One Catholic Ohana

Third Sunday of Lent (Year A)

Reading I – Exodus 17:3-7

Reading II – Romans 5:1-2 , 5-8

Gospel – John 4:5-42

Thirsting for Life-Giving Waters -   Especially during the Lenten, Holy Week, and Easter seasons, the prayer texts of the Eastern Church revel in paradoxical images of Christ:  the eternal life who is put to death, the host of the supper who is also its meal, the thirsty crucified one with living water streaming from His side.  These images flow from the evangelists’ portrayals of Jesus and from His very ministry, during which He often upset or reversed people’s expectations about Him or the ways of God.

This “reversal” is at play in today’s Gospel, as Jesus speaks to an enemy foreigner who is also a woman beneath His status.  In addition He, the thirsting one, shows the woman to be the one truly thirsting.  He – whose parched lips will say “I thirst” before He dies – is the source of life and life-giving water.  Lent calls upon us to dwell on how each of us is thirsting for Christ, and it leads us, ultimately, back to the life-giving waters of our baptism into His Body. © Copyright, J.S. Paluch Co.

I am thankful that everyone is well after the tsunami warning.  A number of people came to Immaculate Con­ception to wait.  We were able to keep them there and feed them until the danger of the tsunami passed.  Our community responded very well to the danger of a tsu­nami.  Even had we experienced the worst, there would have been no loss of life because the State and County emergency disaster plans were well-implemented.

The ministry luncheon had to be canceled, of course.  We will reschedule it after Easter.

Today and the next two Sundays are very special days for the nine Elect of our parish as they continue their journey in preparation to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.  We will listen to three Gospels from Cycle A and witness the powerful ancient rites called The Scrutinies.  Even if you do not attend the 9am Mass with the Elect, I would ask you to reflect upon their journey and pray for them.

Stations of the Cross have been well attended.  I am pleased to see so many come together as a community to remember the suffering and death of the Lord.  There is also that time after the Stations when we can be with one another to enjoy the simple meal.  Please welcome those whom you may not know.  It is important that all feel part of our One Catholic ‘Ohana.

Soon, you will begin to receive news about our next One Catholic ‘Ohana (Religious Education) event.  It will take place the Sunday after Easter which is Sunday, April 11th. The topic for this event will be Care of God’s Creation.  —Fr. Lio

Each year, Operation Rice Bowl calls us to pray with our families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn more about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas; and give sacrificial contributions to those in need.

Operation Rice Bowl: This week’s Rice Bowl coun­try is Bolivia. It is a country of 10 million people located just west of Brazil.  It is about three times the size of Montana.  Bolivia is the world’s largest producer of tin and is the second largest source of natural gas in Latin America.  At the same time, 40% of Bolivians work in agriculture.  Small-scale farmers face the chal­lenges of deforestation, degradation of natural resources, and unpredictable peri­ods of drought and floods.  Catho­lic Relief Services is able to help these poor farmers learn newer agricultural techniques.

Part of the work of Catholic Relief Services with the Bolivian farmers is to reflect the call of Catholic Social Teaching to care for God’s creation.  Helping Bolivian farmers to yield crops that are more productive includes providing an understanding of how to farm in a way that sustains the land.  Protecting the environment reflects respect for the goodness of nature, a gift God has given.

This Week: Place 40 cents a day away for Rice Bowl in solidarity with the Bolivians who earn their liv­ing from the land, and in turn, seek to steward it.

Liturgical Prayer Luncheon

The Liturgical Prayer Luncheon had to be postponed because of the tsunami warning, but it will take place some time after Easter.  Check future bulletins for date and time.  A special thank you to the Liturgy Committee, especially Jill Spanheimer for all her hard work prepar­ing the food!

Phone Book Recycling Contest

The Hawaiian Telcom Phone Book Recycling Contest will be from May 1st—30th. Please start asking family and friends to save those books for St. Joseph Elementary School!  As soon as we know where the drop-off place in Kona will be, we will let you know.  [Do not bring them to St. Michael’s YET.  We have nowhere to store them.]  Thank you for your support!

Pre-Lenten Malasadas

On Valentines’ Day, St. Michael’s people enjoyed a huge treat.  Fanny Gouveia, Barbara Kossow, and Kristen Kam organized a great malasadas sale.  The recipe came from Dan and Janet Santos. The cooks produced the most tasty malasadas! All the supplies and ingredients were donated.  Proceeds from the sale were donated to the St. Michael’s Building Fund.  This effort raised $2,010.

There are many people who deserve our thanks:  Fanny, Barbara, and Kristen (Committee); Debra Abaire, Sally Funaga, Colbert Kaimiola, Chris Kam, Terrence McCabe, Janice Medeiros, Doris Sanborn, Claudette Serion, Gail Souza-Save, Jill Spanheimer, Caroline Smith, Rowena Tiqui, Alana & Carl Yamamoto and Boy Scouts Kaipo Kam and Caserst Sony.