The Final Witness By: Joshua Kapika

Today we celebrate the feast

of the Nativity of John the Baptist.

You might be wondering why or

since when did we start celebrating

this feast day? The fact is the

Church has been celebrating this

feast for some time. Because it is

held in the church as a first class

feast it takes precedence over a

Sunday it happens to fall on. So

lucky for us we get to celebrate this

great feast today.

Some of you may wonder

why the Church chose to

celebrate his nativity on June

24th. If you look at scripture

in Luke 1:36 we see that the

angel Gabriel announced to

Mary that Elizabeth her

cousin was also pregnant and

that she was in her sixth

month of pregnancy. The

Church celebrates the feast of

the annunciation on March

25th three months before the

nativity of John the Baptist.

If you also take the

date of the annunciation when

Mary was told she would bear

a son we see that March 25th is

also nine months exactly from

December 25th which is as

well all know Christmas or the

Nativity of Jesus Christ.

The Church also well

aware of the seasons places these

feast days to coincide with major

changes in our environment. The

Nativity of John the Baptist takes

place just days after the longest day

of the year also known as the sum-

mer solstice. The nativity of Jesus

Christ takes place just days after the

shortest day of the year or the

winter solstice.

One of

my favorite verses in the Gospel of

John is in John 3:30 where John the

Baptist says, “He must increase, I

must decrease.” We can easily see

the relationship between scripture

and nature. In nature daylight

begins to decrease after the summer

solstice and it is only after the

winter solstice that daylight gets

longer.

John’s purpose in life was to

prepare the way of the Lord. He

was not the promised messiah, but

many thought he was. His final

witness or testimony was simply to

redirect our attention to the true

messiah. His purpose was to

decrease as the Son of man the light

of world would increase.

We celebrate John’s birth

because we recognize God’s plan in

him. We recognize that he was

born to serve God in an amazing

way. God put John the Baptist

ahead of Jesus to help prepare the

hearts and minds for the coming of

Christ.

As we celebrate his feast

today, let us remember that we too

must always prepare our hearts and

minds for the second coming of

Christ. We have to be ready to

receive Christ at any moment and

that we must remember that our

selves must also decrease so that

Christ may increase in us for others

to see.

Sts. Peter and Paul Mission

Est. 1953

St. Michael Church

Est .1853

St. Michael School

Est. 1944

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR Father Joseph Pasala, ss.cc. Principal Mr. Kainoa Fukumoto Parish Pastoral Assistant Mr. Joshua Kapika

STSMICHAELPETERPAUL.ORG

Parish Office Monday—Friday….9:00am - 3:00pm

Closed on holidays

Phone: (808) 637-4040

Fax: (808) 637-4287

E-mail: stsmichaelpeter_paul@hawaii.rr.com

School Office Monday—Friday….8:00am - 3:00pm

Closed on school holidays

Phone: (808) 637-7772

Fax: (808) 637-7722

E-mail: ecubi@stmichaelschoolhi.net

JUNE 24, 2018

NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN

THE BAPTIST

PARISH WEEKLY EVENTS Sunday, June 24 11:00a Religious Ed Teachers Meeting (SDH)

Monday, June 25 8:00a SM Summer School 8:30a Community Outreach 7:00p EPIC at OLS

Tuesday, June 26 8:00a SM School Summer School 5:30p Core Group Meeting (SDH) 6:30p Adult Children of AA Mtg (Outreach)

Wednesday, June 27 8:00a SM School Summer School 6:30p AA Meeting (Outreach)

Thursday, June 28 8:00a SM School Summer School 9:00a Choir Practice (SPP) 5:30p Adult Hula Class (SDH) 6:30p Scripture Reading/Sharing (Outreach)

Friday, June 29 8:00a SM School Summer School 6:30p Choir Practice (SM)

Sunday, July 1 8:30a Hospitality (SPP)

REMINDER: Any articles to be

printed in the church bulletin must be

submitted to the church office by

Monday afternoon.

MISSION STATEMENT:

“To live our baptismal promises by

living our faith through prayer,

service and generosity.”

VISION STATEMENT:

“That all who enter this Church en-

counter Christ as children of God,

disciples of Christ, and stewards of

every gift entrusted to us by God.”

MASS SCHEDULE St. Michael Church Monday-Saturday . 7:00am Saturday Vigil …... 5:00pm Sunday ……..…. …7:00am & 10:0am

Sts. Peter and Paul Mission Sunday ……....……7:30am & 9:30am

Reconciliation at St. Michael Saturday only … 4:00pm - 4:30pm Or call for appointment

Morning Prayers Sunday Rosary ….. 6:20am (St. Michael) Monday - Friday …. Liturgy of the Hour 6:40am (St. Michael)

Baptism Classes 3rd Wed. 7:00pm (St. Michael) Contact Mary Kamauoha (225-1683)

Marriage Must contact the parish office at least six months prior to wedding.

Funerals Final arrangements are made with the cooperation of the mortuary and priest. It is customary to contact the parish office before completing arrangements.

Blessings & Anointing of the Sick Call parish office for appointments.

Outreach (Food Pantry) Mondays … 8:30 am - 11:00 am Holidays…. .Closed PARISH REGISTRATION If you have not yet registered, please contact the parish office.

IN CASE OF EMEREGENCY: In Father Joseph’s absence - Our Lady of Sorrows Church Office: (808)621-5109

BUILDING FUND

We are

Getting

There!

MAHALO

FOR YOUR

SUPPORT!

GOD IS

GOOD…

ALL THE

TIME.

AA MEETINGS @ SPP

SACRED HEARTS HALL

Open Group known as Nooners:

Meets Mon.-Sat. Noon to 1pm

Open Group:

Meets Mondays 8-9:30pm

Women Only:

Meets Thursdays 6:45-8pm

TREASURE SHARING: June 17, 2018

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS!

Sunday Collections

Donations

Mass Intentions

Candles

Building Fund

School Support

Maintenance Fund

Father’s Day

TOTAL

$3,357.00

310.00

20.00

135.00

9,565.00

135.00

5.00

1,339.00

$14,866.00

“Each man should give what he has decided

in his heart, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

(2 Corinthians 9:7)

OPEN

7:00AM TO 12 NOON

SUNDAYS ONLY

MISSION OF

STS. PETER & PAUL

AT WAIMEA BAY

Fr. Joseph Pasala

is on vacation June 11 to 24, 2018.

Fr. Lusius Nimu

is assisting during his absence.

Thank you Fr. Bill Petrie

for assisting Fr. Joseph Pasala

on weekends.

SECOND COLLECTION

T O D A Y

BUILDING FUND

PILGRIMAGE TO KALAUPAPA

WITH BISHOP LARRY SILVA

JULY 14, 2018

Walk in the footsteps of

St. Damien and St. Marianne!

This pilgrimage includes round-trip charter air

transportation from Honolulu, ground transportation

in Kalaupapa, a special Mass celebrated at St.

Philomena Church, a guided tour of Kalaupapa and

Kalawao, a picnic-style lunch and Commemorative

pilgrimage guide.

Guided tour sights include St. Damien’s Gravesite,

St. Marianne’s Gravesite, Papaloa Cemetery, the Pier,

St. Elizabeth’s Convent & Chapel, the foot of the

Kalaupapa Trail, St. Francis Church, Visitor’s

Quarters, Bayview Home, Kalaupapa Bookstore and

Waihanau Valley.

The tour operates from approximately 8:00am to

3:00pm. The cost for the tour is $399.00 per person.

Early registration is recommended as space

is limited. For more details, please call Ed

Lane with Seawind Tours & Travel, Inc. at

(808)949-4144.

FILIPINO CATHOLIC CLUB NEWS The annual Charity Queen and Scholarship

Fundraiser has ended. Thank you for supporting

this annual event by purchasing tickets from

members who were selling tickets for Regal cookies

and breads and the infamous bangus fish.

Distribution of these items will be on Saturday,

July 28 from 9:00AM to 12 Noon in St. Damien

Hall. Tickets must be presented at time of pick

up.

The three top winners of this fundraiser are:

1st Place: St, Joseph FCC

2nd Place: St. Michael FCC

3rd Place: St. Anthony FCC

Date of the coronation pageant will be announced

at a later date by St. Joseph.

Friday, June 29

Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul

These are the ones who, living in the flesh,

planted the Church with their blood;

they drank the chalice of the Lord

and became the friends of God.

REQUEST FOR PRAYERS

Sick: Helen Abanes, Alan Abear, Glenda Aggasid, Fausta Agsalda, Oscar Agtina, Francis & Susan Baker, Penny

Ballesteros, Aaron & Kekoa & Robert Bolosan, Liberty Bunda, Carey Ibrao Burke, Anthony Cadiz, Eva Cuelho, Larry

Dixon, Brock & Federico Dicion, Andrew Dziadkowicz, Janice Eldredge, J.B. Excelcious, Jocelyn Balmoja

Fukushima, Alfred Gabriel, Jr., Felix Galicinao, Joe Grilho, Virginia Guerrero, Julia Redira Haehn, Raynette

Hamamoto, Carol Hoopai, Christine Hurrell, Caroline Kahawaii, Daniel Kapika, Brandon Kikuchi, Rosanda

Lani, Rodney Lobitos Sr., Priscilla Robello Meek, Adoracion Menor, Lily Mito, Dennis Nolan, Roxanne Sumile Munoz,

Ethan & Lois Pacolba, Lillian Pactol, James “Blah” Pahinui, Mary Gloria Palalay, Alton Pao, Douglas & Susan

Parrish, Rosario Pedro, Joan Pujol, Severo Raymundo, Patricia Reynolds, Bonnie Sales, Richard Sarno, Apolenario

& Derek Suan, Kathleen Smith, Sheri Sumida, James Sumile, Jr., Joe Sumile, Tracy Walker, Pono, Wilma &

Shannon Warfield, Beatrice Vierra, Alyssa, Carrie Ann, & Malia Yamanouchi

Death: Cipriano Erice, Candida Santiago

OBITUARY

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall

want. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I

fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23)

+Candida Santiago

July 19, Mililani Makai Chapel

10:00am Prayer Service

12:30pm Burial at Mililani

+Cipriano Erice

Aug. 7, Mililani Mauka

7:30pm Prayer Service

Aug. 8. St. Michael Church

10:30am Mass

A MINUTE WITH GOD A MINUTE WITH GOD I spent and hope you will too.

I LOVE THE OPENING SENTENCE: With what is going on in the world these days, Heaven could end up a

ghost town? My name is GOD. You hardly have time for Me. I love you and will always bless you. I am

always with you. I need you to spend 30 seconds of your time with Me today. Don’t pray, just praise. Today

I want this message to go across the world before midnight. Will you help?

Please do not delete it and I’ll help you with something that you are in need

of. Just dare Me! A blessing is coming your way. Please drop everything

and pass it on. Why are prayers getting smaller. But bars and clubs

are expanding? Why is it so easy to worship a celebrity, but very difficult

to engage with God? Think about it, are you going to forward this or are

you going to ignore it because you think you will get laughed at? Forward

this to all your friends. 80% of you won’t. GOD said if you deny me in

front of your friends, I will deny you on the day of judgment. When one

door closes, God opens two. If GOD has opened doors for you, send this

message to everyone….FORWARD IF GOD’S BEEN GOOD TO YOU!

(Editor’s note: Sharing an email I received.)