The Lakewood Catholic Parish Family is a Catholic parish family of the Archdiocese of Seattle in Lakewood, Washington, United States, comprising two parishes, St. Frances Cabrini and St. John Bosco, sharing a single pastor under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel restructuring initiative. The parish family was established on July 1, 2024, when the archdiocese reorganized its 136 parishes into 60 parish families.

The two parishes share staff and ministries while retaining separate worship sites. St. Frances Cabrini administers the affiliated St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School; St. John Bosco administers the Church of the Immaculate Conception mission in nearby Steilacoom.

Background

Lakewood, Washington Lakewood, Washington is a city in Pierce County, about south of downtown Tacoma. Long an unincorporated community, Lakewood was incorporated on February 28, 1996, becoming Pierce County's second-largest city. Its population grew rapidly between 1939 and 1949, from roughly 3,000 to 17,000, largely due to the expansion of nearby military installations. The city now has nearly 64,000 residents and a substantial military population tied to adjacent Joint Base Lewis–McChord.

Partners in the Gospel Partners in the Gospel is a pastoral planning initiative the Archdiocese of Seattle announced in January 2023 in response to declining engagement and a shortage of priests. The archdiocese announced final parish family assignments on February 3, 2024, and the restructuring took effect July 1, 2024, consolidating 136 parishes into 60 parish families, each led by one pastor. Each family is expected to operate jointly for about three years before merging into a single canonical parish.

St. Frances Cabrini and St. John Bosco were assigned together as Parish Family 37 in the Tacoma–Pierce County deanery.

Parish leadership Clergy and staff shared across both parishes, as of 2024:

Role Name Pastor Rev. Louis R. Cunningham Parochial Vicar Rev. Dean Mbuzi Senior Priest in residence Rev. Paul J. Brunet Deacon George Mounce Deacon Jeff Greer Deacon Mauricio Anaya Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation Gabriela Grossman Director of Music, Liturgy & Parish Life Joe Greey Director of Communications, Small Groups, Charitable Works Fabiana Pacheco Director of Sacraments and Youth Catechesis Susy Martinez

Member parishes

St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Parish

St. Frances Cabrini is the older of the two parishes, founded in 1952 and named for Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen canonized by the Catholic Church. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917) was an Italian-born nun who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1909. She was canonized in 1946 and named patron saint of immigrants in 1950; her feast day is November 13.

History Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly established the parish on January 18, 1952; its first Mass was celebrated ten days later in the gymnasium of Visitation Villa, a Catholic girls' school on the site now occupied by Lakewood Towne Center. St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School opened the following year, staffed by Holy Names Sisters living in the on-site Cabrini Convent, and the current church building was dedicated in 1964.

School enrollment declined through the 1970s as fewer women religious were available to teach; the convent closed in 1986 and became parish offices. The parish marked its 50th anniversary in 2003, and the school received its third consecutive accreditation from the Western Catholic Educational Association in 2017.

Parish life Mass is celebrated in the only in the Mass of Paul VI in both English and Spanish, with a Swahili Mass on the third Sunday of each month. Ministries include catechetical formation, the OCIA program, and Eucharistic adoration. St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School, at 5621 108th Street SW, offers pre-K through grade eight.

Mass schedule (as of 2026): Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM (Spanish); Swahili Mass every third Sunday Weekday: Mon–Thu 7:30 AM, Fri 8:30 AM Vigil (Saturday): 5:00 PM Reconciliation: Thursday 4:00–6:00 PM, Saturday 3:00–4:45 PM Eucharistic adoration: First Fridays after 8:30 AM Mass; First Saturdays 6 PM–6 AM

2021 Mass disruption On October 24, 2021, a man disrupted the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass at St. Frances Cabrini and was physically restrained by parishioners near the altar after approaching pastor Fr. Paul Brunet; the incident was captured on video that circulated widely online. The man had been served a no-trespass order on October 11 following weeks of what the parish described as abusive and threatening conduct toward staff, and was arrested and booked for criminal trespass after returning to the church in violation of that order. In a letter to parishioners, Brunet wrote that the parish and school had worked with local police and private security to increase safety measures following the incident.

St. John Bosco Catholic Parish

St. John Bosco Parish, founded in 1968, is named for Saint John Bosco (1815–1888), the Italian priest who founded the Salesians of Don Bosco and is known for his work with disadvantaged youth. He was canonized in 1934; his feast day is January 31, and he is patron saint of youth, students, apprentices, and editors. Although formally established in 1968, the parish traces its lineage to the first Catholic church built in Washington Territory.

History The parish traces its roots to the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Steilacoom, the oldest Catholic church in what is now the Archdiocese of Seattle, built by soldiers at Fort Steilacoom around 1857 and moved to its current downtown Steilacoom site in 1864. It served as the region's mother church until 1880 and has since been a mission chapel, administered by St. John Bosco Parish today.

Archbishop Connolly established St. John Bosco Parish itself in June 1968, drawing its territory from Visitation Parish and St. Frances Cabrini Parish; the current church was dedicated in November 1971. A 1991 expansion added a parish hall and offices, and a Blessed Sacrament Chapel and prayer garden followed in 1998.

Parish life As part of the Lakewood Catholic Parish Family, St. John Bosco shares ministries with St. Frances Cabrini, including catechetical formation, Bible study, and Eucharistic ministries.

Mass schedule (as of 2024): Sunday: 10:00 AM Vigil (Saturday): 5:00 PM Reconciliation: Saturday after Vigil Mass; Thursday 5:00 PM (with Rosary) Eucharistic adoration: First Friday after 8:30 AM Mass; First Saturday 8:00–9:00 AM

See also Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle Frances Xavier Cabrini John Bosco Lakewood, Washington Immaculate Conception Church, Steilacoom, Washington Partners in the Gospel

Notes

References

External links Lakewood Catholic Parish Family – Official website St. Frances Cabrini Parish – Official website St. John Bosco Parish – Official website St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School Archdiocese of Seattle – St. Frances Cabrini listing Archdiocese of Seattle – St. John Bosco listing