Sunday

Purim Carnival, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., annual family festival with games, goodies and prizes. Congregation Bet Ha’am, 81 Westbrook St., South Portland.

“Dialogues of the Carmelites,” 2:30 p.m., the Portland Symphony Orchestra will perform a semistaged version of Poulenc’s opera that is based on the true story of Carmelite nuns in France at the time of the French Revolution who were beheaded for their defiance of a civil order. The performance features several guest performers along with the Choral Arts Society and will be in sung in English with supertitles. The opera will be performed at Merrill Auditorium with an additional Concert Conversation at 1:15 p.m., and a Q&A with performers following the concert. Tickets range from $25 to $75 and are available through PortTIX at 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. A fee is added to phone and online orders. Tickets may also be purchased in person between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the box office, 20 Myrtle St. in Portland.

March 14

“The Donkey That No One Could Ride,” 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Lenten reading for children in grades K to 5. The book was written by Anthony DeStephano and will be read by The Most Rev. Brian Marsh, bishop of the Anglican Church in America, Diocese of the Northeast, The event is nondenominational and open to all. Singing and a sharing a snack will follow. A copy of the book will be given to each child who participates. The event is sponsored by St. Augustine Anglican Church and will be held in the Community Room of Dyer Library in Saco. The event is free and registration is required by March 7. Call 772-2492 to sign up.

Kate Chadbourne in concert, 2:30 p.m., performance in the Celtic tradition by the singer, musician, storyteller and poet. Held at Blue Point Congregational Church, 236 Pine Point Road in Scarborough. Suggested donation is $10; free for children. Those who wear green will have their name entered in a drawing. Call 883-6540 for details and visit www.katechadbourne.com to learn more.

Other

Parish Social Ministry, a Catholic Charities Maine program, is providing grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 and totaling $16,500 to support community-based initiatives to help those in need. The grants are awarded annually and are funded largely through the annual collection taken up in most parishes in November.

The parishes and ministries receiving the funds are:

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Houlton and St. Agnes Parish in Island Falls for their family nutrition program; St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough, St. Bartholomew Parish in Cape Elizabeth and St. John and Holy Cross Parish in South Portland for a new community garden; St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent for its “Teaching Our Brothers and Sisters How to Fish” program to help those with ongoing financial needs; St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Bangor for its “Ministry to Those in Need” initiative to help build a house for a low-income family; St. Michael Parish in Augusta, St. Rose of Lima Parish in Jay, St. Joseph Parish in Farmington and Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Oquossoc will receive funds to participate in Kennebec Valley Organization programs.

For more information, contact Michael Smith, program director for Parish Social Ministry, at 523-2772 or msmith@ccmaine.org.

The Catholic Foundation of Maine has announced it will distribute over $890,000 to 97 endowment funds in 2015. The funds will benefit local parishes, Maine Catholic schools, vocations, services and ministries across the state by providing monies other than through an annual budget. For more information or to discuss making a gift, contact executive director Elizabeth Badger at 321-7820 or email elizabeth.badger@portlanddiocese.org. The foundation’s website is www.catholic foundationmaine.org.

Religion calendar items must be submitted before noon Monday to be considered for the next Saturday. Mail to: Religion Calendar, Portland Press Herald, P.O. Box 1460, Portland, ME 04104; or email to:

religion@pressherald.com

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