Requiem set for Sunday
The Chancel and Youth Choirs and the church orchestra will perform Faure’s Requiem during the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship hours Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 512 Third St. S.W. in Rochester.
The performance will be in memory of Caren Acker. The Requiem was composed by late 19th century French composer Gabriel Faure. His writing style significantly influenced English composer John Rutter, whose arrangement will be used.
Church hosts missionary
Grace Lutheran Church will host Alan Butterworth presenting "Christ is the Passover" at the 6 p.m. service March 21 and at the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services March 22.
ADVERTISEMENT
Butterworth, a missionary with the Apple of His Eye Mission Society of St. Louis, Mo., will explain the symbolism of the Passover meal, showing how Christ has fulfilled the Passover as our Messiah.
The event is free and open to the public.
Grace Lutheran Church is at 800 East Silver Lake Drive in Rochester.
Woman selected as chaplain
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A pastor described by the Christian Reformed Church as its first U.S. woman to be ordained as a minister has been named chaplain of Calvin College.
The Grand Rapids-based church says 39-year-old Mary Hulst will begin her duties in June. She replaces Dale Cooper, who retired in 2007 after 30 years as chaplain of the private, CRC-affiliated college.
"I love college students. I love Calvin College. And I love Jesus," Hulst said. "For me, chaplain seems like the perfect mix."
Hulst will serve a pastoral role for students and for faculty and staff as well, reporting to both the vice president for student life and the provost, the school said. She will head the office of Christian formation, mentoring associate chaplains and other staff.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hulst will also teach in the new department of congregational and ministries studies and in the seminary.
Sacrament that never sleeps
NEW YORK — Some New York City Catholic churches are trying to send a message that it’s never too late to come to confession.
A few churches stayed open from Friday night through early Saturday morning in hope of boosting participation in one of the faith’s sacraments. Several other parishes offered extended hours.
Organizers and the Archdiocese of New York say the "24 Hours of Confession" event was the first of its kind in the city. It’s modeled on a similar undertaking in Chicago.
"I feel light," said Adeline Canasa, 53, a nurse, who confessed at St. John the Baptist on West 31st Street after 1 a.m. Saturday. "I’ve been carrying this guilty conscience with me. I’m happy inside now."
Parishes fear closure
CLEVELAND — As the Cleveland Catholic Diocese prepares to announce which parishes must close or merge, those at most risk may be the 51 nationality parishes that cater to specific ethnic groups such as Polish-Americans and Irish-Americans.
ADVERTISEMENT
Some of the historically large nationality parishes in Cleveland have shrunk as members moved to the suburbs.
The faithful at St. Casimir, one of the last vestiges of an old Polish neighborhood, are on edge. The church, founded in 1892, still offers a Polish Mass but is no longer surrounded by the ethnic culture that built it. On a recent Sunday, no more than 50 joined in song and prayer at a Mass inside the church.
"I was baptized here, I was married here, and I want to be buried from here," said Tina Girod, 53.
— Compiled by Elizabeth M. Jones
News items for Faith Focus are due by Tuesday prior to the Saturday publication. You may e-mail information to Post-Bulletin or mail to Faith Focus, Lifestyle section, 18 First Ave. S.E., Rochester MN 55904.
