STAR-BULLETIN / 2005 Many Christian denominations observe Lent with special prayers, fasting and meditative meals to prepare for the greatest Christian holy day. Here, Father Gary Colton puts ash on the forehead of a church member at the Co-Cathedral at St. Theresa in Kalihi.

Lenten events mark prelude to Easter

The season of Lent, a six-week period leading up to Easter, will begin next week.

Many Christian denominations observe Lent with special prayers, fasting and meditative meals to prepare for the greatest Christian holy day.

The sign of the cross will be drawn with ashes on the foreheads of worshippers at Wednesday services in an ancient tradition that symbolizes human mortality and the salvation Jesus brought by his death on a cross.

Some of the events planned:

» Catholic Bishop Larry Silva will preside at the noon Mass Wednesday at Our Lady of Peace Cathedral on Fort Street Mall. The imposition of ashes will take place during Masses in all other Catholic parishes on the island.

» There will be two Ash Wednesday Eucharist services, with imposition of ashes, at St. Andrew's Cathedral at Queen Emma Square. There will be a noon service at Parke Chapel. Episcopal Bishop Richard Chang will preside at a 5:30 p.m. service in the cathedral.

» St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 539 Kapahulu Ave., will hold Ash Wednesday services at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Lenten Stations of the Cross and Benediction will be held at 6 p.m. Friday.

» A 7 p.m. Wednesday service at Christ Church Uniting, 1300 Kailua Road, will be co-celebrated with Keolu United Methodist Church. It will include a sprinkling of water as a reminder of baptism and anointing with oil as a sign of God's healing as well as the application of ashes.

» Waiokeola Congregational Church, 4705 Kilauea Ave., will hold a worship service with imposition of ashes at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

But first, the Waiokeola Church congregation will celebrate the pre-Lenten tradition of Mardi Gras with a 6 p.m. Tuesday pancake supper and entertainment.