from the desk of Father Paul
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March 7, 2010 As
I promised in the announcements made after Mass last week, here is the
address to send your diocesan pledges to:
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Fr.
Paul Minchak
Born on February 18, 1943 in Yonkers, New York. His parents were Martin and Helen Cadette Minchak. He entered the Capuchin Order in 1961 and was ordained on November 8, 1969. After serving for a number of years in formation work and novice master for the Province of St. Mary, he was sent to Guam and became pastor of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage parish in Chalan Pago in 1981. In 1984 he transferred to Hawaii and has since served in various parishes there : Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ewa Beach (as associate pastor then pastor), St. Anthony in Kailua (associate pastor), Sacred Heart in Honolulu (associate pastor), Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pearl City (associate pastor) and presently as administrator of Resurrection of the Lord parish in Waipio. |
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February 28, 2010 About two years ago, the very popular and influential talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, read a book by Marianne Williamson entitled, "A Course in Miracles." She loved the book so much that she decided to not only promote the book, but to distribute and promote the course on CDs and through the media. It all sounds good and innocent until one realizes what she is doing. The book is based on so called revelations of a woman named Helen Shucman who claims that Jesus revealed himself o her and gave her new revelations, very similar to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons - the Latter Day Saints. In both Schucman and Smith, we have examples of the power of the media pulling people away from the Scriptures and the true Jesus and His teachings. In this so called new age, we have people everywhere picking and choosing what they want to believe. Oprah, the darling of many, is using her influence to promote this garbage; it is a sacrilege against Jesus Christ. She admits the course is a "mind training" a course, training the mind to reverse itself. Here are some of the things the course teaches: there is no sin, no evil, and no devil; a slain Christ on the cross has no meaning; a journey to the cross should be a last "useless" journey; the name "Jesus" is simply a symbol used to replace the names of all the gods people pray to; forgiveness and atonement is not from God, but happens only within each person; since there is no sin, there is no need of salvation; the recognition of God is the recognition of yourself. Wow! I wonder how many people she has influenced and I wonder if this is the reason why so many, especially young people are totally ignoring God and Church because they feel no need for Him. It is a modern example of the Chosen People of the Old Testament turning away from God and refusing to listen to the prophets. This is but one of the reasons the Catholic Church has, for centuries, seen the need for this sacred season of Lent. May Lent be an opportunity for all of us to return to God and be the people He wants us to be; an opportunity to renew our faith and belief in the true Jesus Christ…the Christ of the Gospel. |
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February 21, 2010 Lent is a great reminder for us. God can easily slip out of our minds as we get busy with things of this world. Even when things are not going well, if we let our prayer life go, we don't immediately turn to God. If we use this season well, we will immediately turn to God, our source of strength. Here is a good prayer to say in difficult times: "Steer the ship of my life, Lord, to Your quiet harbor, where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict. Show me the course I should take. Renew in me the gift of discernment, so that I can see the right direction in which I should go. Give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course, even when the sea is rough and the waves are high, knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in Your name, we shall find comfort and peace. Amen." |
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January 31 , 2010 I
am sitting here before my computer trying to write this in such a way
that my deep disgust will not come out too strong. I am referring to
HB 444, the bill the Hawaii Senate passed allowing civil unions for
same sex couples. Only seven senators voted against the measure (Senators
Bunda, Espero, Gabbard, Hemmings, Kim, Sakamoto and Slom and we thank
them for standing up for what is right). It is now in the hands of the
Hawaii House of Representatives. Don't be afraid to call or e-mail your
Senator and (if the House passes it too) your Representative and tell
them of your displeasure if they voted for the measure of thank them
if they opposed it. An please, keep praying that this nonsense (abortion,
same sex marriage, doctor's assisted suicide, etc.) will stop. The
following are some facts you should all know: Those 18 Senators and those House members who voted for this bill are totally ignoring all the above by allowing civil unions which is marriage under a different title. These elected officials are following their own agenda. Remember, we can use our vote to send a strong message to them and future lawmakers. We don't want lawmakers who are going to water down God's moral law. What disgusted me most after the Senate vote was to hear certain Senators talk about justice for same sex couples allowing them to have families. It takes a man and a woman to create a family. It is inherent in the way God created us. I cannot be done naturally by two men or two women. Don't hesitate to call or email the Senator or Representative in your district and thank them, if they voted against this bill or to tell them of your displeasure if they voted for it. |
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January 24, 2010 Attention
young men! If you are between the ages of 18 and 40 and are still trying
to discern your future vocation in life, please consider making a retreat
weekend. Bishop Larry Silva will be conducting a retreat designed to
help participants discern their future vocation. The weekend will include
communal and private prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass and presentations
with a special emphasis on the Priesthood. Participants will have an
opportunity to meet personally with Bishop Silva. |
Every
year from January 18 - 25, the Church calls for special prayers for
unity among Christians. It is called Church Unity Octave Week. All Christians
- Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Evangelical -share a common baptism
and a common belief in Jesus Christ our Lord, Messiah and Son of God.
These prayers every year are asking God to help us find ways to have
more unity amongst ourselves. The following is a prayer I urge you to
pray during this octave. |
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January 10th, 2010 Next
week, from Monday, January 11 to Friday, January 15, I will be on retreat.
As you know, all priests are required to make an annual retreat. We
Capuchins were supposed to make our retreat last October, but the retreat
master had to go for hip replacement surgery and was unable to travel.
So I am setting aside nest week to spend some quality time reading and
praying and taking advantage of retreat talks at St. Stephen's Diocesan
Center. Please pray for me. |
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January 3rd, 2010 I am deeply moved by the numerous Christmas greetings, prayers, well wishes and gifts that I have received over these sacred holy days. A deep and loving heartfelt thank you to all of you. I will try, over the next few weeks to personalize this thank you. If I don't get to it, please forgive me. I still appreciate it more than I can possibly say it. Thank you!
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December 27th 2009 Christmas
day is always so special because of what it means to all Christians.
It is really a "feel good day". The Christmas season, I'm
afraid, is often overlooked as a "feel good season". For
example, today (Sunday) we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family.
It is part of this "feel good season". Jesus was part of
a family. True, He was an only child, but as a baby, He cried and
messed His diapers just like other babies. Though we are not told
of all the details of Jesus' early life, the incident in today's Gospel
tells us that Mary and Joseph had to teach Him just like any other
parent and that there must have been other harrowing moments, just
like with other parents and their children. But Jesus, Mary and Joseph
are a great model for us. They showed deep love, great patience and
tremendous faith as they spent the years bringing up Jesus in a world
so opposed to what God's will is for us. They did a tremendous job.
Parents, be teachers of love, prayer, high morals and deep faith to
your children. Children, show the respect your parents deserve. Listen
to their wisdom. Families, show the world what Jesus, Mary and Joseph
did - that a strong family life, based on good Christian principles
learned from Christ, will overcome anything this world throws at us.
Keep your families strong with love and faith. Happy family day, everyone! |
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December 20, 2009 Big
cities attract many tourists. Their attractions are their huge architectural
buildings, the vastness of the city itself, their cultural attractions
and so forth. For the Jewish nation, Jerusalem, with its main Temple
is their most important city. It always has been. Why, then, was the
Messiah born in such an insignificant city as Bethlehem. Bethlehem was
about 9 miles from Jerusalem. It was a place people would pass through
to get to Jerusalem; a place where they could buy an animal to offer
in the Temple when they got to Jerusalem. It was an insignificant village
(in modern language, a backwater town) where a shepherd could make a
decent living because of the sale of their sheep. It was a place people
would pass through, but not stay. True, King David was born there, but
once he left, it was a place where he came from, not a place people
went to. |
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