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Now
Mission Statement: Led by the Spirit of God, St. Benedict Parish is a welcoming Catholic Community living and sharing the love of Jesus Christ through prayer, service, lifelong learning, and stewardship.
We are a community of 650 families loving and serving the Lord throughout our lives.
Then
St. Benedict Parish was established by the Most. Rev. Edward J. O'Dea on August 6, 1906. Mass was said in a rented hall until the basement of the new church was readied in 1907. From this modest beginning, many physical and plant changes have occurred in the building up of a fitting home for Christ and His children in this area.
The old church.
In the early twenties, the Fathers remodeled classroom space in the single purpose structure so the Sisters of St. Dominic could be more conveniently accommodated in a living residence across the street. In 1925, the handsome school structure was dedicated. The cost of the school was $144,000, a considerable sum in those days of depression and demanding county and state tax burdens.
Current Parish Center
The school, still used to this day.
In 1934, the deteriorated condition of the early wooden structure caused the moving of the celebration of Mass to the school auditorium. This accommodation existed until October 1955 when the modern parish church was dedicated by the Most Rev. Thomas A. Connolly, D.D., Archbishop of Seattle.
Through these years, in tribute to the dedication and perseverance of the people of St. Benedict's, the early school was eradicated and the nearly four hundred thousand dollars needed for the church construction was saved.
In 1958, the good people again responded to the urgent need for expanded convent facilities and readily pledged $163,000. The Convent was dedicated on July 11, 1959 by Archbishop Connolly.
St. Benedict's has never lost that pioneer spirit, or that foresight which willingly sacrifices to provide the physical means of achieving his will.
The rectory was built in 1955, with the new church building, and was the original church office.
The Mystical Circle of Life - The beautiful Rose Window of St. Benedict's Church is representative of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who served our parish. It is also symbolic of the endless circle of life in a Catholic Parish. The center burns with the four zealous flames symbolic of the four Gospels forming the focus of the dominant ruby cross. The inscription in the inner circle proclaims, "To Preach The Gospel To The Poor He Hath Sent Me". Eight roses flow from this circle representing the Beatitiudes. The Four Evangelists appear near the perimeter. Bands of blue and silver emanate from the ends of the cross symbolizing the Water of Life. Two lances cross the window with one containing the tip of steel that struck the wound in Christ, and the other containing the sponge used to quench His thirst with vineager and gall. The nails of the cross appear at the base and the entire window in encircled with a stylized crown of thorns.
