New Mass Schedule Beginning July 6

Dear Friends in Christ,

This is my first communication to the Family of Assumption, St. Bridget, St. Catherine, and Our Lady of the Lake Parishes that officially comes together on July 1. I am humbled, honored and excited to be the new pastor of this wonderful Catholic community in Northeast Seattle. I am also deeply grateful for the ministry provided to you up to now by Fr. Oliver Duggan, Fr. Tim Clark and Fr. Marc Powell. They are all fine priests and I join you in thanking them and wishing them well as they move on to their new ministries.

This is not the usual transition of pastors in a parish. The Partners in the Gospel Plan in our archdiocese invites us to begin to create a new model of parish life where our four parishes will become one in July 2027. The starting point for us as Catholics is the Eucharist. I want therefore to announce the initial weekend Mass Schedule for our family as of July 6-7. It’s a result of much consultation and several revisions. It’s also not perfect and will require cooperation and support on the part of all four of our parish communities. It may very well need to be adjusted in a few months. 

I will be serving you with Fr. Duc Nguyen who has been assigned as our parochial vicar. The ministry of two full time priests is down from the 3.5 FT priests serving up to now. This has required the reduction of overall Masses in the family from 8 to 6 which beginning July 6-7 will be as follows:

Saturday: 5:00 pm OLL and St. Catherine 
Sunday: 9:00 am Assumption & St. Bridget. 10:30 am OLL and St. Catherine

I realize this schedule may disappoint those who have been regulars at the 5:00 pm Mass at Assumption and St. Bridget. I hope you will decide to attend the morning Mass at your parish or feel welcome at the two parishes with Saturday Masses. That goes for those who find their new Sunday Mass time a challenge. You are welcome at any and all Masses in our family, remembering that we are in the process of becoming one parish.

Please stay tuned for more information about daily Mass, and parish life in general. For now, let’s pray for one another and support each other in this transition. 

God bless!
Fr. William Heric