The Vietnamese Catholic Community at Holy Rosary Chapel: A Journey of Faith, Unity, and Hope
By Fr. Francis Hai Pham
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)
The history of the Church has always been a story of people journeying together in faith. Wherever Catholics settle, they bring with them not only their language and culture, but more importantly their love for Jesus Christ, their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and their desire to remain united with the universal Church. Such is the story of the Vietnamese Catholic Community on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.
A Pastoral Mission
When Bishop Larry Silva appointed me, Fr. Francis Hai Pham, as Pastor of Annunciation Catholic Parish in Waimea, he also entrusted me with another beautiful pastoral responsibility. In his letter of appointment, he encouraged me to extend my ministry to the Vietnamese Catholics living in Big Island, specially who are members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish.
This assignment reflected the Diocese’s desire to provide pastoral care for every member of the Church, regardless of language or culture, while strengthening the unity of the parish family.
From the beginning, I was deeply grateful for the generous support of Rev. Konelio Faletoi, Vicar Forein of the West of Hawaii and Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. Seeing the spiritual needs of the Vietnamese faithful, Fr. Konelio warmly welcomed the idea of establishing a Vietnamese Catholic community within St. Michael’s Parish.
A Historic Beginning
The first step toward forming the community began on November 1, 2025, when we gathered to share our vision and commitment to building a stable Vietnamese Catholic presence on the Big Island.
Several months later, during the joyful celebration of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tết) in 2026, this vision officially became a reality.
During that celebration, Rev. Konelio Faletoi, myself, and representatives of the Vietnamese faithful solemnly signed the Charter of the Vietnamese Catholic Community together with a pastoral agreement establishing the community under the care of St. Michael’s Ohana. The agreement also entrusted the Holy Rosary Chapel to the Vietnamese Catholic Community as its regular place of worship, prayer, fellowship, and pastoral activities.
This was much more than the signing of a document.
It was a public expression of trust, communion, and shared responsibility between St. Michael Parish and the Vietnamese faithful.
The Vietnamese Catholic Community officially became one of the parish’s recognized cultural communities, alongside the Spanish-speaking and Filipino communities. At the same time, I was to serve as their chaplain.
Holy Rosary Chapel: A Spiritual Home
Holy Rosary Chapel is a small but beautiful church nestled in the heart of Kona.
Although modest in size, it has become a place where Vietnamese Catholics feel at home.
It is here that families gather to celebrate the Eucharist, pray together, receive the sacraments, teach the faith to their children, and strengthen one another through friendship and Christian fellowship.
From the very beginning, I committed to celebrating Holy Mass on the First Sunday of every month at 5:00 p.m., with the Sacrament of Reconciliation beginning at 4:00 p.m. for those who wished to prepare themselves spiritually.
As the community has continued to grow, however, this commitment has naturally expanded. Today I celebrate Mass there nearly every other week because of the increasing number of faithful and their desire to gather around the Eucharist more frequently.
The Eucharist remains the heart of everything we do.
A Community Rich in Faith
One of the greatest blessings of serving this community has been witnessing the remarkable faith of Vietnamese Catholics.
Vietnamese Catholicism was born through centuries of persecution. Thousands of martyrs shed their blood rather than deny Jesus Christ. That history continues to shape Vietnamese Catholics today. Their faith is expressed through reverent participation at Mass, love for the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, respect for priests and religious, and a deep commitment to family prayer.
Here on the Big Island, that same spirit is alive. Families travel long distances to attend Mass. Children learn prayers in both Vietnamese and English. Young adults volunteer their time. Parents teach the faith by their example. The elderly continue to inspire everyone with their fidelity and perseverance.
Perhaps what touches me most is their generosity. They give not only financial support, but also countless hours of volunteer service. Whether cleaning the chapel, preparing meals, arranging flowers, maintaining the property, or simply welcoming newcomers, they quietly serve with joyful hearts.
Caring for Holy Rosary Chapel
The Vietnamese community has never viewed Holy Rosary Chapel merely as a building where they are allowed to gather. Instead, they have embraced it as a sacred gift entrusted to their care. Through many hours of volunteer work, the faithful have cleaned, restored, and beautified much of the chapel grounds. The transformation has been remarkable. Yet our work continues.
Together with Rev. Konelio Faletoi, we have begun planning additional improvements that will make Holy Rosary Chapel an even more beautiful place of prayer. Among these projects is the installation of a statue of Our Lady of La Vang, the beloved patroness of Vietnamese Catholics throughout the world.
For generations, Vietnamese Catholics have entrusted themselves to Our Lady of La Vang during times of persecution, suffering, migration, and hope. Her presence at Holy Rosary Chapel will be a visible reminder that Mary continues to accompany her children wherever they may live.
We also plan to install a statue of St. Joseph in front of the church. For Vietnamese Catholics, St. Joseph has always been a beloved protector of families, workers, fathers, and the Universal Church. Throughout the difficult chapters of Vietnamese history, countless families have entrusted themselves to his fatherly care.
Together, these sacred images will enrich not only the Vietnamese community but everyone who comes to pray at Holy Rosary Chapel.
Looking Toward the Future
As our Diocese prepares to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the arrival of the Gospel in Hawaiʻi, we are beginning to dream even bigger. Together with Rev. Konelio Faletoi, we hope that beginning next summer, Holy Rosary Chapel will become a gathering place for Vietnamese Catholics from throughout the Hawaiian Islands and even from the mainland United States.
Our vision is to organize an annual pilgrimage honoring Our Lady of La Vang, bringing together families for prayer, the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, catechesis, fellowship, and spiritual renewal. We hope that this pilgrimage will become a Jubilee event celebrating both our Vietnamese heritage and the missionary history of the Diocese of Honolulu.
More importantly, we pray that Holy Rosary Chapel will become a place where every pilgrim encounters Christ.
Never Forget Our Home Parish
As our Vietnamese community continues to grow, there is one message I continually remind everyone of. Although we gather as a Vietnamese Catholic community and treasure our language, traditions, and cultural heritage, we must never forget that we are members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish.
Our Vietnamese identity is a beautiful gift. But our Catholic identity comes first. The Church is universal because she welcomes every nation, every culture, every language, and every people into one Body of Christ. The Vietnamese community does not exist apart from St. Michael Parish. Rather, we exist to enrich the parish family through our traditions, our spirituality, and our service.
We worship together with our English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, Filipino, Hawaiian, and many other brothers and sisters. Together, we are one parish. Together, we are one family. Together, we are one Church.
A Mission of Hope
The story of the Vietnamese Catholic Community at Holy Rosary Chapel is only beginning. What started as Bishop Larry Silva’s pastoral vision, nurtured by the generosity of Rev. Konelio Faletoi, and embraced by a small group of faithful families has already grown into a vibrant community centered on Christ and His Church.
Every Mass celebrated, every Confession heard, every child baptized, every family welcomed, and every volunteer serving reminds us that God continues to build His Church—even in the smallest chapel. We entrust our future to Our Lady of La Vang, asking her to lead us always to her Son.
May Holy Rosary Chapel become a place of prayer, reconciliation, evangelization, and pilgrimage for generations to come. And may every person who enters its doors discover what our community has already found there: a home where faith is strengthened, hope is renewed, and Christ is truly present.
