About Holy Trinity · Bremerton, Washington
Holy Trinity Catholic Church is a parish in East Bremerton, Washington, founded in January 1964 to serve a fast-growing Catholic community in the area. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Seattle and is a member of the Bremerton Catholic Community, paired since 2022 with its mother parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea, under the Partners in the Gospel initiative. The parish offers Mass in English and Spanish, a robust Faith Formation program for children and teens, an active Knights of Columbus council, a music ministry, Latino ministries, and outreach to the homebound and to the local St. Vincent de Paul food bank. It is pastored by Very Rev. Derek J. Lappe with Fr. Joshua Nehnevaj as Parochial Vicar.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- Holy Trinity
- Rector
- Very Rev. Derek J. Lappe
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a welcoming, bilingual parish serving East Bremerton with Mass in both English and Spanish every weekend, weekday Masses, Friday adoration, and a full schedule of Reconciliation. Families will find a complete Faith Formation program from kindergarten through high school, including Faith Works, Teen Confirmation, Fraternus and Fidelis brotherhoods, and Discovering Catholicism (OCIA) for adults. The parish reaches outward through a very active Knights of Columbus Council 11789, partnership with the Bremerton St. Vincent de Paul food bank, homebound ministry, KC HELP medical-equipment lending, and a vibrant Latino ministry led by a dedicated director.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 8:00–8:45 AM
- Friday 5:30–6:15 PM and after the 6:30 PM Mass
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 11:45 AM (1st Friday Adoration continues overnight)
Parish History
Holy Trinity was established in January 1964 to serve the booming Catholic population of East Bremerton, carved out as a daughter parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea at the initiative of Archbishop Thomas Connolly and Monsignor Joseph Camerman. The first Mass was offered February 2, 1964 in the Sheridan Park Gymnasium, and the church was formally dedicated on August 25, 1968. The parish grew to roughly 600 registered families in its early years and has continued to expand through a major 2018–2021 renovation and its 2022 entry into the Bremerton Catholic Community parish family.
- Founded January 1964; first Mass Feb 2, 1964 in Sheridan Park Gymnasium
- Groundbreaking August 20, 1967
- Dedication by Archbishop Connolly, August 25, 1968
- 1989 25th Anniversary Mass
- 2018–2021 major renovation; rededicated 2022
- Joined Partners in the Gospel 'Bremerton Catholic Community' in 2022
Clergy & Staff
Holy Trinity is led by Very Rev. Derek J. Lappe (Pastor of the Bremerton Catholic Community) and Fr. Joshua Nehnevaj (Parochial Vicar), with Fr. Dennis Sevilla serving as Senior Priest. Four deacons — Patrick O'Toole, Jim Johnson, John Amlag, and Bill Hamlin — assist in Faith Formation, outreach, and parish life. Lay staff lead music, Latino ministry, faith formation, outreach, and parish administration.
- Fr. Derek Lappe — Pastor
- Fr. Joshua Nehnevaj — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Dennis Sevilla — Senior Priest
- Dcn. Patrick O'Toole — Faith Formation
- Dcn. Jim Johnson — Outreach
- Dcn. John Amlag — Consecration to the Holy Family / Novena for Life
- Dcn. Bill Hamlin
- Sarah McLellan — Parish Administrator
- Tina Lujan — Music Director
- Juan Pablo Garcia Santillan — Latino Ministry Director
- Lucero Sotomayor Diaz — Latino Ministry Assistant
- Roseanne Murphy — Senior Outreach
- Marcia Christian & Cynthia Holland — Accompanists
- Karen Holladay & Diana Brown — Reception
- Ben Crowl — Facility Steward
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a complete faith-formation track from kindergarten through high school, sharing programming with sister parish Our Lady Star of the Sea. Adults have their own Discovering Catholicism (OCIA) process and an adult Confirmation track, plus a year-long spiritual formation study.
- Faith Works — PreK–5 Lectionary-based program, Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 PM at Star of the Sea School
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — sacramental years program for grade 2
- Teen Confirmation — Sundays at Star of the Sea or Tuesdays at Holy Trinity Annex
- Fraternus — Catholic brotherhood, grades 6–12 + adult men
- Fidelis — Catholic sisterhood, grades 6–12 + adult women
- Discovering Catholicism (OCIA) — Thursdays 5:45–7:30 PM, Social Hall
- Adult Confirmation preparation
- Fulfillment of All Desire spiritual formation (Ralph Martin)
Music Ministry
Holy Trinity offers choirs at all weekend Masses and a Schola at the Sunday 8 AM Mass, including Spanish-language music for the 1 PM Mass. Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM and one hour before each Mass.
- Music Director: Tina Lujan (360-217-2909)
- Accompanists: Marcia Christian, Cynthia Holland
- Choir at 4 PM Saturday, 10 AM Sunday (English) and 1 PM Sunday (Spanish)
- Schola at 8 AM Sunday
Latino Ministry / Ministerios Latinos
A dedicated Latino Ministry Director coordinates sacramental preparation, Faith Formation, and community life for Spanish-speaking parishioners. Spanish Mass is offered Sunday afternoon and Friday evening, with bilingual homily support.
- Juan Pablo Garcia Santillan — Latino Ministry Director (360-614-7080, [email protected])
- Lucero Sotomayor Diaz — Latino Ministry Assistant ([email protected])
- Spanish Mass: Sunday 1:00 PM; Friday 6:30 PM (bilingual homily)
- Sacramental preparation: Bautismos, Quinceañeras, Formación de la fe, Bodas, Funerales
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a centerpiece of parish life, with an entire deacon and several ministries devoted to serving neighbors across the Kitsap Peninsula. The Holy Trinity Knights of Columbus Council 11789 is unusually active in both parish and civic life.
- Knights of Columbus Council #11789 & Assembly 3097
- KC HELP — free loan of durable medical equipment (4,000+ items loaned in 2023)
- St. Vincent de Paul food and diaper drives (60,000+ lbs food and $60,000+ since the pandemic)
- Coats for Kids
- Support for Trillium Women's Center
- Easter Seals Camp 'Stand by Me' and Washington State Special Olympics
- Novena for Life, Consecration to the Holy Family
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound (Roseanne Murphy)
- Parish meals, dances, and family fellowship events
Sacraments
Holy Trinity prepares parishioners for all seven Catholic sacraments, with First Reconciliation and First Communion typically celebrated in 2nd grade and Confirmation in the teen years (or as adults). Latino ministry staff coordinate Spanish-language sacramental preparation, including Quinceañeras.
- Baptism of infants, children, and adults
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (grade 2)
- Confirmation — youth (grade 7+) and adults
- Matrimony — marriage preparation (English & Spanish)
- Quinceañeras
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
Bremerton Catholic Community (Partners in the Gospel)
In 2022, Archbishop Paul Etienne announced Holy Trinity and Our Lady Star of the Sea would form the 'Bremerton Catholic Community' parish family under Partners in the Gospel. On July 1, 2024 Fr. Derek Lappe was formally named Pastor of the family and Fr. Joshua Nehnevaj Parochial Vicar. The two parishes share Faith Works, Fraternus, Fidelis, and other programs while each retains its own identity, building, and weekend schedule.
- Holy Trinity (East Bremerton) + Our Lady Star of the Sea (Bremerton)
- Pastor: Fr. Derek Lappe; Parochial Vicar: Fr. Joshua Nehnevaj
- Shared Faith Works, Teen Confirmation, Fraternus, Fidelis
- Office hours now rotate between the two parishes
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Kames Knelleken1964–1968
First pastor; set up the original five-room house and chapel (now Voltin Hall)
- Fr. Edward Boyle1968–c.1976
Second pastor; oversaw the 1968 dedication by Archbishop Connolly
- Fr. Joseph Erny1976–1990
Third pastor; hired the parish's first deacon, completed the weekday chapel named in his honor after his death
- Fr. Jack Buckalew1990–2010
Fourth pastor; served 20 years, expanded outreach and lay collaboration
- Fr. Dwight Lewis2021
Parish Priest; later assigned to St. Charles Borromeo, Tacoma
- Fr. Ben Bray2022–2024
Priest Administrator; oversaw parish growth and pre-Partners transition
- Fr. Derek Lappe2024–present
Pastor of the Bremerton Catholic Community (Holy Trinity + Our Lady Star of the Sea) under Partners in the Gospel