Molokai History: [from the Hawaii Catholic Herald, February 4, 2011] Ground Broken for Kaunakakai's long-awaited church About 300 people gathered beneath a cloudless blue sky at the grass-covered empty lot at 115 Ala Malama Street in Kaunakakai to watch a long-held dream emerge into reality. The Molokai parish of St. Damien officially broke ground for [...]
Molokai History: [from Hawaii Catholic Herald, December 23, 2011] A Welcoming Church for a Friendly Isle [At the dedication of the new St. Damien church in Kaunakakai by Bishop Silva] Following the homily, Father Guerreiro crouched under the altar to insert the altar stone through a trap door that opened under the top. Imbedded in [...]
Molokai History: [from "Hawaii Catholic Herald", December 23, 2011] "Molokai blesses its long-awaited St. Damien Church in Kaunakakai" At the church's entrance, the chairman of the parish building committee, Stephen Petro, welcomed Bishop Silva and presented him with official documents and the key to the front door. The bishop passed the keys to pastor, Sacred [...]
Molokai History: [from Hawaii Catholic Herald, May 20, 1966] The distance from Kaunakakai to Kamalo, St. Joseph's Church and a mission of St. Sophia's is eleven miles, but the road is good. St. Joseph's was built in 1876 by Father Damien and is still in use today. It never had a resident priest but it [...]
Molokai History: [from Molokai Catholic Community Report to the Vicariate, February 12, 1998] The island of Molokai was visited by Sacred Hearts priests from O'ahu and then Maui from the middle 1840's. Catechists who fled the persecution on O'ahu built up a small community of believers on Moloka'i but they faced more persecution from the [...]
Molokai History: [From "Father Damien's Letters", Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, SS.CC., Rome, 2017] From a letter from Fr. Damien to Father Modeste Favens, SS.CC., Kalawao, April 3, 1879: My Reverend Father, Not having a penny of revenue and having paid what was due for the "kuleana" of Halawa [land purchased for St. Ann's chapel [...]
Molokai History: (From "Father Damien's Letters", Congregation of the Sacred Hearts SS.CC., Rome, 2017) From a letter from Father Damien to Mr. Rudolph W. Meyer from Kalawao, March 20, 1877: Dear Sir, Father Andre wishes me to go up today to your place and help you survey the Kaunakakai and Halava church lots. Trusting to [...]
Molokai History: (From "Father Damien's Letters", Congregation of the Sacred Hearts SS.CC., Rome, 2017) From a letter from Father Damien to Father Gabriel Germain ss.cc., procurator of the Congregation, from Kalawao, March 1876: The gifts received last year for the leprosarium have been used in great part to cover the costs of a beautiful chapel, [...]
Molokai History: (taken from "Father Damien's Letters", Congregation of the Sacred Hearts SS.CC., Rome, 2017) From a letter from Father Damien to Father Marcellin Bousquet, ss.cc., Superior General of the Sacred Hearts, from Molokai Hospital, December 17, 1874: Father Andre has spent 4 months in the leper colony while I was building him a chapel [...]
Molokai History: (taken from :Father Damien's Letters", Congregation of the Sacred Hearts SS.CC., Rome, 2017) A Letter from Father Damien to his mother, brothers and relatives, sent from the Leprosy Hospital on Molokai, December 8, 1874 Beloved mother, brothers and relatives, During last summer, I worked four months outside the hospital, as a joint-carpenter. It [...]