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St. Benedict's Catholic Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Hawai`i Register of Historic Places
Saint Benedict's Catholic Church
Location	Honaunau, Hawaii
Coordinates	19°26′6.252″N 155°53′17.952″W / 19.43507000°N 155.88832000°W / 19.43507000; -155.88832000
Built	1899
Architect	Velghe, Fr. John Berchmans
Architectural style	Gothic
NRHP reference No.	79000753
HRHP No.	10 47 7230
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 31, 1979
Designated HRHP	March 27, 1979

Saint Benedict's Catholic Church (also called simply The Painted Church) is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Honaunau, Hawaii. It was built between 1899 and 1902 under the direction of the Belgian Catholic missionary Father John Velghe, who then painted frescoes along the interior ceiling and walls. An untrained folk-artist, Fr. Velghe depicted various biblical scenes, such as Cain's murder of Abel, Jesus refusing the Devil, and the writing on the wall, as well as a vivid illustration of sinners in Hell. While the building itself is small and rectangular, Fr. Velghe painted Gothic vaults above the altar, creating the illusion of a European Gothic cathedral, inspired particularly by Burgos Cathedral. Several other priests learned from Velghe and went on to establish other 'painted churches', including Star of the Sea Painted Church, painted by Father Evarist Gielen.

St. Benedict's continues to be an active Roman Catholic church in the Diocese of Honolulu, vicariate of West Hawaii, holding five masses per week. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open to the public for viewing seven days a week.

A monument for Father Damien stands in front of the church and is often decorated with Leis.

Frescoes

• Eve, Cain and Abel
• Temptation of Christ
• Detail of Palm Tree

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
2. National and State Register of Historic Places. Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources. 2014-12-05.
3. Williams, Peter (June 27, 2000). Houses of God: Region, Religion, and Architecture in the United States. University Of Illinois Press. p. 284. ISBN 9780252069178.
4. Mulholland, John (June 10, 1970). Hawaii's Religions. Tuttle Publishing. p. 313. ISBN 9781462912537.
5. Saint Benedict Church Parish Details. Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. Accessed 2015-1-01.

v t e 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
Education	Higher education Chaminade University of Honolulu High schools Damien Memorial School, Honolulu Maryknoll School, Honolulu Sacred Hearts Academy, Honolulu St. Francis School, Honolulu St. Louis School, Honolulu St. Anthony School, Wailuku St. Joseph School, Hilo
Priests	Lane K. Akiona Marc R. Alexander Maximin Alff Abraham Armand St. Damien de Veuster Charles Kekumano Francis A. Marzen Columba Murphy Jules C. E. Riotte Patrick Short John M. Systermans Benedict M. Vierra Arsenius Walsh
Miscellany	Hawaii Catholic Herald Malia O Ka Malu St. Marianne Cope
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