NKCC

The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy) - The third candle indicates that the only lasting Joy to be found in life on earth is through Christ. All other joy is fleeting and does not last.

It seems impossible that we are already beginning the third week of Advent.  Today marks the halfway point and you will notice that we will light the pink candle as a sign of our rejoicing.

Last week-end, we had our One Ohana Parish Faith Formation event.  The theme for this month was the Preferential Option for the Poor and the Vulnerable.  The participants were served lunch followed by prayer and age-related activities.  Each family received the Generations magazine in order to continue working on the theme in their respective families.  Unless the work is carried on back in the home, we cannot expect our children to live what they learn.  Our next One Ohana event will be on February 7, 2010.

During the next two weeks, I invite you to prepare for Christmas with the Filipino and/or Hispanic Communities.  There will be a Filipino Simbang Gabi Mass each evening at 6PM in the tent beginning on Wednesday, December 16th.  After each Mass, a light meal will be served.  At the same time, the Hispanic Community will celebrate Las Posadas.  This service will take place each evening at St. Paul’s.

There is nothing new to report this week on the construction project.  We continue to arrange for the abatement which must take place before the demolition.  The architect continues to work on completing the design.  I am hopeful that it won’t be long until I have drawings to share with you.

The trees behind the convent building will be felled this week.  As I explained before, since the trees must be cut, the wood will be milled and used in the new church.  To lose a tree is difficult but it is exciting to think that the wood will become the very table from which we are fed the Bread of Life.

There will be Catholic Updates included in the next two bulletins.  These are meant to help you prepare for the Feast of the Nativity.

Please consult the schedule for the Christmas Mass times.  This year, we will have an English Midnight Mass in the tent.  The Hispanic Community will also have midnight Mass at St. Paul’s.  The children’s Mass will be at 6 PM with caroling and the Christmas play beginning at 5:30 PM in the tent on Christmas Eve.   As usual, there will be an 8 PM Vigil Mass in the tent.

Make ready the way of the Lord.  He is coming.  —Fr. Lio