By Lehia Apana, Hawaii Catholic Herald

In early February, the jarring noises of construction vibrated the air around St. Joseph Church in Waipahu as jackhammers slammed the pavement outside and workers nailed tiles on the roof. Four months later, the sounds of renovation have softened considerably as the final touches are applied to the 65-year-old Farrington Highway landmark.

On June 15, a month before the rededication, a single electrician, high on a scaffold, quietly installed interior lighting in the church.

The church will be reopened and blessed on July 15 with ceremonies beginning at 9:30 a.m. and going to 2 p.m. Bishop Larry Silva will preside at the rededication liturgy at 10 a.m.

Less than a year after the long-awaited renovation began, a newer and bigger structure now proudly sits where a smaller church faithfully stood. The “new” church is actually the old one widened by 40 feet — “expanded” both left and right, with the walls moving outward 15 feet on one side and 25 feet on the other.

“The anticipation has been building up and everyone’s eager to move into our new home,” said Irene Sandry, church expansion fund committee member.

Planning started six years ago in 2000 when parishioners expressed the need for a bigger place to worship. Back then, the 450 seating capacity was not enough to accommodate the nearly 3,000 people who came to the seven or eight Masses celebrated each weekend. The new church will accommodate about 750 people.

St. Joseph has the largest number of Mass-goers of any parish in Hawaii.

For nearly one year, parishioners endured worshipping in temporary makeshift chapels set up in the parking lot and school cafeteria. Their patience will soon pay off in more than just extra space. The more modern facility will have air conditioning, handicap accessible features, a prayer room, and new liturgical art.

In the “adoration room” situated behind the front altar stands a statue of Our Lady of La Salette, the patroness of the missionary Fathers of La Salette who staff the parish. The five-foot tall wood sculpture was created by a woodcarver in the Philippines especially for St. Joseph Church.

Sixteen new stained-glass windows depicting saints along the new side walls add vibrant bursts of color to the church’s interior. Among the holy men and women portrayed are Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Our Lady of Peace, Blessed Damien and St. John the Baptist.

According to Sandry, another new feature of the renovated church is the “crying room” at the back of the church, separated from the rest of the interior by glass windows and doors. Here, parents can tend to their fussing children while maintaining a full view of the Mass.

“This will be helpful for those who need to care for their children, but still want to participate in the services,” she said.

Even with all of the new elements, parishioners will still recognize features of their former church such as the main altar, the Stations of the Cross, the tabernacle and holy water fonts.

“It can be an uncomfortable feeling when everything is new and unfamiliar,” Sandry said, “but when parishioners see the old things, they’ll know that it’s still St. Joseph Church.”

According to Sandry, some eager parishioners have already captured their own sneak previews of the interior by peeking through the large glass entrance doors. However, the public will not be allowed to go inside until the July 15 celebration.

The enormous project comes with an equally large price tag of $3.5 million. According to parish business manager, Cora Tubana, parishioners have been very supportive throughout the entire renovation.

“Donations are still coming in and our parishioners have continued to support this project financially,” she said.

Many of the bills are behind them, but the parish still needs to raise about $1 million to pay off the loan from the diocese, Tubana said.