Our History
St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii was established by the Fathers of the Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose arrival from France on July 7, 1827, marked the start of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii. After more than two decades of political and social upheaval as well as religious persecution, the first High Mass was celebrated at St. Anthony in Wailuku on July 13, 1848, in a thatched structure.
In 1854, St. Anthony was built in wood to replace the native church. It was reported that 6000 baptisms were recorded on Maui that year.
In 1858-59, King Kamehameha IV deeded 16 acres of land in Wailuku to Bishop Louis Maigret and on May 3, 1873, under the direction of Father Lenore Fouesnel, SS.CC., the third church (now in stone) that took six years to build, was blessed. It is said that it was here at this event that Father Damien de Veuster SS.CC, made his commitment to go to Kalaupapa Leprosy Settlement and thus, began his remarkable journey to sainthood.
The church building continued to be improved and expanded over the years. In 1919, it was remodeled into a gothic style with a sanctuary, semi-rotund baptistery and bell tower. In 1940, it was enlarged on both sides under the direction of Father Bruno Bens and stood majestically as a major landmark in Wailuku for over a century.
In 1976, the Society of Mary (Marianists) assumed leadership of St. Anthony Parish from the Sacred Heart Fathers. The Brothers of Mary were already a big part of life here at St. Anthony, having founded the Wailuku School for Boys in 1883 at the invitation of the Sacred Heart’s Fathers and staffed what later would become St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School. Over the years, in addition to the Marianists, our children have been taught by the Franciscan and Maryknoll Sisters and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
A year later, on November 1, 1977, the historic church was destroyed by an early morning fire set by an arsonist. It was a sad and traumatic loss for our parish, as well as a shock to the entire community. But through prayer, hard work and the generosity of many wonderful parishioners and Maui community leaders, St. Anthony Church rose from the ashes. The present, modern structure was dedicated on June 13, 1980, St. Anthony’s feast day, just three years after the tragic fire.
On June 30, 2021, with grateful hearts, we bid a fond "aloha" to the Marianists as they departed Maui. The parish is now administered by the Diocese of Honolulu.
St. Anthony Catholic Church, along with its many ministries, includes a Preschool, the St. Anthony Schools, and Cemetery. It also has on its beautiful campus, the only Catholic High School on Maui. May the Lord continue to bless this tranquil island, church and the people who come to worship here.
Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church – Maui
It is our pleasure to faithfully report that our new Columbaria has been built with and niches installed. Niches are now being purchased or reserved for our community member’s final resting place. In preparation for our upcoming Memorial Day Mass, we invite you to consider referring names to be included on our beautiful new "Cenotaph."
What is the Right Thing for You?
Each of us must sooner or later prepare for our own end of life journey. Planning your own memorial and funeral, benefits your family, and the community we are part of. Talking about and exploring your personal preferences; having open, honest, family discussions, provides you the time to think through how best to manage your final wishes. It is certainly one of the most loving and significant determinations you can make for yourself, your family, and our Catholic Community at St. Anthony’s.
Talking about my Funeral?
If we talk about it at all, we may use words such as “I want to be buried” or “I want to be cremated.“ Then, when death occurs, our family is left to guess, make decisions, and worst face costs, at a time of great personal stress and grief. Your family could be forced to debate what they think you would have chosen for your Catholic funeral arrangements and memorial at St. Anthony’s – if only you were still around to ask.
Remembering Others?
We often do not remember the names and faces of those who built St. Anthony’s or who were Veterans from our community – can you help us remember and honor them at our upcoming Memorial Day Mass?
What do I need to do?
You can pre-plan your funeral and memorial, and also help us remember St Anthony’s friends and family not yet memorialized. Recognizing the importance of making your own plans, and taking an active role, is the first step.
When you feel ready, we ask that you contact and meet with our new Director of Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries, Mr. Duane Pavao.
Duane can be reached at 808-783-6778, or [email protected]
Outreach and Support
External outreach ministries sponsored by the parish include: Hospital Visits, Homebound Visits, Hale Makua Visits, and the Women’s Prison Ministry
Hospital Visits
Communion to the Sick: Hospital. This ministry was formed as part of the Outreach Program of the Diocese of Honolulu. Ministers visit the sick at Maui Memorial Medical Center, pray with the patients, and administer Holy Communion to the sick.
Parish Life
The heart of a parish is the Eucharist, but the parish family is the body that makes it a unique and vibrant community with an exciting parish life. Our parish offers a variety of ways to be part of that communal family in addition to the celebration of the sacraments.
Faith formation is a vital element of the Catholic life as we grow in knowledge and understanding of our faith in Jesus Christ and the Church he gave us. A deeper understanding can lead to a more intimate relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and through the Trinity to the Church and our family, friends, neighbors, parish, and community. Such faith formation is not just for children, but for all of us as we grow as Catholics. Our parish has many opportunities for faith formation that we encourage you to explore.
Another way to participate in our parish life are the various parish ministries, including liturgical ministries, such as choir member, lector, altar server, and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist; social justice ministries, such as visiting the homebound, serving the poor, volunteering at food pantries and the St. Vincent de Paul Society; and others, such as youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and the annual parish bazaar, to name just a few.
God calls us to use our gifts and talents to glorify Him and make life better for other people. Please prayerfully consider these opportunities for getting involved in ministry. And if you have an idea for a new parish ministry, please contact us.
With so many ways to be part of parish life, you'll want to stay informed by regularly reading the weekly bulletin. You’ll also want to check the parish calendar for a list of events and mass schedules.
Our parish has a rich history in our town, being founded by people who trusted in the Lord and gathered under the leadership of our bishop. Who we are today is based on who we were yesterday. Find out more about our spiritual forefathers as you read the history of our parish.
We hope you'll also enjoy viewing photos of our parish, including some of the many enjoyable events and programs we've had over the years.
New Parish Cremation Columbaria Project
We are building new Cremation Columbaria options at our parish to meet the end-of-life needs in our community. Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries is dedicated to providing education, support, and professional services to our community. Founded in faith, and rich in our traditions, we strive to serve our families’ needs now and for generations to come.
- New cremation burial options as a final resting place for family members, here at our Church where family’s worship.
- Parishioners can now bring cremated remains of loved ones, or plan-in-advance for their own end-of-life cremation burial options at our parish, owned in perpetuity by The Diocese of Honolulu.
- The Diocese Cemetery Service: Hawaii Catholic Cemeteries will professionally care and manage the Columbaria.
- A portion of your purchase will financially support your parish
For information on our Cremation Niche Columbaria, please contact Duane Pavao, Director of Cemeteries at (808) 783-6778.
