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)
Though Molokai had to wait long for a resident priest of its own, nevertheless the Catholic faith had gotten a firm foothold on the island by the late 1840’s. We know from the diary of Brother-Catechist Calixte Lecomte that several of Father Bachelot’s disciples found their way to Molokai, probably to flee the persecutions in Honolulu, in the 1830’s. Outstanding among them was the lay catechist Dennis. The Protestant Calvinists probably wanted him to embrace their faith and join the ranks of their proselytes. They tied his hands so tightly that the ties cut into his flesh and left their marks for weeks. Then they beat him until he spat blood. But Dennis’ constancy defeated their cunning and their cruelty. Through it all they heard him protest: “If you kill my body, my soul goes to heaven.” At the sight of blood the frightened assailants released their victim.
A few days later Dennis dispatched one of his trusted helpers to the Honolulu Catholic Mission with a full account of the persecution in which even the administrative authorities were implicated, and with the request that Bichop-elect Maigret send a priest to Molokai as soon as feasible.
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai