Sherry Hayes-Peirce kneels in Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina during her visit there last month. (Photo courtesy of Sherry Hayes-Peirce)
REFLECTION
By Sherry Hayes-Peirce
Special to the Herald
On Dec. 9, I was given the extraordinary gift of visiting Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina, the church that miraculously was untouched by the raging fires that swept through the area in August. It was an honor to be the first non-resident to be given access to this holy site.
As I sat in the back seat of the car of Father Kuriakose Nadooparambil, pastor of Maria Lanakila, as we entered the fire zone, the tears welled up. We passed by the outlet mall that used to be home to Hilo Hattie and so many stores that we would shop at and it was just a heap of twisted metal and ash. I let out a little chuckle when amidst the rubble I saw a McDonald’s left undamaged by the flames. When we reached the church, the tears spilled out onto my cheeks.
My mind was filled with memories of attending Mass here every year with my husband, recently deceased. I braced myself to see and smell the devastation of my beloved church being surrounded by fire. When Father Kuriakose opened the doors to the church, I was so relieved not to smell smoke or see soot. Not a single thing had changed since I was last there.
Such a miracle! I fell to my knees in thanksgiving that God had spared this sacred space that had meant so much to me and connected me with memories of time with my husband for nearly 20 years. I felt my husband’s presence that day and know that this parish will always hold a special place in my heart and mind.
The statue of Mary wore a lei made of chocolate candies that had not melted. Surrounding the church was sheer devastation, including the parish school that was severely damaged. The fire burned a part of the fence around the rectory but the flames never touched the building.
Maria Lanakila means victorious Mary and I believe our Blessed Mother and the souls that rest in the church cemetery rose as an army of angels to protect the rectory and the church.
The grief for the loss of the community of Lahaina will be felt by so many beyond the borders of the islands by grateful visitors like myself. Millions have memories of visiting Front Street, the historic banyan tree, the Baldwin House and so many restaurants where celebrations of birthdays and anniversaries were held. I always shopped at Hale Zen for a Christmas ornament to take home with me after going to Mass. It created a tradition for me that has allowed me to have a little bit of Maui on my Christmas tree. My friend had a custom ornament made for me and Father Kuriakose was gracious enough to bless it inside the church.
When you lose a job, a loved one, home or something that you depended on always being there you grieve the loss, and it causes you to create new traditions. In Lahaina, zones have been reopened to residents and the process of rebuilding will begin. It will take years for the “new” Lahaina to sprout, just as the historic banyan is beginning to grow new leaves.
Please pray for this parish and its pastor who celebrated his 35th anniversary of priesthood during my visit last month. If you would like to support this parish and the school please visit their website www.marialanakila.org and scroll to the bottom to make a donation.
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media consultant and writer based in Southern California.
