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This Week at EPIC

12/26/2016

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​EPIC ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR DEC 25-JAN 1:
1) A special farewell to Fr. Chris Kaitapu, ss.cc., and our EPIC Community Night at St. Michael on Monday, December 26, from 5:00 PM to whenever.

2) If you haven't reserved your spot to this year's Christmas Banquet, there are still spaces left. Don't miss out on this night of 'ono food, live entertainment by Jelayne Shelton & Annette Oasay, games and prizes, a photo booth, and special presentations.  CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets today!

HELP US SELL TICKETS: If you sell tickets for the Christmas Banquet, you have a choice of one of these awesome incentive prizes for every five (5) tickets you sell:
  1. One addition FREE ticket to the Christmas Banquet
  2. One FREE dri-fit EPIC shirt
  3. 50% OFF for our upcoming "JOURNEY" YAM Retreat

3) If you've been thinking about your vocation or are curious about what different types of vocations there are for you, then come to the Vocational Awareness Retreat Day being sponsored by the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii on Tuesday, December 27, from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
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​4) Join us for our Faith Sharing at Resurrection of the Lord on Wednesday, December 28, on "Holy Innocents" with dinner at 7:00 PM.  Hope to see you there for our last Faith Sharing of 2016!

5) The Women of EPIC ("WEPIC") are hosting their Christmas Gathering at the ROL Rectory this Thursday, December 29.  All young women are encouraged to join them!  Contact Us for more details.

​6) Our young adult friends from Our Lady of Good Counsel are hosting their Christmas Celebration on Thursday, December 29.  Click Here to RSVP TODAY!
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7) The EPIC Food Fight is heating up and wrapping up!  The FINAL DAY for donations will be Friday, December 30 (you can bring your items to the banquet where the final tallies will be done). This week's "hot items" are:
  • BONUS = Canned spaghetti/pasta
  • BOMBS = Soup

8) Order the latest official EPIC dry-fit shirt today!  You can also order our original teal polo shirts as well.  See the bottom of our Home page  for more details.

9) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!  Please volunteer to help remove and store the diocesan City Lights display on Monday, January 2, at 10:00 am. Lunch will be provided at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.  If you are able to assist, please Contact Us today.

10) The journey has begun...join us for our next EPIC Ministry young adult retreat, "JOURNEY," on February 10-12, at the St. Anthony Retreat Center.  Register by December 31st for a special early bird price.  CLICK HERE for more details or to sign-up.
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This Week at EPIC

12/18/2016

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EPIC ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR DEC 18-DEC 24:
1) We enter into the final week of Advent which means Christmas is just days away!  Join us at our Faith Sharing on Monday, December 19, at 7:00 PM at Our Lady of Sorrows.  Using the readings as our guide, we will be looking at the Nativity of the Lord with hopefully new eyes and a deeper reflection on the "reason for the season".

2) If you haven't reserved your spot to this year's Christmas Banquet, there are still spaces left.  Use promo code "4ADVENT" for a $5.00 discount until Monday, December 19 (online only), or get a special GROUP RATE when you buy five (5) tickets until Friday, December 23.  Don't miss out on this night of 'ono food, live entertainment by Jelayne Shelton & Annette Oasay, games and prizes, a photo booth, and special presentations.  CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets today!

HELP US SELL TICKETS: If you sell tickets for the Christmas Banquet, you have a choice of one of these awesome incentive prizes for every five (5) tickets you sell:
  1. One addition FREE ticket to the Christmas Banquet
  2. One FREE dri-fit EPIC shirt
  3. 50% OFF for our upcoming "JOURNEY" YAM Retreat

3) The EPIC Food Fight is heating up! This week's "hot items" are:
  • BONUS = Canned spaghetti/pasta
  • BOMBS = Soup

4) Order the latest official EPIC dry-fit shirt today!  You can also order our original teal polo shirts as well.  See the bottom of our Home page  for more details.

5) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!  Please volunteer to help remove and store the diocesan City Lights display on Monday, January 2, at 10:00 am. Lunch will be provided at St. Stephen Diocesan Center.  If you are able to assist, please Contact Us today.

6) The journey has begun...join us for our next EPIC Ministry young adult retreat, "JOURNEY," on February 10-12, at the St. Anthony Retreat Center.  Register by December 31st for a special early bird price.  CLICK HERE for more details or to sign-up.

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This Week at EPIC

12/12/2016

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EPIC ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR DEC 11-DEC 17:
1) On December 12, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Come to our Faith Sharing on Monday, December 12, at Our Lady of Sorrows, to learn more about this incredible appariation of our Blessed Mother, St. Juan Diego, and the impact this miraculous event had on the faith of the Americas.  Dinner at 7:00 PM, followed by our interactive discussion on Our Lady of Guadalupe.

2) Got sin?  Clean it up with confession! Advent is a perfect time to "repent" and "prepare the way of the Lord" (as St. John the Baptist reminds us).  There are a few Advent Communal Reconciliation Services happening in our Vicariate this week:
  • Our Lady of Sorrows - Tuesday, December 13, at 7:00 PM
  • St. Michael - Tuesday, December 13, at 7:00 PM
  • St. John Apostle & Evangelist - Wednesday, December 14, at 7:00 PM
If you haven't been to confession in a while, use this opportunity to be renewed in this sacrament of mercy and grace.

3) "I Don't Wanna Wait in Vain: A Young Adult Guide to Advent" continues to enhance our journey through this season of Advent.  How do we connect more deeply to this awesome season?  Join us at our Faith Shaing on Wednesday, December 14, at Resurrection of the Lord, from 7:00 PM.

4) The final Catholic Beer Club (CBC) for 2016 is happening this Friday, December 16, from 7:00 PM.  CBC rejoices as we move into the Advent season! Join us at REAL A GASTROPUB for some high quality pints and even higher quality fellowship. We love discussing the true, the good, and the beautiful as we prepare a way for the Lord in our hearts this Christmas. Come out, join us in celebration, and bring a friend!  All are welcome!

5) If you haven't reserved your spot to this year's Christmas Banquet, there are still spaces left.  Get a special GROUP RATE when you buy five (5) tickets.  Don't miss out on this night of 'ono food, live entertainment, games and prizes, a photo booth, and special presentations. CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets today!  We also have incentive prizes for those who help in selling five (5) tickets or more...Contact Us for more details.

6) The EPIC Food Fight is heating up! This week's "hot items" are:
  • BONUS = Canned fruits/vegetables
  • BOMBS = Mac & Cheese, Hamburger Helper, or other dry pasta mixes

7) Order the latest official EPIC dry-fit shirt today!  You can also order our original teal polo shirts as well.  See the bottom of our Home page  for more details.

8) The journey has begun...join us for our next EPIC Ministry young adult retreat, "JOURNEY," on February 10-12, at the St. Anthony Retreat Center.  Register by December 31st for a special early bird price.  CLICK HERE for more details or to sign-up.
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This Week at EPIC

12/5/2016

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EPIC ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR DEC 4-DEC 10:
1) "Meet & Greet" with Deacon Wally Mitsui at our Faith Sharing on Monday, December 5.  Deacon Wally and his wife, Aunty Gwen, have served at St. John Apostle & Evangelist in Mililani for many years and both have extensive ministry experience including working with youth and young adult ministry.  Deacon Wally has been appointed by Bishop Larry Silva to OLS effective December 1st.

2) Join us on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this Thursday, December 8, at 7:00 PM at St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki for the Deacon Ordination of Bro. Jeremy Sabugo, SS.CC.  Bro. Jeremy is originally from St. Michael in Waialua where he was very active in various parish ministries including EPIC Ministry.

3) If you haven't reserved your spot to this year's Christmas Banquet, there are still spaces left.  Get a special GROUP RATE when you buy five (5) tickets.  Don't miss out on this night of 'ono food, live entertainment, games and prizes, a photo booth, and special presentations. CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets today!

4) The EPIC Food Fight is heating up! This week's "hot items" are:
  • BONUS = Canned fruits/vegetables
  • BOMBS = Mac & Cheese, Hamburger Helper, or other dry pasta mixes

5) THANK YOU to everyone who helped with our Adopt a Family project.  If you haven't turned in your donations, please do so as soon as possible.  CLICK HERE to see the sign-up list.  Contact Us if you have any questions.

6) Order the latest official EPIC dry-fit shirt today!  You can also order our original teal polo shirts as well.  See the bottom of our Home page  for more details.

7) The journey has begun...join us for our next EPIC Ministry young adult retreat, "JOURNEY," on February 10-12, at the St. Anthony Retreat Center.  Register by December 31st for a special early bird price.  CLICK HERE for more details or to sign-up.
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EPIC Food Fight 2016 - DECEMBER

12/1/2016

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OBJECTIVE:
  • To earn the most points based on the food items collected by each team.

CHALLENGERS:
  • Team 1 (Women)
  • Team 2 (Men)

TIMELINE:
  • ENDING DECEMBER 30, 2016

FOOD ITEMS AND POINTS:
  • Vienna Sausage (1 point)
  • Spam (3 points)
  • Corned Beef (3 points)
  • Tuna (3 points)
  • Canned Fruit (2 points)
  • Canned Vegetables (2 points)
  • Soup (2 points)
  • Pork & Beans or other beans (1 point)
  • Mac & Cheese, Hamburger Helper, or other pasta mixes (2 points)
  • Ramen or Cup of Noodles (1 point)
  • Rice (1- or 5-lb. bags) (3 points)
  • Cereal or oatmeal (2 points)
  • Peanut Butter (3 points)

MONTHLY BONUS POINTS (+5 points each):
  • December 1-15: Canned fruits/vegetables
  • December 16-30: Canned spaghetti/pasta

MONTHLY BOMBS (-5 points each):
  • December 1-15: Mac & Cheese, Hamburger Helper, or other dry pasta mixes
  • December 16-30: Soup

OTHER INFORMATION:
  • Food items must be left in the team bins at our EPIC Faith Sharings.
  • Points will be calculated and posted weekly, and one team will win the overall award at the end of the Food Fight.  The losing team will be required to perform a dance at the Christmas Banquet.
  • ALL FOOD ITEMS WILL BENEFIT THE OUR LADY OF SORROWS FOOD PANTRY.
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This Week at EPIC

11/27/2016

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EPIC ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR NOV 27-DEC 3:
1) Join us for our special Thanksgiving Community Night Monday, November 28, at 7pm at OLS in the parish hall. Bring a dish to share!

2) You have only a few more days left to use promo code "EPIC2016" to save $10 off your tickets to this year's EPIC Christmas Banquet. Code valid only until Wednesday, November 30. CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets today!

3) The EPIC Food Fight is heating up! This week's "hot items" are:
  • BONUS = Vienna Sausage, Canned Vegetables, Ramen or Cup of Noodles
  • BOMBS = Pork & Beans or other beans, or Canned Fruits

4) Your participation is still needed to help us complete our lists for the Adopt a Family service project. Go to http://bit.ly/2gMjcSF to make a donation today.

5) Join us for EPIC's "An Evening with Christ" on Saturday, December 3, at the Pauline Books and Media Chapel in downtown. Eucharistic Adoration with Praise & Worship at 7pm, followed by a walk through the Honolulu City Lights.

6) Order the latest official EPIC dry-fit shirt today! See Josh or Christine to reserve your shirt for $35. Below, Josh is modeling the new design.
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EPIC Food Fight 2016 - NOVEMBER

11/1/2016

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OBJECTIVE:
  • To earn the most points based on the food items collected by each team.

CHALLENGERS:
  • Team 1 (Women)
  • Team 2 (Men)

TIMELINE:
  • ENDING DECEMBER 30, 2016

FOOD ITEMS AND POINTS:
  • Vienna Sausage (1 point)
  • Spam (3 points)
  • Corned Beef (3 points)
  • Tuna (3 points)
  • Canned Fruit (2 points)
  • Canned Vegetables (2 points)
  • Soup (2 points)
  • Pork & Beans or other beans (1 point)
  • Mac & Cheese, Hamburger Helper, or other pasta mixes (2 points)
  • Ramen or Cup of Noodles (1 point)
  • Rice (1- or 5-lb. bags) (3 points)
  • Cereal or oatmeal (2 points)
  • Peanut Butter (3 points)

MONTHLY BONUS POINTS (+5 points each):
  • November 1-15: Spam
  • November 16-30: Vienna Sausage, Canned Vegetables, Ramen or Cup of Noodles

MONTHLY BOMBS (-5 points each):
  • November 1-15: Tuna
  • November 16-30: Pork & Beans or other beans, or Canned Fruits

OTHER INFORMATION:
  • Food items must be left in the team bins at our EPIC Faith Sharings.
  • Points will be calculated and posted weekly, and one team will win the overall award at the end of the Food Fight.  The losing team will be required to perform a dance at the Christmas Banquet.
  • ALL FOOD ITEMS WILL BENEFIT THE OUR LADY OF SORROWS FOOD PANTRY.
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"Have You Loved?"

3/25/2016

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by Nolan Chang

As some of you may know, I joined the Catholic Church in 2015, as Ester is Catholic, and when we got married I wanted to have a united household.  I like it, as it gives me a different perspective and I’ve been learning a lot.  We’ve also been getting involved with the children’s ministry and EPIC Young Adult (and not so young adult) Ministry here at Resurrection of the Lord in Waipio.
 
Last night on Holy Thursday, we visited three churches with EPIC Ministry on a small pilgrimage and got to spend time in quiet prayer and adoration at each.  I got three things from this experience: one was a playback of my personal life, second was that I should write to the people in my life that mean something to me, and the third is the following that was revealed to me.   
 
I had watched a show previously that hinted that when we pass away and move on from this life, we get a broader understanding of why things happened the way they do.  Things like evil and strife disappear, and all that is left is love—the love that we shared and experienced in our lifetime.  I had heard something similar before that at the end; when you are standing before God, the question you will be asked is, “What have you done with my Son Jesus that I sent to you?” And also, “Have you Loved?”
 
So during the pilgrimage, it came to me that in the end, if things like anger, jealousy, etc., all fade, and all that is left is love, then there are three ways that we can live our life:
 
3.  We can spend our lives building up our personal empire, getting rich, getting ahead at work, or even doing evil.  But in the end, all that fades, so we are left with nothing, and none of that is really going to matter anyways.
 
2.  But most of us don’t focus on that, so the real revelation to me is this: if we are just good, follow the rules, stay on the sideline, and don’t get involved, just staying busy in our own little world, most of that will fade away too, and you will also be left with nothing.  If you do nothing in this life and don’t love, in the end you will be left with nothing, if all that is left is the love that you share.
 
1.  What’s really going to matter in the end is the love that we shared with others—family, friends or strangers—whether it be taking time in our lives to really spend time with them, or something small like taking the time out to help someone when you feel that nudge to do so. 
 
So the question to ponder is this: if in the end, love is all that is left, what are we spending our daily time and energy on?  Through the busyness of life, what are we doing with His Son, and the example of love He has given us?
 
Thank you for being someone who has influenced my life, and have a Happy Easter weekend.
 
- Nolan
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Members of EPIC Ministry in adoration and prayer in front the altar of repose at Resurrection of the Lord during the Holy Thursday Adoration Pilgrimage.

Nolan is a member of ROL EPIC Ministry and is married to Ester, Assistant Coordinator of ROL EPIC.
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Reflection by Josh Kapika

11/24/2015

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Saints Inspiring Saints

10/1/2015

 
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by Arthur Rapada, Jr.

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Junior next to a mosaic of St. Marianne in Kalaupapa
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Members of EPIC Ministry at the cross on top the crater in Kalaupapa
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Sr. Alicia Damien Lau, OSF
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St. Marianne Cope
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St. Elizabeth of Hungary
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St. Francis of Assisi
Nestled in the humble town of Kalaupapa lies the St. Elizabeth Chapel and next to it the St. Elizabeth Convent; here’s a little background on how the St. Elizabeth Chapel and Convent came to be, Saint Marianne Cope along with 6 of her Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis founded the St. Elizabeth Chapel & Convent, and the cottages of Bishop Home for Women and Girls in the 1880’s. The Convent is not only where the Sisters lived but also where they tended to the women and girls who were orphaned with Leprosy.

Here is where we, those of us who went on this E.P.I.C. Ministry retreat, learned about the works of the Franciscan Sisters and St. Marianne and how their works influenced the world from Sister Alicia. While talking with Sister Alicia in front of the Chapel she gave us homework. She wanted us to find the similarities of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and St. Marianne Cope.

Through a little bit of research here are some of the similarities:

They all left their old lives to do God’s calling, and they didn’t hesitate to do God’s will.
When St. Francis of Assisi was in his 20s he had chosen to abandon his rich and lavish lifestyle for an austere and holy life. While praying in church one day he heard Jesus Christ on the crucifix speak to him saying, “Francis, repair my church.” He took it literally and repaired the church he was praying in; in foresight what Jesus was really saying to St. Francis was to “Repair My Church”. Through his actions in helping the poor and needy St. Francis coincidently founded the Franciscan religious order where in just 10 years the brotherhood grown to 5,000! Till this very day the Franciscan is continually growing in numbers and still serves our brothers and sisters who need it most.

At the age of 16, St. Elizabeth of Hungary learned of St. Francis of Assisi and his profound compassion and works for the poor, this is when she decided she wanted to work with those who needed help the most, but it wasn’t until her husband died that she decided to leave her wealthy lifestyle and made arrangements for the care of her three children to become a tertiary of St. Francis and make working with the sick her life. 

By the time St. Marianne Cope was 24 years old she decided to pursue a religious life and joined the Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis in Syracuse, New York. She became a teacher in the New York and later a principal for immigrant children. She also helped open two Catholic hospitals in New York. St. Marianne pioneered in medical field e.g. patients were allowed to refuse treatment, she allowed medical students to work at the hospitals, she was very strict with ever worker to have good hygiene.

They loved the poor and the sick.
When St. Francis was a young lad one day he came across a leper along the countryside at first he was disgusted with the way the leper looked and smelled, but something inside him led him to embrace and kiss the leper. When the leper returned his act of compassion, St. Francis was filled with Joy. When St. Francis gave up on his old life, he started preaching about God and his love for us. He preached for the rich to give to the poor, for us as apostles to take nothing on the journey, and to take up our cross daily. St. Francis wanted to “live by the Gospel” and this is what he did.

St. Elizabeth had so much compassion for the sick she built a hospital from her own personal wealth when she was 19 years old! She wanted to make sure the patients in her hospital were taken care of, so twice a day she would bring food to the feed the people in the Church she built. Before she died at the age of 24, St. Elizabeth built two churches for the sick and poor.

It was no secret that St. Marianne loved the poor and the sick. For the beginning part of her religious life she taught as a teacher and then later became a principal for immigrant children. Then later in life she focused on giving medical care for poor in the hospitals of New York. In 1883 at the age of 45 the King of Hawaii, King Kalakaua himself requested St. Marianne to help treat the leprosy patients of Kalaupapa, Moloka’i. St. Marianne helped establish the Malulani hospital in Maui, and helped reform the management of hospitals on Oahu.

They help build Hospitals/Churches for the physically sick and spiritually sick. 
St. Francis of Assisi, St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Elizabeth all had the heart to serve those in most need, the poor, the broken, and the sick. They helped build Churches for those whose souls needed healing and Hospitals for those were also physically sick. They taught us about God’s love; and more importantly they taught us that through loving actions inspired by God we can truly heal the world. Even in death their influence and works resound till this day.

Place Where Outcasts Meet
The starry skies was never clearer,
The water never tasted so sweet,
Even time seemed to be slower,
This place where outcasts meet.
Was this really a place where the diseased were abandoned?
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide?
Chaos was rampant, until the Saints arrived.
Saint Marianne and the Franciscan Sisters,
Saint Damien and Brother Dutton.
They did not see Leprosy patients,
But our sisters and our brothers.
They did not see outcasts,
They saw God’s sons and daughters.
Their faith, hope and love will never be forgotten.
And the greatest of these is love, will remain certain.
The starry skies was never clearer,
The water never tasted so sweet,
Even time seemed to be slower,
This place where outcasts meet.
A place where God sent his Saints.
Where God’s love is still present.
Kalaupapa, Molokai the place I felt I belonged,
The place I long to be.
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