Tiny St. Theresa, the westernmost Catholic school in the United States, joyfully celebrates its 60 birthday

By Anna Weaver

KEKAHA, Kauai

The small, close-knit parish of St. Theresa in Kekaha, Kauai, has been through a lot since its first church opened its doors in 1941. There was the tsunami of 1946 that damaged property; a fire that destroyed the original church in 1977; Hurricane Iniki in 1992 that wrecked the school, rectory and convent; and the closing of Kekaha Sugar Mill in 2000 when many parishioners lost their jobs.

But the resilient parishioners have stuck it out to reach the 60th anniversary of their parish school and the enduring presence of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (see story on page 9). To celebrate, St. Theresa rejoiced with a weekend of activities, Oct. 13-15.

With a beautiful, red sunset over the ocean as their backdrop, more than 300 parishioners gathered on Friday, Oct. 13, on the grassy, open space between the beachfront church and school property for a luau, multicultural entertainment, and catch-up time with dear old friends.

“The Lord is with us tonight,” announced St. Theresa principal Mary Jean Buza-Sims, the event’s emcee, pointing to the clear skies. “We thought it was going to rain.”

“There’s nothing happening on the West side tonight,” she said. “So stay here!”

No one was in a hurry to leave. Not when there was a 123-pound roast rotisserie pig to snack on, followed by Hawaiian food prepared by the Malama family, and desserts made by Kauai Community College culinary students.

St. Theresa alumni were recognized, the oldest a member of the class of 1952. Then there was the ukulele playing, Hawaiian music, Tahitian, Filipino, Maori and hula dancing, and a fire dancer. Even principal Buza-Sims got in the spirit of things and danced a hula number accompanied by Halau Hula O Haliileo.

The rain that had held off the night before came crashing down on Saturday and continued through the 5 p.m. anniversary Mass in St. Theresa Church celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva.

Attending were also people from St. Theresa’s two mission parishes down the road — St. Joseph in Kaumakani, which has 60 members, and Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Waimea with 100 members.

“Now as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of this school, I’m sure that there are many historical events that could be recounted,” said the bishop. “But I would really rather look not so much to the past but to the future.”

“Because 60 years from now the 10th bishop of Honolulu perhaps will be standing here in front of you preaching a word of thanks to God for the 120 years that the school had given service to this community in Hawaii. And when we do, we hope that what has already been a gift to this community will be multiplied a hundred-fold.”

During the Mass, the bishop officially installed the parish’s new pastor, LaSalette Father Wilfredo “Fred” Iminga, who transferred here in June from Christ the King Parish in Kahului, Maui. Looking on were former pastors La Salette Father Alphonse “Larry” Larochelle, who still lives at St. Theresa, and La Salette Father Rene Bisaillon, now in residence at St. Raphael Parish in Koloa, Kauai.

The three Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity serving the school and parish — Sister Marie Bernadette Dorn, Sister Mary Ann Feminella, and Sister Delores Wisnicky — were also recognized and blessed by the bishop.

After Mass, all joined in a potluck in the parish hall. The next day a pancake breakfast before 8:30 a.m. Mass wrapped up the festivities, which were coordinated by parishioner Darlene Patricio Muraoka. The breakfast, attended by about 130 people, was also a fundraiser and brought in $1,200 for the school.

Then and now

At one time, Kekaha was a booming sugar plantation town with an active community center, four stores, two gas stations, and the Kekaha Community Association, which had an influence in local politics. When Kekaha Sugar Mill closed in 2000 after nearly a century of operation, that all changed.

Today the town remains primarily a working class community of about 3,300. The residents now travel to other parts of Kauai to work in hotels and other areas of the tourism industry. Only a corner store and the parish remain to remind Kekaha residents of the old days.

“Because those things are no longer there I think it’s even more important that the church and the school remain an integral part of our community,” Buza-Sims said. “If they were to shut down it would be a great big loss to our community.”

St. Theresa School became the westernmost Catholic school in the United States when it was founded in 1946, 12 months after the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity came that year from Manitowoc, Wis., to staff the first classes, from kindergarten to third grade.

Today, the pre-kindergarten through grade 8 school, one of only two Catholic schools on the island, has its modern day challenges. There are only two sisters on the faculty and this is the first year the principal is not a Franciscan Sister. Lay teachers’ salaries and the resulting higher tuitions have been a factor leading to a decreased enrollment. Last year the school had 162 students; this year it has 131.

Still, said longtime parishioner Martha Kruse, the school continues to do what it does best — provide a good Catholic education to Kauai residents.

“We really have grown as a school,” said Kruse, 86, who remembers going around the plantation camp in 1946 with others to recruit students for the new school. “Even though we’re getting less [students], our graduates have really shown the basic disciplines and teaching of our nuns.”

To combat financial problems, the new principal, herself a 1964 graduate of St. Theresa, is bringing her previous career experience, fundraising for Catholic schools and the YMCA in Seattle, to the school. Buza-Sims has already formed a development committee, carnival committee, and parent association committee.

In addition to the annual carnival in April, which earns $75,000-80,000 for the school, an alumni drive is in the works and parents are being surveyed about other fundraising ideas. Buza-Sims’ goal is to be in the black by the end of this school year.

The pastor believes the small-town spirit works in the parish and school’s favor.

“When it’s a small community, the tendency really is that you can feel the welcoming attitude,” said Father Iminga. “This is not the city. It’s country, so people know each other.”

Parishioner Gina Duarte, whose son Dion Gray goes to the school said, “It’s a small school with quality values and a good Christian base.”

When Dion had to be flown recently to Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu for surgery on his leg after a skateboarding accident, everyone from Father Iminga to Dion’s classmates knew about it.

His grandmother, Chantal Duarte, said, “His teacher called and said to me, ‘You think he’d feel up to coming in to class? Because the kids are worried about him.’”

“That class, the love they showed to him!” she said, adding that she didn’t think you could find quite the same supportive attitude outside of a Catholic school.

As for Buza-Sims, there’s no other place she’d rather be. “I walk out everyday on the lanai and I look out at the water and I say, ‘God, how much better can it get!’” she said. “You see the blue ocean, and the beautiful grounds and the wonderful aloha spirit we have at the school and the parish.”