About St. Damien · Kaunakakai, Hawaii
Saint Damien of Molokai Catholic Parish is a small, family-style (ohana) Catholic community serving the island of Molokai, Hawaii. The parish, staffed by priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (ss.cc.), maintains four worship sites: St. Damien Church in Kaunakakai, Our Lady of Seven Sorrows on the east end of the island, St. Joseph in Kamalo, and St. Vincent Ferrer in Maunaloa. With roughly 300 families — most on fixed incomes — it carries on the legacy of the Belgian missionary Saint Damien (Father Damien de Veuster), offering the sacraments, faith formation, food assistance, and hospitality to the island's roughly 7,000 residents as well as to the pilgrims who travel to Molokai to learn the Father Damien story.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- Saint Damien of Molokai (Father Damien de Veuster)
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick Fanning, SS.CC.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Honolulu (Vicariate: Central Oahu)
Why belong here
Saint Damien of Molokai is a small parish where almost everyone knows each other by name, and the congregation is explicitly called to live as 'ohana — family — in the spirit of Father Damien. It worships in four island churches and offers the full sacramental life plus robust faith formation (RCIA, First Communion, Confirmation, Bible sharing), social outreach (food pantry, bereavement support, St. Peregrine cancer prayer group, Hui Kako'o family-empowerment ministry, St. Damien Hospitality for visiting pilgrims), and a Hawaiian-language presence in liturgy. For visitors and pilgrims walking in the footsteps of Saint Damien, the parish welcomes them into its worship, ministry, and story.
Mass times at St. Damien
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 pm at St. Damien Church (or by appointment with the parish priest)
About Molokai and Saint Damien Parish
Molokai is one of the least inhabited Hawaiian islands, with about 7,000 residents. The parish community styles itself as 'ohana' — family — and explicitly links its identity to Father Damien, the 19th-century Sacred Hearts priest from Belgium who volunteered for sixteen years to serve the Hansen's disease (leprosy) patients quarantined at Kalaupapa. The parish aims to serve God, serve one another, and serve the wider world community, modeling itself on Father Damien's call to give without counting the cost. Welcoming visiting pilgrims who come to learn the Father Damien story is one of its named primary missions.
- Island population ~7,000
- Four church buildings under one parish (St. Damien / Our Lady of Seven Sorrows / St. Joseph Kamalo / St. Vincent Ferrer Maunaloa)
- Roughly 300 parish families
- Pilgrim and visitor hospitality as a core ministry
History of the Parish and Its Churches
St. Sophia Church, the parish's immediate predecessor in Kaunakakai, was built in 1937 on the site of an earlier smaller chapel and named (per parish tradition) for Sophie Cooke, who donated $1,000 toward its construction. By 2010 the 1,852-square-foot building, seating about 120, could not fit the Sunday congregation, and a fundraising campaign for a replacement was already underway. On February 11, 2010, fire destroyed St. Sophia. After 16 years of planning, praying, and fundraising, the new Saint Damien of Molokai Church was dedicated to God in December 2011 by Bishop Larry Silva. The earlier worship of the island — including Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, built by Father Damien himself in 1874 and recognized as the oldest church on Molokai — is now supervised by St. Damien of Molokai Parish.
- St. Sophia Church built 1937 (1,852 sq ft, ~120 seats)
- St. Sophia destroyed by fire, February 11, 2010
- New St. Damien Church dedicated December 2011
- St. Sophia's relics (font, tabernacle, crucifix, Stations of the Cross) entombed in new church
- Our Lady of Seven Sorrows built 1874 by Father Damien — oldest church on Molokai
St. Damien of Molokai — The Patron Saint
The church is named for Saint Damien de Veuster, born Jozef De Veuster on January 3, 1840 in Tremelo, Belgium. A priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, he volunteered in 1873 to serve the leprosy patients exiled to the Kalaupapa peninsula on Molokai. For sixteen years he bandaged and comforted the sick, built hospitals, houses, chapels, and coffins, organized picnics, educated children, and ministered to their spiritual needs — transforming a notorious settlement into a community of respect, love, and laughter. He died of leprosy on April 15, 1889. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1995 and Pope Benedict XVI canonized him on October 11, 2009 in Rome. Saint Damien is venerated as patron of people with leprosy, of HIV/AIDS patients, of those with incurable illness, and of the Diocese of Honolulu. His feast day is May 10, and April 15 (the date of his death) is a minor statewide holiday in Hawaii.
- Born January 3, 1840, Tremelo, Belgium
- Died April 15, 1889, Molokai (16 years at Kalaupapa)
- Beatified 1995; canonized October 11, 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI
- Feast day: May 10
- Patron of those with leprosy / Hansen's disease, HIV/AIDS, incurable illness, and the Diocese of Honolulu
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.). The current pastor is Father Patrick Fanning, SS.CC., assisted by Father Patrick Killilea, SS.CC. as parochial vicar. Deacons Michael Shizuma (Active Ministry) and Jim Krupka support liturgical and faith-formation ministry, including the parish RCIA/Religious Education classes that meet Wednesday afternoons at St. Damien Church. Lay staff includes Loretta Kalilikane (Office Assistant), Pamelyn Fukuoka (Bookkeeper), and the religious education team of Grace Kashiwamura and Jersula Manaba. Pastoral Council representative listed on the diocesan site is Stevie Chaikin.
- Fr. Patrick Fanning, SS.CC., Pastor (residence 808-558-0109)
- Fr. Patrick Killilea, SS.CC., Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Michael Shizuma (Active Ministry)
- Deacon Jim Krupka (RE/RCIA)
- Loretta Kalilikane, Office Assistant
- Pamelyn Fukuoka, Bookkeeper
- Grace Kashiwamura, Religious Education
- Jersula Manaba, Religious Education
- Stevie Chaikin, Pastoral Council
Faith Formation, Education, and Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation is organized around the Diocese of Honolulu Diocesan Pastoral Plan and embraces cradle-to-grave catechesis. The parish offers a Wednesday-afternoon Elementary Religious Education program for Grades K–6 at St. Damien Church (led by Deacon Jim Krupka), sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, Confirmation preparation, RCIA for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, Youth Ministry for Grades 7–12, Young Adult ministry, ongoing Adult Faith Formation, weekly Bible Sharing, and Marriage Encounter / Catholic Engaged Encounter for couples and engaged pairs. The published 2023 Faith Formation schedule walks families through the Creed, the seven sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick), the Commandments, Catholic moral living, and the theological and cardinal virtues, leading into Lent, Holy Week, and continuing formation.
- Elementary Religious Education (Grades K–6)
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Youth Ministry (Grades 7–12) and Young Adults
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Adult Faith Formation and Bible Sharing
- Marriage Encounter / Catholic Engaged Encounter
- Family Catechesis as the parish model (in Pastoral Plan)
Worship and Liturgical Ministries
Worship/Liturgy is described on the parish website as a 'Calling,' encompassing all the roles that make the Eucharistic celebration possible. Open liturgical roles include Sacristans, Eucharistic Ministers (including Communion to the Homebound), Lectors, Liturgical Music (singers, choir, and instrumentalists), Cantor / Song Leader, Ministers of Hospitality (greeters and ushers), Petitioners (leading the Prayers of the Faithful), Altar Servers, the Sound System team, Worship Space Environment, Décor and Flowers, and the Liturgy Committee. Special-liturgy teams coordinate Weddings (working with couples from the Engaged Encounter weekend and the Focus instrument through to church setup and cleanup) and Funerals (coordinating dates and clergy schedules with the bereaved family).
- Sacristans, Eucharistic Ministers, Communion to the Homebound
- Lectors, Cantor / Song Leader, Liturgical Music
- Ministers of Hospitality, Petitioners, Altar Servers
- Sound, Worship Space Environment, Décor & Flowers
- Liturgy Committee, Wedding team, Funeral team
Social Ministry and Outreach
The parish's Social Ministry umbrella covers practical care for neighbors in need on Molokai, grounded in Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching. The Food Pantry provides food to those in need and conducts prayerful intake interviews. Hui Kako'o supports families by helping them access resources and move toward self-sufficiency, in the spirit of 'kokua' (mutual help). The Bereavement ministry reaches out to anyone experiencing the loss of health, job, home, a loved one, or culture — providing emotional support, grief reading materials, and signed letters from the priest on behalf of the parish. The St. Peregrine Cancer Prayer Group offers Catholic-based mutual support to those facing cancer or in remission. Hui e Kamiano ame Meleana / St. Damien Hospitality plans fellowship with pilgrim groups. The Social Ministry Team and Social Justice ministry connect all of this with the Church's wider social teaching.
- Food Pantry
- Hui Kako'o family empowerment ministry
- Bereavement ministry (with parish-signed letters)
- St. Peregrine Cancer Prayer Group
- Hui e Kamiano ame Meleana / St. Damien Hospitality for pilgrim groups
- Social Ministry Team and Social Justice ministry
Parish Pastoral Plan
The published St. Damien of Molokai Parish Pastoral Plan (July 31, 2019) sets four strategic Gospel priorities, all interwoven with Stewardship, Evangelization, and Social Ministry: (1) Strengthening of Marriage and Family Life; (2) Faith Formation; (3) Youth and Young Adult Ministry; and (4) Leadership Development. It calls for using Hawaiian in liturgy, hosting community-wide events, supporting 'family home evenings,' continuing Cursillo and small faith-sharing groups, periodically holding Teaching Masses, and providing transportation to parish activities for those in need. Goal One aims for a parish where family catechesis builds the family; Goal Two pursues accessible formation both culturally and geographically on Molokai.
- Priority 1: Strengthening Marriage and Family Life
- Priority 2: Faith Formation
- Priority 3: Youth and Young Adult Ministry
- Priority 4: Leadership Development
- Threads: Stewardship, Evangelization, Social Ministry
Associated Mission Churches
St. Damien of Molokai Parish oversees three mission churches in addition to the parish church: Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Mission on the east side of the island, St. Joseph Mission in Kamalo, and St. Vincent Ferrer Mission in Maunaloa. Our Lady of Seven Sorrows (built by Father Damien in 1874) is the oldest church on Molokai. St. Vincent Ferrer in Maunaloa was dedicated in 1940. Together with St. Damien in Kaunakakai they form the four-worship-site structure that gives the parish its unusual character.
- Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Mission (East End, built 1874 by Father Damien — oldest church on Molokai)
- St. Joseph Mission, Kamalo
- St. Vincent Ferrer Mission, Maunaloa (dedicated 1940)
- St. Damien Church, Kaunakakai (dedicated 2011)
Contact and Visiting the Parish
Parish office (Damien Center) hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1948, Kaunakakai, HI 96748; the physical address is 115 Ala Malama Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748. Visitors unable to attend the regular Saturday confession slot are encouraged to call the parish priest to arrange an alternate time. Because the parish spans the whole island, those needing transportation to parish activities are invited to contact the office. Tax-deductible donations may be made online via PayPal or by check to 'St. Damien Parish of Molokai.' Pilgrims drawn by the Father Damien story are explicitly welcomed into the parish's worship and hospitality ministry.
- Office: 115 Ala Malama St., Kaunakakai / Damien Center
- Mailing: P.O. Box 1948, Kaunakakai, HI 96748
- Office hours Tue–Fri 9:00 am–12:00 noon
- Phone 808-553-5220 · Fax 808-553-3534 · Fr. Fanning residence 808-558-0109
- Email [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/stdamienchurch
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Clyde Guerreiro, SS.CC.circa 2011 dedication
Pastor at the December 2011 dedication of the new Saint Damien Church; referred to as 'Sacred Hearts Father Clyde Guerreiro' in the Hawaii Catholic Herald blessing account.
- Fr. Brian Guerrero, SS.CC.
Referenced on the parish blog as 'ss.cc. Priest Molokai'.