23 Facts About Gulstan Ropert

Francois Ropert entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary at age 20 and took the name Gulstan.

Gulstan Ropert was ordained to the priesthood on May 26,1866, at the age of 26.

Gulstan Ropert was sent to the Kingdom of Hawai'i to assist the Vicariate, arriving in Honolulu on June 9,1868.

Gulstan Ropert left Wailuku for Honolulu in 1891 having been appointed Vice-Provincial.

Koeckemann's death on February 22,1892, Father Gulstan Ropert earnestly begged his superiors not to be nominated as Vicar Apostolic.

Gulstan Ropert adopted an episcopal coat of arms of azure, containing a Saint Anna of Auray, accompanied by the letters AM in silver with his motto being Tuus sum ego, salvum me fac.

Gulstan Ropert witnessed the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and the continuing migration of workers for the Hawaiian sugar industry.

Gulstan Ropert built a new residence for the clergy in Honolulu, a wooden two-story building, flanked on all sides, except the rear, by a veranda.

Gulstan Ropert later published the Roman decree and extended the Holy See's condemnation of the secret societies to include the Hawaiian Islands.

Gulstan Ropert supported the establishment of three councils of the Young Men's Institute.

Gulstan Ropert then left for France in the company of Father Hubert Stappers and a Portuguese youth, Peter Alencastre who was to begin his studies for the priesthood at Louvain in Belgium.

Gulstan Ropert showed his devotion to the priests of his jurisdiction by paying a visit to each one's family - which caused him to journey through France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Gulstan Ropert returned to Honolulu on November 16,1895, accompanied by Father Pamphile deVeuster, the brother of the late Father Damien, one choir brother and four lay brothers, all destined for the Kalaupapa Settlement.

Gulstan Ropert's continuing concern for Catholic education of his flock led him to erect a girls' school in Hilo entrusted to the Franciscan sisters; in Honolulu he established a free school for boys in connection with St Louis College.

Gulstan Ropert provided a new concrete schoolhouse for the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts.

Gulstan Ropert was in an advanced state of Hansen's disease when arrested and grew even worse during his detainment.

Gulstan Ropert had no proper care before leaving the jail, and no medical attention.

Gulstan Ropert subsequently informed the Board he would comply with their resolution when formal written charges against Father Wendelin had been served and proven.

Gulstan Ropert's efforts opined that he could not "strictly adhere to his clerical duties" without preaching against immorality and the breaking of the Sabbath, and requested that Msgr.

Gulstan Ropert granted Father Wendelin's request and replaced him with Father Maximin Andre, head of the Hilo mission.

Gulstan Ropert engaged in extensive pastoral visitation notwithstanding the pain caused by a stomach cancer he endured since September 1898.

Gulstan Ropert returned, no better, and succumbed to his illness on January 4,1903.

Gulstan Ropert was buried in the Honolulu Catholic Cemetery at 839A South King Street, in downtown Honolulu.