Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu is an ecclesiastical territory or particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese is comprised of the entire state of Hawaii and the unincorporated Hawaiian Islands. The diocese is suffragan to the Metropolitan Province of San Francisco which includes the dioceses of Las Vegas, Oakland, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Stockton. The patrons of the Diocese of Honolulu are the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Peace, and Blessed Damien of Molokai.

Vicariate

Through the period that began with the landing of Fathers Armand, Bachelot and Short to the proclamation of the Edict of Toleration and arrival of Bishop Rouchouze, the Hawaiian Islands were administered as a prefecture within the larger Apostolic Vicariate of Oriental Oceania. Created in 1833 by Pope Gregory XVI and governed from South America, its territories included the Marquesas and Tahiti. After the disappearance of Bishop Rouchouze, the three prefectures were elevated into independent apostolic vicariates. Each would be led by their own bishops.

Related Topics:
1833 - Pope Gregory XVI - South America - Marquesas - Tahiti

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Maigret

The Apostolic Vicariate of the Sandwich Islands was established and on July 11, 1847, Blessed Pius IX appointed Louis Désiré Maigret to succeed Bishop Rouchouze. The new apostolic vicar was consecrated as the Titular Bishop of Arathia and quickly attended to the needs of the fledgling Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii. Eventually, the ecclesiastical territory received a name change for politcal correctness and became the Apostolic Vicariate of the Hawaiian Islands. It was Bishop Maigret that completed the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. He also invited the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary to open proper Roman Catholic schools. The priests and religious brothers of the Society of Mary were invited to do the same. Bishop Maigret died on 11 June 1882 and was buried in a crypt below the sanctuary of the cathedral he built and loved.

Related Topics:
July 11 - 1847 - Blessed Pius IX - Louis Désiré Maigret - Society of Mary - 11 June - 1882 - Crypt

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Koeckemann

Pope Leo XIII immediately elevated Bernard Hermann Koeckemann, a Picpus Father from Germany, as the second Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands. He was consecrated as the Titular Bishop of Olba. During his episcopacy, Bishop Koeckemann saw a wave of new Roman Catholics from the exponentially growing plantation laborer population in the Hawaiian Islands. The Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii embraced new parishioners from the Philippines, Poland, Portugal and Spain among others. There were so many devout Portuguese members that churches often had to include Portuguese language Masses.

Related Topics:
Pope Leo XIII - Bernard Hermann Koeckemann - Germany - Exponentially growing - Plantation - Philippines - Poland - Portugal - Spain - Portuguese language

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Bishop Koeckemann also saw the rise of leprosy cases throughout the kingdom. He received Blessed Damien of Molokai and Blessed Mother Marianne Cope into the apostolic vicariate to serve the ailing lepers residing in an isolated colony on the island of Molokai. Both would have causes for canonization opened for them by their respective religious orders.

Related Topics:
Leprosy - Blessed Mother Marianne Cope - Molokai

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On February 22, 1892, Bishop Koeckemann died and was buried at the Honolulu Catholic Cemetery.

Related Topics:
February 22 - 1892 - Honolulu Catholic Cemetery

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Ropert

It took several months before Pope Leo XIII appointed someone to succeed Bishop Koeckemann. On June 3, 1892, the pope chose a Picpus Father from France, Gulstan Francis Ropert to become the third Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands. He was consecrated as the Titular Bishop of Panopolis. It was during his reign that the Kingdom of Hawaii was embroiled in revolution. American businessmen plotted to overthrow the peaceably reigning Queen of Hawaii. United States Marines marched towards Iolani Palace, a neighbor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, and arrested Liliuokalani. A provisional government was proclaimed before a republic was established. Bishop Ropert received pleas by his Native Hawaiian followers to defend Liliuokalani, being tried by a military court for treason against the newly created government. Unfortunately, there wasn't much Bishop Ropert could do. He would become the sole bishop of an new Republic of Hawaii.

Related Topics:
June 3 - 1892 - Gulstan Francis Ropert - United States Marines - Iolani Palace - Liliuokalani - Provisional government - Republic - Military court - Treason - Republic of Hawaii

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Bishop Ropert also was responsible for the spiritual needs of local families whose children were sent overseas to fight in the Spanish-American War. He also consoled Filipinos whose families were lost in the Philippine-American War. Later in his reign, the Hawaiian Islands became a territory of the United States becoming the first bishop of the Territory of Hawaii. Bishop Ropert died on January 4, 1903 and was buried in Honolulu Catholic Cemetery.

Related Topics:
Spanish-American War - Philippine-American War - Territory of Hawaii - January 4 - 1903

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Boeynaems

Again it would take several months before Pope Leo XIII appointed someone to succeed the episcopacy in the Hawaiian Islands. On April 8, 1903, the pope appointed a Picpus Father from Antwerp in Belgium, Libert Hubert John Louis Boeynaems to become the fourth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands. He was consecrated Titular Bishop of Zeugma. During his reign, Bishop Boeynaems had to send off many of his followers to fight in Europe during World War I. He also oversaw the increasing militarization of the Hawaiian Islands. The entire coastline of the island of Oahu was fortified and several United States military bases were established, including: Fort Shafter, Pearl Harbor and Schofield Barracks. With the absence of an established military ordinariate in the United States, Bishop Boeynaems began to pastor the thousands of Roman Catholic service members. After a period of illness, Bishop Boeynaems died on May 13, 1926 and was buried in Honolulu Catholic Cemetery.

Related Topics:
April 8 - 1903 - Antwerp - Belgium - Libert Hubert John Louis Boeynaems - Europe - World War I - Fort Shafter - Pearl Harbor - Schofield Barracks - Military ordinariate - May 13 - 1926

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Alencastre

When Bishop Boeynaems became ill, Pope Pius XI elevated the first person to have grown up in the Hawaiian Islands to become an apostolic vicar. The pope appointed Stephen Peter Alencastre, a Picpus Father born in Portugal but lived on the various islands since infancy, as coadjutor apostolic vicar to assist Bishop Boeynaems, suffering in hospital. He was consecrated Titular Bishop of Arabissus. When Bishop Boeynaems died, Bishop Alencastre came into succession as the fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands. Bishop Alencastre knew that the apostolic vicariate was growing at such a fast pace that it wouldn't be long until the pope would decide to elevate the apostolic vicariate to a full diocese. Seeing a need for new locally trained priests, he established Saint Stephen's Seminary. He named it after his personal patron saint. Bishop Alencastre also oversaw the renovation of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, modernizing it in time for the centennial celebration of the Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii. Bishop Alencastre died aboard a ship en route from Los Angeles on November 9, 1940.

Related Topics:
Pope Pius XI - Stephen Peter Alencastre - Portugal - Hospital - November 9 - 1940

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