Aloha nui to all and peace be with you!

Although we continue without in-person church and office services, we are still providing emergency food & assistance to those in need and providing online masses, prayer services such as novenas, and daily messages and email blasts to keep our parishioners and friends informed, served and inspired.

Please continue to visit our website and FaceBook page!

In today’s Scriptures, we hear of the spread of the Word of God as well as a relief mission to help support the Christian communities. So, that by means of these, all nations may know the saving power of God. And, it is Jesus Christ who is the light in the darkness, for he is the light of the world and he is the light of life! Through him, we have eternal life! Amen! Alleluia!

May the Lord continue to bless you and your ohana, + In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit! Amen! Alleluia!
A Reflection by Fr. Brian:

When I was at Queen of Peace parish in south Texas, we were at ground zero of the migrant crisis. Thousands of refugees from Central America were crossing into the U.S. across the Rio Grande River, many of them unaccompanied children and youth. The two of us priests in the parish were visiting two of the detention centers for these migrant children and youth to say mass and hear confessions in Spanish. Most of these migrant children and youth mostly from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were Catholic and had had religious education in their home countries and had been baptized and received their first communion. So, they knew their religion! And, as a priest, to have had the opportunity to say mass for them and to hear their confessions underscored something I realized immediately. And that was their feeling of loneliness and isolation, being so far from their families and friends, in a new world, in a new reality. What I heard the most from them was that they missed their family and that they were afraid. And, that it was their Catholic faith that helped many of them to hold onto themselves. It was their only security as they were cooped up in detention centers awaiting their unknown future.

I think of what we are going through today with the pandemic, throughout the world, and I think of these children and youth that I met and prayed with in the Rio Grande Valley, ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old. Although sad, it gives me hope in the resiliency of faith and how our faith is so very, very, very important in our lives! My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one or in some way have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the migrant children and youth from Central America that I had the privilege of ministering with, now so many throughout the world are feeling the same fear and loneliness.

Let us pray together that our faith remain strong and that we continue to live our faith daily in what we think, say and do!

Amen!

Scripture:

“The word of God continued to spread and grow. Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission.” (Acts of the Apostles 12)

“May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation.” (Psalm 67)

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (John 8)

“For my Father’s commandment is eternal life.” (John 12)

Blessings, ho’opono and much pule!

Fr. Brian, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai