In the Pastoral Council, the concept of shared responsibilities is learned with
the concern of planning the spiritual and ministerial development of the parish.
The Council's manner of operation is one of consensus, which includes prayerful
reflection, gathering of information, and shared wisdom. The members of St. John the Baptist Pastoral Council are a prayerful
community of people from various backgrounds. The Council is united as a family
to encourage the parishioners in supporting our Church and Pastor, and to foster
a feeling of peace and unity within the Church. The Pastoral Council, as a listening body, is open to ideas and suggestions
to meet the needs of the parish. With one another and the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, the council strives to guide the parish to serve God and live His
Will. Together, the Council pledges to work in creating a warm and loving
environment that will encourage fellow parishioners to participate in living and
sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. The process of selecting and electing the members of the Pastoral Council is
a long and thorough one. They aspire and strive to have members that represent
the diverse social and economic diversity of that community's population. If a
diverse population cannot be achieved, then candidates should be virtuous and
dedicated to serving Christ. [back to index]
Music Ministry
Several groups provide music for St. John the Baptist liturgies. They operate as
part of the Liturgy Committee in coordinating music and liturgy for the year.
Choir leaders select songs. The Filipino Catholic Club & Gimong do music for the
Saturday 5 p.m. mass. The Children's Choir sings for the 6 a.m. Sunday mass. St.
John's School Choir does music for the 8 a.m. Sunday mass. The music for the 10
a.m. mass is led by the Samoan Choir and Noon mass is sung by the Hispanic
Choir.[back to index]
Youth & Confirmation Ministry
"Come follow me, I will make you fishers of men."
The Youth Ministry of St. John the Baptist is committed to creating and
nourishing a Christian environment for the youth of our parish. They will share
life experiences and inspire them to love and pray with one another. They will
walk with them as they begin their spiritual journey toward a deeper
relationship with God. Together, they will spread the good news as Jesus wills
us to do.
The Confirmation Ministry creates an environment in which young people will
be ale to respond to the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They
accomplish this by fostering Confirmation candidates to give witness to their
faith through prayer, worship, and service. They build relationships with
Christ, adult leaders, and each other.[back to
index]
Religious Education
Religious Education teachers at St. John the Baptist commit themselves to help
students experience God through spiritual awareness. Parents are encouraged to
actively participate in this spiritual growth, which will lead both students and
parents to witness and serve others. [back to index]
Samoan Choir
The Samoan Choir attempts to keep the Samoan culture and traditions alive
through music. Even as families come to Hawaii and try to assimilate into
American culture, they still want to retain the values of their own culture. This choir practices twice a week and they sing during 10 a.m. Sunday masses.
The first Sunday of each month is reserved for a special Samoan mass; the first
reading and all songs are in Samoan. After mass, the choir visits the Samoan
elderly and sick, and has fellowship in the Parish Hall. Each year the Samoan Choir participates in the Bishop's Concert to compete
with all choirs across the islands. In 2002 St. John the Baptist's Samoan Choir
won first place.[back to index]
Eucharistic Ministry
The Eucharistic Ministry is a sacred ministry made up of lay persons who assist
the priests in distributing the Body and Blood of Christ to others in Holy
Communion.[back to index]
Lectors
The Lectors enhance the celebration of the Mass by proclaiming the Good News of
the Scripture with the Parish of St. John the Baptist in a reverent and humble
manner.[back to index]
Sacristy Guild
The mission of the Sacristy Guild is to clean the sacristy, launder all linens
and albs, send chasubles to the cleaners, change altar and tabernacle linens for
special occasions, refill the holy water containers, and polish the chalice and
the ciborium.[back to index]
Altar Servers
The altar servers assist Father in the celebration of the Mass and other
religious ceremonies. Servers may be youth or adults. Sacristans must be adults.
The sacristan trains the altar servers and sets up the altar and sacred vessels
in preparation for Mass.[back to index]
Liturgy Committee
The Liturgy Committee works hand-in-hand with the clergy to prepare meaningful
liturgical services for the worshipping community.[back
to index]
Altar Ministry
The Altar Ministry consists of teams of parishioners who are committed to Christ
by cleaning and decorating the altar and sacristy every Saturday. There are
seven teams, most of which have five members or more.[back
to index]
Two Hearts Prayer Group
The Two Hearts Prayer Group meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the Sisters Convent
chapel. They pray the Rosary, Stations of the Cross and conclude with a prayer
to the Sacred Heart and a prayer of Consecration to the Two Hearts of Jesus and
Mary.[back to index]
Filipino Catholic Club
The Filipino Catholic Club fosters spiritual awareness among Filipino families
through prayer and Bible sharing. They perpetuate the unique spiritual and
cultural heritage of the Catholic faith through promoting Dawn Masses and the
Flores de Mayo celebration. They encourage interest in apostolic work and
participate in church ministries. They raise and provide scholarships to
deserving Filipino students from elementary through high school and college.[back
to index]
Gimong Ti Novena Ilocano
The Gimong Ti Novena Ilocano is a group of united Filipinos who perform outreach
services of prayer for the living and the dead in Filipino homes. They promote
spiritual growth among Filipino families through prayer.[back
to index]
Finance & Building
The Finance Committee assists the Pastor in the management of the parish
finances. They act as a nucleus to oversee the financial needs of the parish,
its available resources, and monitor the parish's income and expenses.[back
to index]
Neo-Catechumenal Way
"It is important for modern parishes to become centers of post-baptismal
religious instruction (catechesis), so that Catholics can better experience the
connection between the sacraments and their daily lives."
Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, August 8, 2003
In 1990 the Holy See recognized the Neo-Catechumenal Way as an "itinerary of
Catholic information valid for our society and our times." As a response to a
call for parish renewal by Bishop Francis DiLorenzo in 1994, the Way is now
present in three Oahu parishes: Holy Trinity, Our Lady or Good Counsel, and St.
John the Baptist.[back to index]
Baptism
Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation into the Roman Catholic Church. St.
John the Baptist Church has developed a program whereby parents wishing to have
their child baptized may do so. Through the sacrament of Baptism, St. John 's
Church hopes to reignite the spirit of evangelization and raise the spritual
awareness of its members.[back to index]
Outreach
As a parish community, St. John the Baptist chooses to build local communities
of faith where the social teachings of the Church are integral and central. The
Social Ministry Outreach Committee is a group of dedicated parishioners. Their
task is to make the mission of Jesus real. They work for a greater justice,
peace for the people, and help the parish find ways to meet emergencies and long
term assistance for people in need.[back to index]
Hospitality
The Hospitality Ministry greets and escorts parishioners to their seats,
participates in the monetary and spiritual offering of the mass, gives leis and
gifts to visitors and those celebrating special events, and supervises the flow
of vehicular traffic and parking before and after Mass.[back
to index]
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