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The Early Local Church
As the Twentieth century began, there were no local
services offered for Catholics living on the east side of Lake
Washington. In 1913, Bishop Edward J. O'Dea requested Father
Nicholas O'Rafferty, pastor of St. Anthony's in Renton, to see to
those spiritual needs. On the third Sunday in August 1913, Fr.
O'Rafferty celebrated the first Mass in Kirkland. The Mayor of
Kirkland allowed Fr. O'Rafferty the use of the Kirkland City Council
Chambers for the once-a-month Mass. About 20 persons attended the
services. During this time (1913-1915) Holy Family was a mission of
St. Anthony's in Renton. The first baptism in Kirkland took place on
March 8, 1914. Bishop O'Dea celebrated the first confirmation for a
class of 21 on July 1, 1916.
First Church Building
Under the direction of Bishop O'Dea and through the
efforts of Fr. O'Rafferty, construction began on July 1, 1914 on a
new church building at 6th Avenue and 3rd Street. There was no
contractor. The parishioners donated the time and labor. The first
Mass was celebrated October 18, 1914. Bishop O'Dea consecrated the
church the next month. The new Holy Family, including the balcony,
seated between 150 and 200 people.
First Resident Pastor
In the Fall of 1915, Bishop O'Dea established Holy
Family as a parish. The boundaries included Kirkland and parts of
Bothell, Redmond, and Bellevue. The Bishop appointed Fr. Thomas
Madigan as the first resident pastor.
Hard Times and Changes
For several years after the end of World War I, Holy
Family was without a pastor. Father (late Monsignor) D.A. Hanley,
the chaplain at Providence Hospital, volunteered to say one Mass
each Sunday on the Eastside, alternating between Holy Family and
Sacred Heart in Bellevue. During a succession of pastors, beginning
with Fr. William McDonald in 1921 and Fr. John O'Brien in 1922, the
parish purchased a house near the church for use as a rectory and
two additional lots as prospective sites for a parochial school. In
1925, Fr. Philip Corboy succeeded Fr. O'Brien as pastor. Once more,
the parishioners were offered regular weekly services. Fr. Robert
Ryan became pastor at Holy Family on June 9, 1935, where he served
until his death on May 1, 1955.
New Church Building
The early 1950's saw new prosperity after the Second
World War and also the start of the "Baby Boom." Mass was offered
twice each Sunday with the Sulpician fathers from St. Edward
Seminary continuing to assist Fr. Ryan. In July 1951, Pope Pius XII
named Bishop Thomas A. Connolly as the first Archbishop of Seattle.
In 1955, the Archbishop directed Fr. Donald Conger, who had been
appointed pastor on July 22, 1955, to begin construction of a new
church building. A ten-acre tract along 120th Avenue NE, north of NE
70th Street was purchased in December 1955. On December 15, 1956,
construction began on the church, school, rectory, convent, and
parish hall. In late August 1957, five Dominican sisters of the
Congregation of St. Thomas Aquinas staffed the convent. Two hundred
and twenty students in six grades began classes in September at the
new school. In late October, the rectory was finished and on
Christmas Eve, at midnight, the first Mass was celebrated in the new
church. The new buildings were dedicated on the feast of the Holy
Family in 1958, and the parishioners could choose from three Masses
each Sunday.
Vatican II and Continuous Growth
Pope Pius XII died in 1958. John XXIII served only five
years as Pontiff, but opened the doors of the Church to change and
renewal that continue today. Inside the church building, the gates
were removed from the communion rail. The altar was moved away from
the back of the wall and turned so that the celebrant faced the
congregation. English replaced Latin. The Sulpician fathers
continued to assist the pastors until 1970. In addition, many
deacons from St. Thomas seminary received their pastoral experience
at Holy Family in the years 1968 through 1979. Together with the
many changes in the church, the times saw several priests serve as
Associate Pastors including Fr. James Dalton who became Pastor in
1984. In 1974, 23 lay Eucharistic Ministers began their service to
the parish.
The number of families continued to grow even though
new parishes were established in Juanita at St. John Vianney in 1971
and St.Jude in Redmond in 1978. In 1969, Fr. Conger formed the first
Parish Council, which met to discuss parish matters.
Fire and Rebirth
On Saturday night, July 9, 1988 an arson fire destroyed
the church built in 1957. Despite the tragedy of the fire, hope
remained. Mass was held in the gym that Sunday morning and for the
next two years. Other Catholic churches as well as churches of other
denominations allowed us the use of their sanctuaries for weddings
and funerals. We were reminded that although our building was gone,
"the Church lasts forever." The priests and parishioners of Holy
Family worked together as a family to build, both spiritually and
physically, a new church. The new building was dedicated on November
4, 1990. Other changes in the look of the parish included the
convent becoming the Parish Center and the rectory being re-modeled
for meeting rooms.
Transitions
Over the last several years the Parishioners at Holy
Family have had to go through several transitions. The first was
adjusting to having fewer priests available. The parish staff grew
to assist the pastor and lay volunteers stepped in to help out as
well. Fr. Jim Dalton, who served as Associate Pastor in the early
70's, became Pastor in 1984. He guided the parish through the
re-building of the church and other important times. After 14 years
he was re-assigned and the parish welcomed Fr. Gary Morelli in July
1997. Fr. Gary has been Pastor of all kinds of different parishes
and brings a wealth of experience and ideas to lead Holy Family into
the 21st Century.
Source :
http://www.hfk2.org/pages/about_pages/history.html
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