SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

The sacrament of reconciliation (confession) is offered on Saturdays between the hours of 4:00 and 5:00 PM, and other times by appointment. 

BAPTISM

Classes are held on the third Saturday of every month at 11:00 AM in the Grade School Teacher's Lounge. Baptism is at the 11:00 AM Mass on the first Sunday of every month. Please call the office to set up an appointment for an interview with a priest. 

MARRIAGE

An appointment should be made with a priest at least SIX MONTHS before the proposed wedding date and BEFORE any reception plans are finalized. The usual preparation for our Diocese includes instructions and participation in the Engaged Encounter Weekend.  

MARRIAGE CONVALIDATION  
If you were not married by a Catholic priest and would like your marriage blessed by the Church, simply arrange an interview with one of the priests in the Rectory. If you were not married by a Catholic priest and would like your marriage blessed by the Church, simply arrange an interview with one of the priests in the Rectory.

INFORMATION ON MARYKNOLL SCHOOL

Information on Maryknoll School is available directly from the link here or on our main page.

OTHER CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN HAWAII

FEED THE HOMELESS

The third time He said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." (John 21: 17)

Every fourth Tuesday of the month (see the Calendar for exact dates), food preparation begins at IHS (Institute for Human Services). Serving starts at 6:30 PM. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please call the office at Sacred Heart (973-2211).

COMMUNION FOR THE SICK OR HOMEBOUND

Our priests are available to bring Holy Communion to the sick at home or in the hospital. Please notify the Parish Office to set up an appointment. Parish Office: 973-2211 

ROSARY

Our Lady's Prayer Group of the Two Hearts meets at the Church each Thursday at 7:15 PM to pray the rosary.  

FOOD PANTRY

And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied... (Mark 6: 40-42).

Food Pantry hours are 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon on Tuesday and Thursday. Food is distributed to the needy of our parish at those times.

Your nonperishable food donations are an essential part of this ministry. Please bring food items with you to Mass and leave them in the basket at the back of the Church. You may also leave food donations at the rectory. Suggestions: canned soups and meats; rice; peanut butter and other canned foods.

The youth of our parish are our future. Our youth ministry reflects not only this truth, but also the hopes and expectations of our youths themselves. This ministry doesn't simply minister to our youth, it encourages and facilitates their ministry to our community as a whole.

In recent months, the Youth Ministry has led the entire community in several liturgies, presented an Advent workshop, gone on picnics and much, much more.

The ministry is an opportunity for our youths to grow in their love of God, learn more about their Church, and become active in all areas of parish life.

ALTAR SERVING

Being an altar server means "serving God and His people at Mass." Just as the ushers, readers, Eucharistic ministers and priests give service in ministry, altar servers are also "ministers." They help the priest and fellow worshippers to praise God as well as they can. By helping the priest and people carry special objects and by carrying out special actions at Mass they are really serving God.

Young men and women who have received First Communion, ages 9 and older, may call the Rectory Office at 973-2211 to schedule training to become altar servers. Training is completed in three sessions. Scheduling is done according to Mass preference and as needed. Sessions to learn new ideas and to share about how to improve serving are scheduled quarterly. Fun activities, such as picnics and outings, are planned during the year.

The Parish Council provides consultation to the Pastor in planning, developing, and goal setting for Sacred Heart Parish. It evaluates and supports parish activities. Its primary focus, however, is the spiritual renewal and growth of our parish family.

The Council meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. Members are appointed by the Pastor and serve for a period of three years.

Opportunities

• Generate new ideas for our parish. Some recent examples: Youth Ministry and Stewardship.
  
• Promote ohana through parish-centered activities like the Annual Spaghetti Dinner and the Parish Picnic.
  
• Personal growth in service to our parish. The Council has an annual spiritual retreat.

BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY

Members of this ministry support families during the time of the death of a loved one. They serve refreshments during wake services here at the church.

"When my husband died I phoned the Rectory Office and was relieved to learn that our parish provides this service. I didn't have to worry about food that day. One less burden for me at a difficult time in my life. In fact, it was this experience that prompted me to become a member of the Bereavement Ministry." -- One of our parishioners.

SERVICES

• Serve refreshments at wake and funeral services.
• Prepare beverages.
• Maintain and replenish parish supplies of paper goods, etc.
• Prepare the church for wake and funeral services.

R.C.I.A.

R.C.I.A. is the process by which the Church welcomes, prepares, and initiates new adult members into its community. The process is basically concerned with those adults who are not baptized. But it can also be adapted for those adults who have been baptized in other Christian churches and wish to become Catholics; and those Catholics who, although baptized, have not received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

The R.C.I.A. process works because of the commitment and involvement of the parish community. We invite all to share in this responsibility of bringing the Good News to others.

Opportunities  
Sponsor and Godparents: Members of the community who journey with the candidates by attending sessions with them, witnessing at the different rites, their support as the community's representative, and ultimately, attesting to the candidates' readiness to receive the sacraments.
Catechists: Members who join a team who meet with the candidates on a weekly basis to share faith, share the Catholic Tradition, and open the minds and hearts of the candidates to the Word of God (Scripture), the primary source of catechesis in R.C.I.A. Their formation comes through interaction with team members, diocesan workshops, and willingness to share faith experiences.
Hospitality: The prospective new members need to feel welcome to the community. These members coordinate the social and fellowship functions needed to welcome as well as to celebrate the important rites and stages in the R.C.I.A. process.

Interested?
Please address any questions or inquiries to 973-2211.

CATECHETICAL MINISTRY

The Catechetical Ministry is one of the oldest and most enriching ministries in the universal church. It is rooted in the Gospel's dictum to "go out and teach all nations." Once a person, child or adult, is baptized, he or she begins to live within the faith and explore its mysteries. The church, through the catechetical ministry, provides for an organized approach for exploring and understanding the great mysteries of our faith. This ministry has many facets. Among them are the preparation of catechumens, of couples preparing for marriage, and for parents requesting Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation for their children. However, the one catechetical ministry that we are most familiar with is the that of teaching children. Religious Education, more commonly referred to as Catechism or CCD, is the formal teaching of Christ's message and the institution of the Church. It is a ministry concerned with sharing the light of our faith with those attempting to live within the church.

At Sacred Heart, our catechetical ministry has been in existence forever. It is composed of a Director of Religious Education, Confirmation Coordinator, and numerous volunteer teachers called catechists. Catechists enjoy working with children of various ages, teenagers, and adults. They prepare weekly lessons based on a set curriculum that explores the church seasons, feasts, sacraments, commandments, and mysteries. A catechist can be anyone who has a desire to share their faith and enrich their own faith understanding. Classes are held each summer to enable catechists to grow in faith experience, teaching competence, and ministry background.

Opportunities in Catechetics Include

Catechist          Confirmation Team       Office Help

SMALL BASIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
What is SBCC?

Who can join?

• Anyone.
• SBCC groups are a reflection of the parish as a whole. You need not be a parishioner. You may bring friends who might be interested in faith but who have little or no experience of church.

What happens at the meetings?

• We share songs to bring us together.
• We share experiences. We do not have to share if we don't want to.
• We share the next Sunday's Gospel then break into groups of three or four to discuss specific questions relating to this Gospel in our life today.
• We pray together to give praise to God and ask for help in all our needs.
• We share refreshments.

When do we meet?

• Currently we have several  groups that meet during the week.  See our Calendar for dates, times and places for meetings.

EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

The term "Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion" indicates that the lay faithful who are commissioned to assist the priests of a particular parish to administer Holy Communion, are in fact acting in an extra-ordinary manner. The "ORDINARY" minister of the Holy Eucharist is the Ordained Priest. In recent times, Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion have become a regular part of the communion rite in local Catholic parishes. Pope Paul IV authorized Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Communion to assist in the Ministry of Priests in offering the Body and Blood of Christ to their fellow worshippers in the assembly and those confined to their homes, so that no one "be deprived of this sacramental help and consolation." This is a very special service to the Church, and those partaking of this ministry must be living in accord within the Church's social and moral teaching norms. Prayerful reflection is an integral part of the life and service of Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.;

As an Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, you help ensure that the Communion Rite at Holy Mass, important though it may be, is not disproportionately long in relation to other parts of the Sacred Liturgy.

Meetings are scheduled periodically for the extra-ordinary ministers to meet and pray together, to share fellowship, to share suggestions, to enrich their ministry, and to listen and view educational materials.

HOSPITALITY MINISTRY

Our hospitality ministry is one of our most active ministries, orchestrating numerous events over the course of our church year. Its goal is to promote fellowship on our parish community. Among the highlights are our Annual Spaghetti Dinner and our Annual Church Picnic.

Opportunities

• Organize Socials -- Coffee hours after Mass, quarterly breakfasts, and the like.
• Help with popular parish events -- our Spaghetti Dinner, Seder Meal, SundaeFest/Ministry Fair and more!
• Help with the Annual Picnic -- this new event was a real hit in 1994.

LECTOR MINISTRY

Lectoring is an act of proclamation. The lector becomes the instrument that worthily proclaims the Good News of salvation. Through this ministry they bcome more familiar with the Bible. They find themselves in love with the Word and in love with the people to whom they speak it.

Opportunities

1. The ministry of Lectors comes from God. It is the Lord who wants to communicate to His people; it is God who has inspired these messages of hope and comfort, of challenge and surprising truth. Lectors speak for God.
   
2. The work lectors do requires preparation and training. There is personal involvement with the texts and all the other details that make an assembly want to listen instead of reading along in their missalettes.
   
3. God's Word is "living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword": it achieves the end for which God sends it. It is meant to change people...to erase any weariness, to fill their lives iwth hope and with God's healing comfort. Lectors are the instrument through which this occurs.

BECOME A LECTOR!

Ushers and greeters are the first person a visitor sees when they come to our church. This makes their job very special. By their actions members of this "ministry of welcome" can determine whether this is considered a warm and loving parish, or a cold and unfriendly one. Quite a responsibility!

A friendly smile, knowledge of the parish and a willingness to help out are just some of the qualifications needed to be a top-notch usher. But if the requirements are high, so are the rewards. Ushers and greeters become an important part of what makes our Sunday celebrations so special here at Sacred Heart. They enrich the lives of those whom they greet and their lives are enriched in turn. They help newcomers feel at home and greet "old timers" as the friends they are.

Opportunities

• Meet lots and lots of people!
• Prepare the church before each Mass and help pick up afterwards.
• Distribute bulletins, schedules, and other important communications.
• Help prepare the community's gifts and insure that they are brought to the altar.
• Really get to know the members of our community.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

The Stewardship Committee promotes a spirituality based on returning a portion of your time, talent and treasure to the Lord. The committee sponsors parish activities which focus on this form of spirituality.

God gives us many gifts like time and ability. Stewardship challenges us to return some of these to the community. The Stewardship Committee also educates us about sacrificial giving and how to plan our monetary donations as a way of puting the Lord first in our lives.

Opportunities

• Poster and Banner making.
• Stewardship newsletter.
• Assist with bulk mailings.
• Computer assistance.
• Planning the annual Stewardship renewal.
• Other created Stewardship activities.

COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY

This ministry promotes increased communication within our parish. It can assist with special events (e.. a poster for the Spaghetti Dinner); promoting fellowship by taking pictures of parish activities, and putting up monthly/ quarterly photo displays; looking into other ways to improve parish communications. We're open to all ideas!

OPPORTUNITIES

• Poster maker: No artistic skills needed! Just bring your imagination and be willing to assist with the production of interesting posters for parish events.
  
• Banner Maker: Help with the creation of large banners for special events or special seasons (e.g. Lent, Advent).
  
• Writers: Write short articles of approximately 250 words for publication in "From the Heart," or bulletin announcements for any special event.
  
• Computer Assistant: Type and edit the articles submitted to "From the Heart" and assist other ministries with their announcements and materials.
  
• Photographer: Take pictures of parish events for display in our church and for insertion in "From the Heart."

Comments on "From the Heart"
"I enjoy reading the profile about parish volunteers. I see these people at church and now I know who they are!"
"I enjoy the words of wisdom from the children who attend CCD classes."

If you have any questions, please call Betty Lou Larson at 947-6980 (evening). OR leave your name and number at the Rectory Office, 973-2211.

MPCC LITURGY COMMITTEE

The rich liturgical tradition of the Church is made manifest throughout the Ecclesial year. Colors, readings, rituals and environments change as we follow the life of Jesus Christ as revealed to us through Sacred Scripture, and Sacred Tradition

The Liturgy Committee assists the pastor and parochial vicars in creating liturgies that offer authentic Divine Worship and foster a sense of devotion as well as sense of true community. We study Scripture and Church history during this process and broaden our own experience as well as that of our parish. The Liturgy Committee is focused on remaining true to the authentic spirit of the Second Vatican Council, and to all of the Liturgical Norms issued by the Holy See, as well as our Local Bishop.

Our Holy Father Benedict XVI, a brilliant scholar and theologian, has written volumes pertaining to the Sacred Liturgy. During this time of renewed examination of the Second Vatican Council, the Church forges forward, ministering to future generations, while being anchored to the time tested doctrines, rituals and prayers of the Church. The Liturgy Committee is devoted to fostering the growth of our Liturgical experiences of Divine Worship. It is also in the process of examining how we may include the Holy Mass in the Tridintine Rite, in accord with our Holy Fathers recent Motu Proprio. The over all experience of Divine Worship is the perogative of the Liturgy Committee.

OPPORTUNITIES