History of St. Theresa Parish
The parish is composed of St. Theresa Church in Mountain View, and Holy Rosary Mission Church in Keaau.
These two historic churches in our parish are just seven miles apart along Volcano Road, or Highway 11, in the Puna District on the east side of the Big Island. Puna is one of the fastest growing and most affordable of the 9 geographic districts on the Big Island. The “volcano” in Volcano Road in this case refers to Kilauea Volcano. Kilauea erupted most recently from May to June 2018 about nineteen miles away from St. Theresa Church. Our parish was not affected except for the earthquakes that shook some statues at St. Theresa Church, causing them to fall and break.
The Puna District in which we are located has a strong Catholic history.
In 1841, the first Catholic priest entered the district. He was Father Arsene Walsh of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.) from Belgium, and founder of the Catholic Church on the Big Island of Hawaii. He was followed by a number of circuit-riding priests of his Congregation who occasionally passed through the Puna District. The most famous priest in the Puna District was St. Damien DeVeuster, SS.CC. St. Damien served in Puna for 6 months in 1864-1865 before leaving voluntarily to serve the lepers on Molokai Island.
From a visit to St. Theresa Church, built in 1932, you will notice the distinctive hand-painted ceiling and side panels. Besides building and painting the inside of the Church, Father Evarist Gielen, SS.CC. designed the murals in the Symbolism and Art Nouveau style of Belgium so that the peoples of the parish would learn the basics of their faith through vivid artistry. St. Theresa is one of only three “painted churches” on the Big Island! St. Theresa was dedicated in April 1934. Holy Rosary Mission Church was built in 1910 and reflects a traditional and sacred architecture. The church is endowed with excellent acoustics and a modern pipe-organ.
During WWII, an Army hospital unit was located on the property of Saint Theresa Church in Mountain View. Prior to 1944, all the Catholic churches in the Puna District were served by one pastor who lived near Holy Rosary Church. When the Maryknoll Fathers began serving Puna Catholic churches in 1944, the Puna District was divided into two parishes, one being Holy Rosary Parish in Keaau.
In 1947, St. Theresa became the parish center of this second parish, with Holy Rosary Church serving as the mission church of St. Theresa Parish.
Also in 1947, the military chaplain with hospital unit moved out of Mountain View, and the Pastor of Holy Rosary started the practice of Sunday Mass in the army chapel at Kilauea Military Camp as well as at Saint Theresa Church. (When the army base closed in 2014, weekend Masses at Kilauea were discontinued.)
In 1950, the Sisters of the Holy Family established a convent at St. Theresa and provided catechesis and social work services to parishioners at Catholic parishes in the Puna District.
A Perpetual Adoration Chapel was established adjacent to the Sisters’ convent. After the Sisters left the parish due to declining vocations, the former convent became a food pantry (still in operation) while the school facility is currently being rented by a charter school.
The rectory has always been a rather primitive home for our Pastor. In 2016, it was remodeled with new windows, kitchen opened into the living room, as well as new flooring. The bedrooms and bathroom were also updated.
Overall, this history and characteristics of our parish and churches make for a very comprehensive worship experience in our spirit-filled parish.
The wide ethnic diversity at both churches is also very unique. Our parish is composed of individuals of Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Chuukese, Marshallese, Samoan, African and Caucasian heritage.
