Libert H. Boeynaems

Libert H. Boeynaems, formally Libert Hubert John Louis Boeynaems Template:Post-nominals (August 18, 1857 – May 13, 1926) was a Belgian Catholic priest who served as the fourth vicar apostolic of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands – now the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu.<ref>Encyclopedia.com website, Hawaii, The Catholic Church In</ref>

He was born in Antwerp, Belgium, the son of John Boeynaems and Leopoldina (Template:Nee). He was educated at the Jesuit college of Antwerp and the Major Seminary, Mechelen and finished his scholasticate at the Catholic University of Leuven. Boeynaems was ordained to the priesthood as a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on September 11, 1881.<ref name=cem>"Boeynaems, Right Reverend Libert H.", The Catholic Encyclopedia and Its Makers, New York, the Encyclopedia Press, 1917, p. 16Template:PD-notice</ref>

Episcopal arms of Boeynaems at the base of the stained glass window of Saint Michael the Archangel, Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu.

As part of his missionary work, Boeynaems sailed to the [[Kingdom of Hawaii|Kingdom of HawaiTemplate:Okinai]] arriving in Honolulu on November 29, 1881, to become a pastor in January 1882 to the fledgling Catholic community of native Hawaiians on the island of KauaTemplate:Okinai in the district encompassing LīhuTemplate:Okinae to Hanalei. He later ministered to those on KauaTemplate:Okinai in the district encompassing LīhuTemplate:Okinae to Mana. During his first few years in Honolulu, Boeynaems was a witness to the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, proclamation of the [[Republic of Hawaii|Republic of HawaiTemplate:Okinai]] and establishment of the United States [[Territory of Hawaii|Territory of HawaiTemplate:Okinai]]. In 1895, he was transferred to Wailuku, Maui.<ref name=cem/>

In December 1902, the Holy See appointed him pro-vicar. On April 8, 1903, he was appointed Vicar Apostolic<ref name=cem/> and was subsequently consecrated titular Bishop of Zeugma in Syria by Archbishop Montgomery in Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco on July 25, 1903.<ref>Google Books website, Hawaii's Religions, by John F. Mulholland</ref> On April 11, 1915, Boeynaems consecrated [[Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Kakaako|Saint Agnes-in-the-Palms at KakaTemplate:Okinaako]], a former Protestant church at the intersection of Kawaiahao and Kamani streets in Honolulu, to serve the growing population of Portuguese and native Hawaiians in the Kaka‘ako district. During his bishopric he established several schools and orphanages.<ref>Catholic Hawai'i website, Most Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu, article published in the Hawaii Catholic Herald, Volume 68, No. 16, July 15, 2005</ref>

After his death, he was buried at the Honolulu Catholic Cemetery in downtown Honolulu near Thomas Square at the intersection of Ward Avenue and King Street.