About Holy Spirit · Kennewick, Washington
Parish of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic parish in Kennewick, Washington, belonging to the Diocese of Yakima. Founded in June 1980 by the diocese with Msgr. John Ecker as its founding pastor, the parish first worshipped at Desert Hills Middle School before its church was dedicated in February 1982 at its present site on West Clearwater Avenue. Today the parish is led by Fr. Michael Brzezowski and three permanent deacons, and offers daily and Sunday Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school of faith formation for children and youth, RCIA (OCIA), and a wide range of outreach ministries including St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, and Catholic Daughters.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Brzezowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Yakima
Why belong here
Holy Spirit offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in the Tri-Cities: a Saturday Vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, daily weekday Masses, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and a clear schedule for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Families are served by a robust faith-formation program spanning preschool through high school — including Edge (grades 6–8), Life Teen (grades 9–12), a Children's Choir, Vacation Bible School, and the weeklong Camp Breakaway summer camp — alongside RCIA (OCIA) for adults entering the Church. The parish also lives out the Gospel locally through St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, a parish food bank for the Tri-Cities Food Bank, prison ministry at the Benton County Jail, and Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program (KC HELP).
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. (Parish Community Center, Room 9)
- Tuesday 4:15 – 5:00 p.m. (church reconciliation room)
- By appointment (call the parish office at 509-735-8558)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:45 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration (following the 9:00 a.m. Daily Mass)
- Benediction 4:45 p.m. (per parish calendar)
Parish History
The Parish of the Holy Spirit was founded in June 1980 by the Diocese of Yakima, with Msgr. John Ecker named as the founding pastor. The community worshipped at Desert Hills Middle School for nearly two years, with daily Masses held in rented office space, until the new church was dedicated in February 1982 at its present site on West Clearwater Avenue. The parish has been shaped by a succession of pastors: Msgr. John Ecker (1980–1988), Fr. John O'Shea (1988–2007), Fr. Perron Auve (2007–2019), and the current pastor, Fr. Michael Brzezowski. The rectory was built in 1999 and the Parish Community Center (PCC) opened in 2006. The parish's mission statement grounds its identity in Christ's commission to evangelize, sanctify, and teach, with a particular call to serve the poor and pursue social justice.
- Founded June 1980 by the Diocese of Yakima
- Church dedicated February 1982
- Rectory built 1999
- Parish Community Center (PCC) built 2006
- Seven deacons have served the parish over its history
Pastoral Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Michael Brzezowski as pastor, with Rev. Msgr. Perron J. Auve in residence after his 2019 retirement. Three permanent deacons — Ken Ellis, Mike Gaulke, and Eric Shaber — minister alongside the priests. Parish office staff include Debbie Forgette (Parish Secretary), Bianca Medina (Parish Bookkeeper), and Michele Umemoto (Parish Community Center Coordinator).
- Pastor: Fr. Michael Brzezowski
- In Residence: Rev. Msgr. Perron J. Auve
- Deacon Kenneth "Ken" D. Ellis
- Deacon Michael "Mike" P. Gaulke
- Deacon Eric Shaber
- Parish Secretary: Debbie Forgette
- Parish Bookkeeper: Bianca Medina (also listed Philline Go on the contact page)
- PCC Coordinator: Michele Umemoto
Faith Formation — Children's & Youth
Holy Spirit runs a comprehensive faith-formation program for children and youth, coordinated by named lay leaders and supported by the priests and deacons. Programs span preschool through high school and include a weeklong Catholic summer camp, a Christmas pageant, Vacation Bible School, a parish Children's Choir, and a high-school church-league basketball team whose players are expected to attend Mass and Life Teen.
- Elementary Religious Education (preschool age 4 through grade 5) — Tuesday 4:00–5:15 p.m. — Karen Gorham
- Edge (Middle School, grades 6–8) — Sunday 6:30–8:30 p.m. — Danielle Andersen May & Kim Barany
- Life Teen (High School, grades 9–12) — Sunday 7:00–8:30 p.m. — Jennifer Moore & Joe Bliss
- Confirmation — Deacon Mike & Carol Gaulke
- Children's Choir — Paula Bachelor (Celebration Choir) & Perry Kelly (Life Teen Choir)
- Christmas Pageant
- Vacation Bible School — summer, one week in June
- Camp Breakaway — weeklong Catholic summer camp for grades 6–9 (currently at Camp Touchet, WA)
- Church League Basketball (high school) — November through February/early March
Becoming Catholic — OCIA (RCIA)
Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church journey through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, also known as RCIA), a communal process rooted in the early Church and restored by the Second Vatican Council as the normal way adults prepare for baptism. The parish's OCIA team — led by coordinators Joe and Sherry Schroeder — walks inquirers through the Pre-Catechumenate, Rite of Initiation, Catechumenate, Rite of Election, the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and Mystagogy.
- Coordinators: Joe and Sherry Schroeder
- Pre-Catechumenate (Period of Inquiry)
- Rite of Initiation
- Catechumenate — formation in doctrine, scripture, and tradition
- Rite of Election — catechumens chosen by the bishop
- Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil — Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation
- Mystagogy — post-Easter reflection and formation
Worship & Music Ministries
Liturgical life at Holy Spirit is supported by a scheduler for liturgical ministers, a dedicated prayer line, and a team of altar-server trainers, with music provided by the Celebration Choir, the Life Teen Choir, and the Amazing Grace ensemble. Eucharistic Adoration follows the Friday 9:00 a.m. Mass, and Benediction is scheduled on selected days.
- Scheduler for Liturgical Ministers: Trish Feeney
- Eucharistic Adoration coordinator: Liz Friedrich
- Prayer Line: Adele Ogryzek
- Altar Server Training: Zack Rinderer
- Amazing Grace — Julianne Barnaby
- Celebration Choir — Paula Bachelor
- Life Teen Choir — Perry Kelly
Community Outreach & Charity
The parish lives out Catholic social teaching through a wide network of community ministries. A parish food bank runs weekly from the church vestibule to the Tri-Cities Food Bank. The Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program (KC HELP) loans hospital equipment free of charge. A prison ministry brings Scripture and bulletin materials to inmates at the Benton County Jail, and a Retirement Home / Shut-In Ministry keeps isolated parishioners connected. The parish also hosts an active St. Vincent de Paul Conference that conducts home visits to neighbors in need.
- Food Bank — weekly delivery to the Tri-Cities Food Bank (collection box in the vestibule)
- KC HELP — Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program (free in-home hospital equipment)
- Prison Ministry — Benton County Jail, ~45-minute meetings twice per week
- Retirement Home / Shut-In Ministry — Deacon Eric Shaber
- St. Vincent de Paul — home-visit teams helping those in need; message line 591-0632
Charter Organizations & Councils
Holy Spirit hosts a number of lay-led charter organizations and parish councils. Catholic Daughters and the Knights of Columbus are active parish affiliates; Boy Scout Troop #275 meets at the parish; and Natural Family Planning classes are offered on request. Parish governance is exercised through the Parish Council, Finance Council, Stewardship Committee, the Voice of the Spirit communications team, and the Parish Library.
- Catholic Daughters — Linda Garner
- Knights of Columbus — Terrance Casey
- St. Vincent de Paul — message line 591-0632
- Scout Troop #275 — Teddy Herrera
- Natural Family Planning — Christine Disselkamp
- Parish Council — Jim Carey
- Finance Council — Jared Liebert
- Stewardship — Pat & Lenice Nagle
- Voice of the Spirit — Dieter Bohrmann
- Parish Library — Ann Stevens
Facilities & Building & Grounds
The parish campus includes the church (dedicated February 1982), the rectory (built 1999), and the Parish Community Center (PCC, built 2006), which is the hub for faith-formation classes, Life Teen / Edge dinners, Reconciliation on Sunday afternoons, and parish gatherings. A Building & Grounds ministry coordinates routine maintenance, kitchen cleaning at the PCC, and seasonal sprinkler repair, with Deacon Ken Ellis as a key contact.
- Church (dedicated February 1982)
- Rectory (built 1999)
- Parish Community Center (PCC, built 2006) — Room 9 used for Sunday Reconciliation
- Church & Grounds Maintenance — Deacon Ken Ellis
- Parish Community Center Kitchen — Deacon Ken Ellis
- Parish Community Center Maintenance — Deacon Ken Ellis
- Sprinkler Repair (seasonal)
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a lunch closure from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to call or email the office, or to contact any staff or ministry leader directly using the numbers listed on the parish's contact page.
- Address: 7409 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336
- Phone: (509) 735-8558
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch)
- Website: https://www.holyspiritkennewick.org/
- Diocese: Diocese of Yakima
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. John Ecker1980–1988
Founding pastor; led the parish from its establishment in June 1980 through the dedication of the new church in February 1982; moved after Easter 1988.
- Fr. John O'Shea1988–2007
Succeeded Msgr. Ecker as second pastor; oversaw construction of the new rectory (1999); retired July 2007.
- Fr. Perron Auve2007–2019
Third pastor; oversaw the construction and opening of the Parish Community Center (PCC) in 2006; retired 2019; currently in residence at the parish.
- Fr. Michael Brzezowski2019–present
Current pastor of the Parish of the Holy Spirit.