Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Diocese of Honolulu’s announcement May 6 that it would have a new shepherd in two months’ time marks a rare and joyful milestone in its 85-year history.
When Jesuit Father Michael Thomas Tupou Castori is ordained and installed July 28, he will become just the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu.
But wait: Isn’t Hawaii gearing up to mark 200 years since the arrival of Catholic missionaries on its shores next year? How is it possible that there have been only six bishops over two centuries?
Skeptical faithful are correct to note that Hawaii must have had more than six shepherds since priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary first arrived in 1827.
From 1827 until 1940, Hawaii was considered a “missionary vicariate apostolic,” administered by Sacred Hearts priests and bishops, according to a 2021 Hawaii Catholic Herald article. During that time, six “vicars apostolic” oversaw the Catholic Church in the islands.
The vicars apostolic during Hawaii’s missionary period were Bishops Stephen Rouchouze (1833-43), Louis Maigret (1847-82), Herman Koeckemann (1882-92), Gulstan Ropert (1892-1903), Libert Boeynaems (1903-26) and Stephen Alencastre (1926-40).
In 1941, Pope Pius XII formally established the Diocese of Honolulu and named Father James J. Sweeney of San Francisco to be its first bishop. Father Sweeney was ordained a bishop in California and installed as Hawaii’s first bishop two months later.
Bishop Sweeney served until 1967 — the longest tenure of any of Hawaii’s bishops.
He was followed by Bishops John J. Scanlan (1967-82), Joseph A. Ferrario (1982-93), Francis X. DiLorenzo (1993-2004) and Clarence “Larry” Silva (2005-2026).
There was a 14-month gap between Bishop DiLorenzo and Bishop Silva when Bishop DiLorenzo was appointed in March 2004 to lead the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, without a successor lined up.
Father Tom Gross, who had served as co-vicar general under Bishop DiLorenzo, was tapped to oversee the Diocese of Honolulu as its so-called diocesan administrator while the Vatican decided on a new bishop for Hawaii.
Bishop Silva was ordained and installed as bishop of Honolulu in July 2005.
What’s happening now
The transition from Bishop Silva to Father Castori will not leave a vacuum in the bishop’s chair, as Bishop Silva is retiring in Hawaii.
According to church law, Father Castori’s episcopal ordination (ordination to the office of bishop) and installation must occur within a few months of his nomination and appointment.
From now until July 28, Bishop Silva will serve as the Diocese of Honolulu’s apostolic administrator — he will oversee the diocese and is effectively in charge until Father Castori’s ordination and installation Mass.
After July 28, Bishop Silva’s title will change to bishop emeritus of Honolulu, while Bishop-elect Castori will become Bishop Castori, the bishop of Honolulu.
The Diocese of Honolulu’s administration is now in a transition period in which most of its “episcopal vicars” — priests who oversee specific offices or regions of the diocese — have ceded leadership of their respective areas. A few, such as the judicial vicar, retained their positions.
Bishop Silva decided that some of the advisory councils and vicars appointed under his leadership as apostolic administrator will remain in place as his delegates, to provide continuity in the transition period.
Msgr. Gary Secor, for example, is now “delegate general” instead of “vicar general.”
Generally, laypeople in the Diocese of Honolulu will see little change in their day-to-day faith life, other than learning more about Father Castori and showing their appreciation for Bishop Silva’s leadership over the past 21 years.
Above: Despite the short notice, the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa was filled with laypeople and clergy May 7 who witnessed Jesuit Father Michael Castori’s celebratory Mass a day after his announcement as the next bishop of Honolulu. More than four dozen priests alone concelebrated the liturgy. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)