This Lent, our faith community will join millions of Catholics across the country by participating in Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl. You are invited to pick up a rice bowl at the entrances to the church and join us in this simple yet powerful Lenten practice. Operation Rice Bowl invites us to pray with our families and faith communities, fast in solidarity with those who are hungry, learn about our sisters and brothers around the world, and give sacrificial contributions to help those in need. The Rice Bowls will be collected on Palm Sunday.

In collaboration with the Sisters of St. Francis at Our Lady of Kea’au, Waianae, we will collect non-perishable food items for the homeless in the Kea’au area on the Waianae Coast throughout Lent. This will be our Lenten offering for those who often go without. Please do not bring opened or used items. Please do not bring frozen or fresh food.

St. Augustine Parish’s Lenten Mission will be held March 11-14 at 6 p.m. in the church. Fr. Jayson Landeza will preach the mission. There will be a Communal Penance Service on Tuesday, March 13.

Ashes will be distributed at the end of the 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masses on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22.

The Sacred Hearts priests and brothers brought the Catholic faith to the Sandwich Islands in 1827. It was the beginning of a difficult mission, but one that has borne much fruit. St. Damien of Moloka’i, our brother, is a shining model, like the many others who came and made an impact on the life of the church in Hawaii. Today, several of our priests and brothers are retired. The second collection this weekend for the SS.CC. retirement fund will help the order continue to provide a place where they can rest from their labors. Ma-halo on behalf of all those who continue to serve our local church in Hawaii for your support of this important retirement fund.

There will be no weekday confessions this week. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available on Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m.

Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 21, as we celebrate Mardi Gras with ono food and fellowship beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are just $10 per person, $5 for children 10 and younger. Tickets are available in the parish office.

Mardi Gras, literally “Fat Tuesday,” is the traditional “last hurrah” before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.