FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@ STARBULLETIN.COM
The Rev. Ted Robinson spoke yesterday about the Columbia tragedy during services at Central Union Church.
Isles share prayers Michael Donato said the deaths of seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia will be a constant reminder for him that "life is precious."
for lost astronauts
The Columbia crew is mourned
at services throughout HawaiiBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comThe freshman at Aiea High School learned of the tragedy while watching cartoons with his younger brother Saturday.
"Anything can happen," said Donato, 14, following Mass yesterday at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea.
Donato was among thousands of Hawaii residents who prayed for the astronauts yesterday during various Oahu services.
Columbia, the nation's oldest space shuttle, broke apart as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere Saturday following a 16-day mission. The seven astronauts on board were killed.
Danita Bruce, who attended Central Union Church in Honolulu, watched TV news coverage of the tragedy. While lightly patting her chest, she said she could not imagine going through the same pain that the astronauts' families are experiencing.
"I was completely shocked," Bruce said.
"They (the astronauts) were doing what they loved to do," she said.
During Mass at Central Union, the Rev. Edward "Ted" Robinson said the disaster touched many in the congregation, particularly one woman who was a good friend of the space shuttle's commander, Col. Rick Husband.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS
Marva Lopez wiped tears from her eyes today as she held her 3-year-old daughter, Jazmin, at a memorial to the crew of the space shuttle Columbia in Houston.
"It's been a shock to her family," Robinson said after the service.
The woman was not available for comment.
Robinson advised his congregation, "Recognize your feelings, and give yourself time to work through them."
"It's a tremendous tragedy," Robinson said. "We have to say goodbye to those we love, but that doesn't mean the end. ... Ultimately, we will be reunited again."
Deaconess Sarah Moriyama, of Central Union Church, worried about the timing of the disaster with the country preparing for a possible war against Iraq and still feeling the economic effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"We have to have faith in the Lord and hope everything works out for us," Moriyama said.
At St. Elizabeth Church, some parishioners were shocked the nation's space shuttle program could be hit with another tragedy.
"You never thought it was going to happen twice," Elsie Lacaden said.
On Jan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. All seven astronauts aboard, including Kona's Ellison Onizuka, were killed.
When Donato's mother, Virginia, first tuned into TV news coverage of the Columbia disaster on Saturday, she thought she was seeing taped footage from the Challenger accident but soon realized she was wrong.
The Rev. Robert Maher, of St. Elizabeth, said the Columbia disaster became part of the lesson that was taught during a Christian education class Saturday morning.
Children learned that the Columbia tragedy was an unexpected accident. The children held hands and prayed for the seven astronauts, Maher said.
"Tragedy happens," he said. "We still need to know that this isn't the end. We need to have hope."
NASA
