Benedict M. Vierra

Benedict M. Vierra (died January 25, 1994 in Honolulu) was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Father Vierra underwent clerical formation in the Philippines where he was ordained to the presbyterate for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. On his return to Honolulu, he engaged in pastoral work and was instrumental in the building of the current co-cathedral of the diocese of Honolulu, consecrated under the title of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, the French Carmelite mystic and doctor of the church. His close ties to the Philippines enabled him to persuade the Bishop of Honolulu to allow several Philippine religious orders and diocesan clergy to minister to the growing number of Filipino immigrants to Hawaii. Pope John XXIII appointed Father Vierra as a prothonotary apostolic, with the title of monsignor, the first in the diocese of Honolulu, the highest non-episcopal prelate entitled to wear the mitre and to pontificate at liturgy, with due regard for the precedence of the diocesan bishop in accordance with Roman Pontifical. He remains the only Hawai‘i cleric on whom this honor has been conferred. He also served as vicar general of the Diocese of Honolulu.

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 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 High School, Wailuku St. Joseph High 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
Catholicism portal