To Mirror the Holy Family

/ Pastor Message

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reading I: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Reading II: Colossians 3:12-21
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

We come now to the end of the civil calendar, the last day of the year 2023. It’s a day to look back at the year that was and look forward to the coming year. So many events have happened in the past 12 months, the most unforgettable was the tragedy that hit the island of Maui. Many have lost their homes, and some have lost their loved ones. They continued to struggle from that tragedy and encountered severe problems coping with the loss. But the mere fact that we have arrived at the last day of the calendar year is an opportunity to thank God for the many blessings which we have received during those darkest moments. God was with us during those moments. He will never abandon us.


As we celebrate the feast of the Holy family, our thoughts and prayers go out to our own family members, to families affected by the fire, to our spiritual family of Christ the King Parish where we belong. We reach out in prayer and beg the Lord to continue keeping all in His love and protect all who call on Him. We lift up in prayer all family members affected by the fire in Lahaina, and in a special way for all Christians persecuted and tortured and even killed because of their faith.

At the end of this year, let us remind ourselves that our families are called to be holy, that is, whole and integral. We are to mirror the Holy Family of Nazareth which, despite the adversities of life, remained intact and continued to trust in God’s Divine Providence, living in simplicity, solidarity, hospitality, commitment, mutual respect, self-giving and loving affirmation.

Picture of Efren Tomas

Efren Tomas

In 2004, Father Efren arrived on Maui, Hawaii to be the Pastor of Christ The King Catholic Church in Kahului, Maui until 2012. He calls Christ The King his home because this was his first parish in Hawaii.
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