About St. Gabriel · Keanae, Hawaii
St. Gabriel Mission Church in Keanae, Hawaii, is a historic Catholic parish established in 1937 by Father Cyril Eraly. It was built from coral washed up on the shore, with a local legend calling it the 'Miracle Church' after the coral washed back into the ocean after construction. The church is now unsafe for Mass and is located near the original stone church. The parish is part of the larger St. Rita Parish in Haiku, which was founded in 1922 and elevated to parish status in 1950. The community is active in ministries, sacraments, and outreach, with a mission to live out Christ’s love through service and worship.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- St. Gabriel
Why belong here
Join a welcoming Catholic community dedicated to living out Christ’s message through love and service. Participate in ministries like Altar Servers, Homebound Ministry, and Music Ministry, and experience transformative worship through Eucharist, prayer, and outreach. The parish offers opportunities to grow in faith, serve others, and be Christ’s faithful witnesses in Haiku and beyond.
Mass times at St. Gabriel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30pm - 4:00pm (St. Rita)
- Before Sunday Mass (St. Gabriel)
About Our Parish
Saint Rita Parish Haiku is a former sugar plantation district that converted to pineapple in 1921. Over the years, Haiku and the surrounding areas were served by a number of Catholic churches including St. Ann in Hamakuapoko, St. Gabriel in Keanae, Holy Rosary in Paia and St. Augustine in Kailua. St. Ann and St. Augustine no longer exist. St. Rita was built in the 1920's by Sacred Hearts Father Jules Verhaeghe. It was first a mission of Holy Rosary and then of St. Joseph, Makawao. It was elevated to parish status in 1950. It has been in existance since 1922. Saint Gabriel Mission Church Father Cyril Eraly erected this attractive church in 1937. The work lasted six months starting in October 1936, and was completed at the end of March 1937. Bishop Alencastre came over for the solemn blessing, which took place on April 4, 1937. Over the years the church was deteriated and is unsafe to hold mass. To the East of the church, still stands the original stone church which had become too small for Keanae's Catholic worship. Very early in the 1940s there was a chapel to which Bishop Maigret refers to in his diary as "a pitiful chapel" under date of June 26, 1856. No doubt, Bishop Maigret talked over with Fr. Leonor Fouesnel, who was his companion on this Confirmation tour of Maui, for not long afterward there was action in Keanae. It is a fascinating and perhaps fantastic tale. A new church was built from coral that had washed up on the shore. Then when the construction was complete, the remaining coral washed back into the ocean. The popular name for this building is "the Miracle Church." "Sacred Hearts Fr. Leonor Fouesnel must have loved celebrating Mass in Keanae at Kapuuwai Hemolele O Iesu e Maila Church, later known as Our Lady of Fatima Shrine as one could gaze down to the sea and up to the majestic Waikani Falls in one turn of the head. The Sacred Hearts Church is known as the mi
Ministries
- Altar Servers
- Bereavement Ministry
- Homebound Ministry
- Hospital Ministry
- Music Ministry
- Pro-Life
- Proclaimers Of The Word
- Thrift Store
- Faith Formation
- Food Ministry
- Collection Counters
- Planning & Building
- Sacristan
- Litururgical Tech
Sacraments
The whole liturgical life of the Church revolves around the Eucharistic sacrifice and the sacraments. (CCC 1113) While we believe that human life is infused with the sacramental goodness of God, the Catholic Church has defined seven sacraments - instituted by and through the life of Jesus Christ. It is through the experience of the sacramental ritual that we are infused with God’s grace. The Sacraments nourish and strengthen us as they express and build up our faith. Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation. Sacraments of Healing: Penance (Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick. Sacraments of Vocation: Marriage, Holy Orders.