Religion Briefs
Saturday, September 15, 2001
Scholarship fund-raiser to honor Bishop Ferrario
The Augustine Educational Foundation will celebrate milestones in the life of retired Catholic Bishop Joseph Ferrario, its vice president and chief operating officer, with a Sept. 27 fund-raising gala to benefit its scholarship program.Ferrario, 75, who served as Honolulu bishop from 1982 until retirement in 1993, marked his 50th anniversary as a priest earlier this year.
Monday is the deadline for reservations to the "Giving and Sharing Celebration" at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel. The cost is $175 a person, with table sponsorship available for $1,750, $2,500, $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000. A portion of the price is tax-deductible. Call the foundation office, 230-2440.
The foundation is named after St. Augustine parish school in Waikiki, which was closed by Ferrario's predecessor, Bishop John J. Scanlan. Proceeds of the school sale endowed the foundation, which has provided more than $1.7 million in tuition aid to 3,400 children attending Catholic elementary or secondary schools.
Prayer service tomorrow for people of all faiths
An interdenominational Japanese prayer service will be held at 3 p.m. tomorrow for the victims of the terrorist attacks.The service, open to people of all faiths, will begin at 3 p.m. at Nuuanu Congregational Church, 2651 Pali Hwy.
It is sponsored by the Council of Japanese Christian Churches. For information, call the Rev. Eiichi Suzuki, 973-4335.
Lecture series to focus on 'Understanding Islam'
A six-week lecture series on "Understanding Islam" will begin Monday in the University of Hawaii Outreach College.Honolulu businessman Saleem Ahmed, a former East-West Center scholar, will teach the sessions at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Webster Hall Room 113. The noncredit course is open free to the public. To register, call the UH Outreach College, 956-7221.
The course has been offered in four previous semesters and was scheduled before the terrorist attacks in Washington, D.C., and New York.
Ahmed said he addresses misconceptions about the religion -- such as a frequent question about whether Islam condones killing innocent people -- that arise from the acts of fanatical Muslims.
Course information is also available by calling Ahmed at 554-5129.
Talks to honor Buddhist Bishop Kanmo Imamura
A lecture series created to commemorate the legacy of the late Honpa Hongwanji Bishop Kanmo Imamura will be inaugurated next weekend at the Buddhist Study Center.Taitetsu Unno, author of "River of Fire, River of Life" and other books about Buddhism, will speak at 7 p.m. Friday and at 8 a.m. next Saturday on "Nembutsu and the Creative Life." Unno is a professor emeritus at Smith College.
Imamura retired in 1974 after seven years as bishop of the Hawaii Kyodan, the umbrella organization of the Honpa Hongwanji denomination. He was instrumental in establishing the Buddhist Study Center.
He was born in Honolulu and educated and ordained in Japan.
He worked in Oahu Hongwanji positions from 1934 to 1941, then worked more than 25 years in California at the Berkeley Buddhist Church and for Buddhist associations.
The talks are free and open to the public. Donations will be welcome.Monthly tour group to visit MOA Foundation
The Open Table Pilgrimage, which takes people on an educational tour of Oahu places of worship, will sponsor a visit tomorrow to the Pan American MOA Foundation at 3510 Nuuanu Pali Dr.
Mokichi Okada Association representatives will describe the activities of the Japanese-based spiritual community, which engages in healing and organic horticulture. It is named for its founder, who teaches the need for a cosmopolitan culture to promote survival of humanity.
The meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. is open to the public. For information, call 263-8567.
Open Table, an ecumenical discussion group, sponsors the monthly pilgrimage.
Lutheran High students offer free car wash
Lutheran High School students, faculty and friends will stage their second "Free Mega Car Wash" next Saturday at six locations around Oahu.Students have collected pledges for the fund-raiser, which will benefit the school's scholarship program, athletic department and class expenses. Although it is free, drivers may make tax-deductible donations.
Car wash crews will work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations:
>> Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 638 N. Kuakini St.
>> Messiah Lutheran Church, 91-679 Fort Weaver Rd., Ewa Beach.
>> Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1404 University Ave.
>> Our Savior Lutheran Church, 98-1098 Moanalua Rd., Aiea.
>> St. Mark Lutheran Church, 45-725 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe.
>> Trinity Lutheran Church, 1615 California Ave.
Youth for Christ to hold multifaith rally tonight
Hawaii Youth for Christ will hold an interdenominational rally tonight for college, high school and middle school students who will participate in the "See You at the Pole" prayer network Wednesday.Several Christian ministries will participate in the 7-9 p.m. rally at the University of Hawaii Art Auditorium.
Students at public schools and universities will gather at a flagpole on their own campuses at 7 a.m. Wednesday for the annual student-led prayer event. The theme this year is "Desperate for God," based on Psalm 84.
RELIGION CALENDAR
