As a youngster growing up in Kāpaʻa, Kauaʻi, I attended Sunday mass each week at St. Catherine’s Church with ʻohana on my pāpā’s side. My granny, Minnie Victorino, and aunty, Marlene Kauō, were devout parishioners and church choir members. They, along with the teachers of the Bible study classes I attended after school each week (called catechism), were primarily responsible for helping to build my understanding of the two big seasons of life: Lent and Advent. Whether in church or Bible study, I remember that we didn’t just focus on the holidays of Easter and Christmas but on the seasons leading up to those very special days.

My treasured childhood memories around Lent include going to church with my granny on Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday. I remember running home carrying leaves blessed by Father Fox and placing them in our ‘ukulele cases and dresser drawers, under the mattresses in every room of our hale, and even in the glove boxes of the family cars.

In the third grade, I remember reading about the actual journey Jesus took leading up to the crucifixion. Sister Philomena taught us that the idea of being able to give something up in the 40 days of Lent was a reminder of the struggle Jesus endured and the incredible sacrifice he gave for us.

While we showed our mahalo for that sacrifice by giving up eating meat on Fridays during Lent, we couldn’t help but look forward to going holoholo with my dad or uncles so we could bring home supper for the ʻohana—sometimes from the ocean, and sometimes from Kojima’s or Big Save.

While I haven’t attended Sunday mass in a while, when I stop and think about what Lent means to me now in my adult life, I am mindful of the struggles those around me are enduring – ʻohana, friends and colleagues. I also reflect on my own humanity and imperfection and am filled with humility and gratitude for the aloha, struggle, and sacrifice of our blessed Savior.

God’s word for us today reminds us that we can all rejoice even when we go through challenges because our Lord suffered too, and if we suffer with Him, we will reign with Him too! Therefore, we can endure our suffering with joy and hope through the power of the resurrection of Christ, knowing that this life is just a moment compared to eternity.

This is the crown of life that we are given by grace through faith because Christ suffered and died for us.

Teen Take
KSH senior Michaela Cachola

Nowadays we are often too connected to our laptops and iPhones that we forget to connect to the One who matters most:  the Lord, our Savior. I feel like our lives, as high schoolers, are way too busy. Every day I find myself buried in homework and scholarship applications, and whatever time I have left, I use to hang out with my family and friends.

That’s why during this season of Lent, which is forty days long, I decided to give up three things that are central to my life: social media, non-Christian music, and rice. I never realized how hard that would be. I still feel pretty disconnected from the world;                  

I don’t know what my friends are up to, I don’t know what cool new songs are coming out, and I’m missing out on a lot of musubis and sushi. But I only have 31 days to go!

Sacrificing these three things left me with a lot of time on my hands. I use this time to think of everything God blessed me with, like food, shelter, an education, my friends and family, and most importantly, I remember the ultimate sacrifice that God gave us: His Son. God gave us so many blessings in life, the least we can do is sacrifice some of our own time to honor Him and reflect upon the life He gave us.

Mahalo nui loa to KS Hawaiʻi Electronic Media Kumu Nader Shehata who shot and produced this week’s video hīmeni with kōkua from students Sunshyne Akana, John McCollum IV, Moananui Peleiholani-Blankenfeld and Jayden Wagner-Mason.

Sing along with the Lent week 3 hīmeni

KSH senior Michaela Cachola joins Hawaiʻi campus Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard in singing the hymn, “I Pā Mai a Ola Au” – He Touched Me as part of this week’s Lent devotional. KS created Hawaiian-focused devotionals for use by KS students, families and others to celebrate the coming of Easter. Each includes scripture, student and staff messages, hīmeni and more. The devotionals will posted to the KS I Mua Newsroom every Friday leading up to Easter. See the devotionals as they post at http://www.ksbe.edu.

Hauʻoli Motta, poʻo kumu of the KS Hawaiʻi Hālau Kupukupu Innovations Academy (right) shares her manaʻo on enduring the struggles in life with joy and hope, as part of this week’s Lent devotional. KSH Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard (left) helped develop the Lent series.

KSK Kahu Kordell Kekoa, KSM Kahu Kalani Wong and KSH Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard developed the Lent series. View their intro to the devotionals in the video below.

Kahu Kaunaloa (right) and KS Hawaʻi senior Moananui Peleiholani-Blankenfeld sing this week’s hymn., “He Touched Me.” Sing along by viewing the video below.

KSH senior Michaela Cachola shares her manaʻo on sacrificing social media, non-Christian music, and rice during Lent in this week’s devotional.

---

TAGS

CATEGORIES
Kaipuolono Article, Newsroom, Campus Programs, Hawaii, Department News, Features

Print with photos Print text only