The 10 a.m. Mass at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea on March 16 was well-attended with a wide range of ages and family types. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
The annual count of Mass attendance shows another year of growth
By Celia K. Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Young adults, families with children, ethnic communities and people seeking greater connection with fellow parishioners are among the groups helping to drive up Sunday Mass attendance in the Diocese of Honolulu.
In the annual count of faithful attending Saturday vigil and Sunday Masses conducted last October, the total average across all parishes was about 37,283 — an increase of about 2,741, or 7.35%, over 2023.
(For the count, which is done manually, volunteers tally people who attend a parish’s Masses each weekend in October. The weekly figures are added up and divided over the total number of weekends, resulting in the parish’s October count average.)
The 2024 total average, which comprises 66 churches, 21 missions and two ethnic communities, reflects a steady increase since Mass attendance plummeted in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
When the pandemic was declared in March 2020, churches were compelled to shut their doors to Mass-goers. They reopened two months later but under strict social distancing guidelines, and Bishop Larry Silva put in place a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
That year, the diocese’s total average October count was only 18,995, down from about 46,140 in 2019.
Bishop Silva lifted the dispensation in April 2021 and Mass attendance rebounded to roughly 27,455 that year. It’s been on the upswing since then, though it lags the 2019 total average by more than 19%.
Still, pastors interviewed on the results of the 2024 October count expressed optimism that their pews were filling up again with a diverse array of parishioners.
Out of the diocese’s 66 parishes, 14 reported declines in their October counts. Seven saw increases of more than 20%.
Fostering community
In Kalihi, St. John the Baptist Church’s total average attendance rose by more than 35% — to about 555 in 2024 from 359 in 2023.
Parish administrator Father Jaroslaw Z. Skrzypek noted several factors that contributed to the increase. One is a growing sense of unity within the parish, which he has strived to foster since becoming administrator of the parish in September 2022.
“Unity is essential for a thriving parish, and I actively encourage the sharing and celebration of our many cultural aspects,” he said.
Father Skrzypek said his community-building efforts, including being an active participant himself in parish events, have created “an open and trustworthy environment where parishioners feel valued and heard.”
Another major factor, according to Father Skrzypek, was the introduction of in-person religious education and the strategic timing of classes. More people are interested in community and spiritual growth, he said, and scheduling religious education after the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass has had the added benefit of drawing more families to church.
These families are among the demographic groups that are growing at St. John the Baptist, Father Skrzypek said. Others include military families seeking stability and support, people returning to the church to reconnect with their faith, and young adults in search of like-minded peers and guidance as they navigate new phases in life.
“I believe that our community is stronger when we work together, learn from each other and uphold the values of faith, service and unity,” Father Skrzypek said.
Year-over-year increases in Mass attendance can be impressive even when the actual numbers seem small. At Sacred Heart Church in Naalehu, East Hawaii Island, attendance is a fraction of St. John the Baptist (averaging just under 85 in 2024) yet it saw a 38% increase over 2023.
Sacred Heart was also one of just five parishes statewide where Mass attendance not only rose last year, but also matched or improved upon pre-pandemic figures.
Father William Tulua, who is pastor of Sacred Heart as well as Holy Rosary Church in Pahala, like Father Skrzypek also highlighted the importance of pastoral presence — “that is, to be with the people, and to serve the people of Kau (the district in which Naalehu and Pahala are located)” — in helping to drive the increase in attendance.
“Increasing our services and visibility in the district of Kau has helped get more parishioners aware of our parish life and ministries,” he said.
Father Tulua also cited the likelihood of some parishioners returning to in-person worship after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has been pastor of the churches since 2022. He said they both have seen increases in attendance, with Sacred Heart “standing-room only” on Sundays and Holy Rosary experiencing “more of an average rise.”
Father Tulua highlighted some inspiring stories, such as a young man who had no desire to engage with his faith but now “is on fire for our blessed Lord” and has even inquired about entering the seminary.
Two other parishioners are recent converts who came from atheism and the Mormon faith, and are now expecting their first child.
“Regardless of the demographics, I am very happy and blessed that parishioners are returning to the Holy Mass and wanting to encounter the Lord through the holy sacraments.”
Father Tulua said he can’t fully explain the rise, but “as unworthy a priest I am, I give thanks to God to do what he desires of me to serve his church in Kau.”
“All that we do is for the greater glory of God.”
Back on the upswing
Some parishes known for large congregations have seen their numbers steadily rise since divebombing when the pandemic set in.
St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea had a 2019 October count of 1,750, only to see it plunge below 700 in the first year of the pandemic. Last year, its total average Mass attendance was nearly 1,400.
Like at St. John the Baptist and Sacred Heart, the pastor of St. Elizabeth cited “the vibrant activities at the parish and active involvement of our parish administration” in contributing to the healthy post-pandemic recovery.
Father Sebastian Soosai, who has been pastor since July 2023, also highlighted the increased participation of St. Elizabeth’s Micronesian community. The Chuukese-language Mass has seen a steady rise in attendance as, he said, more families facing economic and social challenges are “looking for a family-friendly/inviting church to worship in and feel a part of.”
Father Soosai acknowledged the work of previous pastors in establishing a wide variety of spiritual and ministerial activities, and also described new initiatives and ministries that have begun since he arrived at St. Elizabeth.
“I am truly joyful having (many) ministries with our committed parishioners working as one family and witnessing the great act of their stewardship,” he said. “It is truly a blessing.”
Parishioners at Christ the King Church in Kahului, Maui, experienced a standing-room-only situation during a recent Mass. (Courtesy Audie Pascual)
At Christ the King Church in Kahului, Maui, pre-pandemic Mass attendance neared 1,700 in the October count but fell to less than 500 in 2020. Last year its attendance average was just north of 1,200.
La Salette Father Efren Tomas returned to Christ the King as pastor in 2023 after previously serving there from 2004-2012. He has noticed an increase in young adults attending Mass — “they were the kids when I was first assigned here.”
Parishioner Lucy Peros, who composes Christ the King’s Parish News reports for the Hawaii Catholic Herald and contributes her writing to the parish website, attributed the rise in some demographics to the parish’s online presence, which includes a website, social media and livestreamed Masses.
Young adults are drawn to Christ the King through social media which allows them to see what is happening at the church, Peros said; “tourists also attend our church because they see it through social media.”
She also observed that some parishioners finally feel comfortable returning to the pews in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
