NOVEMBER 2020 A LETTER FROM OUR ADMINISTRATOR
In These Extraordinary Times,
We Are One Faith Family
Dear Parishioners,
P
eace and blessing! We have been living in extraordinary times these last eight months and I hope that this letter finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. The global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all our lives, revealing how closely we are interconnected as one human family. First off, we so appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate these extraordinary times. As your new priest, with the exception of some whose faces are always covered, I surely missed the opportunity of meeting most of you at Mass and I ask you to join me in praying fervently for the end of this pandemic so that we can be together as a parish family again soon. Nonetheless, despite COVID-19, with the help of God’s grace and guidance, life still goes on in our parish. To date, please be informed that with the current dispensation in effect to attend Mass especially for those who are immunocompromised, you may spiritually join us from home in our Eucharistic celebrations on our parish FB page at facebook.com/bigislandcatholicchurch/. Also, though virtually done, our parish formation programs have already resumed — namely Children’s Catechetics, Sacramental Prep Program, RCIA, Bible Study, and Marriage Enrichment Experience. Our Food Pantry outreach ministry has been extremely busy meeting the many needs of our community and surrounding neighborhoods through this unprecedented time, etc. Moreover, in an effort to maintain transparency with each of you, I would also like to share about our current financial status. We are so blessed by the many families who have continued to give generously throughout the pandemic. In addition, we were blessed with the Payroll Protection Plan that the government provided for short-term relief. Also, the diocese put a hold on our monthly assessment for two months. All of these things allowed us to finish the fiscal year in pretty good shape. However,
all of those aids have come to an end and we are now operating at a significant loss each month. I ask you to please keep this in mind as you consider your financial contributions to the parish. Mahalo for your generosity! And most importantly, as we begin our “Annual Stewardship Renewal,” let us be mindful that by our baptism, we are one `ohana (family) of faith, called to “Go Make Disciples” by giving witness to a life of Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service as we generously share our Talent, Time and Treasure while growing in His love and wisdom. We often go through our lives inattentive to this summon to live this basic calling, but as our faith teaches us, the call to evangelize is a call for all Christians. As we pray and reflect during this time of renewal, I challenge each of you to make commitments in the areas of Time, Talent and Treasure as we continue to grow in our role as missionary disciples. God has called each of you! Let’s keep each other in prayer during this moment of renewal in the life of our parish. Lastly, since we are now in November, it is a good time to remember our deceased loved ones. So, kindly send us the names of your beloved departed and they will be prayed for and blessed at each of our Sunday Masses in November. Please stay safe and let us take care of each other by uniting in prayer fervently to end this pandemic. Until we can gather together again without any restriction around the table of the Lord to hear His Word and share His Body and Blood, I remain spiritually connected and faithfully yours. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Anthony “Tony” Pangan, SSS
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