www.saintpatrickhawaii.org St. Patrick Church

Mission Statement We are a loving community witnessing and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Vision Statement We the members of Saint Patrick Parish, are called by Baptism in Jesus Christ to: celebrate our faith as a community of believers through worship, prayer and community action; to participate in opportunities and experiences that strengthen our knowledge and love of Jesus and his Church; to foster a welcoming environment which serves our Ohana and reaches out to the community at large.

During this time of pilgrimage, sinfulness in the life of the Church obscures the reality of our life in Christ – a common life that should be a sign of hope for struggling humanity. It is not without reason that we begin the Church’s most solemn litur-gies with an acknowledgement of our sinfulness. It should not surprise us, therefore, that the passage of Matthew’s gospel from which we are reading - concerning our life in the Church - is in large part about problems associated with the sinfulness of members of the Church. Last Sunday’s reading discussed the reconciliation of members guilty of public crimes destructive of the community. Today’s reading concerns the forgiveness called for within the community at a personal level.

As was so often the case, Peter’s impulsiveness gives rise to an important lesson. Peter has received a commission that in-volves considerable power in the life of the community of disci-ples. He thinks he is expressing what Jesus expects of him in the exercise of his authority. The question he puts to Jesus implies that he will be ready to forgive ‘seven times’. His round number really hints at an indefinite readiness to forgive. Apparently, the scribes of the day taught that one was not obliged to forgive after the third or fourth time. But the response of Jesus de-clares that this vagueness is not enough: ‘Not seven, but seven-ty seven times’ - there should be no limit to our readiness to forgive! Perhaps, as we hear this gospel, we are tempted to think that it has little to do with us - because we have never faced up to the ill will and resentments we have towards other members of our community, and to the gossiping and factions these attitudes give rise to. Though these attitudes may not seem seriously sinful, they can be very damaging, making it impossible for our parishes to live the kind of life that leads others to share in our faith. Resentment and the vengeful spirit have been part of the human story since the beginning

Living in covenant with living God, and learning God’s ways, old Israel came to accept that vengeance must be left to the Lord. For peoples who did not know the covenant, there was no limit to the spirit of revenge. In fact, the response of Jesus reminds us of this spirit, as expressed in book of Genesis, where Lamech boasts that he will exact ‘vengeance seventy-seven fold’ (Gen 4:24). Jesus is reminding us of his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew’s text, Jesus is remem-bered as teaching, ‘Be perfect as your heavenly Father is per-fect’ (Mt 5:48). Because the meaning of the word, ‘perfect’, in the biblical tradition has not been properly understood, one contemporary Bible renders this verse, ‘Set no bounds to your love, just as your heavenly Father sets none to his’. The para-ble of the unforgiving manager drives home this lesson. Clear-ly, the ruler’s generosity brings to mind the generosity of God. The debt forgiven was a fantastic amount, defying the imagi-nation of Jesus’ audience, impossible to repay. We are invited to compare our unforgiving spirit with the boundless generos-ity of our God.

Let us examine our attitudes to others in our worshipping community. Have we failed to face up to our antagonisms, and tended to justify them by being judgmental of the atti-tudes of our fellow Christians? The great Church Father, John Chrysostom, has good advice for us as we examine our con-science. If we are not aware of our destructive attitudes we shall never grow up spiritually. On the other hand, he tells us, awareness of our own failings helps us to find the wisdom, gentleness and compassion that should be ours as true fol-lowers of the Saviour. John Thornhill sm

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading — Ecclesiasticus 27:30 – 28:7 Second Reading — Romans 14: 7-9

Gospel — Matthew 18: 21-35

Aloha & Welcome 1124 Seventh Avenue

Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 Congregation of the Sacred Hearts since 1929

Sunday Liturgy of the Eucharist Saturday 6:00 pm Sunday: 6:30 am, 8:30 am, 11:00 am

Weekday Liturgy of the Eucharist Monday to Saturday: 7:00 am SACRAMENTS Contact the Parish Office for further information re-garding the sacraments. Baptism – parent sessions Marriage—One year notice before marriage date. Anointing of the Sick– Before hospitalization. This Sacrament is celebrated with family and friends. Homebound—Eucharist is available for the sick and homebound. Penance Service—Advent and Lent Reconciliation (Confession) Saturdays: 4:30pm—5:00pm PARISH ORGANIZATIONS

Holy Name Society—Second Sunday 6:30am Mass, followed with breakfast meeting CHURCH DIRECTORY Reverend Clyde Guerreiro, ss.cc. - Pastor Reverend Bertram Lock, ss.cc. – Parochial Vicar Sr. Anne Clare De Costa, ss.cc. - Director of Education Religious Education: Stella Christopher- Religious Ed Coordinator Ruby Salinda-Secretary – 734-8979 ext. 225 Youth Ministry: Kerrin L., Danielle Marzan Music Ministry: Leslie Segundo – Call rectory Family & Social Ministry: Martha Evans RCIA: David Tom 384-0667 Rosemarie Tom 232-5010 Baptism: Bert Nakamura 291-2245 Karen Nakamura 291-7119 Eucharistic Ministry: Sr. Anne Clare De Costa Lector Ministry: Karen Nakamura 291-7119 Adult Faith Formation: Tom Pangilinan 284-1319 Hospitality: Garrett Miura, Bert Nakamura 291-2245

CONTACT NUMBERS Parish Office: 732-5565 Fax: 737-2477 School Office: 734-8979 Fax: 732-2851 Religious Ed office: 734-8979 ext. 225 Monastery: 732-0281 PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm Closed 12:00 noon to 1:00pm daily; and all day on Holidays

COLLECTIONS: September 5-6, 2020

Sunday Collections— $7363.00 Weekly Goal $7,500.00

Difference ($ 137.00)

Outreach $65.00

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & YOUTH MINISTRY

Registration

Classes begin September 13 @ 9:30 a.m.

Open to children 4 years old through 12th grade

Children age 7 or older who wish to receive 1st Eucharist will

also be prepared for Confirmation Children over 7 who have already received 1

st Eucharist will

be prepared for Confirmation

Turn in Registration Forms to the Religious Ed office by email at rsalinda@saintpatrickhawaii.org. Contact the Religious Education office at 734-8979 ext. 225 with any questions.

St. Patrick Church welcomes you as you seek to enrich

your faith life and explore becoming a Catholic Christian.

Sundays 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Classes begin September 13

Contact Sr. Anne Clare, ss.cc. (808) 734-8979 to register

Contact David Tom (384-0667) /Rosemarie Tom (232-5010) with

any questions.

RCIA—Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT

Today’s Gospel reading continues Jesus’ instructions on being good stewards of others – the direction that if we love Jesus Christ, we must for-give an individual 77 times. The read-ing compels us to consider one of the most difficult practices of Christian

discipleship. Forgiveness is the way of Jesus, the way of the cross. Vengeance, bitterness and hatred seem so much easier and certainly more desirable. Forgiveness is a hard road to travel, but it is the only road that leads to life in Christ. Consider this week who you need to forgive.

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Rent Relief & Housing Assistance available for those in Hawaii Affected by Covid-19 Crisis

Please call Catholic Charities at 808 521-HELP or COVID19help@catholiccharitieshawaii.org

One of the first great theolo-gians in the church, this Lat-in father is remembered to-day for his writings, which are quoted in the documents of the Second Vatican Coun-cil. A late convert, Thascius Cecilianus Cyprianus was a lawyer, rhetorician and teacher before being chosen by the people and clergy of

Carthage, in North Africa, as their bishop. He was drawn into papal controversies and schisms, but he also was known for pastoral zeal and aiding plague victims. Having survived one Roman persecution, he later was beheaded for refusing to participate in state religious ceremonies. He wrote biblical commentary and treatises on church unity and the sacraments. Cyprian is the patron saint of North Africa and Algeria.

NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS’ DAY

September 13

Grandparents are cherished members of our family. They bring gifts of wisdom, experience, and lova and share with us their life of faith. We thank God for their example and ask that He bless them with happiness and good health. Gather the family around and have the oldest grand-child lead in the following prayer: Lord God almighty, Bless our grandparents with long life, Happiness, and health. May they remain constant in your love and be living signs of your presence to their children and grandchildren. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen

Saint Cyprian of Carthage

Feast Day September 16