About North American Martyrs · Edmonds, Washington
North American Martyrs Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Edmonds, Washington, staffed by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) with the approval and blessing of Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of the Archdiocese of Seattle. It is dedicated to sanctifying souls through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Traditional Latin Mass) celebrated according to the 1962 Missale Romanum. Established in 2008 as the first Tridentine Mass parish directly supported by the Archdiocese of Seattle since Vatican II, the parish found a permanent home in a former Lutheran church in Edmonds in 2019 after a decade of sharing space at St. Alphonsus in Ballard and a chapel at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- The North American Martyrs (eight Jesuit missionaries — Sts. Isaac Jogues, John de Brébeuf, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Anthony Daniel, Noël Chabanel, René Goupil, and Jean de La Lande — martyred between 1642 and 1649)
- Rector
- Fr. John Shannon, F.S.S.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Deanery of Snohomish)
Why belong here
North American Martyrs offers a devoted Catholic community centered on the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Missale Romanum) celebrated daily with rich liturgical ceremony — including Solemn High Mass on Sundays. Parishioners of all ages are drawn from across the Puget Sound region (some travelling from as far as Bellingham, Anacortes, and North Bend), forming a young community in which about 68 percent of registered households are under the age of 45. The parish combines the reverent worship of the Extraordinary Form with the regular sacramental life of confession, daily Mass, First Saturday devotions, baptism, matrimony preparation, anointing of the sick, and convert instruction — making it an ideal spiritual home for Catholics attached to the traditional liturgy of the Roman Rite.
Mass times at North American Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Daily: 30 minutes before Mass
- Saturday: 12:00–12:30 PM
- Sunday: during Mass when a second priest is available
Adoration times
- Please contact the parish office / Adoration Coordinator for current Adoration times
Parish Identity & Mission
North American Martyrs is a Latin Mass parish of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, located in Edmonds, Washington, and serving the Archdiocese of Seattle. Its published mission is to sanctify souls through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. All Masses and Sacraments are performed in the Latin usus antiquior (Extraordinary Form), in accordance with the 1962 Missale Romanum, with the approval and blessing of Archbishop Paul D. Etienne.
- Latin Mass parish of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)
- Under the pastoral authority of the Archdiocese of Seattle
- All liturgy and sacraments in the Extraordinary Form (1962 Missale Romanum)
Parish History
The parish grew out of a traditional Catholic Latin Mass community led by Fr. James Reichmann, SJ, a Seattle University professor who offered a weekly Latin Mass in the St. Joseph Chapel at the Josephinum in Downtown Seattle. On September 28, 2008, Archbishop Alex Brunett invited the FSSP to Seattle, established a quasi-parish under the patronage of the North American Martyrs, and appointed Fr. Gerard Saguto, FSSP, as its first pastor. It was elevated from quasi-parish to full parish status in 2015. From 2008 to 2019 the parish had no building of its own: most Masses were offered at St. Alphonsus in Ballard, a weekly Low Mass at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline, and Holy Week liturgies at the Bastyr University Chapel in Kenmore. On September 30, 2018, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain celebrated the 10th anniversary Solemn High Mass at St. Alphonsus. In July 2019 Fr. Reichmann died; days later the parish purchased a former Lutheran church in Edmonds for $3.4 million and officially moved in November 2019. Archbishop Paul D. Etienne blessed the new church on November 23, 2019.
- Established September 28, 2008 by Archbishop Alex Brunett
- First pastor: Fr. Gerard Saguto, F.S.S.P.
- Elevated to parish status in 2015
- 10th anniversary Solemn High Mass on September 30, 2018 with Archbishop Sartain
- Purchased former Lutheran church in Edmonds in 2019 ($3.4 million)
- Church blessed by Archbishop Paul D. Etienne on November 23, 2019
Patron & Feast Day
The parish takes its name from the North American Martyrs, eight Jesuit missionaries — six French priests and two lay companions — who served missions among the Native peoples of what are now upstate New York and eastern Canada between 1625 and 1649, and who were martyred between 1642 and 1649. They were canonized together by Pope Pius XI in 1930.
- St. Isaac Jogues (1607–1646)
- St. John de Brébeuf (1593–1649)
- St. Gabriel Lalemant
- St. Charles Garnier
- St. Anthony Daniel
- St. Noël Chabanel
- St. René Goupil
- St. Jean de La Lande
- Feast Day: October 19
Building & Renovations
The parish's permanent home is a former Lutheran church at 9924 232nd St SW in Edmonds, built in 1969 and approximately 14,000 square feet. The sanctuary seats about 240 with overflow seating in the vestibule for another 100, and the property includes a social hall across from the sanctuary plus a gym and classrooms in the basement. Since moving in, the parish has pursued ongoing beautification: a new altar has been designed and built, a commissioned oil painting has been hung above the altar, and parking has been expanded.
- Former Lutheran church built in 1969, ~14,000 sq ft
- Sanctuary seating for ~240, overflow for ~100
- New altar designed and built post-2019
- Commissioned oil painting installed above the altar
- Parking expanded on grounds
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by priests of the FSSP. The current pastor is Fr. John Shannon, F.S.S.P., assisted by parochial vicar Fr. Brian Myers, F.S.S.P. Pastoral administration is handled by Tiffany Webb (Pastoral Assistant for Administration / Bookkeeper), and Twyla DeBartolo serves on the parish staff. The parish is also under the care of Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of the Archdiocese of Seattle.
- Pastor: Fr. John Shannon, F.S.S.P.
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Brian Myers, F.S.S.P.
- Pastoral Assistant for Administration / Bookkeeper: Tiffany Webb
- Parish Staff: Twyla DeBartolo
- Archbishop: Most Rev. Paul D. Etienne (Archdiocese of Seattle)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church in the Extraordinary Form. Marriage requires a minimum of six months of preparation; convert instruction runs six to twelve months; the Anointing of the Sick is arranged through the parish office.
- Confession — daily 30 minutes before Mass, Saturdays 12:00–12:30 PM, Sundays during Mass when a second priest is available
- Matrimony — minimum 6 months of marriage preparation with a priest
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the Parish Office
- Convert Instruction — 6–12 months of instruction with a priest; contact the pastor
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — celebrated in the Traditional Latin Rite
Parish Life & Ministries
Beyond the daily liturgical schedule, the parish supports a robust liturgical life: a strong altar server corps (22 servers and acolytes participated in the 10th anniversary Solemn High Mass), the Knights of Columbus, and ongoing formation and devotion opportunities for a notably young community (about 68 percent of parishioners under age 45). The parish is registered with approximately 395 households (Archdiocese of Seattle figures).
- Altar servers and acolytes (Traditional Latin Rite)
- Knights of Columbus
- First Saturday devotions
- Convert instruction program
- Marriage preparation program
Contact & Location
The parish is located at 9924 232nd St SW, Edmonds, WA 98020, a short drive from Interstate 5, with expanded on-site parking. Phone: (206) 641-6504. The parish email directory includes [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
- Address: 9924 232nd St SW, Edmonds, WA 98020
- Phone: (206) 641-6504
- Website: northamericanmartyrs.org
- Near Interstate 5 with expanded on-site parking
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gerard Saguto, F.S.S.P.2008–
First pastor; established the parish under Archbishop Brunett in September 2008.
- Fr. Joseph Heffernan, F.S.S.P.2014–2019
Ordained 2014 and served as pastor during the search for and purchase of the Edmonds property; oversaw the 2019 move into the former Lutheran church.
- Fr. John Shannon, F.S.S.P.
Current pastor, listed by the parish and Archdiocese of Seattle.