By Mary Machado | Special to the Herald
As the Catholic Women Guild’s sesquicentennial anniversary year draws to a close, it seems appropriate to honor the memory of the Guild’s founder, Anna Louisa Gibbons Rhodes, who like those whom she sought to serve, was also an immigrant.
Having left her native Ireland with her family for Australia where she resided for a time, she then moved to Hawaii where she met and married Godfrey Rhodes, a man of influence, who was closely aligned with Kamehameha IV.
At the request of her husband, Anna organized the Catholic Women’s Guild using members of the Portuguese Benevolent Society as the nucleus of the group.
The needs of the day, occasioned by the influx of thousands of émigrés from virtually all over the world — including Russia, Norway, Ireland, Scotland and Italy— were manifold, ranging from housing to food to health care.
The Guild is proud to have been able to continue the efforts of its founder to this day, having spent this 150th year continuing its spiritually-based mission and donating to four compelling charities.
In November, monetary donations were given to:
n The Peterson Pregnancy Foundation
n St. Patrick’s Outreach
n St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii
n The University of Hawaii Foundation honoring Dr. Edwin Cadman which is focusing through the Cadman Endowed Fund on the study of neurodegenerative diseases, of one of which he is a victim.
The Guild continues to abide by the core commitment stated in its Constitution:
n To foster and encourage the spirit of service among Catholic women to assist in charitable and welfare service;
n To assist Catholic institutions through financial and personal services;
n To assist civic groups which are concerned with the welfare of the general community.
The Guild is currently focused on the preservation and care of its archives. Since they represent a record of Guild activities dating back 150 years, they are of great value providing an accurate account of one of Hawaii’s leading women’s groups, which has existed under the monarchy, the republic, the territory, and now, the state of Hawaii.
Over the past century and a half the organization addressed the needs of a community beset by Hansen’s disease and the attendant problems of orphaned children, the plague and the Chinatown fire, the founding of the Catholic diocese, and the arrival of sisters and clergy from Europe and the United States.
It is a rich history of which the Guild is very proud.
It seems fitting to conclude the year honoring our founder within the octave of St. Patrick’s Day. At the next general membership meeting on Saturday. March 20, Mass will be celebrated, followed by a talk about Irish traditions and music by Dr. Terence Knapp, and a reception. Members and guests are welcome.
For further information, call Mary Machado at 734-2907.