Kuliouou church is Byzantine Ukrainian, and also Catholic

By Father Michael Owens | Special to the Herald

What’s the best kept Catholic secret in Hawaii? It’s St. Sophia Grecco Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic Church!

It’s wonderful that the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission appreciates the treasure of the Eastern Church, with its recent study tour of various Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches in Hawaii, as described in a recent article in the Hawaii Catholic Herald. But how unfortunate it is not to realize the same treasure exists within the Catholic Church and is active in Hawaii.

Not only does St. Sophia regularly celebrate the Divine Liturgy (Mass) in the former convent chapel at Holy Trinity Church in Kuliouou, but it recently hosted an Eastern Christian Easter egg decorating workshop led by Marika Hura and an icon writing workshop at Chaminade University of Honolulu and the Honolulu Academy of Arts by visiting priest Father Damian Higgins.

St. Sophia is under the jurisdiction of Bishop Richard Seminack of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of St. Nicholas in Chicago. However, it is not only for Ukrainian Catholics, but for Catholics of all churches (formally called rites) of which there are 27, originally established when the apostles spread the faith throughout the Mediterranean and Asia.

All Eastern Catholic Churches, like the Roman Catholic Church, are under the authority of Pope Benedict XVI.

St. Sophia is the only Eastern Catholic Church in Hawaii.

Any Catholic in good standing can worship there, and receive the sacraments, including Communion, at the Divine Liturgy, every Sunday, normally at 10:30 a.m. (The time may change due to the availability of priests) followed by a potluck brunch.

Oratorian Father George Busto is the administrator of the community and a bi-ritual priest serving the Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic Communities.

More information can be found at www.stsophiaukecath.org and saintsophias.blogspot.com. Or call 393-0687.