Peace be with all ohana’s this feast of St. Matthias!

On this day, the feast of St. Matthias, twelve years ago, while on my knees, I placed my hands in the hands of Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, CSB, the Bishop of the Las Cruces, New Mexico Diocese in the parish church of Our Lady of Grace in Artesia, New Mexico. As I was being ordained a priest on the feast of the “last apostle”, Matthias, I felt the presence of God in the hands of the Bishop as he squeezed my hands together in his, pressing the Holy Chrism oil into my flesh. I chose the feast of St. Matthias because he was the last apostle chosen and I remembered the words of Jesus that the last shall be first. It took 21 years to be ordained because I chose to remain a lay brother in my Congregation after I received my Master of Divinity degree from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, CA back in 1991.

So, this day remains special for me! It is a day that marks sacrifice in my life, sacrifice to serve God’s people. I hope I have and continue to live up to the call by bearing much fruit in the vineyard of the Lord!

As we prepare to reopen our churches sometime down the road, possibly in June, or even July, we need to prepare ourselves for some drastic changes in how we celebrate the Eucharist and the Sacraments in our church. With social distancing and the wearing of masks and hand sanitizing being an important part of how we worship now, we are beginning to plan how our parish will adapt to the new normal using directives from the Diocese. It will involve sacrifice and adaptation! Our Parish Council has begun work on this as we speak.

But, I know, that the parishioners of St. Damien are up to the task! Our Molokai ohana remains strong and faithful! In the words of the Gloria Gaynor song from the 70’s, “I will survive”.

Scripture:

“Matthias, a witness to his Resurrection. Matthias was counted with the Eleven Apostles.” (Acts of the Apostles 1)

The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor to seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people.” (Psalm 113)

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. I chose you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (John 15)

Blessings, pono and pule!

Fr. Brian, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai