Saint Theresatheresa MAY 2017 Roman Catholic Church Parish Newsletter
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SaintSaint TheresaTheresa MAY 2017 Roman Catholic Church Parish Newsletter Flores de Mayo Celebration to Honor Mary other’s Day is quickly approaching, and many Mof us will celebrate our moms by bringing them flowers. Just before that special day occurs, the Filipino Club invites members of our parish to re- member another special mom – our spiritual mother, The Blessed Virgin. The fifth annual Flores de Mayo celebration will be held May 12 at 6 p.m. in the church. The event is hosted by the Filipino Catholic Club, a statewide organization that supports the parish, helps commu- nity members who are in need, and raises funds for scholarships for area graduating seniors. Club Coor- dinator Trixie Galam explains the meaning behind this beautiful event. “Filipinos likes fiestas, and Flores de Mayo in our country, the Philippines, is a religious festival in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Trixie says. Referred to as the “Flowers of May Festival,” Flores de Mayo was originally introduced to the Phil- ippines by the Spaniards. As an integral part of the celebration, a colorful pageant called a Santacruzan is often held in Filipino communities and a nine-day Adorned with fresh flowers and crowned in ornate gold and lace, the novena precedes the celebration. image of the Blessed Mother is honored during the 2016 celebration continued on page 2 of Flores de Mayo. This year’s celebration will be held Friday, May 12, at 6 p.m. beginning with Mass. 25 W. Lipoa St.│Kihei, HI 96753│www.saint-theresa.com│808-879-4844 Saint Theresa Roman Catholic Church Flores de Mayo Celebration to Honor Mary continued from front cover “Here at St. Theresa, along with the many parishioners and St. Theresa Filipino Catholic Club, the Flores De Mayo celebration starts with a Mass, and an offer- ing of flowers and crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Trixie says of our local celebration. Following Mass, there will be a procession to the courtyard and the crowning of a Flores de Mayo Queen. Fellowship, entertain- ment, and dinner will top off the celebration. As many Catholics know, May has traditionally been set aside by the Church as a special time to hon- or Mary. The tradition of the May Crowning honors her by presenting Parishioners and members of the Filipino Catholic Club process through the church a statue of her image with fresh flow- during the 2016 Flores de Mayo celebration. A Filipino tradition, Flores de Mayo celebrates ers or placing an ornamental jeweled the Blessed Virgin with a special pageant called a santacruzan. crown upon the statue’s head. Mayo celebration at St. Theresa is to involving themselves with the “Mary is Jesus’ mother and expose the parish’s younger genera- preparation, by attending the our mother too,” Trixie says. “The tions to the tradition in the hopes Mass and being a part of this very Blessed Virgin Mary deserves our that it will continue in the future significant celebration,” she says. utmost honoring not only in the and be kept alive for the community. “As a once-a-year event, we in- month of May, but always.” “We encourage our parish- vite all to experience the beauti- Trixie says the Filipino Club’s ioners and community to help ful presence of the Blessed Virgin ultimate goal in hosting a Flores de the St. Theresa Filipino Club by Mary amongst us.” “We encourage our parishioners and community to help the St. Theresa Filipino Club by involving themselves with the preparation, by attending the Mass and being a part of this very significant celebration. As a once-a-year event, we invite all to experience the beautiful presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary amongst us.” – Trixie Galam Parishioners who would like to get more involved with Flores de Mayo are enthusiastically invited to call or email Trixie Galam at 808-264-4699 or [email protected]. 2 A Letter from Our Pastor We Cannot Be Part-Time Christians Dear Friends in Christ, ay is traditionally celebrated cannot be part-time Christians and Min the Church as the month Catholics! We should seek to live our of Mary, our Blessed Mother. As the faith at every moment of every day.” Mother of the Church, she provides us I suspect that is how Mary lived with an example of what it means to her life from that moment she turned be a servant of God and our fellow hu- it over to God and His Will. So, let mans, as well as how to obediently ful- us vow together during this month fill the promptings of the Holy Spirit. of Mary to follow her example, and As Catholics, we are called to seek to be the kinds of good stewards model the life of Jesus. That can be that will make our faith community difficult, and there are certainly chal- even stronger and more effective. lenges to living as a disciple of Christ. I pray that we all can find the But living stewardship and disciple- strength to live and practice our ship brings intense contentment and faith as we should. This means being joy to those who take that risk. As we faithful to the sacraments and look- hear in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, “All things work for ing for ways to help and serve one another. We have a good for those who love God.” great parish – let us make it even greater. After Jesus Himself, we look to our Blessed Mother As we hear in Holy Scripture, “May the Lord bless as an ideal steward and an example of what stewardship you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine means. As the Mother of Christ, she lived her life and upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look her ministry in a total spirit of faithfulness and service. upon you kindly and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). She responded to the call to be a disciple. For us to be Pray for me, as I pray for you. disciples, we also need to be good stewards of the gifts we have received. Our Church and our parish are gifts to Sincerely yours in Christ, us from God. At no point in Holy Scripture does Jesus tell us that following Him is easy. We know it is not always simple and effortless. It requires dedication and commitment. Msgr. Terry Watanabe Pope Francis has said on more than one occasion, “We Pastor 3 Saint Theresa Roman Catholic Church A Marriage and Family Built on Faith Brigido and Victoria Acoba Celebrate Their 65th Wedding Anniversary hat is the secret to a marriage that is in its 65th Wyear and still going strong? In reality, there aren’t too many couples who could answer that question for us. But one couple here at St. Theresa – Brigido and Victoria Acoba – sure can. On April 14, the Acobas celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary! Reflecting on their long life together, the answer to our question becomes re- soundingly clear – faith. For Brigido and Victoria, faith and trust in God through all circumstances has kept their married relationship – and their family – strong. As the Acobas’ eldest child and St. Theresa parish- ioner Cecilia Soliven tells us, both Brigido and Victo- ria came from humble family backgrounds, growing up neighbors in the farming barrio, or village, of Bacarra in Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Both Brigido and Victoria were raised in homes full of love, respect for one another, During a Mass at St. Theresa on Feb. 12, 2017, Brigido and and a strong Catholic faith. Rural living was often dif- Victoria (with the family members who could attend) celebrated ficult, and relying on farming for their livelihood meant being one of the longest married couples in the parish. that many things – especially bouts of inclement weather and began having children of their own, their parents – could change their fortunes from day to day. An un- would continue to play a large role in their grandchil- wavering trust in the Lord, along with the support of dren’s introduction to the faith. family and friends, certainly helped to make life easier. Cecilia still remembers clearly the influence her grand- Victoria was a close friend of Brigido’s younger sister, parents’ faith had on the younger generations of the family. Maria, and met Brigido when Maria introduced them. “We used to follow my late grandma Arcadia as she The two began dating, and when Victoria was 16 and led prayers, Rosaries, and novenas,” Cecilia recalls of her Brigido was 23, Brigido knew without a doubt that Vic- childhood in the Philippines. “She would do that espe- toria was the woman he would marry. Following Filipino cially when our community at the barrio was celebrat- tradition, he and his parents visited Victoria’s parents to ing birthdays, weddings or a funeral. She used to do the propose the marriage. A church wedding was planned prayers in both the Ilocano and Latin languages. In fact, and Brigido and Victoria were married on April 14, 1952. the Acoba family even donated a piece of land to the As both Brigido and Victoria had been brought up church and built Our Mother of Perpetual Help church Catholic, it was important to them to raise their own in our barrio! The priest would come once a month to family in the Church, as well. Once they were married say the Mass.” “Our Roman Catholic faith played an important role in our married life. We raised all the children in our Catholic faith – from Baptism and First Communion to Confirmation – because we have a deep faith in God and in following the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Victoria Acoba 4 A Marriage and Family Built on Faith Brigido and Victoria Acoba Celebrate Their 65th Wedding Anniversary followed.