Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus

Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus
Location	712 N. School St. Honolulu, Hawaii
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Website	www.cocathedral.org
History
Founded	1931
Architecture
Style	Modern
Completed	1963
Specifications
Number of spires	One
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Honolulu
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Most Rev. Clarence R. Silva
Rector	Rev. Gregorio Honorio, M.S

The Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church and its Diocese of Honolulu. Located in the outskirts of downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, it is larger in physical size as a church and parish territory than the principal Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. It was named in honor of the Saint Theresa of Lisieux.

The original church parish was established in 1931 by Msgr. Stephen Alencastre, Vicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands. Construction was completed only a year later, in September 1932. Reflecting the exponential growth of Catholicism in the immediate community, then pastor and diocesan vicar general Msgr. Benedict Vierra led a major fundraising effort to replace the church's wooden structure, showing signs of deterioration in 1956. Vierra's efforts were successful and the renovated church was dedicated on August 15, 1963.

Having found a need to have a larger space for pontifical litugies - since the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace had become too small to accommodate the increased population since the vicariate apostolic was elevated to a diocese - Bishop Joseph Ferrario petitioned Pope John Paul II in 1984 to elevate Saint Theresa church to the dignity of a co-cathderal. A papal decree elevating Saint Theresa Catholic Church to co-cathedral was issued and the church was consecrated on July 28, 1985. Its interior was reconfigured and a second cathedra for the bishop was placed in the church.

The Co-Cathedral of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus is most often used for pontifical liturgies such as the annual Mass of the Chrism during which the holy oils (oil of the sick, oil of catechumens, and the holy Chrism) used in several of the sacraments are consecrated by the bishop before being distributed to the parishes of the diocese. Ordinations and episcopal installations are sometimes celebrated at the co-cathedral.

See also

• Thérèse de Lisieux
• List of places named after St. Thérèse of Lisieux

External links

• Official Cathedral Site
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu Official Site
• Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
• Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway (comprehensive Web site about the life, writings, spirituality, and mission of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face)