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 20th)
The young priest who inherited the missionary district of Molokai from Thomas in 1928 was newly-arrived Father Henry Boeynaems, SS.CC. With homesteading and pineapple just introduced into Molokai, the young priest stood on the threshold of a new era in the economic development of the island. This development, progressing slowly but steadily, would also bring about in a few years the splitting of the “top-side” island into two missionary districts with their parish seats St. Sophia in Kaunakakai and Sacred Heart in Hoolehua.
Father Henry Boeynaems and his immediate successors in the meantime covered East and North; East, where the faith was well established; North, where churches had to be built and new congregations had to be organized. But in order not to create confusion in our narrative, we will first complete the story of East Molokai and then turn to the Catholic story of industrial Molokai.
(to be continued tomorrow)
Blessings, Peace, Pono and Pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai