Parish Visit

St. Theresa Catholic Church and Holy Rosary Mission Church July 19, 2025

Imagine sitting in mass as the ocean air fills the church as you are greeted with colorful, beautiful artwork surrounding you. This is what it was like stepping into St. Theresa Catholic Church and Holy Rosary Mission Church. The warmth and comfort of this parish was so felt. You ARE welcome was immediately felt. What a great blessing this parish has to be felt this profoundly to strangers.

We were unable to attend the Mass at St. Theresa Catholic Church and Holy Rosary Mission Church in Mountain View, HI. One of the three Painted Churches of the Big Island this church is one that is not so often visited. I suspect based on its small size and it being a Mission Church tourists are not stopping in. Built in 1936 by a Belgian priest, Father Evarist Matthais Gielen he continued the vision for recreating painted ceilings to replicate the magnificent artwork found in Cathedrals of Europe. The paintings began to expand from ceilings to walls and eventually to every surface that was able to be painted. These churches have artwork in nearly every corner. Details can be found wherever the eyes may wander. It truly is breathtaking.

In our short visit we sat for a moment in the back of the church and let our own eyes wander. The artwork was so enchanting. Gospels come to life right in front of you on the walls. I tried to get some pictures but as discretely as possible. Since we arrived 15 minutes before mass the parishioners were praying the Rosary. We were invited to stay by a very kind man, an usher, who we told that despite our great desire to be present for mass we were unable to stay due to our flight back to Honolulu leaving in 60 minutes. Oh how we wanted to stay!

In the very small vestibule handouts and prayer cards were made available. And the most remarkable rosaries made from sea shells for use, with the intention of being a gift. We left a generous donation with the usher with our deep regrets for not being able to spend more time in this beautiful church. The community of this parish is very welcoming and I highly recommend a visit and especially for you to take part in the mass.

To learn more about the Painted Churches of the Big Island read The 3 Painted Churches of Hawaii

This delightful photographer Susan Tregoning shares on her website two other well known painted churches on the Big Island. She has taken beautiful pictures of the artwork painted all over the walls in these churches.

Another travel blog Wander Wisdom has a post about The Star of the Sea Church: Hawaii Road Trip: Star of the Sea Painted Church in Kalapana, Big Island.

Priest’s skills with a paintbrush resulted in beautiful church, West Hawaii Today June 23, 2013.