Faith

Foundations of Faith

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

After 16 years of planning, praying and waiting, the St. Damien Parish is finally seeing the first signs of construction on a new church, on the site of the former St. Sophia church in Kaunakakai. Last week, community members, parishioners and construction workers gathered to clear the ground and began erecting a dust fence to ensure safety of the construction area, according to Gil Hoopii, Senior Superintendent of Nordic PCL Construction, the company contracted to build the new church.

“It’s happening before our eyes and it’s almost like a miracle,” said Leoda Shizuma, council chair of St. Damien Parish.

In keeping with Father Clyde Guerreiro’s goal of holding a Christmas Eve service in the new church this year, the structure is expected to be completed by October, said Hoopii.

“I won’t be taking vacation for a while but it’s unbelievable – feels great,” said Guerreiro, dressed in overalls to help with the ground preparations.

As construction began, “All I could think about was praise be Jesus, Alleluia!” said Shizuma. “It’s been a long dream for a lot of people in our parish.”

Community members may stop by the next door Damien Center for construction updates in the coming months.

Father Damien’s St. Joseph Church Rescued

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Community Contributed

By Maria Sullivan, St. Damien Parishioner

St. Joseph Church at Kamalo is a State Historic site and one of the most visited on Molokai.  Each year more than 4,000 Hawaii residents, visitors and pilgrims visit the church, built in 1876 by Father Damien and the Kamalo community. Today, due to the grace and generosity of many people, this 134-year-old church is being saved, so it can continue to tell the story of Molokai, and of one of its most famous residents, Father Damien. 

In addition to his work with the Hansen disease patients on the Kalaupapa peninsula, Father Damien also served as pastor and church builder for the Catholic faithful who lived on topside Molokai.  Of the churches built by Father Damien, St. Joseph Church at Kamalo remains in the most original condition.  However, due to time, weather and termites the church was at risk of being lost. A windstorm this past April complicated matters by blowing off the cross and tearing a large, gaping hole in the church’s eight-sided steeple spire.

There are still substantial costs ahead to evaluate the structural integrity of the steeple, and to reinstall a new top spire. Father Guerreiro and the parish are hopeful that donors will come forward and join the parish in its effort to “Save the Steeple” at Father Damien’s historic St. Joseph Church.

Help Save the Steeple
Make your check payable to: “St. Joseph Church Fund”
Attn: Fr. Clyde Guerreiro
Saint Damien Parish-St. Joseph Church Fund
P.O. Box 1948
Kaunakakai, HI  96748
For more information about the church and project, contact Maria Sullivan, St. Damien Parishioner (808) 553-5181; mjs@aloha.net

Blessed Feast

Monday, May 17th, 2010

May 10 was a day of celebrations all over the world in honor of the feast day of Saint Damien De Veuster. But none were more poignant or relevant than those held on Molokai, the island Hawaii’s first saint called home. Last Monday, parishioners gathered at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church to extend prayer and gratitude to St. Damien. 

The evening was filled with vibrant images and vignettes of St. Damien as Mass commenced inside the faintly lit church on Molokai’s east end – one of four topside churches built by Damien himself.

Father Clyde Guerreiro, pastor of St. Damien Parish, led the ceremony alongside Deacon Michael Shizuma. The service was followed by a potluck supper, where guests enjoyed ono grinds and engaged in light conversation.

feel present among us. The day was beautiful.”

St. Philomena Church, located in Kalawao, began as a small chapel where Damien spent his first few nights on Molokai. He added on to the church twice, more than doubling its size, while parishioners refinished and painted the interior. Today, the church stands in homage to the priest.

Leoda Shizuma called it an “experience of a lifetime” for the Kalaupapa patients, to be right in the midst of his memory, where he set foot for many years.

“I thought they were moved and touched,” she added.

Michael Shizuma reflected on the experience as a good way to remember everything Damien has done for the isle.

“I feel very grateful to be a part of it,” he said.

Aloha to the Grand Old Lady

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

For over 70 years, St. Sophia’s Church had held baptisms and funerals, weddings and sermons – a spiritual hub for Kaunakakai town. Now, there’s a bare spot where the structure once stood. Last Tuesday, the church was demolished to make room for a new church building, to be called Saint Damien Church.

“Yes, we’re saddened,” said Leoda Shizuma, pastoral council chair. “But it’s just a building – we, the people, are really the church.”
A fire on Feb. 10 caused extensive interior damage to St. Sophia’s. Shizuma said the demolition had to take place anyway, but “the fire moved it along.”

In a gathering Sunday evening, referred to by some as “saying aloha to the grand old lady,” parishioners bid farewell to the church. Father Clyde Guerreiro brought charred pieces of the crucifix, stations of the cross, and other relics to an area behind the building he called the “garden of sorrows.” He asked people to share reflections and memories of the church, and closed with a prayer. While it was sad to see it go, parishioners said it was also a time of hope and anticipation for the new church, and especially full of symbolism in the Easter season.

The demolition was completed as a community service by Maui Master Builders. The company is on-island to construct the new fire station, and thanks to Wayne Pe`elua, an equipment operator for Maui Master Builders, employees did the work free of charge. Pe`elua grew up on Molokai and was baptized in the church. He said he asked company higher-ups if they would consider doing the demolition about a month ago, and they agreed. The demolition and clean-up, which took about half a day’s labor, was valued at $50,000, according to Pe`elua.

Shizuma said the new church is in the permitting stage and a date to begin construction on Saint Damien church has not yet been set. Father Clyde Guerreiro has set a completion goal for Christmas 2011.