Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace — also known by its original French name Cathédrale de Notre Dame de la Paix, its Portuguese variant Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Paz and its Hawaiian derivative Malia o ka Malu Hale Pule Nui — is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It is the motherchurch of the Diocese of Honolulu and houses the cathedra of the Bishop of Honolulu in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Groundbreaking

After years of persecution of the Roman Catholic Church in the Hawaiian Islands at the hands of Congregationalist and Presbyterian ministers who befriended the reigning monarchs Kamehameha II, Kamehameha III and Kaahumanu, the Hawaiian Government finally issued an Edict of Toleration creating the freedom of religious expression. As an act of reconciliation, Kamehameha III gave the first Roman Catholic missionaries under the leadership of Apostolic Vicar Etienne Jerome Rouchouze a piece of royal estate to build its first church in the Hawaiian Islands.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic Church - Hawaiian Islands - Congregationalist - Presbyterian - Minister - Kamehameha II - Kamehameha III - Kaahumanu - Hawaiian Government - Edict of Toleration - Freedom of religious expression - Reconciliation - Apostolic Vicar - Etienne Jerome Rouchouze

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The missionaries broke ground for the new church to be built on July 9, 1840. It coincided with the Feast of Our Lady of Peace, patroness of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary religious order of which the missionaries were members. A liturgical mass was celebrated on the day of groundbreaking. Native Hawaiians of which there were 280 in number received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist. The cornerstone was officially laid in a ceremony on August 6 of that year. Construction continued after groundbreaking with devoted Native Hawaiian volunteers harvesting blocks of coral from the shores of Ala Moana, Kakaako and Waikiki. Down the street, Congregationalist missionaries began the construction of Kawaiahao Church.

Related Topics:
July 9 - 1840 - Patroness - Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Religious order - Native Hawaiians - Sacrament - Baptism - Confirmation - Eucharist - August 6 - Coral - Ala Moana - Kakaako - Waikiki - Kawaiahao Church

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