On July 16, 1929, Bishop O’Dea appointed Father Matthew S. Beglin pastor of the new north end parish, St. Catherine of Siena. It was formed from areas previously under the care of Blessed Sacrament and St. Benedict parishes, with a small area from Assumption parish. It extended from Northeast 70th Street on the south to the Snohomish County line on the north and from 1st Avenue Northeast on the west to 20th and 25th Streets Northeast on the east. Father Beglin said the first Mass for 160 parishioners on Sunday, July 21, in a dry goods store at 8916 Roosevelt Way, rented from Mr. F.C. Naef for $2.50 per Sunday. Construction of a “temporary chapel” –the original church, now the gym/social hall–was begun on August 1, 1929, under the direction of Father Beglin. The stuccoed, modified Spanish Mission style church was completed at a cost of $9,338.53, and the first Mass was said in the new church on September 29, 1929. A Solemn High Mass with Bishop O’Dea presiding marked the formal opening of the church on October 27, 1929. This was the day before the “Black Monday” stock market crash of 1929.
1930’s–Building Continues
Despite many financial concerns, the parish, under the leadership of Father Beglin, began an ambitious plan to upgrade the church and build a rectory and social hall for the new parish. Between 1930 and 1932, the parish added shrines, sacristies, a balcony, a baptistry, and stained glass to the church. The rectory, originally located on the corner of Northeast 85th Street and Eighth Avenue Northeast, was completed in April of 1930. In 1931, the parish built a social hall (now the school's basement). This building phase required significant fundraising by the new parish; bazaars, dances, and card parties not only raised funds but also enhanced parishioners' social life. Many parishioners also gained employment in some of the construction projects.
1940’s—School Bells Ring
Many North End families wanted a Catholic school for their children. In May 1941, the bishop approved plans to build a 4-classroom school for the parish. Construction began immediately, and the school opened in September that year, with the Sisters of Providence staffing it. 180 students attended St. Catherine School that first year, and 19 students graduated in June 1942. The population boom in the north end continued, and the school soon became overcrowded. In 1944, St. Catherine received permission from the War Production Board to add a second story. Over the summer of 1945, the school completed the second story, adding five more classrooms and a music room. The school opened that fall to 281 students, including kindergarteners for the first time. CYO Sports became very popular, as did numerous local contests including the “Old Woody” contest (a pitching contest) and Quiz Bowls.
1950’s—Changes Begin
Father Beglin, who had so faithfully served the parish for over twenty years, died unexpectedly in 1951, and Father Joseph Brennan became pastor of the parish. Many changes, including the opening of Northgate Mall and the establishment of three north end parishes (two of which—St. Mark and St. Matthew—were carved out of St. Catherine’s territory), affected the parish, yet the parish continued to move forward. By 1952, enrollment exceeded 550 students, and the parish added a two-classroom portable building. Plans were made to build a new, more spacious church, and in 1957, the rectory was moved to its current location to make room for the church. Construction of the church began in 1958, and the new church, built in a “contemporary Romanesque basilica” style, was officially opened and blessed on Sunday, March 1, 1959. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and square dancing were popular activities. Forty-hour devotions and Parish Missions every two years strengthened the parish's spiritual life. A few parishioners, including Fr. Bill Slate and Father Lawrence Low, were ordained during the fifties. Sr.Lucille Dean, St. Catherine student, parishioner, and later principal of St. Catherine (1967-1972), also made her religious vows as a Sister of Providence in the fifties.
1960’s—Upheaval
In 1961, the former church was remodeled into a gym and social hall. Vatican II brought changes, including using the vernacular during Mass and having the priest face the people. On January 31, 1967, Interstate 5 opened, cutting a large swath through the parish, and the complex interchange between Bothell Way (now Lake City Way) and the freeway required an even larger-than-usual right-of-way in the area. Also in 1967, a new convent for the nuns who staffed the school was built on the corner of Eighth Avenue NE and 86th Street.
1970’s –Laity Become Involved
Father Brennan retired in 1971, and a succession of pastors followed. The laity's role strengthened, and St. Catherine established its first parish council and education board. Eucharistic ministers were trained. Religious education, from preschool through adulthood, received new emphasis in the church, and St. Catherine was one of the first parishes in the diocese to hire a religious education director. The church interior was redecorated, and the musical element of the liturgy was emphasized. In 1975, after a thirty-year mutually beneficial relationship, the Sisters of Providence withdrew from St. Catherine Parish. In 1979, the parish celebrated its golden Jubilee with a Mass celebrated on October 21 with Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen presiding.
1980’s—Renewal
Due to several factors, including the need to greatly increase tuition, the school census dropped to less than 150 students in the early 1980’s. In 1985, Fr. John Patrick Doherty became pastor at St. Catherine. The former convent was remodeled to serve as parish offices and was officially named “The Siena Center.” The Altar Society sponsored a popular fashion show and luncheon every year around St. Patrick’s Day, and ran the traditional Bazaar just before Thanksgiving. In the late eighties, the Renew process energized parishioners' spiritual development. At the end of the process, many Renew groups continued to meet. School attendance rose, and in 1988, the parish purchased new portable classrooms to serve as the kindergarten and preschool.
1990’s—A Succession of Leadership
Fr. John Patrick Doherty succumbed to cancer on November 8, 1992. Several priests, including Fr. John Koehler, pitched in to serve the parish’s spiritual needs. In 1994, Fr. David White was assigned as pastor. Father White retired in 1998. In 1999, we appointed our first Pastoral Life Director, Victoria Ries, as well as our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Lyle Konen, C.Ss.R. The school census stabilized at about 200 students each year. The Young Mother’s Support Group met weekly and was quite popular through much of the early to mid-nineties, as was the parish youth group. The church basement, where coffee hours were held, was brightened with new paint and flooring. Delayed maintenance at the church and school received renewed attention, with the parish office receiving a new roof in 1998, and the school receiving much-needed seismic work in 1999.
2000’s—Looking Back and Looking Forward
The new millennium brought several changes, beginning with the replacement of the church roof in the fall of 2000. At the school, a new computer lab was installed, and several cosmetic improvements in the school buildings were undertaken with the aid of funds raised by parents. Remodeling of the church interior began in early 2002 and was completed by September. Many parishioners participated in the planning and construction phases of the remodeling. The remodeling featured recycled marble from the former communion rail and altar, an inlaid terrazzo floor design, a more central altar and dais, a new baptismal font, an ironwork icon screen, and a new, lighter “Siena” paint scheme. 2002 also brought forth revelations about priest abuse of children that had occurred at St. Catherine in the sixties and seventies as well as elsewhere in the archdiocese. Several meetings were held to discuss parishioners’ thoughts regarding the abuse and to aid in healing. In July 2003, Fr. Lyle retired from parish ministry but continued his work as a prison and jail chaplain. Fr. Tony Bawyn, who is also the canon lawyer for the Archdiocese, was appointed as Parochial Vicar. Today, our community numbers about 550 families. We have come a long way from holding Mass in a storefront on Roosevelt Way. We have had our share of both sorrow and joy. We look forward in faith and confidence to the journey ahead.
2014 - 2018 Rev. Mark Kiszelewski
2018 - 2021 Rev. Patrick Sherrard
2024 - present Rev. William Heric, Duc Nguyen, Vicar