.

First Communion for Older Children

If there are children in the parish who are between the ages of 12 and 17 and have not yet prepared or received their First Communion, please call Cynthia Taylor at 960-0734. I will set up a class that goes from April 2012 to November 2012. Children who are younger than 12, will be prepared by their parents in next September’s regular group.

Baptisms

The next Baptism will take place in June 2012. Those wishing to register a child for June Baptism, please call the parish office. Parents must attend 3 preparation sessions. Please note the following dates and times.

• 1st Session – Attend either Wednesday, April 18th at 7PM OR Sunday, April 22nd at 12:30PM
• 2nd Session – Attend either Wednesday, May 16th at 7PM OR Sunday, May 20th at 12:30PM
• 3rd Session – Attend either Wednesday, June 6th at 7PM OR Sunday, June 10th at 12:30PM.

Baptisms will be on Sunday, June 23rd.

Stewardship Report (Feb. 11th-12th, 2012)