St. Theresa Catholic Church Newsletter — Aug/Sep 2020

SaintTheresa

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020

Rom a n C atholic Church Parish Newsletter

HALE KAU KAU

Continuing to Serve the Community Amid Pandemic

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or almost 30 years, Hale Kau Kau has been a vital part of our local community, feeding the hungry, needy and homebound of South Maui. As we all struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hale Kau Kau (HKK) continues to serve as a light in darkness. Thanks to the generosity of two donors, the program has recently acquired a new van, which has allowed them to more efficiently pick up and transport food donations.

“We rely on donations, and so we use our van primarily to do pickups from our many partners who want to donate food, but don’t have a means to get it to us,” says HKK Program Director Jeff Naumann.

“Our old van broke down, and we had to take it in to the shop — also, that vehicle had not been sufficient for a while. Without a vehicle to pick up the food, we don’t have a way to serve anybody.

“We’ve had the new van since May, and just had our logo put on the side,” he adds. “It was dedicated and blessed this past month. It is a Ford Transit E250 cargo van, and it is big enough to stand inside when you’re loading it up. I want to thank Don and Kris

Wilson, who purchased the van. Our co-founder, Kathy Worley, is a good friend of the Wilsons, and she encouraged them to help us out.”

HKK takes donations from various partners on the island, including the Maui Food Bank, Safeway, Whole Foods and Feed My Sheep. Each week, HKK picks up 3,500 pounds of food from the Maui Food Bank alone, including fresh fruits and vegetables, continued on page 2

25 W. Lipoa St.│Kihei, HI 96753│www.saint-theresa.com│808-879-4844

Saint Theresa Rom an Catholic Church

Hale Kau Kau

continued from front cover

canned goods, meat and protein items, and baked goods.

“We determine our meals for the week based on what we are able to find there, and what our other partners have available,” Jeff says.

Although meal deliveries are made by volunteers in their own vehicles, the van could also be used for that purpose in a pinch.

Since coming on as director, Jeff has gotten an up-close perspective of how programs like HKK have been vital for individuals amid the chaos and isolation brought by COVID-19.

“What I like about what we do is that we don’t have any kind of restrictions about who can eat here,” he says.

“If you show up with a shirt and shoes and are willing to wash your hands, we will feed you. Here on campus, we are very careful about masks and gloves for people handling food, washing hands all the time, and staying socially distanced when standing in line. We make sure people are following directions, and we have a sink and soap for people for before and after they eat.

“We also provide meals for the homebound and for those who can’t get out,” he adds. “Sometimes it is the only meal they get, and sometimes the delivery drivers are the only human contact they get. We are the basic foundation of life for a lot of people out there. If you look at Matthew 25, you can see why we do what we do — because Jesus says, ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Since Hale Kau Kau relies on donations, fundraisers have been an important part of that.

Due to the pandemic, annual fundraisers had to be canceled. As a result, Jeff has had to get creative and look for different ways to raise funds for the program.

“I’ve done radio interviews, we’ve done virtual fundraisers, and we’ve reached out to those who have donated in the past,” Jeff says. “The Hawaii Community Foundation has been very supportive, and the United Way has recently sent us some funds. Honestly, our parish members at St. Theresa have been very generous to help us keep this thing running. We really appreciate their support.”

If you would like more information about Hale Kau Kau, or to help out, please contact Jeff Naumann at 808-875-8754 or jnaumann@rcchawaii.org.

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A Letter from Our Pastor

Passionate for the Stewardship Way of Life Dear Friends in Christ,

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ften when reading the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles in the New Testament, I recognize that the writers were genuinely passionate about having an opportunity to put into words an expression of the faith they have in Jesus Christ. I am inspired by the passion expressed by those who live what they believe. Having the courage and the enthusiasm to express their thoughts, and to embrace and cherish it as if it were the most important thing in the world, translates into a passion for Christ and a passion to be His disciple.

I ask myself on a regular basis, do I have that same passion as Jesus’ disciples? I pray that I do. But if I don’t, I have to wonder why, and must reflect upon what is keeping me from being passionate about my faith. Without being genuinely passionate about our faith, can any of us genuinely embrace the stewardship way of life?

The Food Network broadcasts a program called Chopped, which features professional chefs who are challenged to use designated ingredients to prepare a dish.

Using the time they have been given, and the skills and talents they possess, they must compete against each other while attempting to impress a panel of judges. In what they say and do, their passion for who they are and what they can do with all that has been given them is more than obvious.

They demonstrate confidence, enthusiasm, creativity and a desire to use their talent. Even if they get eliminated, they know they have done their best — and will continue to do so, with an ongoing passion.

Should we not have the same kind of passion for being a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Stewardship is the best way to passionately express and live out our call to be a disciple of Christ. The New Testament

is filled with passages that confirm the stewardship way of life. How passionate are we about being faithful stewards using the gifts given to us by God, and using our precious time to use those gifts for the greater glory of God? How do we move from merely thinking that stewardship is something others do, to being passionate about it enough to live our lives as a committed disciple of Christ? It isn’t possible to be truly passionate about something unless we are genuinely convinced it is God’s will, and we know it and feel it in our hearts. Genuine passion begins in the heart. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are ignited to believe that the Word of God is calling each of us to express our love and devotion to Him — and we can do this by living out the stewardship life. Do you think we are up to that? Well, to do so is to be passionate about it.

I pray and hope that we all become better and more passionate about being disciples of the Lord. I believe there is great potential for all of us. If we trust God enough to do what it takes to be passionate about the stewardship way of life, our lives will become the truest expression of discipleship. While the world tries to convince us there are other things about which to be passionate, our hearts should be telling us loud and clear that living for Christ is the most important. It always has been, and it always will be.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Msgr. Terrence A.M. Watanabe Pastor

We have missed all our parishioners and visitors who have been unable to attend Mass with us.

Please join us for Mass online by going to our parish website, saint-theresa.com.

Just click the link along the right side. You can also go to that website to give online. Mahalo!

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Saint Theresa Rom an Catholic Church

GROWING TOGETHER ON THE FAITH

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o matter your age, there is always something new to learn about our faith! It’s never too early to start building a strong faith foundation so that our children can understand what it means to be Catholic. Here at St. Theresa, our Family Faith Formation program teaches children the building blocks of what we believe, and gives parents the tools to be faith educators for their children. Together, the program helps families to grow on their faith journey together.

“I love that we call it ‘Family Faith Formation’ instead of just ‘religious education,’ because that’s really what it’s all about,” says Meredithe Gera, who serves as a catechist with the program. “The family — especially the parents — are the main teachers, and should be the leaders on the children’s spiritual paths. I think it’s really important that they’re involved in the program.”

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Family Faith Formation provides one-hour classes to elementary school children every Sunday, between the 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Masses. These classes include teaching catechism, sacramental preparation, and the Order of the Mass.

“I really like that we have our classes on Sunday mornings in between the two Masses,” Meredithe says. “I’ve seen a huge increase in families attending Mass since we started doing classes on Sundays. Not only are they coming and learning more about their religion, they are actually participating in the Masses.

If they don’t understand what is going on, they’re not going to be able to participate — I spend a lot of time talking about what Mass is, the two main parts, and what they see and hear.”

H JOURNEY: Family

Faith Formation

As Meredithe notes, one key objective is for parents to become more involved, instead of just dropping their children off at the formation classes.

“Recently, we made a change where the parents come in and sign their kids in and out of class,” she says.

“It brings them into the building, and we always say that parents are welcome to stay during the class. We’re also trying to have more meetings and lessons where the family also joins in. We have them for a one-hour class each week, and their families are with them the rest of the time. We want to encourage them to carry the things they learn over into their homes.”

Faith Formation classes for junior high school students meet on Wednesday evenings, and the Life Teen program for high school students meets on Sunday evenings after the parish’s Life Teen Mass.

“We restored the original sacrament order here in Hawaii, so these classes used to involve a lot of sacrament preparation,” Meredithe says. “All that changed, but it has been fabulous because I have still seen a lot of participation in the program, even though they aren’t doing the sacrament preparation anymore.

I think it’s great that kids are now able to participate in ministry sooner since they will have received their sacraments sooner, and I think we will see them more involved in the Church over time.

“It’s really important to teach them that they can be involved in ministry as part of the life of the parish,” she adds. “A lot of our teenagers participate in the Life Teen Mass by ushering and lecturing and altar serving. Some of our kids are also coming back and participating as youth leaders, which has been really great to see. They are our future!”

Meredithe first started teaching Family Faith Formation when her oldest child, who is now 24, was in the second grade. Over the years, teaching has helped

her to grow in her own faith while she shares it with the younger members of our parish community.

“It really helped to renew my faith, and it reinforced things I had learned years ago, as well as taught me new things,” she says. “Seeing the children grow and develop over the years has really made me proud. It also helped my own family — we have to walk the talk and lead by example, and the kids seeing that I was willing to commit to teaching them made them more willing to commit to their own faith. It was really good for all of us.”

Although this past year of formation was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program put together lesson plan packets and materials for the students to continue their learning at home. Despite the difficult situation caused by the pandemic, Meredithe hopes that families have been able to find some good in spending more time together, and in putting the focus on continuing faith formation at home.

“I know the kids were really enthusiastic about the activities, and it’s a positive thing that families have been asked to carry on as their child’s teacher in the faith,” she says. “We were not set up for virtual classes, but the parish has been streaming the Masses, and it’s wonderful that now this has been brought into people’s homes where they can participate.

“When we live-streamed the Easter Mass, just by watching and feeling what was happening in the church, I could feel the presence of our community even though we weren’t physically there,” she adds. “I found myself tearing up because it was so beautiful to realize that our community extends beyond the walls of the church. I raised three kids at this parish and the people that supported us were so instrumental in their development. It really takes a village, and I think that’s what our faith formation program is — it gives our families the support they need to stay committed.”

If you would like more information about Family Faith Formation, please contact the parish office at 808-879-4844.

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Saint Theresa Rom an Catholic Church

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Living According to God’s Will Forming a Conscience and Moral Code

s Christians, it is important that we recognize the difference between right and wrong — both morally and ethically. Sometimes, though, this line can become blurred.

Many situations we encounter in our lives include variables that can leave us internally conflicted and unsure of how to move forward in accordance with God’s will.

So, how do we work through these moral conundrums? One way is to develop a solid Christian conscience.

A moral conscience exists in the heart of every individual. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “When he listens to his conscience, the prudent man can hear God speaking. Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed” (1777, 1778).

Think of your conscience as the “angelic” version of yourself sitting on your shoulder, giving you sound advice.

While everyone is blessed with a conscience, each individual has a responsibility to develop this conscience from the time they are young. Parents obviously play an important role in developing their children’s consciences.

As the primary educators of their children on ethical issues and the Catholic faith, parents have a responsibility to teach virtue to their children and help them to avoid fear, selfishness and pride. As we grow older, we take on

the lifelong challenge of continually forming our own consciences, and establishing a moral code that enables us to make the proper judgments.

One valuable tool in forming a conscience is the practice of introspection. “It is important for every person to be sufficiently present to himself in order to hear and follow the voice of his conscience” (CCC 1779). In contemporary society, where there are so many distractions and routines, it is extremely important that we take the time to look inward and truly listen to what our inner voice is telling us.

Another way to ensure we are developing a good moral code is by conforming to the mind of Christ. God the Father gave us Christ, physically present on this earth and recorded in Sacred Scripture, as the ultimate example of what to do and how to behave according to God’s will. In turn, when we act in loving imitation of Christ, we are certain to make practical judgments of conscience.

The next time you are faced with a moral dilemma, take some quiet time to look inward, weigh the positive and negative outcomes, and listen to the voice of your conscience. Read the Gospels for examples of Christ’s teachings. By making this a regular practice, you will find that the voice of your conscience will come in louder and more clearly than you may have initially expected.

The next time you are faced with a moral dilemma, take some quiet time to look inward, weigh the positive and negative outcomes, and listen to the voice of your conscience. Read the Gospels for examples of Christ’s teachings. By making this a regular practice, you will find that the voice of your conscience will come in louder and more clearly than you may have initially expected.

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ENDOW: Bringing Women Together in W

Fellowship and Faith

hen Karen Powers was asked to sit in on an ENDOW meeting at her old parish on the mainland, she had no idea that it would kickstart a huge part of her spiritual journey.

“I realized I was getting so much out of it,” she says. “When I moved here, I knew that the women of ENDOW had impacted my life, but I didn’t realize how much until I got the email, and I saw that they were getting started, and I realized how much I missed it.”

ENDOW stands for “Education on the Nature and Dignity of Women,” and the program encompasses small groups of eight to 12 women who meet once a week for study, discussion and fellowship. St. Theresa has two ENDOW groups — one that meets in the morning and one that meets in the evening. Karen thought ENDOW was the perfect program to provide a space specifically for women of the parish to connect.

“The reason I thought ENDOW would be a great fit is because of the relationships I formed in my group back at my old parish — I still hear from these women and often get random messages from them, saying that they miss me and hope all is well,” Karen says. “These are all people I met in and because of this study.

“I got to know them, I got to know about their families, and we stay in touch to this day,” she adds. “Even the women with whom you might find yourself disagreeing with their opinions, you are still able to see their vulnerability, which brings out their humanity. It’s all about what St. Pope John Paul II called the ‘feminine genius’ — thinking about some of those women brings tears to my eyes.”

The groups are designed to meet for an hour and a half to 2 hours at a time, and ENDOW provides a wide variety of studies, covering topics such as Pope John Paul II’s Letter to Women, the Doctors of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, Christian suffering, the Virgin Mary, women saints, and several papal

“When you have your discussions, it’s really good to have women who are just getting started and sometimes can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, all the way up to women who have been through everything and can share their experiences. The relationships you build are very deep, and you can be yourself and get so much support.”

— KAREN POWERS encyclicals. Meetings are structured to allow every group member to speak and participate, with a facilitator to guide the discussion. Sessions normally run for eight weeks. Fellowship — often including snacks! — before or after the study is encouraged, as well. St. Theresa’s ENDOW groups are open to women of all ages, and a wide age range is represented among the groups. continued on back cover

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Saint Theresa Roman Catholic Church

25 W. Lipoa St. • Kihei, HI 96753 808-879-4844 • www.saint-theresa.com

ENDOW: Bringing Women Together in Fellowship and Faith continued from page 7

“When you have your discussions, it’s really good to have women who are just getting started and sometimes can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, all the way up to women who have been through everything and can share their experiences,” Karen says. “The relationships you build are very deep, and you can be yourself and get so much support.”

While the parish’s evening ENDOW group had to cut their meetings short due to the

COVID-19 pandemic, participants have nonetheless shared good feedback and hope to continue meeting when social distancing restrictions are lifted. Karen hopes that as the groups continue to learn and grow, the women will benefit spiritually as much as she has.

“The comments have been great — it has been good for them and for the parish, and they would like to see it continue and to add more people,” she says. “It has really made me look at my faith

through a different lens, the lens of God. It has softened some of my edges, and has sharpened me in other aspects. I think about my prayer life now more than I ever did before — and more than that, I take those thoughts and I put them into action. The women in these groups really want to see each other lifted up — you really see people and get to know them. Who wouldn’t want to bring this to a church that didn’t have a women’s group like this before?”

If you would like more information about ENDOW, or to get involved, please contact Karen Powers at kpowers@rcchawaii.org.

Mass Schedule Weekdays: 7 a.m. • Saturday: 5:30 p.m. (English), 7 p.m. (Spanish) • Sunday: 7 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m.