Faith

He Is Risen, Alleluia!

Wednesday, April 19th, 2023

Community Contributed

Opinion by Father Pat Killilea, St. Francis Church, Kalaupapa

The action began with the blessing of the olive branches. These had been brought by Meli and Rosa the previous day from the olive tree next to St. Philomena Church in Damien’s garden in Kalawao. The church was built by St. Damien himself. This was Palm Sunday and we were celebrating Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. So also, the many churches in the Christian world would celebrate Christ’s jubilant entry into Jerusalem. This is the custom each year on Palm/Passion Sunday.

Of course, we know that the cheers had turned into jeers by Friday as the crowd, spurred on by some of the religious leaders, called for Jesus’ death.…

Na Ali’i Sunday Service

Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

Community Contributed

By Wailana Purdy-Avelino

On March 26, ‘Aha Hui Ka’ahumanu Chapter VIII, Molokai and Hale O Na Ali’i honored our Queen Elizabeth Ka’ahumanu, who lived from March 17, 1768 to June 5, 1832, and Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, born March 26, 1871 and died Jan. 7, 1922. We attended Ali’i Sunday Church Service at the Ho’olehua Congregational Church on Lihi Pali Avenue. Na Ali’i Sunday Service included sister Molokai congregational churches Kalaiakamanu Hou, Waialua and Kalua’aha. It was an inspiring day of worship. 

Mahalo to Kahu Janice Ogoshi and the church kokua, and all that attended to honor our Creator and Ali’i, and also for the ‘ono mea ‘ai prepared by Puni Ignacio.…

New Beginnings for Molokai’s Guzeiji Soto Mission

Thursday, September 29th, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga | Community Reporter

Early last Sunday morning, community members gathered at Molokai’s Guzeiji Soto Mission in Kaunakakai with shovels, rakes, tree saplings and lots of food. After digging up weeds and planting trees along the fence, the volunteers then moved picnic tables built and painted by Molokai High School students. Although much had been done at the Buddhist temple, the day represented just a small part of the large-scale project currently underway at the Soto Mission. 

Suzanne Langford, president of the Alana Ke Aloha: Krause Family Foundation, and Lisa Takata, president of Molokai’s Soto Mission, are co-directors of the new project at Guzeiji.…

Fr. Guerrini Departs Molokai Catholic Parish

Wednesday, September 21st, 2022

By Jack Kiyonaga | Community Reporter

Father Brian Guerrini has served as the Catholic priest for Molokai’s St. Damien Catholic Parish for the past three years. Now, his time on Molokai is drawing to a close, with his departure scheduled for Oct. 1. 

Guerrini of the Priests of the Sacred Hearts, the same order as St. Damien, has been on Molokai since the fall of 2019. His time on the island has been marked heavily by the COVID pandemic. 

“The last three years have been rough still trying to come out of the pandemic,” said Guerrini. 

As the only Catholic priest on topside Molokai, Guerrini is responsible for all four Catholic topside churches – St.…