April 12, 2024
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus,
Know of my deep appreciation for all of you during my time here at Holy Family. It has been an incredible blessing to serve this community and grow as disciples supporting each other in following Jesus.
The Partners in the Gospel process, which I fully support, is going to cut my time with you here shorter than originally expected. It is with sadness and gratitude that I share with you the upcoming priest assignments for Holy Family and St. John Vianney starting July 1. Over the next three years, these two parishes will become one new parish family.
I am pleased to announce your new pastor is Fr. Brad Hagelin, currently pastor at St. Luke in Shoreline. He was also the archbishop’s liaison to Catholic Community Services for several years. He is an avid skier and proud alum of Gonzaga. He is a great priest and is excited to serve at Holy Family and St. John Vianney.
Your parochial Vicar (assistant priest) is Fr. Val Park who currently serves in Puyallup and Fife. He has been ordained for two years and was a seminarian during my time as vocation director. He grew up in the Seattle area, is very kind and enjoys basketball. He will be a great blessing for these communities and of great assistance to the pastor.
I am being assigned as pastor of St. Anthony and St. Stephen the Martyr parishes in Renton. Both are roughly 2,000 households, (roughly 4,000 total) multicultural, a large school at St. Anthony and a Spanish community as well. This is the largest parish family by total households in the Archdiocese of Seattle. I grew up at St. Stephen’s receiving my first communion and confirmation there. I also served at St. Anthony while vocation director and both parishes have many ties to Kennedy Catholic High School where I have served in various capacities over the years. I will also have some canonical administrative responsibilities (Priest Moderator) for St. Louise and St. Madeleine Sophie in Bellevue. I am pleased that my parochial vicars will be Fr. Sylvester Chanda (who currently serves at St. Anthony and served as a deacon at HFK), and Fr. Marlo Abad (Filipino priest who currently serves in the San Juan Islands).
Fr. Justin Ryan will continue as vocation director and live in residence in north Seattle with one of his close friends, Fr. Colin Parrish. They will be at St. Benedict, St. Alphonsus, and St. John the Evangelist. He has been a great blessing to HFK and to me as a rectory housemate. Thank you, Fr. Justin!
Deacon Max, after being ordained a priest on June 1, will serve as parochial vicar at All Saints, Puyallup, St. Martin of Tours, Fife, and Sacred Heart, Tacoma. He is very excited about his assignment with three parishes, two schools and a very large Spanish speaking community. He is looking forward to celebrating a Mass of thanksgiving at Holy Family on June 2 at 11:00 AM Mass. All are welcome!
Of course, all of this comes with a mixture of emotions, sadness but also joy and gratitude. My time at Holy Family has renewed my priesthood in many ways, especially in being a pastor of a parish and school. Thank you for your faith, support, service, and prayers towards me and our parish and school. Goodbye parties for Fr. Justin and me will take place after ALL Masses the weekend of June 15-16. My last weekend will be June 22-23.
May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you all, always.
Fr. Bryan Dolejsi
Pastor, Holy Family Kirkland