R DEACON FIRST MARTYR C - d2y1pz2y630308.cloudfront.net · DEACON & FIRST MARTYR 2747 PALI HIGHWAY, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96817 ~ 808.595.3105 Email: [email protected] Website: ssccpali.net

❖ A Catholic Community ❖❖

Diocese of Honolulu

MISSION STATEMENT

“Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we the family of St. Stephen Catholic Church nurture and sustain our faith through Love, Service and

Unity.”

PASTOR Rev. Fr. Mario Raquepo

[Cell] 808.228.3053

STAFF Rev. Deacon Ronald Choo

Sr. Marykutty Kottuppallil, MSMHC Tina Welch ~ Secretary

Sacristans Celine Asato ~ Marisol L. Chang

OFFICE HOURS: Monday~Friday: 9:00 AM to 12 Noon

MASS SCHEDULES St. Catherine Chapel

Monday ~ Communion Service Only Tuesday ~ Saturday ~ 8:00 AM

Saturday (Main Church) ~ 4:00 PM Sunday (Main Church) ~ 7:15 AM Sunday (Main Church) ~ 9:30 AM

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 3:15 to 3:45 PM

or by appointment

DEVOTION Holy Rosary 30 minutes before Mass

DEACON & FIRST MARTYR 2747 PALI HIGHWAY, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96817 ~ 808.595.3105 Email: [email protected] Website: ssccpali.net

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH ~ December 29, 2019

S A I N T

S T E P H E N

C A T H O L I C

C H U R C H

“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (v. 13b). Imagine how Joseph must feel. Not long before, he was a middle-class, respected citizen, soon to be married. Now, a few weeks later, he is a fugitive from the king and his soldiers. In between, we have a wedding (1:24), the birth of a new baby, the visit of the wise men and their odd gifts (2:1-12), and the visit of an angel (2:13). Joseph must feel as if he has stepped onto a carnival ride. “He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt” (v. 14). Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they remain until Herod dies. It is a journey of at least 150 miles (240 km), so the journey will take many days. However, Joseph obeys immediately, not waiting for daylight. He begins his journey in the dead of night. It is not unusual for Israelites to seek refuge in Egypt when life becomes difficult elsewhere. It is not far from Israel, but is outside Herod’s jurisdiction. Egypt has a substantial Jewish population, about one million people according to Philo (Boice, 39), so Joseph and his family will not live in isolation.

St. Stephen The First Martyr Knights of Columbus Council 16267

Contact Worthy Grand Knight Randy Tom eMail Address: [email protected]

T H I S T H A T

ALOYSIUS FOOD BANK The St. Stephen Knights of Columbus continue on their mission to help those in need. The Knights genuinely accept any and all non-

perishables for the Food Bank. Please…won’t you help? Thank you, in advance, for your support and generosity.

CHURCH CHOIR CHOIR PRACTICE

Thursday, January 2, 2019 6:30 PM

R.C.I.A. w Participants are always welcome!

Sunday, December 29 ~ NO CLASS ~

Enjoy the Christmas Season!

January 5, 2020 Why Do I Need The Church? The Mystery Of The Catholic Church

(Symbolon—8)

Time, Talent, Treasure, Stewardship

WEEKLY OFFERINGS: December 25, 2019: $8,521.00 December 21, 22: $4,105.00

A category breakdown of the offerings may be viewed in the bulletin binder in the Church office.

MAHALO!

We are grateful to all who generously contribute their time, talent and treasure to our Parish Community.

SUNDAY, December 29 ~ NO CLASS WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2020 ~ Solemnity of Mary

SUNDAY, January 5 ~ Family Mass Epiphany Of The Lord

SUNDAY, January 12 ~ Class The Baptism of the Lord

SUNDAY, January 19 ~ Class 2nd Sunday In Ordinary Time

CCD Bible Study Class

A N D

O Lord Jesus, you lived in the home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. There you grew in age, wisdom and grace as you prepared to fulfill your mission as our Redeemer.

We entrust our family to you.

O Blessed Mary, you are the Mother of our Savior. At Nazareth you cared for Jesus and nurtured him in the peace and joy of your home.

We entrust our family to you.

O Saint Joseph, you provided a secure and loving home for Jesus and Mary, and gave us a model of fatherhood while showing us the dignity of

work. We entrust our family to you.

Holy Family, we consecrate ourselves and our family to you.

May we be completely united in a love that is lasting, faithful and open to the gift of new life.

Help us to grow in virtue, to forgive one another from our hearts, and to live in peace all our days.

Keep us strong in faith, persevering in prayer, diligent in our work, and generous toward those in need.

May our home, O Holy Family, truly become a domestic church where we reflect your example in our daily life.

Amen. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!

Prayer composed by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Supreme Chaplain

♰ For The Deceased Of The Parish ♰

Eileen Green, Don Yee, Ron Kano, Gladys Wong, Kenneth Asato, Ron & Tomiko Asato, Doreen & Francis Chia, Betty & Albert Chong, Dr. Joseph & Priscilla Chang, Frederick Lum, Steve Fujii, Rosalie G. Cadiz, Jack Wong.

Sunday, December 29 7:15 A.M. Mass

♰ Jack Wong ♰ Villamor Blanco, Sr.

♰ Rogie Blanco ♰ Elizabeth Blanco ♰ Salvador Blanco ♰ Carmelita Blanco ♰ Juanita Blanco

9:30 A.M. Mass

♰ Vera Ashitomi ♰ Karen Lee

♰ Jose Avelino Plamenco ♰ Aurello Plamenco ♰ Gonzato Advincula ♰ Francisca Advincula ♰ Norberto Advincula ♰ Fernando Advincula ♰ Mario Advincula

Monday, December 30 8:00 AM Mass

For the Deceased of the Parish

Tuesday, December31 8:00 A.M. Mass

Healing Prayers For: Mary Souza

Wednesday, January 1 8:00 A.M.

♰ Kenneth Asato

Thursday, January 2 8:00 A.M.

Healing Prayers For: Steve Aki

Friday, January 3 8:00 A.M.

For the Sick & Homebound of the Parish

Saturday, January 4 8:00 A.M.

For All the Souls in Purgatory

4:00 P.M. ♰ Doreen & Francis Chia ♰ Nancy & Raymond Tom

♰ Ron Asato Birthday Blessings for Lissy Babu

For The Sick & The Homebound

Margaret Robello, Carrie Talwar, Nancy Asato, Richard Wong, Benito Bautista, Steve Aki, Mary Souza

NOT OVERWHELMED

Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; The torrent would have swept over us. … Psalm 124:4 www.livingfaith.com In moments or seasons of overwhelmingness, we have only two options. We can either choose fear, or we can choose love. As impossible as that seems, especially when we are overwhelmed by so many things at once, it really is that simple. If we choose fear, we choose to focus on the chaos, the situation, the circumstance, the impending doom and everything that is wrong with this picture. Consequently, these things grow, increasing our anxiety, our misery, our suffering, and then we are overwhelmed. If we choose love, we choose to focus on God. We choose to focus on his power and his wisdom rather than our own perceived lack. We choose the peace that transcends understanding. We choose to have our minds blown by a miracle. We get to pick what we look at in any given moment. Do we choose fear or love? What we focus on expands. ~ Kristin Armstrong

PRAYING FOR THE PERSECUTED

Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt… Psalm 25:5 www.living faith.com Matthew’s Gospel relates the harrowing story of how Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus got up in the night and hurried out of the country. Mary and Joseph acted so that their child would not be murdered. They ran toward a land that offered them safety. What frantic concern and sadness must have filled their minds and hearts as they journeyed away from home and into the bleak darkness. Similar situations continue today as countless families flee their homelands due to persecution, violence and other life-threatening conditions. As with the Holy Family, they leave behind relatives, language, culture and the familiar surroundings that hold their history. No matter how we feel and believe regarding the politics surrounding those who cross borders into foreign lands, let us have empathy for what they are going through, extend our compassion and pray for those struggling families who long for security.

~ Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M..

“Living Faith” Daily Catholic Devotions

Saturday, December 28, 2019

“Living Faith” Daily Catholic Devotions

Sunday, December 29, 2019

M A S S I N T E N T I O N S

“Jesus is with you even when you don’t feel his presence. He is never so close to you as He is during your spiritual battles. He is always there, close to you, encouraging you to fight your battle courageously. He is there to ward off the enemy’s blows so that you may not be hurt.”

~ St. Padre Pio

“It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.”

~ St. Pope John Paul II

DAILY READINGS

Monday, December 30 1 JOHN 2:12–17

Tuesday, December 31 1 JOHN 2:18–21 St. Sylvester I, Pope

Wednesday, January 1 NUMBERS 6:22–27 Solemnity of Mary

Thursday, January 2 1 JOHN 2:22–28

St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen

Friday, January 3 PHILLIPPIANS 2:5–11

Most Holy Name of Jesus

Saturday, January 4 1 JOHN 3:7–10

St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton ewtn.com

SUNDAY January 5, 2019

The Epiphany˝Of The Lord˝

FIRST READING ISAIAH 60:1–6 (20ABC)

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Lord, every nation on earth will

adore you.

SECOND READING EPHESIANS 3:2–3a, 5-6

GOSPEL MATTHEW 2:1–12

SAINT OF THE DAY St. John Neumann

E V E N T S

Wednesday ~ JANUARY 1, 2020 Solemnity of Mary

8:00 AM Mass in the Church

8:00 A.M. Daily Masses Thursday, January 2,

Friday, January 3, Saturday, January 4

will be said in the Church

Sunday ~ January 5, 2020 The Epiphany of the Lord Sunday ~ January 12, 2020 The Baptism of the Lord

SAINT OF THE DAY (Continued) St. Thomas Becket, Bishop & Martyr

QUOTES OF ST. THOMAS BECKET:

If all the swords in England were pointed against my head, your threats would not move me.

With shame be it spoken: by her fall, the Church’s liberties have been sacrificed for the sake of temporal advantages. The road to her ruin lay through the sinuous paths of riches: she has been prostituted in the streets to princes; she has conceived iniquity and will bring forth oppression to the undeserving.

Between the uprightness of my conscience and the hardness of my lot, I know not how either to show respect to my feelings or to the times. The bitterness of my mind urges me at all hazards to speak what I think, whereas the necessity of the times prompts me, however unbecomingly, to keep silence. Good God! Which way shall I turn myself?

RESPECT LIFE Juanita Ruis, Respect Life Coordinator

HAPPY NEW YEAR

SAINT OF THE DAY December 29

St. Thomas Becket Bishop & Martyr

Thomas Becket, born December 21, 1119, also known as St. Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas Becket, was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He engaged in conflict with Henry II, King of England, over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral. Soon after his death, he was canonized by Pope Alexander III.