Local churches set services for tomorrow or Friday
Advertiser Staff
Mourners have been lining up to pay respects to Pope John Paul II at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu and other local churches.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
The cathedral, which is celebrating a special Mass for the pope at noon Friday, has seen groups, including tourists, lining up for an opportunity to pray in front of a portrait of the late pontiff.
At Our Lady of Peace Cathedral in downtown Honolulu, churchgoers wait their turn in line to sign a memory book near a lei-draped portrait of Pope John Paul II.
The Diocese of Honolulu has suggested that its parishes hold a special service for the pope on Friday, when the pontiff will be buried, local time, in Rome. A memo, "Liturgical Notes and Resource Materials," was distributed to parishes through the diocese's Office of Worship last week, in advance of the pope's death.
Since the Rome funeral occurs tomorrow evening, Hawai'i time, some churches are choosing to hold their service tomorrow and others on Friday.
For example, St. Patrick Church will have a Mass at 8 a.m. tomorrow, while Holy Trinity's won't be until 5 p.m. Friday.
Some already had a special service. The Rev. Gary Colton at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa Church said Vietnamese- and English-speaking congregations came together for a special service Monday night.
"The church was packed," said Colton, adding that the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa Church will be filling up a condolence book to be sent to the Vatican.
Colton noted that the church, like others, has set up special areas with a portrait of the pope and some floral bouquets.
The memo from the diocese offered recommendations of certain prayers for the pope that can be added within the Masses, but it is leaving it up to individual churches and their pastors to decide whether to participate and what to say.
