St. Joseph Catholic Church

1 st Sunday of Advent – C - 2021

“Be vigilant. . .pray that you have strength.”

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day with our loved ones this year must have been extra special. Hearts must have just been overflowing with gratitude that we are seeing the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. And this Sunday, with the blessing of the advent wreath we usher in the advent season which for many of us will be the beginning of the period of waiting for Christmas to come.

But do we still know how to wait? Are we still able to enter into the experience of waiting? Experience tells us that the we have lost our capacity if not our willingness to enter into a period of waiting. We have become an impatient people.

And yet patience is a virtue that we must learn to cultivate. Because only in patience can we better appreciate the present moment – its beauty and mystery. And so on this First Sunday of Advent, Jesus gives us the best way to be patient so as to prepare properly as we await his coming – He tells us “Be vigilant. . .pray that you have strength.” Prayer allows us to entrust ourselves wholly to the Lord and be confident that with Him everything will turn out alright. Prayer allows us also to look deep with in us and be able to hear the voice of He who promised: “I will be with you always.” And our victory over the battle against the pandemic is our assurance that God is and will always be there for us

Liturgy Schedule for Advent and Christmas

Simbang Gabi - St. Joseph Church parishioners are encourage to attend the Simbang Gabi Masses at Malia Puka O’Kalani.

Religious Education Formation Team is Seeking Adult Catechists for the Sunday RCIA Class Requirements for Catechists

A Catechist is a role model of Catholic teachings and values.

• Be at least 21 years of age and be Fully Initiated in the Catholic Church.
  
  
• Be a practicing Catholic. Have a good standing in the Church.
  
  
• Participate regularly in Sunday Mass and participate as fully as possible in a sacramental lifestyle.
  
  
• Adhere to the Catholic Church’s teachings on morality and behavior. The Religious Education program is not a forum for personal beliefs not in conformity with these teachings.
  
  
• Complete Diocesan requirements for catechist including completing volunteer application, completing online criminal background check through the diocese, and becoming EIM compliant according to diocese guidelines. (Mandatory diocesan Safe Environment required for direct contact with minors).
  
  
• Work as a team with the Pastor, DRE, co-catechists, other members of the religious education team, the pastoral staff, clergy, and parents and to recognize that parents are the primary catechists of their children.
  
  
• Continue own faith formation through participation at workshops, courses, retreats, bible studies or other avenues.
  
  
• *Teens are not considered catechist - only classroom helpers. Even if they can teach the class by themselves, they should not.

All volunteers interested should speak to Fr. Lito, or call the rectory office for more information: 808-935-1465

Message to our
Dear Parishioners
and Friends
of St. Joseph Church

Aloha!

Our parish church has been facing a lot of challenges since the pandemic started early last year and we are so blessed that we managed to adapt to the reality of change including protocols. Church protocols that would help us to accommodate the faithful in the celebration of the sacraments like holy mass, funeral mass, baptism, wedding and other prayer services. I am glad that we have volunteers from hospitality ministry who could provide us assistance in this regard.

Beginning November, 2021, there will be no seat reservations. It is first come first serve basis. If you want to secure your present seat, you must come early before the mass. Those who will be attending the mass will be led by the ministers to the seats that are available following the same distancing. Group of family and elderly will be given a proper seat to be accommodated. Seating will be extended to the balcony and spaces (inside & outside); thus, anticipating the season of Christmas.

As to express our aloha to everyone - visitors or non-parishioners are welcome to join us in weekdays and weekends Eucharistic celebration. We thank God that majority of our parishioners are fully vaccinated. Everyone is encouraged to be responsible to contact and report information to the office of St. Joseph Church if someone has been diagnosed with the virus.

Kindly extend the good news to all our faithful and generous parishioners and respective families and invite to come back to the church to celebrate with us the Holy Eucharist.

Stay safe, be safe.

Mahalo!

Fr. Lito C. Hitosis, SSS
Interim Pastor

Come Pray the Liturgy of the Hours

Join us daily in the morning immediately following the Morning Mass and in the evenings:

Weekdays & Sundays at 4:00 pm
Saturdays at 3:00 pm

Prayer for the
COVID-19 CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

Written by Bishop Larry Silva

Dear God of all the living, you sent your Son Jesus to heal us from illness and sin.
We turn to his healing power in this time of anxiety over the pandemic of this potentially deadly virus.

St. Damien and St. Marianne Cope dedicated their lives to the service of those who had an infectious disease. St. Marianne Cope said, “I am not afraid of any disease,” because she was confident in your power to save. At the same time, she took prudent precautions of hygiene to assure that she and her Sisters would not be infected.

Let us learn from this example to put our trust in you to save us from the ravages of disease and to take prudent measures to prevent its spread. Guide us to know when to isolate ourselves from the possibility of infection, but never let anyone be left without the care and concern of others in the community.

As our Diocese of Honolulu has been dedicated to the Divine Mercy, we pray with confidence,
Jesus, I trust in you.
Saint Damien, pray for us!
Saint Marianne, pray for us!
Amen.