Friday night. Eight musical groups. Free admission.

That should be enough to entice a whole bunch of college-age young adults to the Leeward Community College’s concert hall on July 18.

That’s when the fifth annual H.E.A.R.T (that’s Heavenly Ensembles Artistically Rejoicing Together) ecumenical concert takes the stage at 6 p.m.

The music by Catholic and Protestant church groups promises to be upbeat and uplifting — a moving mix of inspirational praise and worship sure to get the heart thumping, the hands clapping and the spirit stirring.

Okay, the line-up is half Catholic, but there are reasons for that. Catholics make up about half the Christians in Hawaii and there are 12 Catholic parishes in Leeward and Central Oahu. Besides, it’s the Leeward Community College Catholic Club that is hosting the event.

Club advisor Deacon Ernie Libarios said the concert is a great opportunity for young adults to reach out across the craggy Christian divide.

“We get to know each other and celebrate Christ together,” he said.

He said Catholics and evangelical Protestants have negative stereotypes about each other that events like this break down. They start by sharing instruments and end up sharing friendships.

“Everyone sees each other as fellow Christians,” he said.

Here’s the slate of performers in the order (still tentative) of appearance:

®  Pearl City United Church of Christ

®  Kawaiahao Church Praise and Worship Team

®  Over Comers, from Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Pearl City

®  On Fire, also from Our Lady of Good Counsel

®  Our Lady of Sorrow Rejoice, from Wahiawa

®  New Hope, West Side

®  3 Rising, Ecumenical Christian Alternative

®  Our Lady or Perpetual Help, Ewa Beach

John Choi of Word of Life Church will do the honors as master of ceremony.

Libarios said the LCC Catholic Club is a way “to get Catholic kids to bond together” at a time in their lives when the church often loses them.

He said that the concert also has a non-religious value. It introduces young adults, who have up to now avoided higher education, to a college campus and helps motivate them to enroll.

Last year the concert was outside and about 500 people came.

For more information, call Deacon Ernie Libarios at 455-0242, or Chris Legaspi at 389-2729.