History
-
St. Patrick
1886
According to Captain W. P. Gray Pasco counted one hotel run by a Mrs. Water, four stores, one bakery, two saloons, about 20 private houses and about 200 people. Fr. A. Neuvese from Sprague offered the first Mass in Pasco in a section house occupied at the time by a Levin family, very good Irish people, probably in 1886. An occasional sick call at intervals was about all the religious demands Pasco made on him.1896
Rev. H. J. Van deVan, successor to Fr. Neuvese in the Sprague Parish from November 6, 1896 to December 23, 1906. He visited Pasco on Sunday, November 28, 1896 to offer Mass in the section house occupied by Mr. Barney McHugh. He had eight Catholics and 20 non-Catholics in attendance. Fr. Van deVan attended the spiritual needs of the Catholics between Sprague and Wallula until becoming rector of the Walla Walla Parish in 1906.
1903
Some Pasco ladies formed a society to aid poor families. Most of the ladies belonged to the Methodist Church so the society was named, "The Methodists Ladies Aid Society." A few years later when the society decided to engage in strictly sectarian work, the two Catholic members dropped out and were given $6.00. Mrs. Margaret Page laid the sum aside should Catholics ever decide to build a church (there were no banks in Pasco at this time) .1906
Rev. J. Brucker of Odessa attended to the needs of the Pasco Catholics for a time until Rev. J. S. Cunningham of Sprague took over the burden, extending his missionary activities to the small town of Kennewick. During these years the Diocese of Nisqually included all of Washington State, with the Bishop residing in Seattle.1907
The Marriage of B.B. Harrigan and Benice Crotty took place. Bernice was the first Catholic teacher in the local Public School.1908
In October 1908, the Rev. Bishop J. O’Dea appointed Rev. E. Frederick as pastor of the territory from Sunnyside to Connell and from Wallula to Priest Rapids. His first Mass was said in the home of Mrs. W. Kouba for the repose of her son, William, who had died in Spokane in January and had been buried in Walla Walla. A few weeks later, Fr. Frederick held public services in the old courthouse before a congregation of some 12 to 14 Catholics and a few non-Catholics. Fr. Frederick’s accounts: " With the judge’s desk serving as an altar, a hastily improvised choir occupying the benches of the jurymen, and the congregation comfortably filling the courtroom."Fr. Frederick decided to transfer his headquarters from Prosser to Pasco. He celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass, with the Bishop’s permission, in the Episcopal Church at Pasco. He announced at that time that he would at once take steps toward the erecting of a credible church.
Fr. Frederick appointed a Board of Church Trustees consisting of B.B. Harrigan, Smith O’Brien, Sam Stebbins, and Sam Hastings.
In the early part of the year, Charles O'Brien approached the Northern Pacific Railway Land Office in St. Paul for a tract of land suitable for church and school purposes. The negotiations were slow and tedious and the first deed of conveyance was not acceptable to the bishop of the diocese.
A small group of Catholic ladies who had started with $6.00 and raised more, handed over $250 to Fr. Frederick for the new church. The little band dissolved and joined the Altar Society organized on November 11,1908. In addition to the $250, the Catholic ladies donated an organ. The balance of the debt was covered by donations, half of which came from non-Catholics.
1909
The Board of Trustees gave the new parish its name, St. Patrick. The first altar boys were Bill Hogan, David Hastings and George Shannon. Mrs. Daniel Page McIntyre taught the first Catechism class. Fr. Frederick was installed as first rector of St. Patrick in Pasco. He lived with the O’Brien Family at the corner of 2nd and Lewis Streets.On October 2, the Northern Pacific Railway Land Office in St. Paul donated to the corporation of the diocese 1-18/100 of an acre in consideration of $10 on the sole condition that within a year from the conveyance of title a church would be erected on the property.
Fr. Frederick and his board of trustees had come to a decision months before to get a temporary building for the time being. They purchased an old drug store near the rail road tracks from Charles Cunningham for $400, had it moved to a vacant lot on Lewis Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, and remodeled and furnished it. This little structure with its scanty furnishing, all paid for, was the place of worship from the Spring of 1909 until May of 1910 when the building was sold for $200.
1910
The new church on North 4th Street between Park and Yakima Streets was begun in early August and completed in early November. Breezer Brothers drew the plans for the church and A. Schommer was the contractor. In the meantime, Mass was celebrated in a public school building. The cost of the church and furnishings was $4696.10. This lot is now the south parking lot of Lourdes Medical Center.To reduce the outstanding indebtedness, the pastor and the Catholic Ladies planned a big fair the week before Christmas, chaired by Mrs. Leonie Hogan. It was a big success, netting the parish $723.10.
Fr. Frederick was transferred to the Lower Big Bend Country with headquarters in Cheney. The Rev. Francis Jones succeed Fr. Frederick on December 23, 1910.
1911
Fr. Francis Jones had the first rectory erected just south of the church.1913
The Knights of Columbus Pasco Council 1620 received their charter on March 24, 1913. Joseph Horrigan was the first Grand Knight.The Diocese of Spokane was created from part of the Diocese of Nisqually (now the Archdiocese of Seattle). August Francis Shinner, Bishop of Superior, Michigan, was named the first bishop of Spokane.
1914
In February, the Rev. Terence Fitzpatrick came to Pasco where he served for a few months. He was succeed by the Rev. P.A. Flavin.1915
Fr. P.A. Flavin served until May 12 when he was assigned to the missions attached to Pasco, with headquarters in Kennewick, by the Rev. August Schinner, Spokane’s first bishop.On May 15, Rev. W. B. Bender took charge of the parish. His first endeavor was to put the church and its property in first class condition, making many alterations. His second endeavor was to bring a Sister’s Hospital to Pasco.
1916
Through Fr. W.B. Bender’s efforts, Mother Borgia, Sister Superior of St. Joesph’s Hospital in Lewiston, Idaho, brought five sisters to Pasco to open a hospital in a building that had been used as the Montana Hotel, located at 100 South 5th. This replaced a tiny 3-bed facility that had been operating in a private home on 9th and Columbia Streets. The old Montana Hotel was leased from B. B. Horrigan’s mother for conversion into a 15-bed hospital. Housewives helped clean the two story building. Donations of $800 were collected and nearly $200 was raised by selling tags to residents. The hospital officially opened on September 24, 1916 with six pyhsicans on the medical staff.The hospital was named Our Lady of Lourdes in thanksgiving for a favor received from prayer. Fr. Bender’s house keeper, Margaret Nolte, had a seriously infected eye. Her eyesight was threatened and the Sisters prayed to the Blessed Virgin under the title of Our Lady of Lourdes that God might cure the infection and within a short time the infection subsided.
1919
Rev. Patrick J. Killeen became pastor of St. Patrick church on January 1, 1919.
1920
The present site of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was purchased from the Northern Pacific Railway for $1. The cornerstone was laid on August 28.1921
The new Lady of Lourdes Hospital with 50 beds opened July 29 on land just north of the church. The hospital admitted 607 patients the first year.1922
A nurses training school was opened by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.1925
Fr. William Campion became pastor.1926
Charles D. White became the second bishop of Spokane.
1935
Fr. Campion celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest on July 25. The altar boys who assisted at the Mass were Leo Horrigan, John Rogers and Billy Leroux. The Mass was sung by Mrs. R.R. Glen, Mrs. F. R. Leroux, Mrs. Hill Williams, Miss Alice Brown and Miss Marion Reel. Mass was followed by a luncheon at the hotel Pence with B.B. Horrigan presiding. The Altar Society held a reception for Fr. Campion in the evening on the lawn of the church.
1942
Fr. William Schmitz became the pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Pasco following the death of Fr. Campion. Fr. Schmitz had been previously assigned in Walla Walla.1948
An addition to the rear of the church increased the capacity to 300 people.
1950
A $750,000 addition to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital started in 1941 was dedicated on October 29 by the Rev. Charles D. White, Bishop of Spokane.1951
In September, an eight classroom school was opened on property ten blocks west of the church and rectory. Beginning with five grades and four teachers, it was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondalet, who lived at the Hospital until 1955, when a convent was built. This was the first parochial school in the Tri-City area. It was built at the cost of $200.000 and is still serving the young people of this parish.1952
The Court of Our Lady of Fatima #1611, Catholic Daughters of America was chartered on April 20. The Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Auxiliary was organized.1953
Fr. William F. Laroux celebrated his first Solemn High Mass at St. Patrick’s Church on June 30.1955
Bernard Topel became the third bishop of Spokane. A convent was built for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondalet on land adjacent to the school.1959
A group of dedicated men and priests from St. Patrick's put together a plan to purchase a building to better serve the indigent and transient people of the Tri-Cities. Fr. Arnold Scheffelmeier provided $750 toward the purchase of a $6,000 building at 115 West Lewis. This became the center for the charitable activities of the local St. Vincent dePaul Society.
1960
St. Vincent dePaul Store opened on February 22 with Don Thomas of Richland as Manager. The ninth grade class was started at the parish school and housed in the basement of the church.1961
The seventh, eighth and ninth grade students moved into the new St. Patrick Jr. High School building, just to the south of the main school.1962
George Grant Construction began work on a new church and rectory at Henry and 14th Streets, on the same campus as the parish school and convent.1963
The new church was dedicated on June 25. In addition to the dedication of the new church, this year was highlighted by the celebration of Fr. Schmitz’s 25th anniversary as a priest. Following the dedication ceremony, Fr. Schmitz celebrated Solemn High Mass assisted by Fr. John O’Brien as deacon and Rev. Roy Thelen as subdeacon. A jubilee dinner was held in his honor with Msgr. Pautler as toastmaster. St. Patrick's Parish gave Fr. Schmitz a trip to Rome in appreciation of his work as pastor.The old church building on North 4th Street became a youth center. Fr. Charles Eis was director of the Catholic Youth Organization and Tom Brandon, a 6th grade teacher at Mark Twain, was director of the center. The program included five-year-olds to college sophomores. The facility provided space for basketball, volleyball, weight lifting, boxing, a game room, pool table, ping-pong tables, a television, a phonograph, showers and locker facilities.
1964
In July, Fr. Victor Briones came to Pasco to begin Spanish language ministry in the parish and surrounding communities. He was the only Hispanic priest in the southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon areas. Since then, St. Patrick has become in many respects a regional center of ministry and faith formation to the Spanish speaking population.The community of Eltopia to the north, which had been a mission of St. Patrick's, became the parish of St. Paul the Apostle. They constructed a new church, hall, and priest's apartment, built entirely by volunteer labor. The community of Connell, a mission of Sacred Heart Parish, Othello became the parish of St. Vincent DePaul. The two parishes are served by one pastor.
St. Patrick’s School was unable to accommodate all the students seeking admittance. The religious education program of the parish included 470 students in the school, 319 CCD students and 203 high school students.
The first Spanish Catechism Classes were organized.
The Dioceses of Spokane celebrated its golden Jubilee.
1965
Fr. Briones (1963-1972) celebrated a Mass in Spanish each Sunday at 3:00 pm. It was through his efforts that a Hispanic church choir, a migrant day-care, and a Tri- Cities Latin American Association were formed. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Washington State Commission on Mexican American Affairs. The first Spanish adult religious education classes were formed. Rose Armijo became the first Hispanic to sit on the parish council.1966
The Altar Society modernized and enlarged the organization by setting up guilds: Our Lady of Cana - parish receptions and funeral dinners; St. Therese - care of the altar servers' vestments; St. Bridget - Baptismal stoles; St. Dorothy - flowers; St. Jude - sewing and crafts; St. Monica - sunshine; St. Patrick - missions and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. A Guild for Spanish speaking parishioners, Grupo Guadalupana, was added in 1981.Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital celebrated its 50th birthday.
St. Patrick Parish hosted the convention of the Spokane Council of Catholic Men.
1967
On Sunday, April 30, Fr. Schmitz celebrated his 25th year as pastor of St Patrick Parish. During these years, Father was a bus driver, a wicked handball player, a baseball player and a friend to all. He also was one of the 12 charter members of the Tri-City Communty Action Committee. A well equipped library opened at St Patrick School.
1970
Fr. William Schmitz died on April 14. He had served St. Patrick for 29 years and is buried in the Pasco Cemetary. Fr. Robert O’Neal became pastor.1976
Fr. Charles Skok became the pastor. Fr. Skok appointed a committee, chaired by Dr. Len Suhadolnik, to lay plans for a parish center. Fr. Filiberto Gonzales (1976-1980) was ordained a priest at St. Patrick and resident priest for the Hispanic community. He initiated Spanish Bible studies, formed the St. Patrick Hispanic organization and the Hispanic Liturgy Committee.1978
Rev. Lawrence Harold Welsh became the fourth bishop of Spokane. The groundbreaking for the parish center occurred on September 10. The new building would include a full size gymnasium with dressing rooms and showers, meeting rooms, a kitchen and religious education offices. Marianne Grant and Carl Perry were appointed co-chairpersons for the fund raising functions.1979
Bishop Lawrence Welch dedicated the parish center on May 26. He made the first basket in the gym following the dedication.
1980
Fr. Joseph Danneker became pastor. On August 21, Bishop Lawrence Welch ordained Robert Kalinowski and Gray Franz to the permanent diaconate.1981
The "Grupo Guadalupana", the Spanish language guild of the parish Altar Society, was organized on Easter Sunday, April 26.1982
Fr. Tom Caswell became pastor. Bishop Lawrence Welch ordained Andres Espinoza as the first Spanish speaking permanent deacon on June 26.1983
Fr. Leonard Forsmann became pastor.1985
A four - plex was purchased for the home of the priest and the former rectory became a church office building. A childcare and Montesorri preschool program was started at the parish school.1986
St. Patrick celebrated its centennial year with a parish-wide bilingual Mass at Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium.
1990
Bishop William S. Skylstad of the Diocese of Yakima became the fifth bishop of Spokane.1991
Fr. Pedro Ramirez became pastor. While he was an associate here from 1980 to 1988, he had begun a Spanish language radio ministry which continues today.1996
Fr. Ramirez was named a monsignor.1997
The parish school building, built in 1951, underwent a complete renovation. Most of the effort was accomplished by volunteer work crews. The campaign was chaired by Leonard and Marylin Hanses.1998
Tri-Cities Prep, an independent Catholic high school, opened with its first class of freshman. The completely new facility, located in Pasco, draws students from all three Tri-Cities parish schools, as well as other public and private schools in the area.1999
Msgr. Ramirez celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination on August 3, 1999. He celebrated Mass that day at Santa Cruz Church in Juventino Rosas, Mexico where he had been Baptized and had received his First Communion and Confirmation. It is also the church where he was ordained in 1974.
2000
St. Patrick began the first week of the New Year by being host for the traveling icon of the Holy Trinity. On Ash Wednesday, March 8, St. Patrick joined the other parishes of the Tri-Cities and surrounding area for an area wide Mass at the TRAC facility in Pasco, concelebrated by Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane and Bishop Carlos Sylvia of Yakima. Over 7,000 attended the Mass.For the month of April St. Patrick's was the diocesan Pilgrimage Church, part of the new millennium Jubilee Year celebration.
St. Patrick joined the other 80 parishes of the Diocese of Spokane for a Jubilee Mass on June 11, the Feast of Pentecost. Over 8,000 gathered at the Spokane Coliseum for the Liturgy presided by Bishop Skylstad and concelebrated by the priests of the diocese. Special guests included His Eminence, Edmund Cardinal Szoka, President of Vatican City and the special emissary of the Holy Father; the Most Rev. Raymond Hunthausen, retired Archbishop of Seattle; and Gary Locke, Governor of Washington State.
In the summer two newly ordained associate pastors joined our parish community: Fr. Daniel Barnett and Fr. Miguel Mejia.
-
priests who have served at st. patrick - pasco
1886 - Father A. Neuvese said the first Mass in Pasco/ El Padre A. Neuvese celebró la primera Misa en Pasco
1896 (Nov) - 1906 (Dec) Father H. J. Van deVan
1906 - 1906 Father/Padre J. Brucker
1906 - 1908 Father/Padre J. S. Cunningham
1980 (Oct) - 1910 (Dec) Father/Padre Emil Frederick
1910 (Dec.) - 1914 (Feb) Father/Padre Francis Jones
1914 (Feb.) - 1914 Father/Padre Terence Fitzpatrick
1914 - 1915 (May) Father/Padre P. A. Flavin
1915 (May) - 1918 (Dec) Father/Padre W. B. Bender
1919 (Jan/Ene) - 1925 Father/Padre Patrick T. Kileen
1925 - 1942 Father/Padre William Campion
1942 - 1970 (Apr/Abr) Father/Padre William Schmitz
1949 - 1950 Father/Padre George McCabe
1951 - 1952 Father/Padre Aloysius Bresneker
1952 - 1956 Father/Padre George Morbeck
1956 - 1958 Father/Padre John O’Day
1958 - 1961 Father/Padre Arnold Schofflemeer
1962 - Father/Padre Bernard Osterman
1963 - Father/Padre Joseph Marto
1963 - 1972 Father/Padre Victor Briones (Spanish/Español)
1965 - Father/Padre Weeks
1966 - Father/Padre Walter Strickhart
1966 - 1967 Father/Padre Charles Eis
1967 - 1968 Father/Padre Jim McGreevy
1968 - Father/Padre Dave Bruxer
1970 (Apr/Abr) - 1976 Father/Padre Robert O’Neil
1970 - Father/Padre Marvin Lavoy
1972 - 1973 Father/Padre John Birk
1972 - Father/Padre Pelais (Spanish/Español)
1973 - Father/Padre Carlos Villabona (Spanish/Español)
1975 - 1976 Father/Padre Tom Caswell
1976 - 1980 Father/Padre Charles Skok
1976 - 1978 Father/Padre Leonard Forsmann
1977 - 1979 Father/Padre Dave Brumbach
1976 - 1980 Father/Padre Filiberto Gonzales (Spanish/Español)
1978 - Father/Padre Moises Padron (Spanish/Español)
1978 - 1980 Father/Padre Arthur Mertens
1979 - 1988 Father/Padre Pedro Ramirez (Spanish/Español)
1979 - Father/Padre Gary Sumpter
1980 - 1982 Father/Padre Joseph Danneker
1980 - 1985 Father/Padre Leonard Forsmann
1980 - 1984 Father/Padre Roy Floch
1980 - present Rev. Mr. Gary Franz, Deacon
1980 - present Rev. Mr. Robert Kalinowski , Deacon
1982 - 1985 Father/Padre Tom Caswell
1982 - Present Rev. Mr. Andres Espinoza, Deacon
1985 - 1991 Father/Padre Leonard Forsmann
1985 - Father/Padre Tom Wilson
1987 - 1988 Father/Padre Phillip Ballinger
1988 - 1991 Father/Padre Hiliodoro Lucatero (Spanish/Español)
1988 - 1993 Father/Padre Terry Grant
1991 - 1992 Father/Padre Ed Marier
1991 - 2007 Monsignor/Monseñor Pedro Ramirez (Spanish/Español)
1990 - 1994 Father/Padre Patrick Kerst
1994 - 1995 Father/Padre Richard Poole
1995 - 1998 Father/Padre Rory Pitstick
1997 - present Father/Padre John Birk
1998 - 1999 Father/Padre Steve Werner
1999 - 2000 Father/Padre José Luis Hernandez (Spanish/Español)
2000 - 2002 Father/Padre Daniel Barnett
2000 - 2001 Father/Padre Miguel Mejia (Spanish/Español)
2002 - 2003 Father/Padre
2004 - 2007 Father/Padre Thomas Bunnell,SJ
2003 - 2005 Father/Padre Jose' Jaime Maldonado (Spanish/Español)
2005 - 2006 Father/Padre Gustavo Ruiz
2006 - 2006 Father/Padre Alejandro Zepeda
2007 - 2013 Father/Padre Daniel Barnett (Pastor/Parroco) (Spanish/Español)
2007 - 2007 Father/Padre Luis Alfonso Rivera
2008 - 2008 Father/Padre Alejandro Zepeda
2008 - 2009 Father/Padre Fernando Maldonado (Spanish/Español)
2009 - 2011 Father/Padre Matthew Nicks (Spanish/Español)
2011 - 2015 Father/Padre Lutakome Deo Nsubuga (Spanish/Español)
2012 - 2015 Father/Padre Jose Luis Hernandez (Spanish/Español)
2013 - 2017 Father/Padre Steven Werner (Pastor/Parroco) (Spanish/Español)
2015 - 2018 Father/Padre Dale Tuckerman (Spanish/Español)2017-2023 Father/Padre Robert Turner (Pastor/Parroco) (Spanish/Español)
2023-present Father/Padre Gustavo (Gus) Ruiz, Father/Padre Dr. Lourdu Mummadi2018-present Father/Padre Jose Jaime Maldonado (Spanish/Español)