This ministry launched its very first Saints and Relics Presentation at St. George Church back in October 2010 so this parish holds a warm place in this author's heart. Since that first talk, I have since returned a handful of times to the Waimanalo parish to conduct a few more ... and the parishioners have always responded enthusiastically, each time, and today's presentation was no different.
beautiful stained-glass windows of Hawaii's own
Sts. Marianne & Damien & Bro. Joseph
Dutton)
I brought 10 relics for my audience to venerate - St. Bartolo Longo, St. Bernadette of Lourdes, Ven. Francesca del Serrone, Bl. Josaphata Hordashevska, Bl. Karl of Austria, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Bl. Nicholas Kitbamrung, St. Peregrine Laziosi, St. Padre Pio, and Our Lady's veil - and spoke in detail about the lives of seven of them. Again, the St. George parishioners were very receptive to the stories I shared of our Saints and holy role-models ...
Fortunately for the group, they have a wonderful, supportive Pastor - Fr. Raymond Ellorin - who also has a lively devotion to the Saints, surrounding his parishioners with their presence to encourage deeper faith. Fr. Ray had a special Reliquary Shrine constructed inside the church to house 1st Class Relics of St. George Martyr and St. Damien of Molokai; had a beautiful meditation garden created, which he surrounded with large statues of several Saints; and recently installed 6 stained-glass windows also featuring Saints! And last, but not least, Hispanic members of the parish erected an outdoor shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe - see below.
This parish is literally saturated with the positive spiritual influence and intercession of our holy heroes! If one is ever in the Windward area of Oahu, St. George Church is definitely worth a visit.
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