Planting Vocations to the Church

Fr. Joel Panzer, with teens and little ones

We had a chance to be at St. John Apostle and Evangelist in Mililani a couple of weeks ago. What a joy that was! A chance to attend Mass at another parish -- though I love very much the Cathedral of Our Lady or Peace, my home parish -- is a much welcome part of our routine.

I was glad to have met Fr. Joel Panzer who's a chaplain from Schofield. He says Mass at St. John's once or twice a week.

After Mass, I made it a point to gather the children for a picture with him -- a great and simple move to get our youth connected with our priests. Oftentimes, teenagers are reluctant to approach the clergy after Mass, unless they know the priest. Do make your observations. Who normally approaches the priest after Mass? The sad and happy truth is that about 80% of those are about 50 years of age and over.

Sometimes I do see young families approach the priest to get their little ones blessed. How wonderful that is!

Here are some simple tips for parents and grandmothers to follow: get your teenager instead to approach father to bless your rosary, tell your son or daughter to ask the priest a question, send your children to the priest to deliver a message for you, ask your children to make drawings for the priest saying the Mass you are attending and have him or her give it to him personally, etc.

Let the Holy Spirit guide us! for she has the best answers, solutions and ideas. And, we, on our part, must cooperate to find ways to bring our children closer to our priests and to our Church. Hopefully, we are also planting seeds of vocations to the Church by doing so.

St. John Vianney, pray for us!

2010 Hawaii Regional Charismatic Conference

Fr. Marvin Bearis, OFM.Cap

It's that time again. A good time for sure - to be on fire, be rejuvenated, rekindled! Not that the wonderful charismatic people of Hawaii don't get enough of it, but it's that weekend of gathering as a larger body for spiritual growth and empowerment. A very good thing! And, all are invited.

What: 2010 Hawaii Regional Charismatic Conference
Where: Catholic Charities Hawaii Center: Catholic Charities Hawaii Community Hall, 1822 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu
When: Friday - Sunday, August 13-15, 2010
What to expect: Praise and Worship, Four General sessions, Eucharist, Fellowship, Prayer Ministry, Life in the Spirit session, and Healing Service.



Featured speakers:

Fr. Tom Dilorenzo

• A native of Boston, ordained in 1979 for the Archdiocese of Boston
• Administrator of Holy Rosary Church in Winthrop, Mass.
• A popular conference and retreat speaker in charismatic renewal for over two decades
• Host of the weekly radio preaching ministry, "In Season and Out of Season"
• Has an outreach ministry to the poor

Fr. Marvin Bearis, OFM.Cap

• Ordained last year, serves with the Capuchins on Oahu
• Active in youth and young adult ministry
• Attended the Steubenville Charismatic Priests Conference this summer

Fr. Tom Fragas will present Life in the Spirit Seminar: Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts that accompany it, and the renewal of charisms.

Registration: $35.00; $10 for youth; Free for clergy and religious. No registration for Sunday.

Visit: http://www.hccrs.net/, or call Flo Andrade at 455-3224

Father Daren is Back in Hawaii

Father Daren Zehnle is back in Hawaii for his annual winter retreat.  If you see him around town, especially at the Cathedral, be sure to say aloha!

No, the Holy Father did not accompany Father to Hawaii.

Photo courtesy of Father Daren.