Robbi Kean, left, wore a traditional Ukrainian outfit, and Lucy Peros wore traditional Filipino attire at the send-off Mass for the diocesan traveling Jubilee cross, which left Christ the King Church in Kahului July 26 and was transported to St. Ann Church in Waihee. (Courtesy Audie Pascual)
By Lucy Peros
Special to the Herald
The island of Maui received the traveling Jubilee cross last month with open arms.
Christ the King Church in Kahului had the privilege of being the first church on Maui to host the traveling Jubilee cross, which will remain on the island until September — thus completing its tour of the Maui-Lanai Vicariate (it visited Lanai earlier this year).
The cross arrived July 21 and remained at Christ the King until July 26.
On its first night, Msgr. Terry Watanabe was the main celebrant of a liturgy that was concelebrated by all the priests on Maui.
Each night’s liturgical celebration was planned and prepared by assigned ministry and choir groups.
Christ the King opened each day at 4 p.m. for quiet adoration, followed by recitation of the rosary, prayer of the Divine Mercy chaplet and the offering of candles near the Jubilee cross for peace in the world. Benediction also was held before Mass at 6:30 p.m.
On the last day of the Jubilee cross’ stay at Christ the King, an aloha Mass was held before it was transported to St. Ann Church in Waihee.
Christ the King parishioners donned ethnic attire, showing solidarity along with their pastor, La Salette Father Efren Tomas, and associate pastor, La Salette Father Anil Varghese.
Fittingly, the cross’ transfer took place on the feast of St. Ann.
At the aloha Mass, Father Tomas shared a very inspiring homily and prayer. He said: “As we now bid goodbye to the traveling Jubilee cross in our midst, we are reminded anew of the cross. We are asked to accept the message of the cross in our hearts and in our lives. Our choice is clear: to discover in the cross of Christ the meaning of our lives.
“For most of us, the cross is the symbol of God’s love. The cross, which was before a symbol of scandal and death, became the instrument of victory and life. The cross became the symbol of the selfless love of Jesus. Through the cross, he restored our dignity as children of God.
“We are no longer to live in sin. We are free and we must remain free because of the triumph, the victory of the cross. The way of the cross is the only path that leads to genuine joy, peace and fullness of life. Only through the cross of Jesus shall we attain victory in life.”
Prayerfully gazing upon the Jubilee cross dedicated and blessed by Bishop Larry Silva is our way to celebrate and enter into the spirit of the Jubilee Year. The cross is at the heart of our attention and contemplation as we seek the grace for renewal.