About St. Jude · Kapolei, Hawaii
St. Jude Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Leeward Oahu Vicariate of the Diocese of Honolulu, serving the communities of Kapolei, Makakilo, Honokai Hale, and Barbers Point from its campus at 92-455 Makakilo Drive. Its story begins in 1967 with a small Makakilo Catholic Club and stretches across borrowed school cafeterias, a recreation center, and a military bunker before the parish finally dedicated its own church building on February 14, 1999. Today the parish runs more than 20 ministries — including religious education, youth ministry, RCIA, Knights of Columbus, and a food pantry — and serves as the Catholic presence for the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. The parish is currently led by Fr. Rheo Ofalsa, who was appointed pastor in July 2024, and is planning to relocate to a larger Leihano property acquired in 2014.
- Established
- 1967 (community roots) / 1988 (parish established)
- Patron
- St. Jude Thaddeus
- Rector
- Rev. Rheo Ofalsa
- Diocese
- Diocese of Honolulu (Vicariate of Leeward Oʻahu)
Why belong here
St. Jude is a culturally diverse Catholic community in Leeward Oʻahu that welcomes new families, students from the nearby University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, and anyone seeking the sacraments or simply a place to worship. With more than 20 active ministries — including religious education for children, EDGE and Life Teen youth ministry, RCIA, adult Bible study, Knights of Columbus, a parish food pantry, and bereavement support — newcomers can find a spiritual home alongside neighbors from Makakilo, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, and Barbers Point. The parish also offers a daily Mass schedule, Wednesday evening adoration with the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a monthly Healing Mass, and a long tradition of lay-led service that has carried the community from school cafeterias to its own dedicated church.
Mass times at St. Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (also listed as 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM on the parish website)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Parish History
St. Jude's story is one of patient lay-led growth across more than three decades. The community organized in 1967, became a mission in 1985, was established as its own parish in 1988, and finally dedicated a permanent church in 1999 after years of fundraising. Parishioners who join today are heirs to that founding generation — the Makakilo Catholic Club, the St. Jude Society, and the Building Committee — and to a tradition of turning impossible odds into a functioning parish.
- 1967 — Makakilo Catholic Club forms
- 1969 — Renamed St. Jude Society; 20-year goal to build a church
- 1970s — Sunday Masses begin at Makakilo Elementary School cafeteria
- 1985 — Becomes a mission of Immaculate Conception Church, Ewa
- February 1, 1988 — Bishop Joseph Ferrario establishes St. Jude Parish; Fr. Jim Berry appointed first pastor
- 1989 — Land on Makakilo Drive purchased
- 1992 — Fr. Roland Pacudan arrives; Building Committee formed
- May 7, 1998 — Groundbreaking on Makakilo Drive
- February 14, 1999 — Church dedicated by Bishop Ferrario and Bishop DiLorenzo
- October 2014 — 11-acre Leihano property acquired for future relocation
- 2024 — 25th anniversary of physical presence in Kapolei; Fr. Rheo Ofalsa appointed pastor
Faith Formation and Religious Education
St. Jude runs a year-round faith formation program for children, youth, and adults, directed by Bonnie Boquer and coordinated for youth by Keahi Teson. Classes meet on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays, with separate tracks for sacramental preparation and ongoing formation.
- Children's Religious Education (Grades K–6): Sundays 12:30–1:30 PM
- EDGE (Middle School youth ministry): Mondays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Life Teen (High School youth ministry): Mondays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Confirmation Preparation: Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 PM
- RCIA for Children: Sundays 12:30–1:30 PM
- RCIA for Adults: Fridays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Adult Bible Study: Thursdays 7:00 PM
RCIA and Sacramental Preparation
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults walks catechumens and candidates through the process of entering the Catholic Church, with separate tracks for adults (Fridays) and children (Sundays). Confirmation preparation meets Tuesday evenings, and Baptism and Marriage preparation begin by contacting the parish office.
- RCIA for Adults — Fridays 7:00–8:30 PM
- RCIA for Children — Sundays 12:30–1:30 PM
- Confirmation — Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Marriage — contact parish at least six months before venue booking
Parish Ministries and Outreach
The parish website and bulletins list more than 20 active ministries, including a long-running Food Pantry and Bereavement Support group. The Knights of Columbus Council is among the most visible parish organizations, and the parish also acts as the Catholic presence for University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu students.
- Knights of Columbus
- Parish Food Pantry (serves the Leeward Oʻahu community)
- Bereavement Support
- Worship, Social, and Hospitality ministries
- Parish Council and Finance Council
- University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu campus ministry
- Online Giving and Parish Registration programs
Sacraments
St. Jude celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, with preparation programs for those involving children and youth. Last Rites for the dying are available through a dedicated emergency line.
- Baptism — call the parish office for information
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM or by appointment
- Eucharist (Mass) — see Mass Times
- Confirmation — preparation Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 PM
- Marriage — contact parish at least six months before venue booking
- Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites — emergency line (808) 492-1052
Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, four deacons (one retired, three in active ministry), and a small lay staff. The directory is published in the Diocese of Honolulu's annual parish directory.
- Rev. Rheo Ofalsa — Pastor
- Rev. Melchor Palomares — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon John Coughlin — Retired
- Deacon William Friese — Active Ministry
- Deacon Raul Perez — Active Ministry
- Deacon Derek G.H. Wong — Active Ministry
- Tere Hunt — Administrative Assistant
- Bonnie Boquer — Director of Religious Education
- Keahi Teson — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Lucy Pascual — Accountant
Parish Life and Getting Involved
St. Jude encourages newcomers to register as parishioners and to explore the many parish groups. The parish website links to Online Giving, the weekly bulletin, the Builder's Corner (capital campaign updates), parish registration, and the diocesan Formed account for Catholic media.
- Parish Registration form available on the parish website
- Online Giving
- Weekly Bulletin posted on the website
- Builder's Corner (updates on the future church project)
- Formed — access Catholic videos and study by typing "St Jude Kapolei"
- Daily Reflections and Daily Readings featured on the homepage
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jim (James) Berry1988–c.1992
First pastor, appointed by Bishop Joseph Ferrario when the parish was established on Feb. 1, 1988.
- Rev. Roland Pacudan1992–
Formed the Building Committee and the first wave of parish ministries; oversaw the 1998 groundbreaking and 1999 dedication.
- Rev. Khanh Hoang2014–2024
Appointed July 1, 2014; led the Leihano property acquisition and the multi-million-dollar capital campaign; placed on health sabbatical in 2024.
- Rev. Rheo Ofalsa2024–present
Appointed July 1, 2024 by Bishop Larry Silva; came from Holy Family Catholic Church, Honolulu where he served as pastor for 5½ years.