• Grade/school: Second-grader at St. John the Baptist

• Family history: Dad Gus Beltra won't be able to see his younger son, Gustavo, get his first communion sacrament next year, because Dad will have deployed with the Navy by then. So he was taking it all in with a wistful eye May 9, especially looking at his first-born, who glittered like a Bride Barbie in her satin-and-tulle gown ($98, ordered online from storybook.com — that doesn't include shipping, handling or the alterations done here), handmade veil and her first pair of white gloves, which are mesh with pearl trim. It took them months to find the perfect dress, Dad said; they'd ordered another one, but sent it back. The effort was worth it: His daughter looked like a confection.

"I feel proud that I'm going to receive Jesus," said Cristina.

Mom Marisel is from Panama. When the questions in English get too complicated, she calls Cristina over to translate.

Janelle Fiesta

• Grade/school: Second-grader at Makalapa Elementary

• Family history: Janelle is an honor student and an enthusiastic member of the church community. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at 15 months, Janelle has been in an electric wheelchair since age 3, and her older siblings also have taken part in the Catholic sacraments.

"Janelle comes every Sunday (to church)," said her mother, Elvira.

Elvira Fiesta, who was born in the Philippines, is a medical biller for Team Praxis. She picks up Janelle from school. Dad works two jobs — housekeeping at the Halekulani and yard work — so he doesn't get to Mass as often as the rest of the family.

"It's hard, with three kids and a mortgage," Elvira said. "I thank God he gave me strength, so I can take care of her."

Valene Laloulu

• Age: 7

• Grade/school: Second-grader at St. John the Baptist.

• Family history: Valene is introducing the rest of the family to Catholicism.

They had been exposed to the faith by her great-great-grandmother, but Victoria Laloulu said she and her family, who don't go to church regularly, are taking their cues from Valene. The girl even said the "Our Father," "Hail Mary" and "Glory Be" when dear auntie Ramona Pancho died last year.

"She wasn't afraid," marveled Victoria, who drives TheBus and lives in Lanakila public housing.

Valene is Victoria's younger child; older son Vince is a freshman at Farrington. It's hard to miss Vince, a big guy with a comb stuck in the back of his 'fro who stepped out of the church in the middle of the first reading to take a call on his omnipresent cell phone.

Vince had gone to Punahou, but left in seventh grade. (He and a friend "got in trouble," he said sheepishly. He laughs when asked if he'd like to be in Catholic school like his sister, and shakes his 'fro to affirm his "no!") Vince, his uncle and auntie, and a sweet, sleeping little cousin are all in attendance at Valene's big day.

Britney Maglaya

• Grade/school: Eighth-grader at Dole Middle School

• Family history: Mom and dad used to live in Las Vegas, but the marriage went through a rough patch and dad brought the children to live with his mom, Erlinda (she goes by Linda), in Hawai'i. It is Linda Maglaya who brings the kids — little sister Bridget, 9, and big sister Britney — to church for the communion rehearsals.

"And every Sunday to Sunday school," Linda Maglaya adds.

It was easy to pick Britney out of the sea of khaki-and-white uniforms during rehearsals: She's chewing gum, and the only one with streaked hair and a skirt that's definitely not nun-approved in length. Britney has her own fashion sense: She's wearing a sleek, form-fitting white gown when the time comes for her first taste of the Holy Eucharist, and instead of a frou-frou veil, she's got a white flower tucked behind her left ear.

Mom Merly and dad Patrick are here for Britney's first communion, together, watching the girls receive the sacrament. They're reconciling.

Two other sisters are also there.