LOCAL BRIEFS
Father Gross to preside at YLI’s annual Lenten Mass
The Young Ladies Institute’s joint annual Lenten Mass is 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27, in St. Francis School Convent Chapel. Father Thomas Gross, diocesan administrator, will be the presider. A brunch will follow at 11 a.m. at Tree Tops Restaurant at which Father Gross will be presented with the Golden Jubilee Burse for seminarians, the organization’s annual donation to support those studying for the priesthood. The cost for the brunch is $16. Reservations should be made with your institute deputy. Guests are welcome.
Women’s Gathering to honor isle woman, host mainland speaker
The 2005 Women’s Gathering, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., March 5, in the Mystical Rose Oratory at Chaminade University of Honolulu will honor a local woman and feature a mainland speaker.
The theme of the event, hosted by the Diocesan Women’s Concerns Committee, is the “Spirituality of Friendship.”
Receiving the Mustard Seed Award in recognition of her “faith-inspired activities and behavior” in the benefit of others is Iwie Tamashiro, program director for the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities and Parish Social Ministry.
Tamashiro will be recognized for opening the doors of Hawaii parishes to persons with disabilities, for helping the American Cancer Society honor survivors and raise funds through its Relay for Life, and for coordinating services for the families of the Hawaii National Guard currently serving in the Middle East.
Dominican Sister Margaret Scharf will be the gathering’s main speaker. Sister Margaret supervises a three-year training program for spiritual directors at the Center for Spiritual Development in Orange, Calif. Her background is in spirituality, religious studies and intercultural studies.
The cost of registration for the gathering is $15 and includes lunch. For more information and to register, call 263-8844 ext 330.
Vocal Arts Ensemble concerts to feature sacred music old, new
The Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, under the direction of Timothy Carney, will give two Sacred Sounds Concerts, 7:30 p.m., March 5, and 4 p.m., March 6, in the Mystical Rose Oratory on the campus of Chaminade University of Honolulu.
The concerts will feature a wide selection of sacred choral music from the Renaissance to the present.
Featured will be Eric Whitacre’s contemporary setting of “i thank You God for most this amazing day,” based on text by e.e. cummings, and traditional renditions of “Ave Maria” by Bruckner, Gounod, Stravinsky and Javier Busto. The concerts will also include a gospel-style “Magnificat” by local composer John Alexander, and the premiere of a new work by local composer Claire Karst Rivero.
Ticket prices are $17.50 for general admission, $12.50 for military and seniors, and $5 for students. Preferred seating is $35. To order tickets, call 551-4808. For more information, call 386-4753.
Canadian Bishop Remi De Roo to facilitate retreat on Enneagram
Retired Bishop Father Remi J. De Roo of Victoria, Canada, will facilitate with Pearl Gervais an ecumenical retreat on Enneagram theory entitled, “Our Journey: From Knowing God to be Known by God,” on March 11, 7:30-9:30 p.m., and March 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Spiritual Life Center at First United Methodist Church at 1020 S. Beretania St.
Bishop De Roo is one of the few remaining bishops who attended the Second Vatican Council. Gervais gives workshops and retreats in spirituality, personal growth and business.
Bishop De Roo and Gervais are certified Enneagram teachers and co-wrote with Diane Tolomeo the book “Biblical Characters and the Enneagram: Images of Transformation.”
An Enneagram is a method of charting one’s personality among nine personality types. Both the bishop and Gervais studied Scripture at the Tantur Institute in Jerusalem and offer workshops in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
The cost for the retreat is $20 for Friday only, $55 for Saturday only and $75 for both days. Send payment and registration to Spiritual Life Center, 1120 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96814. For more information call the Spiritual Life Center at 523-1170.
Divine Mercy novena, Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church
Blessed Sacrament Church will host a nine-day Divine Mercy novena from 2:45 p.m., Good Friday, March 25, to 2:30 p.m., April 3, Mercy Sunday. Mass each day will be celebrated by Sacred Hearts Father Stephen Van den Eynde.
The Divine Mercy devotions are based on the diaries of Saint Faustina Kowalska of Poland who recorded the revelations she received about God’s mercy. She died in 1938. At her canonization, Pope John Paul II declared the second Sunday of Easter “Divine Mercy Sunday.”
A Mercy Sunday celebration will begin with the recitation of the Luminous Mysteries and a meditation on the Chaplet of Divine Mercy followed by Mass at 3 p.m. celebrated by Father Henry Sabog.
Participants are asked receive the sacrament of reconciliation eight days before Mercy Sunday, perform corporal works of mercy, recite the Divine Mercy Prayers and pray a novena of chaplets.
For more information call 545-3546.
Chinese Catholic Club offering scholarship to local seniors
The Chinese Catholic Club of Honolulu is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior entering University of Hawaii at Manoa or Chaminade University of Honolulu in the fall. Certain qualifications are required, such as financial need, a high school transcript and letters of recommendation. Application forms are available through high school offices. Applications are due June 1.