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 15th)
At long last, in 1900, the Pukoo district of East Molokai welcomed a missionary-priest who was to stay at his post for no less than 28 years. He was Father Thomas Geloen, SS.CC. After he had been in their midst a few years, the Hawaiians called him “Oluolu Makua Toma (Kind Father Thomas). Indeed, Father Thomas was a soft-spoken and kind man, never raising his voice. Rather than argue he kept silent, leaving the matter to the Good Lord. The voluble and loquacious Hawaiians could appreciate this quality in an educated man. They loved him all the more for it.
To move around, Father Thomas has a horse or a mule; more often a mule; it was cheaper to buy and easier to feed. After a while his mount would know exactly where to stop and be tied in the shade of a tree, while his master visited his flock, house by house. Father Thomas was extremely kind to his traveling companion; he never needed whip or spur, nor did he try to drive him. His mount was known to gallop only on the way home, and that was strictly the animal’s own doing and choosing.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai