Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Makawao
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Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Makawao is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church of Hawaii in the United States. Located in Makawao on the island of Maui, the church falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Honolulu and its bishop. It is named after Saint Joseph, the father of Jesus.
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Once upon a time, when most of Maui lived in plantation camps, big community trees would be erected and decorated. Thousands would turn out to stare in wonder at the trees erected in Lahaina, Puunene, Wailuku and Paia. The trees would feature huge lighted ornaments, ablaze with the cheer that is part of this celebration. For years, the only notable Christmas display around Makawao was at St. Joseph’s Church.
There are several beautiful stained glass windows in St. Joseph's church, this is the story of one of them - Fransico Gomes, was born in 1868 in Ponta Delgada, Maderia, he and his family moved to Hawaii when Frank was eleven. After a journey of 123 days, the British ship Ravenscrag arrived in Hawaii in 1879 carrying 428 Portuguese immigrants. Frank’s wife, Theresa DeCosta Vasconcellos, was born on the island of San Miquel in the Azores in 1874. Theresa arrived in Hawaii during the rule of King Kalakaua in 1883. Traveling with her mother, an aunt, two brothers, two sisters and a cousin, they arrived on the SS Bell Rock, a British ship carrying 1,405 Portuguese immigrants. Frank and Theresa were married June 24th, 1894 in the original St Joseph’s Church in Makawao. In 1944 they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a High Mass at the present church built in 1911. Their strong faith and commitment to St. Joseph’s church is evident by a beautiful stain glass window in the church donated by Frank and Theresa Gomes.
St. Joseph's Feast days is a big annual event in upcountry Maui. St. Joseph Feast offers a lot for everyone. They feature live entertainment The Feast days also feature Crafters: Jewelry, Orchids, Gift Baskdets, t'shirts, Leis, Flowers etc..; Delicious Food: Malasadas, Portuguese Soup, Teriyaki, Hamburger, Chili Chicken, Pizza, nachos, Ice Cream, Mocha Freeze & more; Country Store: Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Vegetables, Bake Goods, Plants & Bazaar Items; Games, Bouncers, & Hawaiian Challenge; Valuable Goods Auction: Vacation Get a Ways, Golf Packages, Activities, Tools, Appliances, Gift Certificates, Livestock Auction, Small Animal Auction and much more!
St. Joseph's Church has an associated school which serves the educational needs of the people of Upcountry Maui. It is open to students of all religious, ethnic, economic and national backgrounds. Its educational program is based on the Catholic philosophy of life which considers at all times and in all places the student’s present life in relation to their eternal destiny. Students are trained to become men and women of character, having sound moral principles and academic training to assume their responsibilities as productive citizens.
