Religion Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff &
Associated Press
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Catholic parishes host observances for Lent
The beginning of Lent will be observed Wednesday in all Catholic parishes as parishioners are marked with ashes on their foreheads as a symbol of the penitential theme of the 40-day period leading to Easter.
Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva will rub ashes on people's foreheads in the sign of the cross at the noon Mass at Our Lady of Peace Cathedral.
Silva will preside next weekend when Catholic candidates for baptism affirm their intention to become Christians at a ceremony at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. The Rite of Election will be at 2 p.m. March 5 at the church at 712 N. School St.
The celebration is traditionally held on the first Sunday of Lent as candidates near the end of several months of studies leading to baptism at Easter.
Some 188 people statewide have taken classes since September, said Patrick Downes, diocesan spokesman. People over age 7 are required to complete the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults course to qualify for baptism.
Lutheran youth to hold fundraising concert
Lent will be ushered in at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu next Saturday with music by a steel drum ensemble -- a huge change from the choral and orchestral classical music concerts usually heard at the Makiki church.
Youths from the congregation will present the 3 p.m. concert at 1730 Punahou St., featuring vocal and instrumental music.
Admission is free, but the youngsters aim to collect pledges of $40, a dollar for each day of Lent, from audience members. Their goal is $5,000 to buy "an ark of animals" for poor families in Third World countries, said project spokeswoman Anna Womack.
Last year, the congregation donated $5,000 to Heifer International, a nonprofit organization that helps impoverished families become self-reliant by providing food and income-producing animals such as cows, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens.
Womack said Lutheran Church of Honolulu member Mitchell Gorman, 8, hatched the idea of the benefit "Fill the Ark II" concert.