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 11th)
In the late 1860’s, Father Delalande succeeded Father Bouillon. This brings us to 1873, the year Father Damien volunteered to go to Kalawao to minister to the lepers. Father Damien’s presence on Molokai’s peninsula did not remain a secret more than a few days. It was no wonder that one morning a delegation from leeward Molokai came to see him with the request that the priest come and, as they put it, “give them the Sacrament”, meaning Mass and Communion.
In 1872, Brother Bertrand, SS.CC., of the Honolulu Catholic Mission, an excellent carpenter and builder, had been sent to Kalawao to build a chapel for its small Catholic population. He arrived there on January 15 and remained until July, when the little frame building was completed. He had instructed a few Hawaiians in the art of carpentry and thereby enabled them to repair and strengthen their own and their neighbors’ living quarters. He owed it to them, as they had helped him with building the chapel. One of them, called Petero, proved quite efficient.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai