from the desk of Fr. Paul…

Wednesday, December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. When Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb, God preserved her from original sin, knowing that she would be the Mother of Jesus. Thus Mary remained pure from the moment of her conception until she died. We honor her under the title of “Immaculate Conception” on Wednesday. It is a Holy Day of Obligation for all Catholics – all Catholics are required to attend and celebrate Mass. This year, to try and encourage everyone to go to Mass, I have added an extra Mass on Tuesday night. The Masses for Immaculate Conception are: Tuesday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, December 8th at 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

During the season of Advent, we always have a Penance Service with confessions to give us an opportunity to approach Christmas with pure hearts. Resurrection of the Lord’s Penance Service is this Friday, December 10th at 7:00 p.m. There should be at least 8 priests here to help with confessions.

If you cannot make it Friday night, the following is a list of Parishes of the Central Vicariate with the dates and times of their Penance Services:

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pearl City - Tuesday, December 7th at 7:00 p.m.

St. Elizabeth, Aiea - Thursday, December 9th at 7:00 p.m.

Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa - Tuesday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m.

St. John Apostle and Evangelist, Mililani - Wednesday, December 15th at 7:00 p.m.

St. Michael, Waialua - Thursday, December 16th at 7:00 p.m.

THE GIVING TREE AT RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

THE GIVING TREE provides gifts for needy children on the islands of Oahu and Molokai this Advent Season. Tags with names of the child and the gift they are looking for are in the narthex. Gifts for the Molokai children must be received at the parish by Sunday, December 5th. All gifts must be unwrapped, with the tag attached. First pickup for the Oahu gifts will be on December 12th and the last pickup on December 19th. Mahalo for your generosity.

WANT TO BE A PART of beautifying our worship area this Christmas season? Donations to our flower fund will purchase flowers to decorate our church. Envelopes are on the table in the narthex and can be dropped off in the Mass collection basket. Please make checks payable to ROL church. Thank you for your generous support.

CHURCH FLOWER FUND - Donations are always being accepted to help purchase flowers. Envelopes are located on the table in the narthex and can be dropped off in the Mass collection basket. Please make checks payable to ROL Church. Thank you for your generous support.

There is a small group of volunteers who give much of their time, talents, and personal donations to purchase and maintain plants and flowers. Anyone is welcome to help out in this ministry. To inquire more information, please contact Lynn Aninzo at ROL church office 676-4700.

Confirmation I and II: November 28, 2010: First Sunday of Advent - Read the Gospel: Mt 24:37-44

Journal: How did you live out last week's Gospel message? What was tough? What was rewarding?

Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans several years ago. Hundreds died. Rescuers found hundreds trapped on rooftops. Some argued that many people suffered only because the government authorities weren't prepared for the storm. As Advent begins this week, Jesus reminds us that people suffered in Noah's time because they weren't prepared. Remember the story? It tells us that sin and injustice - ignored by God's people - caused the world's destruction. Are we ignoring sin and injustice today? This is a good season to think about that. As you do, prepare yourself for Christ in three ways. First, take time this advent to read newspapers closely. Look for evidence of injustice - war, poverty, prejudice. Keep your eyes open at school. Notice kids ignored by others and notice the bullies who prey on the weak. Sadly, you'll see that our world is still plagued by sin and injustice. But remember, Advent is also a season of hope. It comes at the darkest time of the year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), so we light candles to remember that Christ's power seeks to beat back the darkness of injustice every day. Second, prepare yourself by looking for evidence of grace. To every war, God sends peacemakers. To every kid who feels left out, God sends a friend. Stay awake, Jesus says, and you'll see reasons for hope all over the world. Third, prepare yourself to be grace and hope this season, the person who shines light by standing for peace, feeding the hungry, forgiving an enemy, or welcoming an outcast. Sure, sin floods our world, but God sends boars to the rescue. Jump on board this Advent. People stranded by pain and injustice are waiting for you.

Journal: Where can you make a difference at home, at school, or in the world this Advent? What will you do? Be specific.

An Advent of Hope

To our Eucharistic Ministers

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I am sending this to all before I finalize it. Please take a good look. There are lots of blank spaces. I don't want to fill it up, because it it not the regular schedule time. First is the Dec. 7th vigil mass at 7:00pm (Tuesday) for Immaculate Conception. Father wants to try this to give everyone chance to go to mass. Second is the Christmas Eve midnight mass. Third is the day after Christmas. Christmas falls on a Saturday. Father eliminated the regular Saturday evening mass, but he added one extra mass on Sunday the 26th at 11:15am., so, we have 7:30am; 9:30am and 11:15am mass. I want your reply no later than tomorrow. I will finalize it tomorrow night, so I can have it printed before this weekend. Thank you for understanding my predicament. We will have three new Head Ministers for the 5:15pm mass. Hank and Lorraine Cashen and Lydia Pavao. Thank you for volunteering.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

ANNUAL WHITE ELEPHANT SALE & FOOD AND BAKE SALE

ANNUAL WHITE ELEPHANT SALE (proceeds go to the Confirmation Epiphany Project) – December 4 & 5 after each mass. Donations of new or slightly used items, crafts or Christmas stuff to be sold at this sale may be dropped off after each mass beginning November 8th through December 3rd. Items may also be dropped off at the office during the week. Thank you for your kokua.

ANNUAL FOOD AND BAKE SALE (proceeds go to Confirmation Epiphany Project) – December 11 & 12 after each mass.

This years Giving Tree Project for needy children

This year we will once again be participating in the Giving Tree for needy children on the Islands of Oahu and Molokai for Advent Season. Because the gifts to Molokai must be shipped early, we will have the Molokai children's names ready for selection after all Masses this week. They will be posted on the Lanai. Gifts for Molokai's children must be received at the parish by Sunday, December 5, 2010. Names for the children of Oahu will be ready for selection the first Sunday of Advent. Mahalo for your generosity.

Confirmation I and II: November 6, 2010: The Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Read the Gospel: Lk 20:27-38

Journal: How did you live out last week's Gospel message? What was tough? What was rewarding?

I had a friend who wrote a regular school newspaper column in college. He usually knew for sure he was right about an issue and attacked opposing arguments by making fun of them. His mind was closed, just like the Sadducees in this week's Gospel. The Sadducees were members of a religious group whose beliefs differed from Jesus' teachings. For example, they didn't believe in the Resurrection or in angels. But in this week's Gospel, they didn't listen to him and rethink their positions; instead, they made an argument that mocked his beliefs.
That's too common in our society. People don't listen to one another; instead, they attack or belittle one another. It's an easy style to adopt. You don't have to think if you can shout down or mock your opponent.
But that's how you miss God's wisdom. This week's Gospel reminds us that sometimes God challenges our positions on things like religion, school, and family. That challenge will likely come through friends, priests, teachers and family members. The Spirit calls us to keep our minds open, especially to people whom we disagree. Here are some tips:
1, When you disagree with someone, avoid the temptation to close your mind or respond with sarcasm or personal attacks. Think. Ask God to help you consider opposing opinions.
2. Don't let pride get in the way. God calls us to full life, but we miss out-like the Sadducees did-when we're not open to the spiritual and intellectual changes that life brings.

Journal: What makes it tough for you to keep your mind open when you disagree with someone? What keeps you from seeking and accepting what God wants you to know in order to live a fuller, more abundant life?

Active people at Resurrection of the Lord

Peaceful morning moments before the 7:30 am Mass

BLOOD DRIVE at ROL on Saturday, November 27, 2010, 8 a.m. to 12:43 p.m.

BLOOD DRIVE at ROL on Saturday, November 27, 2010, 8 a.m. to 12:43 p.m. Signups after each mass begin on October 20th and ends on November 21st. Save 3 lives with a 1 pint donation. Volunteers also needed to assist at the sign up tables for 5-10 minutes after masses. No experience necessary, just a willingness to help. Call Jennie at 671-4733 for more information.

ANNUAL WHITE ELEPHANT SALE

ANNUAL WHITE ELEPHANT SALE (proceeds go to the Confirmation Epiphany Project) – December 4 & 5 after each mass. Donations of new or slightly used items, crafts or Christmas stuff to be sold at this sale may be dropped off after each mass beginning November 8th through December 3rd. Items may also be dropped off at the office during the week. Thank you for your kokua.

ANNUAL FOOD AND BAKE SALE (proceeds go to Confirmation Epiphany Project) – December 11 & 12 after each mass.

Confirmation I and II: October 31, 2010: The Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – Read the Gospel: Lk 19:1-10

Journal: How did you live out last week’s Gospel message? What was tough? What was rewarding?

That guy Zacchaeus is one of my heroes. He was a little guy. Maybe he was pushed around much of his life by bigger people. The “in crowd” looked down upon him. He collected taxes for the Romans, so there couldn’t have been anything good about him. But Zacchaeus had guts. He couldn’t see Jesus, so he climbed a tree. His job as a tax collector also gave him the power to abuse people, but he told Jesus he would repay people “four times over” if he had treated them unjustly. He also had great wealth but pledged to share it with the poor.
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus teaches by making Zacchaeus a role model. Religious people were shocked that Jesus would dine with Zacchaeus. But Jesus, unlike them, saw the man’s heart and scolded onlookers for judging Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus can be our role model too. And I bet if you look around, you’ll see Jesus’ spirit in people I write off. They remind me of Zacchaeus. I have friends who have great wealth but focus more on sharing it with the poor than on protecting it for themselves. They remind me of Zacchaeus. I have friends who have been pushed around and belittled. They’ve never been part of the “in crowd.” But they don’t act bitter. They focus on living a good life. They remind me of Zacchaeus.
I bet if you look around your school, parish, or family, you’ll see Zacchaeus. You might catch a glimpse of him if you look in your mirror. I bet people see some of Zacchaeus in you too. Don’t sell yourself short.

Journal: Whom do you know that reminds you of Zacchaeus? Explain.

Thanksgiving Food Drive at ROL