Molokai History:
(from “Pioneers of the Faith: History of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii (1827-1940)” by Robert Schoofs, SS.CC., Sturgis Printing Company, Inc., Honolulu, HI, 1978)
(continued from May 8th)
From that time on [late 1830’s through the 1870’s] a priest from Oahu or Maui periodically visited Molokai’s leeward group of Catholics, dispensing to them the benefits of religion. In 1846, after the Lahaina group of Catholic missionary priests had settled down [all of these priests were from the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts], Molokai was made a part of the field for their apostolic labors. In Father Favens’, SS.CC. diary we find records of his visits and work as follows: On August 30, 1846, a catechumen from Molokai arrived in Lahaina, Maui and was baptized by Father Favens. Two months later, on October 21, news reached him [Father Favens] that the Molokai catechists and Catholics continued to be molested because of their faith. Finally on December 14, 1846, in the company of two Hawaiians, Father Favens took to the canoe. The ocean was choppy and became rougher as it plunged through the channel [separating Maui and Molokai]. When Father Favens finally landed in Kumueli [Kamalo?] he was soaking wet, and so were the sacred vestments that he had taken along.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Blessings, pono and much pule!
Fr. Brian, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai