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Meet Bishop-Elect Michael Castori, S.J.

May 6, 2026

Father Michael Thomas Tupou Castori, S.J., has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the sixth Bishop of Honolulu.

The official appointment took place on Wednesday, May 6, at 12 p.m. Rome time (midnight Hawaii time). Father Castori was introduced to the media, the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council members and diocesan staff members at a press conference on May 6 in St. Stephen Diocesan Center’s Laulima Auditorium.

Father Castori is a member of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He entered the New York Province of the Society of Jesus in 1987, later transferring to the Jesuits’ USA West Province, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1998.

Father Castori comes to the Diocese of Honolulu from the Arrupe Jesuit Community at Seattle University, where he had served as rector. Prior to his time in Washington, he served in numerous roles in the Diocese of Oakland, Calif., and held pastoral and teaching roles across California.

Father Castori has extensive experience in the South Pacific, serving in pastoral ministry and education in Tonga, Guam, Fiji and the Marshall Islands. His middle name, “Tupou,” was given to him by a Tongan family of which he became a member during his time in the region.

Father Castori is an expert in Biblical studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern religions (late ancient Biblical interpretations) from the University of California, Berkeley, earned in 2008, and has edited or written several works on the Bible.

Father Castori was born Oct. 21, 1960, and grew up in Carmichael, Calif. He is the son of Michael and Lucille Castori (now deceased) and has two older sisters, JoAnn and Pamela. His parents and siblings were all teachers.

Father Castori attended Jesuit High School in Sacramento, graduating in 1978. He earned a bachelor’s degree in classics from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., in 1982, and a master’s degree in philosophical resources from Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1991.

He has a master of divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, earned in 1998, and obtained a licentiate in sacred theology (Biblical theology) there in 2009. He also attended the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with a focus on Hebrew language studies in 1999.

Next steps for the Diocese of Honolulu

To formally become Bishop of Honolulu, Father Castori first will be ordained a bishop (an “episcopal ordination”), then installed in his new seat in the Diocese of Honolulu.

His episcopal ordination and installation will take place Tuesday, July 28, at 10 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, 712 N. School Street, Honolulu.

Beginning May 6, Bishop Larry Silva will serve as the diocese’s apostolic administrator; he is still “in charge” until Father Castori is officially installed as bishop, though he will discuss any major decisions that might affect the future of the diocese with Father Castori.

After July 28, Bishop Silva’s title will become the Bishop Emeritus of Honolulu, while Father Castori will become Bishop Castori, the Bishop of Honolulu.

The Diocese of Honolulu’s administration will enter a transition period in which most of its “episcopal vicars” — priests who oversee specific offices or regions of the diocese — are to cede leadership of their respective areas. A few, such as the judicial vicar, may retain their positions.

Bishop Silva has also 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 during the transition period.

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.

On Thursday, May 7, Father Castori will be the main celebrant of a special Mass at 6 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. The Mass, which is open to the public, will give him an opportunity to meet some of the faithful in the diocese.