Saints & Holy Relics Presentation/Visitation: St. Stephen Church, 10/27/2013

 

Holy Relics on display at St. Stephen

Church in Honolulu.

 

It has definitely been a busy and stressful week for me and my little ministry...  I spent the last few days preparing for three Holy Relic visitations - two of which were speaking presentations I was invited to conduct on October 27th at the neighboring parish of St. Stephen Church in Honolulu... while the other was for our monthly Fatima Group Prayer Meeting at the Gruber Family residence; all of which I had to accomplish in between spending lots of quality time with a sister who vacationed from California with her husband.

 

Thanks to God and his sustaining grace, I managed to get all the tedious preparations completed and the presentations turned out better than I expected.  The two speaking presentations consisted of the following:

 

St. Damien of Molokai Children's Presentation (for CCD students, Kindergarten to 5^th Grade)

 

        

 CCD students learn about St. Damien

of Molokai and enjoy doing it, too!

 

For my first presentation I came up with the idea of keeping the youngsters entertained and engaged by incorporating a giant jigsaw puzzle, picturing St. Damien one side and Jesus on the other (pictured above).  I had the children piece the Fr. Damien puzzle together after which I shared some basic information with them about his life and work in Kalaupapa, Molokai.

 

Next I had the children undo the puzzle, flip the pieces over, then assemble the Jesus-side of the puzzle.  When they finished with the second image, we discussed each of the virtues spelled-out around the face of Jesus and how St. Damien lived each one to become holy and Christ-like; a worthy Saint  we can look up to as a hero.  The children were thoroughly entertained while learning many valuable spiritual lessons.

Saints & Holy Relics Presentation (for older teens and the rest of the parish, in general)

 

Opening the presentation with

a prayer to the Holy Spirit.

 

For the second presentation, I was invited to speak to teen and adult parishioners about the Church’s teachings about the Cult of the Saints, the Sainthood Process, and Holy Relics.  As with similar presentations I’ve conducted in the past, I brought along several genuine relics for the audience to view and venerate.  The Blesseds and Saints who were spoken about, and represented by their respective relics, were: the Blessed Maria Stella & 10 Companion Martyrs of Nowogrodek, St. Bernadette Soubirous, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Bl. John Paul II, Bl. Margaret of Citta-di-Castello, St. Peregrine Laziosi... and the Blessed Virgin Mary, via her "Ex Velo" relic.

 

       

 Parishioners of St. Stephen Church viewing

and venerating the Holy Relics of the Saints

& Blesseds after the presentation.

 

Whenever I do these speaking presentations, I try to incorporate modern holy people so that the audience can view their true features via actual photos, know for a fact that these Blesseds and Saints really did exist, and hopefully make a personal connection with them.  I also make it a point to include a mix of holy people – men, women, young, old, religious, laity – so the audience will get the clear message that holiness is possible for ALL.

 

A table with free devotional items and

literature about various holy persons for

interested parishioners to take.

 

All in all, I was deeply relieved and at peace once my second presentation ended.  Everything had gone extremely well, judging by the positive and encouraging feedback I received from some of the CCD teachers and several parishioners... and even from Fr. Khanh, the parish priest, who also sat through the second presentation.  I trust that many faith-seeds were planted that day, which I pray will bear much fruit for the parishioners of St. Stephen Church and their beautiful community.  In all things, may God be always praised and glorified.

 

Holy Relics Visitation: Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Group, 10/26/2013

"Holiness consists simply in

doing God's will, and being just

what God wants us to be."

~ Words of St. Therese of Lisieux

 

Only a small group of us were able to gather at the Gruber Residence this weekend… but it mattered little because the diverse faith-sharing that ensued was cause for much joy and personal reflection.  Our discussions ranged from the tough job our mutual priest-friends have in pasturing  their respective flocks and the need to have a compassionate understanding of their "human-ness"; facing death with faith, peace, and the anticipation of seeing God; personal commentaries on the day’s scripture passage [from Luke 13], which we read at the start of our meeting; to the "little way" of St. Therese the Little Flower our featured Saint of the Month (a relic from her bones was present with us, right photo).

 

Again, somehow, someway, everything seemed to blend together cohesively to make for a meaningful evening of faith and devotion for each of us who were there.  And because there weren’t as many of us present, we had the luxury of being a little more expressive and extended with our many personal petitions and intercessions during the “open-prayer” segment of the meeting.  It's always inspiring and moving to hear our members praying out loud because each person says exactly what's on his/her mind and heart.

 

"... I do like children who do not

know how to read, I say very simply

to God what I wish to say, without

composing beautiful sentences, and

He always understands me." 

~ Words of St. Therese

 

Prior to the meeting my fatigue and mounting anxiety due to an upcoming speaking presentation at a neighboring parish (for tomorrow morning) had weighed heavily on me… but by the time the evening ended, the weight of it was greatly alleviated thanks to the reassurance and prayers of this loving spiritual family... and that’s exactly what we’ve become to each other in the past year – a close-knit family; bonded, as such, and supportive of one another under the mantle of Our Lady, our Heavenly Mother... and in the company of the Saints.  For this spiritual gift of “Ohana”, we will always feel grateful to God.

"Even now I know it: yes, all

my hopes will be fulfilled... yes...

the Lord will work wonders for me

which will surpass infinitely my

immeasurable desires."

~ Words of St. Therese

 

Monthly Messages from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: October 2013

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

 

Our Lady’s Monthly Message on October 25^th:
   "Dear children!  Today I call you to open yourselves to prayer.  Prayer works miracles in you and through you.  Therefore, little children, in the simplicity of heart seek of the Most High to give you the strength to be God’s children and for Satan not to shake you like the wind shakes the branches.  Little children, decide for God anew and seek only His will, and then you will find joy and peace in Him.  Thank you for having responded to my call."

 

Our Lady’s Special Message to Mirjana on October 2^nd:
   "Dear children, I love you with a motherly love and with a motherly patience I wait for your love and unity.  I pray that you may be a community of God's children, of my children.  I pray that as a community you may joyfully come back to life in the faith and in the love of my Son.  My children, I am gathering you as my apostles and am teaching you how to bring others to come to know the love of my Son; how to bring to them the Good News, which is my Son.  Give me your open, purified hearts and I will fill them with the love for my Son. His love will give meaning to your life and I will walk with you.  I will be with you until the meeting with the Heavenly Father. My children, it is those who walk towards the Heavenly Father with love and faith who will be saved.  Do not be afraid. I am with you.  Put your trust in your shepherds as my Son trusted when He chose them, and pray that they may have the strength and the love to lead you.  Thank you."