By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The new directory of the Catholic Church in Hawaii, published digitally July 1, offers a snapshot of the diocese, numbers-wise. In that respect, things have kept steady compared to the previous directory published two years ago, except for a decline in the number of priests actively serving in the diocese.
The drop is mostly with those who are serving here from other dioceses.
The 80-page virtual booklet lists 94 priests in active ministry in Hawaii, down 14% from 109 two years ago.
The number of active priests belonging to the Diocese of Honolulu actually increased by one since 2019 to 34. Diocesan priests serve a particular geographical jurisdiction called a diocese administered by a diocesan bishop.
Priests become diocesan priests either by a designated ordination or through incardination, or transfer, from another diocese or a religious institute.
The directory counts only 21 priests working here from other, mostly foreign, dioceses, compared to 30 in the 2019 directory.
They come from seven Philippine archdioceses and dioceses, one Philippine apostolic vicariate, two African dioceses, two mainland dioceses, one Samoan diocese, one Korean diocese and one Mexican diocese.
The number of priests in religious congregations, orders and societies serving in Hawaii also dipped from 46 to 39.
According to the diocesan vicar for clergy, Father Gregorio Honorio, the drop in numbers is due mostly to the coronavirus pandemic. But things are looking up.
“During the pandemic, the U.S. government put a stop on all non-immigrant petitions, and permanent resident applications,” he said.
With things starting to open up “we are receiving approvals of non-immigrant visas and permanent resident applications. Five priests — three religious and two diocesan — are still waiting for their permanent resident status,” Father Honorio said.
The number of priests serving in Hawaii from other dioceses will soon be 24, he said, after the new men, from the Philippines and Ghana, get their visas approved.
For some parishes, the loss of income during the COVID shutdown meant fewer priests on staff. Four Oahu parishes stopped using parochial vicars because they could not afford them, Father Honorio said. But at least one of those parishes, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, has a “new parochial vicar on the way.”
The diocese normally provides two chaplains for hospital ministry and two for St. Francis Hospice. “Currently, we have one priest assigned in each ministry,” Father Honorio said, although a second priest is coming for hospital ministry.
The hospice has decided to retain only one priest, he said, because the number of residents has “declined significantly.”
Next year the vicar for clergy hopes priest numbers will be back to pre-pandemic levels.
Permanent deacons
Active permanent deacons of the Diocese of Honolulu number 53, up from 49 two years ago, with an additional 10 serving here from six other archdioceses, dioceses or apostolic vicariates. Three Honolulu deacons work outside of Hawaii.
The diocese has 24 senior (retired) deacons. The directory also lists 11 wives of deceased deacons.
Hawaii has 24 religious institutes — orders, congregations or societies — 15 of women and nine of men.
The number of religious sisters continues to shrink. The 2021 directory lists 126, down from 147 in 2019. The 2005 directory counted 192. Many of them are retired.
Religious brothers number 21. Most are Marianists at Chaminade University and Saint Louis School. The Fathers and Brothers of the Sacred Hearts Congregation are down to one brother.
For the first time, the directory includes photos of Hawaii’s religious sisters and brothers. It already publishes the pictures of priests and deacons.
The number of associations of the faithful, groups composed mostly of laypeople, stayed the same as 2019 at 29.
The directory lists 66 parishes, a number that has not changed for decades, and 26 missions, smaller church communities under the administrative umbrella of larger nearby parishes. Thirty-five parishes, more than half, are on Oahu.
The directory also lists the members of 24 diocesan volunteer boards, commissions and councils. Also included are the 20 central diocesan offices, and two non-profit affiliate agencies, Catholic Charities Hawaii and HOPE Services Hawaii.
The diocesan directory is available free, by download, at hawaiicatholicherald.com or at catholichawaii.org/about-us/directory. It is not being printed this year to save costs.
DIOCESE BY THE NUMBERS
- Bishop……………………………………………………….. 1
- Active diocesan priests…………………… 34
- Active priests from other dioceses 21
- Active religious priests…………………… 39
- Total active priests in Hawaii………… 94
- Retired diocesan priests…………………. 25
- Military chaplains…………………………………. 7
- Active diocesan deacons………………… 53
- Deacons from other dioceses……….. 10
- Senior (retired) deacons…………………. 24
- Religious brothers…………………………….. 21
- Religious sisters………………………………. 126
- Religious institutes of women……… 15
- Religious institutes of men………………. 9
- Associations of the faithful…………….. 29
- Boards, commissions, councils……… 24
- Diocesan offices…………………………………. 20
