St. Alphonsus Parish

Treasures from Our Past

Over 100 Years in Ballard

In 1891, Redemptorist Fathers from Sacred Heart Parish in Seattle began to care for those Catholics residing in the then city of Ballard. The first location for the celebration of Mass was on the south side of NW 58th Street, between 20th and 22nd Avenues NW. A resident priest was assigned when a more permanent church was built. On November 16, 1901, Father Gustave Achtergael became the first man to serve as pastor for this parish. Below is a list of all the pastors who served at St. Alphonsus Parish, when they were here and several key things they did for our parish.

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Gustave Achtergael: 1901-1943

Rev. Achtergael chose the present location on 15th Avenue, and on September 21, 1902 Bishop O’Dea laid the cornerstone for the church. He also determined the need for a parish school and invited the Dominican Sisters from Chehalis to assist him. The school, then called Holy Angels Academy, opened on September 7, 1907 to 75 students. The permanent building (now houses St. Alphonsus Parish School) was dedicated by Bishop O’Dea on February 11, 1923.

Rev. John D. McGrath: 1944-1955

Rev. A.J. Shaughnessy: 1955-1975

Rev. Shaughnessey coordinated the erection of three brick buildings to replace the old church, rectory and convent.

Rev. Jeffrey Sarkies: 1975-1980

Rev. Sarkies installed the magnificent and world-renowned Fritts-Richards tracker organ still being used today.

Rev. Joseph Doogan: 1980-1987

Rev. Doogan moved the baptismal font into the main church and converted the baptistery into a chapel.

Rev. Paul Byrne: 1987-1991

Focusing on the school, Rev. Byrne completely refurbished the building and brought it up to current code.

Rev. James Gandrau: 1991-2002

On October 21, 1993 the Dominican Sisters left St. Alphonsus Parish. So, the convent was renovated, and Rev. Gandrau turned the convent into Fonzi’s, a center for senior parishioners. He also Instituted Perpetual Adoration in the chapel and launched a drive in 1996 to build the new gymnasium and Family Center which was completed in September 1998.

Rev. Ramon Santa Cruz, SOLT: 2002-2009

Rev. Santa Cruz was the first of several SOLT (Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity) priests to serve at St. Alphonsus. Our parish was entrusted to the priestly care of the Society of Our Lady by the Archbishop of Seattle in 2007. The SOLT community has also assigned SOLT sisters, novices and postulants to the convent located on the St. Alphonsus campus. The convent served as a novitiate house for women discerning a call to the consecrated life through SOLT until 2012 when it transitioned to a postulant house (another stage of the discernment process).

Rev. Shane McKee, SOLT: 2012-2017

Rev. Shane McKee, SOLT was our second SOLT pastor. He implemented several facility and campus upgrades during his time at St. Alphonsus, including the 2014 RESTORING GLORY Capital Campaign which led to the installation of the new boiler, new church doors and several other projects.

Rev. Richard Klepac, SOLT: 2017-2022

Rev. Richard Klepac, SOLT was our final SOLT pastor. In 2021 SOLT made the decision to leave the Seattle mission, with the sisters leaving at the end of 2021, and Rev. Richard Klepac, SOLT leaving in June 2022. In July 2022 St. Alphonsus returned to being staffed by a diocesan priest. During Rev. Richard Klepac’s time numerous upgrades were made to the campus, namely in security, safety and technology, which was especially needed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join Our Small Faith Sharing Groups!

Scripture/Gospel Study

Come discover the beauty of the Gospel and grow closer to God and each other as we read and reflect on scriptures together in a warm, welcoming group. All are welcome!

• St. Alphonsus group meets every Thursday, 10 AM, at St. Alphonsus McGrath Room. (Contact: Mary Green at mgquilts46@gmail.com)

Women’s Ministry

Women’s Ministry offers a welcoming space for women to connect, study the Bible, pray together, and find encouragement and empowerment.

• St. Alphonsus meets on last Tuesday of the month. Contact Olivia Raese at olivia@raesegroup.com for more info.

Men’s Group

Join the Men's Group every Monday, 7 PM, at St. Alphonsus McGrath Room for fellowship and faith sharing. Don’t miss out! For more info, please contact Brian LeBlanc at brianleblanc76@gmail.com.

Grounded in Grace

If you are navigating the pain of divorce or marital separation, join Grounded in Grace, a safe and confidential space for healing and hope. Explore spirituality as a source of strength, share your experiences, and find peace and clarity on this new path. The group meets every third Thursday, 6:00 PM. For more information, please contact Olivia Raese at olivia@raesegroup.com.

Join our Social Justice Ministries!

St. Vincent de Paul Society

SVDP society assists the poor and needy within our parish boundaries through grocery, transportation and rent vouchers. Support by donating and volunteering with them. For more info, contact Doug Martin at doug@martinenv.com. If you need assistance, please call Helpline Call Center at (206) 767-6449, M-F, 8 AM - 3 PM.

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is a global organization of Catholic men committed to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. The local council supports the community through fundraising for local organizations, assisting with parish events, hosting pancake breakfasts, and holding regular meetings to plan and grow its outreach. For more info, contact St. Alphonsus: Louie Van Hollebeke at louiervh@gmail.com.

Ministers to the Homebound

Are you homebound, in nursing home or hospital and want to receive the holy communion? Our Cabrini Ministers would be happy to bring the holy communion to your home. For inquiries, please contact Lori Corcoro at lcorcoro@parishfamily14.org.

Sancta Vita

This ministry at St. Alphonsus is focused on promoting the Catholic Church's teaching on the sanctity of life, emphasizing that every human life is sacred and should be cherished from conception to natural death. For more information, please contact Anne Rose at sanctavita@stalseattle.org.

Holy Name Society

St. Alphonsus’ Holy Name Society is a men's group dedicated to honoring the name of Jesus Christ and promoting reverence for it. The Society participates in parish activities, like family breakfasts, events, and service projects. To join and for more information, please contact Karl Hoffman at 206-784-7152 or karl3hoffmann@gmail.com.

Angel’s Cafe

St. Alphonsus’ The Angels Café is a vibrant ministry of women who come together to cook and serve meals in the spirit of Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” The group meets at least four times a year. Food preparation takes place on Saturday mornings, followed by cooking and serving after Sunday Mass. New members are always welcome to join this joyful service ministry. For more information or to get involved, contact Shelle Bjolstad at shelleb2@gmail.com.

Pastoral Council