Four candidates of the Third Order of Mary, Marist Society, will be professed during the 7:25 a.m. Mass on Sept. 8 at Star of the Sea Church.

The pastor and the group’s spiritual director, Blessed Sacrament Father Mark del Rosario, will preside over the canonical ceremony of profession of Linda Susan Madamba, Sandra Palencia, Cecile Posey and Rose Zabanal.

Mely McGivern, president and instructor, invites fellow parishioners and friends for a light brunch in the cafeteria after the service. The Blessed Mother’s birthday will be the highlight of this beautiful day. For information about the Third Order of Mary, call 396-6569.

Revisit your ethnic roots, and food,  at a Taste of Portugal

Those wishing to get in touch with their Portuguese-Hawaii heritage should go to the Taste of Portugal, a day offering loads of Portuguese food, cultural attire, displays and a wealth of genealogical information, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Aug. 25, at Sam’s Club in the Pearl Highlands Center in Pearl City.

Come and get your fill of malassadas, Portuguese bean soup, Portuguese sausage musubis, Portuguese sausage hot dogs and more.

The day is being presented by the Nova Esperança Club of the Hawaii Committee on Portuguese Heritage which is supported by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and through appropriations from the Hawaii State Legislature.

Call 845-1616 for more information.

Serra Club to give appreciation dinner for Hawaii priests

The Serra Club of Honolulu will host all priests in Hawaii at a gala appreciation dinner at the Hale Koa Hotel, 6 p.m., on Sept. 6.

All diocesan priests, religious order priests, military chaplains and visiting priests are welcome. Reservations are required and must be made by Aug. 31 by calling Serra Club president Jack Kampfer at 621-5109, ext. 226 or Serra Club secretary Estrella Estillore at 672-8100.

Founded in 1970, the Serra Club of Honolulu belongs to a worldwide Catholic organization of lay men and women dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, deaconate and vowed religious life.

Kailua parish offers information sessions for lapsed Catholics

St. John Vianney Parish in Kailua is offering a series of six weekly sessions for those who were raised Catholics but no longer come to church who are considering a return to the fold.

The program, entitled: Catholics Returning Home, is for non-practicing Catholics who have questions about coming back to church. It does not matter how long a person has been away, or the reason. Sessions are 7:30-9 p.m., Tuesdays, in the Parish Center, Sept. 18 through Oct. 23.

The meetings will involve informal discussions and updates on the Catholic faith.

Here is the list of sessions and session topics:

Sept. 18: Welcome, Overview of Series, Open Discussion

Sept. 25: Sharing and discussing stories of faith

Oct. 2: The Church today: Changing since Vatican II

Oct. 9: Walk-through the Mass with Historical Overview

Oct. 16: Explanation of the Sacrament of Penance

Oct. 23: The Creed: What Catholics believe

For more information and to register, call St. John Vianney Church at 262-8317, or e-mail sjv920@lava.net, or visit the parish website at sjvhawaii.org.

Women’s Guild general membership meeting Oct. 6

The Catholic Women’s Guild has scheduled a general membership meeting on Saturday, Oct. 6, beginning with Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Church in Manoa.

A business meeting and lunch will follow at the Waioli Tea Room on Manoa Road. The cost is $14 each, payable at the lunch. RSVP by calling 295-2705 and leaving a message by Oct.1.

Father Ricard, Jesse Manibusan are guest presenters at rally

Popular and nationally celebrated youth ministers Father Tony Ricard and Jesse Manibusan will return to Hawaii as guest presenters at the State Youth Rally ’07, a one day event sponsored by the Diocese of Honolulu, Nov. 3, at Leeward Community College.

The theme for the day, which begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m., is Give U(nlimited) P(raises) - Ho‘oha‘aha‘a no Kristo (Be Humble for Christ). High school students are encouraged to attend.

The registration fee is a donated item or $20, before Sept. 30. After that date, the fee is $25.

The Diocesan Youth Board has selected Camp Erdman on Oahu’s north shore for weekend accommodations for neighbor island participants as well as those from Oahu. A cost of $50 covers a bed in a cabin, meals and activities, from Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Activities include swimming, archery, hiking, and a climbing wall.

For information, call Edwina Fujimoto on the Big Island at 808-895-7105, or e-mail winz4jesus@msn.com, or contact your parish youth minister.