About Our Lady Queen of Heaven · Tacoma, Washington
Our Lady Queen of Heaven is a Roman Catholic parish in the Parkland/Spanaway area of Tacoma, Washington, belonging to the Archdiocese of Seattle and currently grouped into Parish Family 39 with Holy Disciples (Puyallup), Our Lady of Good Counsel (Eatonville) and Sts. Cosmas and Damian (Orting) under the Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning process. The parish was dedicated on November 4, 1956, growing out of the older St. Benedict's mission that had served Catholic families in the Lake Park/Spanaway area since 1893. Today it offers weekend and daily Mass, First Friday Adoration, a full faith-formation program for children and youth, Confirmation preparation, and a music ministry, all led by a pastor and parochial vicar with a parish staff of about ten.
- Established
- 1950 (parish formed under Fr. William Greier); dedicated November 4, 1956
- Patron
- Our Lady, Queen of Heaven (the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Queen of Heaven)
- Rector
- Rev. Richard 'Woody' McCallister
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Pierce Deanery; Parish Family 39 under Partners in the Gospel)
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Heaven is a multi-generational Catholic parish with deep roots in the Parkland–Spanaway community going back to 1893, and a stable rhythm of weekend and daily Mass, Wednesday and Saturday confession, and First Friday Adoration that make it easy to plug into the liturgical life of the Church. Families are served by a full faith-formation program — Elementary classes for K–5, Middle School and High School youth ministry, Confirmation, First Sacraments in 2nd grade, and the Order of Christian Initiation for Children — alongside adult formation opportunities like Bible studies, book studies and small groups. Add a dedicated music ministry, a warm staff including a parochial vicar, and the broader support of Parish Family 39 parishes, and OLQH offers a grounded, family-friendly place to belong and grow in faith.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Heaven
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 9:30–10:00 AM (after the 9:00 AM Mass)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 9:30–10:30 AM (following the 9:00 AM Mass; Anointing of the Sick follows)
History of Our Lady Queen of Heaven
The parish's story begins in 1893 in the wilderness of Lake Park (today's Spanaway), when about eight Catholic families built the area's first mission church at 168th and Pacific Avenue. After 1896 the mission was cared for by Benedictine priests of St. Martin's Abbey and was known as St. Benedict's; from 1939 to 1950 it was served by chaplains of Marymount Military Academy. The first resident pastor, Fr. William Greier, arrived in 1950, moved Sunday Mass to Marymount Gymnasium, and in 1954 received Archbishop Connolly's permission to build a new complex on ten acres purchased for $5,250 from the Dominican Sisters of Marymount. Architect Eddie Mills designed the church, rectory and hall, Kirkebo Contractors built them, and Our Lady Queen of Heaven was dedicated on November 4, 1956.
- 1893: first mission church built in Lake Park by parishioners' donated labor
- 1896: mission renamed St. Benedict's and served by Benedictines from St. Martin's Abbey, Lacey
- 1939–1950: St. Benedict's served by Marymount Military Academy chaplains, beginning with Fr. James Toner
- 1950: Fr. William Greier named first resident pastor; Sunday Mass moves to Marymount Gymnasium
- 1950: ten-acre site purchased for $5,250; Altar Society founded with 17 members
- 1954: Archbishop Connolly authorizes new church, rectory and hall
- November 4, 1956: Our Lady Queen of Heaven dedicated
- 1974: Fr. Greier retires after 24 years, parish debt-free with $50,000 on hand
- 2024: OLQH grouped into Parish Family 39 under Partners in the Gospel
Parish Staff
The parish is served day-to-day by a team of about ten lay staff and two priests. Pastoral assistants cover youth faith formation and Confirmation (Sheryl Blessing), elementary faith formation, weddings and baptisms (Rebecca Braun), additional faith formation (Monica Rodrigues) and administration (Sean Longosky). Office staff includes bookkeeper Laurie Halte and administrative assistant Madelyn Allen. Mike Jaap directs the music ministry, Jerry Bradshaw oversees facilities and maintenance, and Joe Manglona is custodian.
- Pastor: Rev. Woody McCallister
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Navy Kumar Thomas
- Pastoral Asst. for Youth Faith Formation & Confirmation: Sheryl Blessing
- Pastoral Asst. for Elementary Faith Formation, Weddings & Baptisms: Rebecca Braun
- Pastoral Asst. for Faith Formation: Monica Rodrigues
- Pastoral Asst. for Administration: Sean Longosky
- Bookkeeper / Parish Admin. Assistant: Laurie Halte
- Administrative Assistant: Madelyn Allen
- Music Minister: Mike Jaap
- Facilities & Maintenance Supervisor: Jerry Bradshaw
- Custodian: Joe Manglona
Faith Formation & Religious Education
OLQH runs a full religious-education program that meets families wherever their children are. Elementary Faith Formation for grades K–5 meets Sundays from 9:45 to 10:45 AM, between the two Sunday Masses; First Sacraments (typically First Reconciliation and First Communion) are prepared in 2nd grade; and the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) welcomes unbaptized or uncatechized older children. Middle School, High School and Confirmation classes are organized through the Youth Ministry office.
- Elementary Faith Formation (K–5): Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM — contact Rebecca Braun ([email protected])
- First Sacraments for children in Grade 2
- OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children)
- Middle School, High School & Confirmation — contact Sheryl Blessing ([email protected])
- Adult Faith Formation: Bible studies, book studies, Bible journaling, presentations, small groups
Youth Ministry
The parish's Youth Ministry serves students in grades 6 through 12 with a mix of faith formation, fellowship, service projects and social events. It also coordinates the parish's Middle School, High School and Confirmation preparation, working in partnership with parents to help young people grow in their Catholic identity and complete the Sacraments of Initiation.
- Open to youth in grades 6–12
- Faith formation, fellowship and service
- Confirmation preparation for Middle School and High School
- Contact: Sheryl Blessing, [email protected]
Sacraments
Our Lady Queen of Heaven celebrates all seven sacraments according to the ordinary practice of the Archdiocese of Seattle. Baptisms, weddings and First Sacraments for children are coordinated through Pastoral Assistant Rebecca Braun; Anointing of the Sick is offered after the First Friday Mass; Reconciliation is available on Wednesday mornings and Saturday afternoons; and Confirmation is available for middle-school, high-school and adult candidates.
- Baptism — contact Rebecca Braun
- First Holy Communion (2nd grade First Sacraments program)
- Confirmation (Middle School, High School and adult)
- Marriage / Weddings — contact Rebecca Braun
- Anointing of the Sick — after First Friday Mass
- Reconciliation — Wed 9:30–10:00 AM and Sat 3:00–3:45 PM
- Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC)
Music Ministry
OLQH's Music Ministry supports the parish's liturgical life under Music Minister Mike Jaap, providing music for the Vigil, Sunday and weekday Masses and contributing to the parish's tradition of singing at daily Mass — a practice introduced during Fr. John Renggli's pastorate and continued today.
- Music Minister: Mike Jaap
- Supports Saturday Vigil, Sunday and daily Mass
- Daily Mass singing tradition continued from Fr. Renggli's era
Parish Family 39 (Partners in the Gospel)
In 2024, as part of the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel strategic pastoral planning process, Our Lady Queen of Heaven was placed into Parish Family 39 under a single pastor. The family brings OLQH together with three Pierce Deanery parishes: Holy Disciples in Puyallup, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Eatonville, and Sts. Cosmas and Damian in Orting, allowing the parishes to share resources and pastoral leadership while each retains its own local identity and Mass schedule.
- Pastor over Parish Family 39: Rev. Woody McCallister
- Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Tacoma (98444)
- Holy Disciples, Puyallup (98374)
- Our Lady of Good Counsel, Eatonville (98328)
- Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Orting (98360)
- Deanery: Pierce Deanery, Archdiocese of Seattle
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
The parish office is located at 14601 A St. S., Tacoma, WA 98444-4696, and is open 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, closed for lunch 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. The main gate schedule is Monday 7 AM–4 PM, Tuesday–Friday 8 AM–4 PM, Saturday 2 PM–7 PM and Sunday 7 AM–1 PM. The parish can be reached by phone at (253) 537-3252 (fax 253-536-2662) or email at [email protected], and an active Facebook page at facebook.com/olqhcc carries the latest news and announcements.
- Address: 14601 A St. S., Tacoma, WA 98444-4696
- Phone: (253) 537-3252 — Fax: 253-536-2662
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 11:30 AM–12:30 PM)
- Gate hours: Mon 7 AM–4 PM; Tue–Fri 8 AM–4 PM; Sat 2 PM–7 PM; Sun 7 AM–1 PM
- Website: https://www.olqhcc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olqhcc/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Greier1950–1974
First resident pastor; oversaw the 1956 dedication of the church, rectory and hall; led the parish for 24 years and retired debt-free to Hausen, Bavaria.
- Rev. Ed Kearney1974–1982
Second pastor; Irish-born priest who came from St. Joseph's, Vancouver; led remodeling of the Parish Hall with parish volunteers.
- Rev. Jack Walmesley1982–c.1984
Listed in the parish history succession of pastors.
- Rev. Dennis Wood1984–c.1993
Continued the volunteer-driven building and renovation work begun under Fr. Kearney.
- Rev. Mike McDermott1993–2000
Fifth pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven.
- Rev. John Renggli2000–2009
Sixth pastor; introduced daily Mass singing, the Fall Fest, and other parish traditions.
- Rev. John Wilkie2009–2019
Seventh pastor; known for scholarly, history-rich homilies; helped institute the Parish Garden and beautification projects.
- Rev. Vinner Raj Simeon Raj, H.G.N.2019–2021
Known as 'Father Joy'; served as parish priest then Priest Administrator alongside Deacon Jim Fish during a time of transition.
- Rev. Richard 'Woody' McCallisterpresent
Current pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven and Parish Family 39.