One Catholic Ohana

Eighteenth Sunday in OrdinaryTime

Reading I – Ecclesiastes 1:2 ; 2:21-23

Reading II – Colossians 3:1-5 , 9-11

Gospel – Luke 12:13-21

Values to Live By -  Today’s Scriptures contain some catch phrases that are still quite familiar in our world:  “All is vanity,” and “Eat, drink, and be merry” are both Scriptural in origin.  In the same way that it is easy to pray last week’s Lord’s Prayer thoughtlessly, it is easy to let the potent passages of Scripture that are built on these common sayings glide right off our slick ears.

Last week’s Scriptures instructed us to listen attentively to the Lord, so that we might pray carefully.  Our listening and our prayer are intimately connected.  In the same way, this week we learn that our values and our living are connected as well.  It has become quite common to ask, “Do you own your possessions or do they own you?”  Like the familiar maxims from today’s Readings, we might be tempted to quote this saying flippantly, and think that in the quoting of it we have truly considered it, perhaps lived it.  Not true, Qoheleth, Paul and Jesus tell us today.  It is not wrong to treasure or cherish things of earth or of our own humanity; it is only wrong when those things we cherish are not of God, are not of the self-giving Christ.  Copyright, J.S. Paluch Co.

Before leaving on my trip to Colombia, I want you to know that I have asked Walter Bacxa to be our perma­nent Coordinator of Music.  You have heard him accom­panying the singing for the last month, but what many of you don’t know is that Walter just began playing the piano in April.  Is that amazing or not?  His playing is a combination of an unusual gift from God, hours of prac­tice, and a love for his ministry.  Song is a major part of full, active participation in the Mass.  I am counting on Walter to inspire us to raise our voices as a community.

I would also like this opportunity to thank Walter for doing the electronic version of One Catholic ‘Ohana. Susan does the paper bulletin in the office, and Walter transfers the information to the website.  You will notice that he also includes pictures to make things more inter­esting.

In another area of parish life, I have also made a decision.  Thelma Bacxa and Sylvia Silva have agreed to volunteer their time to be our Youth Ministers. Youth Ministry is a Diocesan program for High School students and young adults.  Thelma is known to most of you.  She works for Family Support Services and has worked with the youth in the Kona community for a number of years.  Thelma will announce schedules for meetings and activities as she and Sylvia make deci­sions.  Please give both of these Ministers your full sup­port.  - Fr. Lio

Every day someone tells me that they have read one of the books we’ve suggested this summer.  Perhaps establishing a book club might appeal to some of you.  Today’s book takes us to Ireland in the 1950’s and ends in the U.S. in 2007.  It is well written fiction.  The title is The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane.  The Walk­ing People is a very warm, human story about the joys and struggles of an Irish family, some of whom immi­grate to the U.S.  Ethnic and cultural differences arise when a relationship develops between a member of the family and an Irish Traveler.  Travelers are the Irish ver­sion of gypsies.  The couple manages it well, but neither family accepts it.

The author allows us to view the pain associated with immigrating to a strange country and gives good insight into the process of acclimatization, especially when there are children to be raised in the new culture.  You will learn a lot about how the Irish view life, death, health, and family.

Catholic Social Teaching:

• Racial/ ethnic differences
• Strong family bonds
• Struggles of immigration
• Respect for human dignity

Mahalo Nui Loa!!!

My how time has passed and now my two-month summer assignment has come to an end. I want to thank the North Kona Catholic Community for letting me be part of this great ‘ohana. My time has gone so swiftly, yet it has been a very fruitful one. I will surely miss eve­ryone who has made my stay most hospitable: the Seniors Young-at-Heart Group, The Friendly Place, the Filipino Catholic Club, the Knights of Columbus, and Fr. Lio and Staff at St. Michael’s. May the Lord con­tinue to let His light shine upon you, and know that you will be in my constant prayers.

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Bible Study Break

For those who have been attending Bible Study with Fr. Jack Stawasz on Tuesday evenings (7pm) in Kamiano Hall, there will be no Bible Study until Sep­tember. The exact date will appear in a later bulletin.

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Prayer & Serendipity Bible Study

Beginning Thursday, August 12th and for the next 6 weeks, the Bible Study at St. John’s-Kealakekua will be on “Spirituality—Pain and Suf­fering…Where is God When it Hurts?” The Scriptures will be on Job 1 , 2, 42; John 9 ; Mark 2 ; and 1 Kings 19 . The last session will be held Thursday, Sept. 16th. The sessions include Scripture and intercessory prayer, begins at 7pm and usually is over by 8:30pm. Some of us linger for a little while longer, drinking coffee and talking story. If you have any questions, please call Margie at 323-3469 or 217-6054 (cell).

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Global Solidarity Ministry News

The Global Solidarity Ministry requests your prayers this week for the success of our third attempt to drill a well in Miaani, our Kenyan Parish in common with St. Michael’s Parish. Our hydrologist and the drill­ing company have reasonable confidence that this drill site will yield water. Please pray that it does... For more info, please visit: www.miaaniwell.org

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A Thousand Mahalos to Our Vacation Bible School Volunteers

Vacation Bible School 2010

Without the help of our volunteers and parents, we would never have been able to manage all 31 children who attended our Vacation Bible School (vbs) last week.

Before each day began, Theresa Hernandez, Car­mel Cilia, and Domi Wagasky were busy organizing the lunches and snacks for the day. They did a wonder­ful job. Judging from their appetites, we can also assume that the children were happy with the food selec­tions.

A special thanks to Trudy Bateman, Tammy Lapa, Allyson Durkin, and Nick Brown who worked with the children to provide the activities that made the experience so much fun. On Friday, Oscar Friels stepped in to substitute with the games for Shirley David. Each child rotated through storytelling, science, crafts, music, and games each day leaving no time for boredom.

Thanks to Walter Bacxa who came in and took pic­tures for us. With these photos, we have a way of remembering the wonderful children and adults who participated. Those pictures are the beginning of a series of pictures we will have of our Faith Formation One ‘Ohana efforts in the future.

We need to extend a very special thanks to Angel Hernandez and Beth Bartell who worked with, cared for, and taught the seven preschool children who attended. Each day after the little ones had already gone home, these two women remained for several hours to plan wonderful things for the children to learn the fol­lowing day.

Getting the groups of children where they needed to be for each of the activities would not have been possi­ble without our young helpers. We are grateful to Kalei Kam, Helena Lapa, Jake Unger, Nick Loera, Orion Friels, Miguel Lara-Romo, and Paul Abaire for their assistance. Nick Brown also did a great job providing Bible Study for the helpers each morning while the rest of us did the Bible Study with the children in their respective age groups.

It is our hope that many of these volunteers will con­tinue to participate in our Faith Formation One ‘Ohana Program in the fall. We will be looking for table facili-ta­tors for the 2010-2011 year. After the vbs, we know that there are many people out there in our congre­gation just waiting to be asked. God bless each of you. - Shirley David, Zola Ingram, and Cynthia M. Taylor (One ‘Ohana Core Committee)