Benedict M. Vierra

Benedict M. Vierra (June 27, 1914 - January 25, 1994 in Honolulu)^[1] was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Father Vierra underwent clerical formation in the Philippines where he was ordained to the presbyterate for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. On his return to Honolulu, he engaged in pastoral work and was instrumental in the building of the current co-cathedral of the diocese of Honolulu, consecrated under the title of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, the French Carmelite mystic and doctor of the church.^[2]^[3] His close ties to the Philippines enabled him to persuade the Bishop of Honolulu to allow several Philippine religious orders and diocesan clergy to minister to the growing number of Filipino immigrants to Hawaii. Pope John XXIII appointed Father Vierra as a protonotary apostolic, with the title of monsignor, the first in the diocese of Honolulu, the highest non-episcopal prelate entitled to wear the mitre and to pontificate at liturgy, with due regard for the precedence of the diocesan bishop in accordance with Roman Pontifical. He remains the only Hawai'i cleric on whom this honor has been conferred. He also served as vicar general of the Diocese of Honolulu.

References

^ "Benedict M Vierra". Fold3. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
^ "Our History". Co-Cathedral of St Theresa of the Child Jesus. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
^ Espanol, Zenaida Serrano (October 5, 2002). "Co-cathedral focuses on servicing people | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper". the.honoluluadvertiser.com. Retrieved 2019-01-04.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu

Ordinaries

Prefect Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands: Alexis Bachelot

Vicars Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands: Louis Désiré Maigret; Herman Koeckemann; Gulstan Ropert; Libert H. Boeynaems; Stephen Alencastre

Bishops of Honolulu: James Joseph Sweeney; John Joseph Scanlan; Joseph Anthony Ferrario; Francis X. DiLorenzo; Clarence Richard Silva

Churches

Cathedrals: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace; Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus

Parishes: St. Mary Church, Hana; Sacred Heart Church-Punahou; Saint John the Baptist Church; Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Hawi; St. Joseph Church, Hilo; Holy Trinity Church, Honolulu; Our Lady of the Mount Church, Honolulu; St. Anthony Church, Honolulu; St. Augustine by the Sea Church, Honolulu; St. Patrick Church, Honolulu; Saints Peter and Paul Church, Honolulu; St. Michael the Archangel Church, Kailua-Kona; Star of the Sea Church, Kalapana; St. Ann Church, Kaneohe; St. Theresa Church, Kekaha; St. Raphael Church, Koloa; Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, Kula; Holy Ghost Church, Kula; Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, Lahaina; Immaculate Conception Church, Lihue; St. Joseph Church, Makawao; Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Pearl City; Resurrection of the Lord Church, Waipahu; St. Benedict's Church, Honaunau