From Wikipedia as of June 1, 2006:
Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church or in English, "Saint Mary, Gate of Heaven" is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church of Hawaii in the United States. Located in the Hawaiian Homestead of Keaukaha in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, the church falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Honolulu and its bishop.
It is named after the Blessed Virgin Mary under one of her Hawaiian language titles. Under the leadership of Father George DeCosta, the church blossomed as a pastorally vibrant community on the Big Island noted for its outreach to the poor, sick, and unchurched persons, as well as the native Hawaiian community. The parish was best known for its annual sponsorship of the Big Island Liturgy and Arts Conference (BILAC) that attracted prominent artists, musicians, liturgists, and clergy from around the world to the Big Island.
In 2003, conservative Catholic Bishop Francis DiLorenzo announced the retirement of Father DeCosta and the appointment of an interim pastor for the parish, effectively ending an era of pastoral ministry and outreach, as well as sponsorship of the BILAC conferences. (End of Wikipedia short piece.)
Addendum: The "Spirit of Malia" lives on through BILAC (Big Island Liturgy & Arts Conference), which is now a 501C3 organization with a retreat house in Volcano. For details of BILAC and its weekly ecumenical services led by Father George, click on the links to the left.
Malia Puka O Kalani in Keokaha is one of several churches "clustered" under the umbrella of the St. Joseph Parish in East Hawaii headed by Rev. Edgardo Bonghanoy, former pastor of the Mountain View church. For details about the current Malia schedule, call the church secretary at (808) 935-9338.
Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church or in English, "Saint Mary, Gate of Heaven" is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church of Hawaii in the United States. Located in the Hawaiian Homestead of Keaukaha in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, the church falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Honolulu and its bishop.
It is named after the Blessed Virgin Mary under one of her Hawaiian language titles. Under the leadership of Father George DeCosta, the church blossomed as a pastorally vibrant community on the Big Island noted for its outreach to the poor, sick, and unchurched persons, as well as the native Hawaiian community. The parish was best known for its annual sponsorship of the Big Island Liturgy and Arts Conference (BILAC) that attracted prominent artists, musicians, liturgists, and clergy from around the world to the Big Island.
In 2003, conservative Catholic Bishop Francis DiLorenzo announced the retirement of Father DeCosta and the appointment of an interim pastor for the parish, effectively ending an era of pastoral ministry and outreach, as well as sponsorship of the BILAC conferences. (End of Wikipedia short piece.)
Addendum: The "Spirit of Malia" lives on through BILAC (Big Island Liturgy & Arts Conference), which is now a 501C3 organization with a retreat house in Volcano. For details of BILAC and its weekly ecumenical services led by Father George, click on the links to the left.
Malia Puka O Kalani in Keokaha is one of several churches "clustered" under the umbrella of the St. Joseph Parish in East Hawaii headed by Rev. Edgardo Bonghanoy, former pastor of the Mountain View church. For details about the current Malia schedule, call the church secretary at (808) 935-9338.
