20 March 2025
Last Friday Bishop Fitzpatrick ordained two deacons at St. Mark's who will eventually be ordained priests. Deacon Hannah Lee travelled from Guam to be ordained, while Deacon Erin Richardson Severin returned from Sewanee for the occasion. It was a joyous day, and we look forward to the celebrations when both are ordained priests. Deacon Erin discerned her call while a parishioner at Saint Mark's.
Last night we celebrated the Feast of Saint Joseph. Due to being in Lent, Saint Joseph rarely receives the honor that is due. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Feast of Saint Joseph is a Solemnity similar to the Annunciation or the Epiphany. In the Episcopal Church the day is simply categorized as a Major Feast. The Hymnal 1982 does not provide many hymns for the day, so we went digging into other resources, and we found some true gems. Last year was the first time we celebrated this feast with a high mass at St. Mark's.
Next week we celebrate the Annunciation, and in Hawai'i there is the added bonus that the day after the Annunciation is Kuhio Day, a state holiday. After a joyful evening high mass, it is always nice to have a public holiday the following day. The Choir will sing for the Annunciation Evening High Mass, and the mass includes a procession.
St. Joseph and the Annunciation are feast days of the incarnation cycle, celebrating the birth of Jesus. They provide theological contrast as we carry on with our Lenten pilgrimage and its themes on the cross, sacrifice, and redemption. At one point in church history, it was a widespread belief that the Annunciation and Good Friday occurred on the same date. The announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary, and his death on the cross saving the world, shared a single day. Such piety invites us to reflect upon how the Word-Made-Flesh of Christmas is also the Body-Broken-on-the-Cross at Calvary.
Among these ordinations and feasts days, the church also "celebrates" the Sacrament of Confession. People may not regard the confession of sins as a celebration, but it actually is, because through this Sacrament God's grace and love is boldly celebrated with those seeking forgiveness. Again, the cross and the incarnation intersect in a human life, as earthly flesh becomes a touch point of Jesus' humanity and his death on the cross saving us. Because of the uptick of confessions this Lent, I have extended the published time for this Sacrament on Saturdays. Instead of beginning at 10:30 am, confessions will now begin at 10:00 am.
I also have a change to the weekday mass schedule to share. Mass on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday will now be at 12:00 noon rather than 11:00 am. (The Saturday mass will remain at 11:00 am.) Many who attend the weekday masses have a discipline of gathering online at 9:00 am for Matins and Lauds. Having the mass at 12:00 noon will make it easier for those who engage both the daily office and the mass on a weekday. The Church is always a work in progress.
As week look to the celebrations of Holy Week, the liturgical minister rota is almost finalized. Thank you to those who have donated money to sponsor Easter flowers and music, and do not forget to support Episcopal Relief and Development, this year’s Lenten charity. In the coming days the sign-up sheet for the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday will be posted. I will also be posting a sign-up sheet for twelve people who desire to have their feet washed at the Maundy Mass. I wish you and your loved ones a Blessed Lent as we prepare for the mysteries of Holy Week.
Father Paul Lillie +
