About Our Lady of Lourdes · Selah, Washington
Our Lady of Lourdes is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Selah, Washington, a small city in the Yakima Valley just north of Yakima. Founded in 1975, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Yakima and serves both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Selah and Naches School District area. Today it offers daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, two English Sunday Masses and a Spanish Sunday Mass, plus Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, religious education from first grade through high school confirmation, and a vibrant mix of liturgical, charitable, and cultural ministries. It is well known locally as the parish that launched and still sponsors the Selah Food Bank, which has fed neighbors since 1981.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes (the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title from the apparitions at Lourdes, France)
- Rector
- Rev. Richard Sedlacek
- Diocese
- Diocese of Yakima
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes is a bilingual, family-sized parish where it is easy to know your priest and your fellow parishioners. It offers four weekend Masses (including a Spanish Mass), daily Mass Monday through Friday, Thursday all-day Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confessions, and a complete religious-education and youth-formation program from first grade through high-school confirmation. With a strong Knights of Columbus council, a Young Ladies' Institute branch, a Grupo de Oración, an Aztec Dancers ministry, lively parish dinners (Irish, German, Crystalline luncheon, Holly Jolly Christmas Bazaar), and the parish-sponsored Selah Food Bank, there are many concrete ways to put faith into action — and many English- and Spanish-speaking ministries through which to do it.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:40 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
- Also by appointment or after Mass
- Confesiones: 4:40–5:15 p.m. Sábado — también por cita o después de misa
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Thursday
- Adoración Eucarística: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Jueves
History of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
The parish was founded in September 1975 by Fr. Richard Queen, with the first Mass celebrated in an old, leaky auto parts store on West Fremont Avenue in Selah. Over the following decades, a succession of pastors — Fr. John L. Tholen, Fr. Tom Dahlquist, V. Rev. Michael J. Ibach, Fr. Darell J. Mitchell, Fr. Ronald J. Patnode, Fr. David H. Jimenez, and the current pastor, Fr. Richard Sedlacek — built up a vibrant faith community. Long-time parishioners still recall the days of moving chairs out of the multi-purpose church to set up tables for bingo, parish dinners, and Religious Education. The parish hall (now Mel Allen Hall) was completed in 2003 and dedicated by Bishop Carlos Sevilla, S.J. on June 1, 2004; the building was paid off in March 2009 and a new parking lot followed in November 2010.
- First Mass: September 1975, in an old auto parts store on W. Fremont Ave
- Parish Hall completed: 2003; dedicated June 1, 2004 by Bishop Carlos Sevilla, S.J.
- Hall paid off: March 2009
- New parking lot: November 2010
- Hall renamed 'Mel Allen Hall': 2011, honoring parishioner Mel Allen
- Classrooms named for Larry D'Hondt and Rudy & Emma DeGrood
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education runs from October through May. First Communion preparation is offered for Grades 1–2, and ongoing catechesis continues through Grades 1–5 (Wednesdays 3:30–5:00 p.m. in the parish hall). Middle-school youth (Grades 6–8) meet every other Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The parish also publishes online registration forms for Confirmation, Religious Education, and Vacation Bible School.
- Religious Education: October – May
- First Communion / Primera Comunión: Grades 1–2, Wednesdays 3:30–5:00 p.m. (Hall)
- Grades 1–5: Wednesdays 3:30–5:00 p.m. (Hall)
- Grades 6–8: every other Wednesday 6:30–8:00 p.m.
- Adult Faith Formation available
Youth Group & Confirmation
The parish Youth Group meets November through June for high-school students in Grades 9–12, gathering in the Youth Room on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Confirmation preparation is coordinated by Kelly and Paula Mattson and is paired with the youth group, with a mission trip and Confirmation Registration Form available through the parish website.
- Youth Group: Grades 9–12, Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 p.m. (Nov–June)
- Confirmation preparation coordinated by Kelly & Paula Mattson
- Youth mission trip
- Confirmation Registration Form available online
Liturgical Ministries & Music
The parish welcomes lay faithful into every liturgical role. Volunteer opportunities include Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Greeters, Altar Servers, Money Counters, and Religious Education Catechists. Music is led by Music Director Katy Pitzer and includes both an Adult Choir and a Children's Choir for English-language Masses, and a Spanish Choir led by Jose Guerrero for the Spanish Mass.
- Music Director: Katy Pitzer
- Adult Choir and Children's Choir (English)
- Spanish Choir: Jose Guerrero
- Liturgical roles: Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Greeters, Altar Servers, Money Counters
Parish Organizations & Fellowship
Long-standing Catholic organizations are active at the parish. The Knights of Columbus council (led by Mel Allen) meets on the first Tuesday of the month, and the Young Ladies' Institute branch (led by Margie Underwood) meets on the fourth Tuesday. The parish also has a Social Committee (Eileen Hunt) that organizes parish dinners, a Gift Shop run by Anne Desmarais, a Pinochle group on Thursdays, a Welcome Committee (Debbie Bender), and the distinctive Aztec Dancers ministry led by Tracy Molina.
- Knights of Columbus — 1st Tuesday (Mel Allen)
- Young Ladies' Institute — 4th Tuesday (Margie Underwood)
- Social Committee — Eileen Hunt
- Gift Shop — Anne Desmarais
- Pinochle — Thursdays 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Welcome Committee — Debbie Bender
- Aztec Dancers — Tracy Molina
Parish Activities & Fundraisers
Our Lady of Lourdes is known for its lively parish dinners and seasonal events, which have funded major improvements from the parish hall (paid off 2009) to the new parking lot (2010). The annual calendar includes the Irish Dinner, the German Dinner (during which Mel Allen Hall was renamed in 2011), the Crystalline Luncheon, and the Holly Jolly Christmas Bazaar.
- Irish Dinner
- German Dinner
- Crystalline Luncheon
- Holly Jolly Christmas Bazaar
Outreach: Selah Food Bank
The Selah Food Bank has been a ministry of Our Lady of Lourdes since 1981, when it began in the church loft. It now operates out of the Selah Civic Center and is open two days a week (Mondays and Fridays, 9:00–11:00 a.m.), distributing food to households in the Selah and Naches School Districts. Dick Overby managed the food bank for 23 years before Bill White took over in 2004. Contributions of money, food, and labor come from Our Lady of Lourdes and other Selah churches.
- Founded 1981 in the church loft
- Now located at the Selah Civic Center
- Open Mondays and Fridays, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
- Managements: Dick Overby (23 years), then Bill White (from 2004)
- Serves households in the Selah and Naches School Districts
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Richard Sedlacek (also reachable for emergencies at (509) 539-0037). Office staff include Maria Iniguez (Secretary) and Rosie Griek (Bookkeeper); bulletin editor Maria Iniguez; maintenance and custodial staff. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., with Tuesday and Thursday covered by Kathy Nedrow and Monday by Debbie Bender per the older directory; the February 2026 bulletin shows Maria Iniguez as Secretary and Rosie Griek as Bookkeeper. Steve Bender is also listed as a parish contact. The parish hall line is (509) 698-6787 and the emergency line (after 3 p.m.) is (509) 901-3885. A Spanish-language emergency line is (509) 966-0830.
- Pastor: Rev. Richard Sedlacek — emergency (509) 539-0037
- Secretary: Maria Iniguez
- Bookkeeper: Rosie Griek
- Bulletin Editor: Maria Iniguez
- Office: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Hall phone: (509) 698-6787
- Emergency after 3 p.m.: (509) 901-3885
- Spanish emergency: (509) 966-0830
- Pastor's email (listed on older directory): [email protected]
Sacraments at Our Lady of Lourdes
The parish prepares members for all the sacraments of initiation and the sacraments of healing and service. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office (Baptismal Registration is online). First Communion is prepared in Grades 1–2. Confirmation is a multi-year preparation in Grades 9–12, with an Adult Sacrament track. Marriages must be arranged with the parish office at least six months before the proposed wedding date (Marriage Policies are published on the website). Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons; Anointing of the Sick and Funeral liturgies are coordinated with the pastor.
- Baptism — Baptismal Registration form
- First Communion — Grades 1–2
- Confirmation — Grades 9–12 (and Adult Sacrament track)
- Marriage — contact parish office ≥ 6 months before proposed date
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:40–5:15 p.m.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
Getting Involved
Parishioners are invited to register as members of Our Lady of Lourdes and to sign up as volunteers. The website lists a Volunteer Form (and a Spanish-language Forma para Voluntarios), plus ministry sign-ups for lectors, greeters, altar servers, money counters, catechists, the choirs, the food bank, the gift shop, the office, and Vacation Bible School. Hall rentals go through a Building Use Request Form.
- Parish Registration form
- Volunteer Form / Forma para Voluntarios
- Hall Rental / Building Use Request Form
- Vacation Bible School Helper
- Office Volunteers
Diocese of Yakima
Our Lady of Lourdes is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Yakima, established in 1951 by Pope Pius XII and currently led by Bishop Joseph J. Tyson (installed May 31, 2011, as the diocese's seventh bishop). The parish is listed on the diocesan directory at yakimadiocese.org/directory-parishes/listing/selah-our-lady-of-lourdes-parish, which confirms its 1975 founding, address, phone, and bilingual Mass schedule.
- Diocese of Yakima (est. 1951)
- Bishop: Most Rev. Joseph J. Tyson (seventh bishop, installed 2011)
- Diocesan directory entry: yakimadiocese.org/directory-parishes/listing/selah-our-lady-of-lourdes-parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard Queen1975 (founding pastor)
Founded the parish in September 1975; the first Mass was said in an old auto parts store in Selah.
- Rev. John L. Tholen
- Rev. Tom Dahlquist
- V. Rev. Michael J. Ibach
- Rev. Darell J. Mitchell
- Rev. Ronald J. Patnode
- Rev. David H. Jimenez
Oversaw the introduction of the first Spanish Mass on November 4, 2007.
- Rev. Richard Sedlacek
Current pastor; listed on the parish history page and as pastor in the February 2026 parish bulletin.