VICARIATE PERIOD OF SACRED HEART PARISH

The Catholic history of Sacred Heart Parish, Honolulu, dates back to 1841. The Punahou-Manoa Valley section of Honolulu was considered walking distance from downtown Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. In 1842, 24 catechumens, with their teacher, Marie Joseph Kanua, leading them, walked the two- and a half miles to Our Lady of Peace Cathedral, where they were examined and baptized by Fr. Louis Maigret, SS.CC. on March 13, 1842.

The area, with its cool, damp climate, attracted mostly immigrants, while the native Hawaiians of the city preferred warmer weather. Chinese and Portugese people gradually moved in, settling in small neighborhood groups. In the early 1880's, Fr. Clement Evrard, SS.CC., took a census of the area. The survey prompted him to build a small chapel in the Portugese neighborhood called "Marquesville," situated at the corner of Wilder Avenue and Metcalf Street. Bishop Herman Koechemann, SS.CC. blessed the chapel in 1889 and dedicated it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Once a week, Fr. Clement would visit the area from the Cathedral rectory where he lived, and at leaast once a month he would offer Sunday Mass in the little chapel. He would gather the children in the chapel for religious instruction. This simple routine continued until his death in June, 1909. He was replaced in 1913 by young Fr. (later Bishop) Stephen P. Alencastre, SS.CC., who would visit the area regularly on horseback and celebrate Mass each Sunday.

The large Punahou-Makiki-Bingham-McCully areas of the city grew rapidly in population and within a year of his arrival Fr. Stephen planned to construct a new and adequate church. He conducted various fund rasining projects which culminated in a city wide Fair at Thomas Square, halfway to the Fort Street Cathedral. So successful was this Fair that Fr. Stephen purchased a piece of land on Wilder Avenue opposite the campus of the Protestant Mission Punahou School. This land was part of the original tract given by Boki, Governor of Oahu, to the Rev. Hiram Bingham in 1829. It was later sold by the Protestant missionaries to private families.

Architect E.A.P. Newcomb designed an attractive miniature Gothic church and Walker and Olund Construction Company laid the cornerstone on August 13, 1913. The building was made of an attractive fabricated cement block which simulates "blue stone," and adorned with beautiful stained glass windows manufactured in Le Puy, France. The beautiful windows, of course, were gifts of individual parishioners and parish societies. Even to this day the windows are judged superb works of art.

Almost a year later, on Sunday morning, the Feast of All Saints, November 1, 1914, Bishop Libert Boeynaems, SS.CC., blessed the new church and dedicated it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The cost of the building, windows, and furnishings was about $30,000. Although Fr. Stephen resided at the Cathedral rectory, he had a small cottage constructed next to the church for himself. There he kept "office hours," instructed the many children of the parish, and held meetings with various parish organizations functioning at that time.

The years of World War I passed without much excitement in Hawaii, except that Fr. Stephen's little cottage to the rear of the church became a center for a very active Red Cross Unit composed of ladies of the parish.

After the War, as the parish grew Fr. Stephen raised funds to have Bachelot Memorial Hall constructed in the same style as the church next to it. The hall was blessed on June 23, 1923, and dedicated to the memory of the first Catholic missionary in Hawaii, Fr. Alexis Bachelot, SS.CC. The cost of the hall was about $12,000. Less than a year later, on May, 1924, Fr. Stephen was appointed coadjutor Bishop to the ailing Bishop Libert Boeynaems. He was succeeded at Sacred Heart Parish by Fr. Hubert Nijs, SS.CC., who served for six months. Fr. Emile Rogers, SS.CC. became pastor and administered the parish until February 3, 1927 (1)

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ARRIVAL OF THE MARYKNOLL MISSIONERS

FATHER KRESS: FIRST MARYKNOLL PASTOR

On February 4, 1927, Bishop Stephen P. Alencastre formally assigned Sacred Heart Parish to the Maryknoll Fathers and appointed Fr. William S. Kress, A.F.M., as its pastor. Br. Philip Morini, A.F.M., assisted him (2). The Maryknoll Society held its first General Chapter in the summer of 1929. Its first Constitution governing the members and operations of the Society was approved and each member took a Permanent Oath of Obedience. Prior to the General Chapter each member used the initials A.F.M. after his name, i.e., American Foreign Missioner. After the General Chapter the initials were changed to M.M., i.e., Maryknoll Missioner.

Thus began a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church in Hawaii and Sacred Heart Parish, because for the 100 years prior to that date in February 1927 all Catholic missions and parishes in the Vicariate were staffed by the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.).

Negotiations for the entrance of Maryknoll Fathers into the Vicariate of the Sandwich Islands actually began in 1924. On June 6, 1924, His Eminence Cardinal Wilhelm Van Russum, Prefect of Congregation of Propaganda Fide, Vatican City, alerted Fr. James Anthony Walsh, Founder and Superior of Maryknoll, to the possibility of a mission in Hawaii. The Cardinal requested that "two priests be sent to Honolulu, one for the care of the English-speaking, the other for the Chinese people." Fr. Walsh responded that he could provide a priest for the English speaking people in Honolulu in 1925, and he would contact Msgr. James E. Walsh, M.M. Prefect Apostolate of Kongmoon, South China, for a Cantonese speaking priest.

Further communication took place between the Congregation of Propaganda Fide and Maryknoll, and between Maryknoll and Bishop Stephen Alencastre in Honolulu.

The following is an excerpt from a letter of Fr. James Anthony Walsh to Fr. Kress, dated October 2, 1926, alerting him about his assignment to Honolulu (4).

"Bishop Alencastre has been here (Sept.30th) with Msgr. Carroll, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York, and offers us the Parish of St. Augustine's at Waikiki, asking us if we can send two men by January 1st. He is dividing the city into eight parishes, of which this will be one. I told him that I hardly thought it would be possible to send two men immediately, but that I would take into consideration the idea of sending one, and he seemed to be pleased when I told him that we have had you in mind for first resident pastor.

"I also told him, however, that we should not like to take up the work unless we could take up other work that made us feel that we had contact with the Orientals, In answer to this he said that the field was practically unlimited and that there would be no difficulty placed in our way for developing work for the Orientals.

"I also asked him about our Sisters and he later visited Mother Mary Joseph to express his hope that they too would take up work on the the Islands, that work to be settled after we had looked over the ground."

The communications culminated in the assignment of Fr. William S. Kress and Br. Philip Morini to Honolulu, and the acceptance of Sacred Heart Parish, Punahou, Honolulu, on February 4, 1927. The following excerpt, taken from THE CHURCH BELLS, the weekly newspaper of the Catholic Church in Hawaii, describes events of their arrival in Honolulu.

In June, 1927, Fr. Kress signed the contract with Walker and Olund Construction Company to build a new rectory next to Sacred Heart Church at a cost of $25,000.00.

On Sunday, July 10, 1927, newly ordained Maryknoll priest Fr. Edward S. Barron from River Rouge, Michigan, was appointed assistant pastor with Fr. Kress at Sacred Heart Parish (11). He served in the parish until November 18, 1928, when he left for his new assignment in Maryknoll Missions in Korea. Fr. Barnes was a great favorite with the older boys because he had graduated from Notre Dame University in Indiana and played on the famous Knute Rockne's football teams (12). He was also a high class preacher and delighted in giving a series of detailed instructions on the Holy Mass, and sermons every Sunday.

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MARYKNOLL SCHOOL FOUNDED

Ten Maryknoll Sisters arrived in Honolulu on September 2, 1927, aboard the City of Honolulu Matson Liner. They were welcomed with typical Hawaii hospitality. The editor of THE CHURCH BELLS described their first day.

"Last week Friday, the 10 Maryknoll Sisters whose coming THE CHURCH BELLS has announced arrived on the City of Honolulu. They were received at the pier by the Bishop, Fr. Kress, and a committee of ladies representing Punahou Parish and at once taken to their quarters on Wilder Avenue where breakfast was served. In the afternoon all the Sisters took a ride across the Pali in order to install one of the number in the pleasant residence prepared for them under ancient spreading trees of St. Ann's Church at Heeia. Here at 3 o'clock a luau was given. The whole village turned out to greet the new teachers." (14).

Fr. Kress announced that Maryknoll Grade School would formally open on September 6, 1927, with 6 Maryknoll Sisters, 6 Grades and 150 pupils (15).

Another event worthy of note was the opening of Sacred Heart Rectory in mid-September. It would serve the Maryknoll Priests and Brothers for the next 60 years and more. On the occasion Fr. Kress wrote in THE CHURCH BELLS the following comment:

"The school and new rectory of Punahou which have been so criticized by people not of our faith, look rather attractive now that everything is finished, and with some additional shrubbery will be quite satisfactory. Only the school is much too small. If instead of paying taxes for the palatial public schools which we do not care to make use of, and bringing financial sacrifices for our own Catholic schools, we could also dig into the public treasury, we might be able to do better. Perhaps some public spirited and wealthy Protestant will come to the rescue, and will then be most welcome to make suggestions about the style and materials to be used." (16)

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INITIAL MARYKNOLL EXPANSION

Fr. John H. Murray, A.F.M., a Cantonese speaking Maryknoll priest, arrived from Kongmoon, Kwangtung Province, China, on September 16, 1927 (17). At first he stayed at Sacred Heart Rectory. Then he was appointed pastor of newly named St. Vincent Ferrer Parish on School Street. There was no rectory or church within the parish boundaries. He moved into the Cathedral rectory (18). Fr. Murray continued working toward the establishment of the new parish for about three years; but many obstacles prevented the actual building pf a church and school, not the least of which was financial support (19).

Fr. Murray was transferred by Fr. James A. Walsh to the Maryknoll Japanese Mission of the Holy Martyrs in Seattle, Washington. He left Honolulu on December 31, 1930 (20).

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STEADY GROWTH OF SACRED HEART PARISH

Attendance at Sunday Masses, especially by children, continued to increase due to the excellent sermons and parochial ministry by Frs. Kress and Barron and Br. Philip. A note in THE CHURCH BELLS brings out this point.

"A sermon, adapted to the understanding of young children, is made part of the nine o'clock children's Mass at Punahou. The parochial school is bringing many children to the Sunday Mass. Their attendance is an incentive to the other children not of that school; so that all of 200 children now attend Mass regularly, five times as many as were seen before." (21).

Fr. Kress invited prospective converts from all over the city of Honolulu to come to his inquiry class which met at the rectory every Monday and Thursday evenings. Convert classes, both for individuals and groups, became a trademark of the Maryknoll parish through the succeeding years well into the 1970's when they seemed to dry up somewhat.

Fr. Hubert M. Pospichal, A.F.M., a Maryknoll missioner from Korea, came to Sacred Heart rectory in February, 1928, to recuperate from a severe illness. His presence there during his convalescence afforded the opportunity to many older Korean Catholics of conversing with a priest and making their confessions in their native language. This was the beginning of a pastoral approach to Korean Catholics (22). Fr. Pospichal returned to Korea after a few months of recuperation.

Fr. Joseph H. Cassidy, A.F.M., was assigned to Sacred Heart Parish and arrived on April 25, 1927. He was a very eloquent speaker, much in demand on the West Coast of California for his special lectures and sermons. He immediately attracted large crowds to his Masses and lectures at Sacred Heart Church (23).

An occasion for rejoicing occurred in Sacred Heart Parish. On June 16, 1928, Fr. Richard B. Rhodes, A.F.M. son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rhodes, formerly of Sacred Heart Parish, was ordained for Maryknoll Society in St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco, By Archbishop Hanna. Fr. Rhodes was the first Maryknoll priest from Sacred Heart Parish. He graduated from Punahou High School in Honolulu, and finished his studies at Maryknoll School in Ossining, New York. He was assigned to Maryknoll Missions in South China and 59 years later he was still working among the Chinese people in Miaoli, Taiwan (24).

The Maryknoll Society held its first General Chapter in the summer of 1929. Its first Constitution governing the permanent operations and members of the Society was approved and each member took a Permanent Oath of Obedience in the Maryknoll Society. Each missioner would be subject to his Maryknoll Superiors in matters pertaining to the Society and to the local Ordinary of the Church wherein he served in matters pertaining to his mission ministry. Table of Contents

FR. KRESS RECALLED TO MAINLAND

Fr. Kress was recalled by his Superiors in January 1929, to serve as Retreat Director for the Maryknoll personnel in the Orient and Mainland U.S. At his farewell party given by the Chinese Catholic Club of Honolulu, Fr. Kress made a prediction:

"that which is now termed the 'yellow menace' will prove to be the 'yellow salvation.' He laid particular emphasis on the solid character of the Chinese race and declared that 'the honesty, sobriety and industriousness of the people will play an important part in the development of China in the years to come.'" (25)

China was then struggling towards a unified government with Chiang Kai Chek and Mao Tse Tung seeking dominance. Eventually, the Communists under Mao took over the whole country after World War II and Chiang moved his forces to Taiwan.

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FR. FITZGERALD: SECOND MARYKNOLL PASTOR

Fr. Frederick E. Fitzgerald, M.M., newly arrived in Honolulu, was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and was installed on Sunday, February 3, 1929 (26). He had served for several years in the Maryknoll Mission in Pak Kai, Kwangtung Province, China, and also at the Maryknoll Japanese St. Francis Xavier Mission in Los Angeles, California, before coming to Hawaii.

Fr. Edward R. Barron was assigned to the Maryknoll Missions in Korea in November 1928 and left Sacred Heart Parish in January 1929 (27). His place was taken by Fr. John F. Joyce in November 1928. He worked hard in the parish and made himself beloved by all. He left Hawaii for the Maryknoll Missions in Manchuria on August 16, 1932, and on the 55 Asama Maru in company with other Maryknoll missioners bound for Japan and Korea (28).

Fr. John H, Murray, M.M., formerly stationed at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace and pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, replaced Fr. Joyce. He returned to Honolulu on July 15, 1932, and was appointed assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Parish (29). He was very popular ad well beloved not only in the parish but also throughout the city, especially with the Chinese people. He made it possible for many young men of Chinese origin to enter Mainland U.S. colleges. He remained at Sacred Heart Parish until he died in St. Francis Hospital on January 13, 1945, and was buried in the Maryknoll plot at Diamond Head Cemetery.

Fr. John C. Troesch, M.M., was the 2nd Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart Parish from July 15, 1932, to November, 1934. He was transferred to the Maryknoll Mission in Hong Kong (30).

Br. Marius Donnelly, M.M., replaced Br. Philip on July 15, 1932, and remained until June 28, 1945. He carried on well all the works started by Br. Philip (31).

Due to illness Fr. Reginald Yzendoorn, SS.CC., founder and editor of THE CHURCH BELLS, stopped publishing the paper in October 1932. There was no Catholic newspaper in Hawaii until late 1936 when Fr. Robert Schoofs, SS.CC., then pastor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, started THE CATHOLIC HERALD (later named THE HAWAII CATHOLIC HERALD). Consequently, there is a dearth of news notes about Church affairs during the four year hiatus.

Fr. Maurice F. Ahern, M.M., replaced Fr. Troesch in November, 1934, and he was later transferred to the Maryknoll Mission in Hong Kong in August, 1935. He in turn was succeeded by Fr. Edward J. Halloran, M.M., who served as an assistant pastor for the next six years at Sacred Heart Parish (32).

Besides his parochial duties at Sacred Heart, Fr. Halloran was appointed spiritual director of the St. Theresa Society at St. Theresa Church on School Street. Since he had served eight years in Maryknoll's missions in Korea, he spoke the Korean language and had a high regard for the people. St. Theresa Society was composed exclusively of Korean Catholics and counted over 300 members throughout the city. By special request, Fr. Halloran took charge of the Korean congregation at St. Theresa Church, offered Mass with them once a month, preached and conducted their monthly meetings in Korean language. In November, 1944, Fr. Halloran was named pastor of the newly established parish of St. Philomena in the Damon Tract section of Honolulu. Nevertheless, he continued his work among the Korean Catholics (33).

Under Fr. Fitzgerald's leadership Sacred Heart Parish rapidly expanded. The Maryknoll Sisters and Maryknoll Grade School increased in numbers. Within a year of his arrival, Fr. Fitzgerald acquired the old Dowsett property on Dole Street consisting of 47,000 square feet, including the former Dowsett home, for $25,000.00. The old home was remodeled into a convent and the Maryknoll Sisters moved into it. As the small four room school building was overcrowded, an additional four room structure was erected on the new premises at a cost of $7,200.00 (35).

Once the Sisters moved into their new home, Bachelot Hall, where the Sisters rather uncomfortably had been living for almost three years, was used as a kindergarten and for social events of both the school and parish.

Maryknoll Grade School had opened on September 6, 1927, with six grades and 150 students (36), and year by year it expanded. the ninth grade was added in September 1931, and the first senior high class graduated in June, 1935. The valedictorian of that class, Ralph W. Sylva, went on to join the Maryknoll Society and was ordained a Maryknoll priest on June 10, 1945, at Maryknoll, New York (37).

By the 10th anniversary, September 1937, there were several buildings to take care of 630 students in classes from kindergarten through senior high school. A commercial course was added to the curriculum. The faculty of 21 Maryknoll Sisters staffed the school and it was fully accredited to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (38).

Bachelot Hall served as a cafeteria and auditorium for the school, and as a center for many parochial activities, such as C.Y.O., Girls Sodality, School Alumni Association, Boy and Girl Scout troops, parish Dramatics Club, etc. All parish organizations took turns using the athletic, dramatic, and cultural facilities offered by the parish hall.

An annual Luau and Fair was started to raise funds for the school which grew into an outstanding Spring season event in mid-May. In church circles the Luau was considered one of the most sparkling, delicious and tastily prepared Luau in the entire city. Many games, tasty home cooked foods as well as beautiful handcrafted articles were on sale in attractive booths (39).

Fr. Fitzgerald was also responsible for introducing the 40 Hours Devotion for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church in Hawaii on June 3,4,5, 1931. Daily the school children formed a procession around the grounds and sang the Mass of the Angels in the church (40).

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MINISTRY TO KOREAN CATHOLICS

Pastoral care for Korean Catholics on Oahu began with Fr. Hubert M. Pospichal in 1928 (78). After Fr. Pospichal returned to Korea, the pastoral care was renewed by Fr. Edward J. Halloran with the St. Theresa Korean Society at St. Theresa Parish (79). In later years, Korean-speaking Catholics formed an organization called the Korean Catholic Community (80). They celebrated Mass and other religious functions in the Korean language every Sunday at 12 o'clock at Sacred Heart Church. The Mass and spiritual guidance were provided by Fr. Francis Buckmeier, a Jesuit priest who was ordained by Cardinal Kim in Seoul, Korea, in August, 1973. He was a resident in Hawaii studying sociology at the University of Hawaii in preparation for his ministry in Korea. The Mass schedule began on March 24,1974. Fifty to seventy members of the Community, mainly recent immigrants from Korea, were faithful in attendance every Sunday. Longtime Korean residents also joined the group once a month for Mass and a picnic. Junior high and senior high school Korean students formed a club that was liturgically and socially very active.

After Fr. Buckmeier returned to Korea in 1978, the Korean Mass was continued by two Korean priests contracted from a Korean diocese by Bishop John J. Scanlan. Fr. Mark Chong served first, followed by Fr. Joseph Kim. Eleven years later when he was unable to secure a Korean priest from Korea, Bishop Joseph A. Ferrario announced the termination of the Korean Mass in Sacred Heart Church on September 1, 1985.

The Korean Catholic Community continued in operation and in 1986 was instrumental in securing another Korean priest to come to Honolulu to serve their needs. Fr. John Kang came in March 1986. He renewed the Korean Mass and ministry to the Korean Catholics.

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SACRED HEART PARISH ON STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

[reprinted from an article by Robert J. Hutchinson, published in the Hawaii Catholic Herald, July 17, 1987 (84)].

Sacred Heart Church at Punahou has joined three other Catholic churches in Hawaii on the Official Hawaii State Register of Historic Places and may soon be nominated for a place on the National Register.

According to officials at the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, which functions under the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the decision to add Sacred Heart Church to the Hawaii Register occurred June 17 after a public hearing on the application. The application has been forwarded to the State Historic Preservation Officer, DLNR chair William Paty, with the recommendation that he nominate the church for placement on the National Register. There are only three other Catholic churches in Hawaii on the historic registers. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu was the first church nominated for either the National or Hawaii Register. The cathedral was placed on the National Register in August, 1972, but made the Hawaii Register nine years later, in 1981. The next church was the "painted church," St. Benedict's in Kona, placed on the Hawaii Register in March, 1979, and on the National Register two months later. The third church is the octagonal Holy Ghost Church in Kula, Maui, placed on the Hawaii Register in April, 1983, and on the National Register in August of the same year.

The effort to have Sacred Heart placed on the historic registers was spearheaded by a longtime parishioner, Eloise McIntosh, a member of the parish council.

"The council members wanted to do it so I said go ahead and do the leg work," said Fr. John J. Stankard, M.M. pastor of the church.

McIntosh told the Hawaii Catholic Herald that the idea of trying to have Sacred Heart placed on the historic registers just popped into her head one day last February.

"I lived here all my life," she said. "Sacred Heart was where I was baptized, confirmed, and married. It's very special to me, it means a lot. And I thought we should do something special for the church."

McIntosh called up the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, which put her in touch with the director, Dr. Ronald Hibbard. Dr. Hibbard came out to the church, took pictures and lots of notes and helped McIntosh and fellow council members prepare the formal application.

"It was built in 1913 and was dedicated in 1914, and it features a special type of architecture, with beautiful stained glass windows from France," she said. "The priests' rectory is also of a special design."

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ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

McIntosh added that a building has to be at least 50 years old and have some kind of architectural significance to be considered for placement on the Hawaii register. Such placement means that a property is officially recognized to be of historic and cultural significance to a community and is therefore worth preserving. Placement on the national register also makes properties eligible for Federal tax benefits and preservation assistance when funds are available.

"It's an honor to be placed on this register," McIntosh said. "It shows that the State recognizes the beauty and historic and artistic significance of the place." Placement on the State register also provides a degree of protection for the church. According to McIntosh, it would be "very difficult" now to destroy the church since it "has the backing of the (Historic Places Review) Board to preserve it."

The history of Sacred Heart Church began when Fr. (later Bishop) Stephen Alencastre, SS.CC., visited the Punahou area on horseback in the early 1900s. By 1908, Fr. Alencastre decided that the quickly-developing area needed a permanent church of its own and set out to raise funds for what was to become Sacred Heart Church. A giant fund-raising fair was held in 1912 at Thomas Square across from the current Honolulu Academy of Arts, and was so successful that Fr. Alencastre immediately set out to buy a piece of land opposite the Punahou School campus. That year architect F.E. Newcomb crafted a gothic design for the church, which was constructed out of simulated blue stone by the Olund Construction Company.

In late 1914, Bishop Boeynaems solemnly blessed the new church, which was soon to have special leaded stained glass windows shipped to it from Europe, despite transportation difficulties caused by World War I. In 1923, Fr. Alencastre raised enough money to have Bachelot Hall erected in the same style of the Church next door. Less than a year later, Fr. Alencastre had to leave his beloved parish church to become a bishop.

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NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES