By Lisa Dahm
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Diocese of Honolulu is continuing its steady increase in Mass attendance, with several parishes reaching numbers higher than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the most recent October count results.
Each October, parishes throughout the diocese manually count the number of people attending all weekend Masses for the entire month. The parish count is based on the average of all their Masses for the month.
The 2025 total average of Sunday Mass attendees, which includes the Saturday vigil, was about 38,966, an increase of more than 9% among the 66 churches, 21 missions and two ethnic communities in the diocese. Though most parishes have not yet reached pre-COVID attendance levels, the gap is slowly narrowing.
For example, St. Jude Church in Kapolei saw a 48% increase in attendance over 2024, and a 9% increase over 2019.
On Hawaii island, St. Michael the Archangel Church in Kailua-Kona experienced a 39% increase in Mass attendance year-over-year, and the same percentage increase over its pre-pandemic number.
The parishes that have seen higher attendance numbers since last year and those that now surpass pre-COVID levels of people attending Mass share a common trait — they are embracing their mission to become welcoming parishes.
According to La Salette Father Adondee Arellano, pastor of St. Stephen Church in Honolulu, the increases are due to a concerted effort by parishioners to welcome back Catholics and attract new people.
St. Stephen’s year-over-year attendance improved by 30% and by roughly 5% from pre-pandemic figures.
Father Arellano said it all started with a question raised by the pastoral and finance councils — how to increase attendance.
They realized that becoming a welcoming parish was the answer to make people feel they belonged and wanted to join them every week.
The parish started by increasing its hospitality Sundays from once a month to all Masses each week throughout the year.
“Every Sunday and every Saturday, we have coffee and cookies,” Father Arellano said.
To spread the responsibility and avoid burnout, a different committee is in charge of refreshments at every Mass, and a celebration is held monthly to encourage Mass-goers to visit the hall to socialize.
“We make sure that every time we have a program, we invite the whole community and visitors,” Father Arellano said.
He also attributed the increase in attendance to the work of St. Stephen’s part-time secretary and five parish volunteers who ensure someone is available to answer the phone during business hours.
The commitment to answering calls quickly has resulted in an increase in baptisms and funerals. Father Arellano also said that the parish has active catechists, Bible study leaders and Knights of Columbus members who are consistent in inviting new people to their programs.
He said that with an increase in attendance, St. Stephen has also seen an increase in its weekly collection. Most importantly, it has seen its religious education numbers increase from two to 41.
“We believe that a welcoming parish is a reflection of Christian hospitality,” Father Arellano said. “It is always reminding one another to be a welcoming parish. Even if you have a headache, just smile.”
Different approaches
Last April, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu closed for an extended renovation. From May through September, parishioners met for Sunday Mass at the former Cathedral School, located a mile and a half away on Nuuanu Avenue. They now attend daily and weekend Mass at the Kamiano Center, located on the ground floor of a building next to the cathedral basilica.
Some parishioners have temporarily shifted to nearby parishes until the renovation is complete.
St. Anthony Church in Kalihi, located three miles from the cathedral basilica, saw its year-over-year attendance improve by 30%. At the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, located less than two miles from the cathedral basilica, attendance increased by 17% over last year and has steadily grown since the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to St. Theresa’s pastor, Father Manny Hewe, other contributing factors include the workings of the Holy Spirit, the impact of Pope Leo XIV’s initiative to reach out to Catholics worldwide, and various pastoral programs offered by the parish and diocese.
“Faith is God’s gift and grows through an encounter with the risen Lord Jesus, who comes in many ways, and most important of all, the holy Eucharist is central to its steady growth,” Father Hewe said.
The Newman Center/Holy Spirit Parish at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is another parish that has experienced both a year-over-year (16%) and pre-COVID (3.5%) increase in Mass attendance.
Its pastor, Father Kurt Meyer, said the parish has been working to increase Mass attendance, but also added more content with spiritual education — which has garnered a positive response.
“I do think we have tried to make the students more involved and given them a bigger say,” Father Meyer said. “A lot of times, we think they want just fun activities, but these young people want more of God in their lives.”
He said the parish has also changed the format of its Sunday meals so students — about 60 regularly attend — cook it themselves.
Father Meyer said Holy Spirit’s numbers are much lower in the summer. But in August, when students return, there is a “jolt of energy.”
“We try to make it all about them and God,” he said. “Hopefully, we are doing a good job.”
Above: Top, the renovation of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu, during which daily and weekend Masses have been relocated, might be a factor in Mass attendance at nearby parishes. Workers look over a reliquary that is being added to the cathedral basilica as part of its renovation. (Lisa Dahm / Hawaii Catholic Herald) Below, one way the Newman Center/Holy Spirit Parish at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has improved attendance and engagement is through spiritual education, such as this Bible study session last November. (Courtesy Dann Ebina)