About Sacred Heart · La Conner, Washington
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in La Conner, Washington, situated at 404 Douglas Street in Skagit County and part of the Archdiocese of Seattle. The parish has served the Skagit Valley since 1899, when the present church — funded by donations collected by canoe from local settlers and built on land donated by the town's founding Conner family — opened its doors. It is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle and today shares its pastoral team with the neighboring Skagit Valley Catholic Churches (Immaculate Conception in Mount Vernon and others), offering Sunday and weekday Mass, faith formation for children, a strong outreach network including the Tri-Parish Food Bank and Clothes Closet, and a vibrant music and liturgy program.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas G. McMichael
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Northern Deanery, Parish Family 3)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is one of the oldest parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle and a tight-knit community rooted in Skagit Valley history. Worshippers are drawn by a deeply Catholic Eucharist-centered life — Sunday Mass, Friday daily Mass (with the 2nd Friday held at the La Conner Retirement Center), and the Sacraments — together with a broad range of ways to serve: Faith Formation for pre-K through middle school, Music and Liturgy ministry, the Tri-Parish Food Bank, the Clothes Closet (in collaboration with Catholic Community Services), Grief and Marriage ministries, OCIA (becoming Catholic), and homebound visitation. The parish explicitly rejoices in its cultural diversity and in parishioners living their faith as disciples of Jesus.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment before Friday Mass (call the parish office: 360-466-3967)
History of Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart traces its story to Louisa Anne Conner, the first non-Native American woman to settle in the Skagit Valley, who arrived with her husband John S. Conner in 1870. A devout Catholic mother of nine, Louisa spent the 1870s traveling by canoe to area farms and camps to gather donations for a Catholic church. A first Sacred Heart Church was built in 1872 at 319 South 2nd Street, and the present church on Douglas Street — funded by roughly $2,800 in donations and built on land given by the Conner family — opened its doors in 1899. The parish is today recognized as one of the oldest in the Archdiocese of Seattle.
- 1870 — Louisa Anne and John S. Conner arrive in the Skagit Valley
- 1872 — First Catholic Sacred Heart Church built at 319 South 2nd Street
- 1899 — Present Sacred Heart of Jesus Church opens at 404 Douglas Street
- 1999 — Centennial booklet by Marilyn Thostenson, Connie Funk and Shirlee Dessert
The Stained-Glass Windows
The 17 stained-glass windows at Sacred Heart are its most distinctive feature and a recognized local landmark. Each window was originally funded at $50 — a substantial sum at the turn of the 20th century — and the donors are memorialized on the glass. Louisa Ann Conner personally solicited the donations; one window was sponsored by Louisa and John S. Conner themselves, and other donors included Mount Vernon attorney William Franklin (a relative of Louisa's), her daughter Lillian Kendall, and local farmer Matt Decker. Fr. Paul Magnano, who first served at Sacred Heart from 1986 to 1998 and has returned to the parish, has revisited the pioneer-window stories in his Friday morning messages.
- 17 historic stained-glass windows in total
- Original cost: $50 per window
- Founders' window sponsored by Louisa Ann and John S. Conner
- Centennial booklet compiled by Marilyn Thostenson, Connie Funk and the late Shirlee Dessert
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart is pastored by Rev. Thomas G. McMichael, who serves as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish and the neighboring Skagit Valley Catholic Churches. He is assisted by two Parochial Vicars — Rev. Francisco J. Cancino and Rev. Victor Raj Anas Dass, H.G.N. — and Deacon Antonio Cavazos. Lay staff include Lori Hansen (Ministry Coordinator), Shari Mentel (Faith Formation Director / Director of Operations), Janette Strand (Director of Music and Liturgy), Jamie Cline (Director of Finance) and Rudy Hernandez (Facilities Supervisor).
- Rev. Thomas G. McMichael — Pastor
- Rev. Francisco J. Cancino — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Victor Raj Anas Dass, H.G.N. — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Antonio Cavazos
- Lori Hansen — Ministry Coordinator (360-466-3967)
- Shari Mentel — Faith Formation Director / Director of Operations (360-336-6622 ext. 127)
- Janette Strand — Director of Music and Liturgy (360-336-6622 ext. 128)
- Jamie Cline — Director of Finance (360-336-6622 ext. 123)
- Rudy Hernandez — Facilities Supervisor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is a core part of parish life at Sacred Heart. The Catechist team leads grades pre-K through middle school, with Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass, K–5 instruction, Middle School sessions after Sunday Mass, and preparation for the Sacraments of First Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation. Classes run September through May, and helpers are always welcome. For adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, the parish takes part in the Skagit Valley OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) program — directed by Susan Vendeland, with Denise Rhone as lead minister — meeting Wednesdays at 6:30 PM at Immaculate Conception Church's parish office.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass
- K–5 Faith Formation
- Middle School Faith Formation after Sunday Mass
- First Communion / First Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — Wednesdays 6:30 PM
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Sacred Heart liturgy in many ways: as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, altar servers (youth who have received First Communion), ushers and greeters, and members of the Music Ministry. Music ministers include cantors, psalmists, choirs, instrumentalists, guitarists, and piano and organ accompanists, with individual or group rehearsals. Ushers and greeters welcome parishioners, hand out bulletins, assist with seating and the collection, and serve during Communion. All adults and older teens are welcome.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (16+, confirmed, in good standing)
- Lectors
- Youth Altar Servers
- Ushers and Greeters
- Music Ministry (cantors, psalmists, choirs, instrumentalists, guitarists, accompanists)
Outreach & Social Justice
Sacred Heart runs an active outreach network together with neighboring Skagit Valley parishes. The Tri-Parish Food Bank distributes nutritious food to anyone who needs it on Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM, with prep during the week on Thursday through Saturday. The Clothes Closet is a collaboration between Catholic Community Services in Skagit Valley and Sacred Heart Parish, with volunteer hours Tuesday through Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM. The Homebound Ministry sends specially commissioned Eucharistic Ministers — working in pairs — to bring Communion and prayer to parishioners at hospitals, care centers and homes across Skagit County. The parish also references the St. Vincent de Paul Society among its social-justice ministries.
- Tri-Parish Food Bank — Saturdays 10 AM–2 PM; prep Thu–Sat
- Clothes Closet (with Catholic Community Services Skagit Valley) — Tue–Thu 9 AM–4 PM
- Homebound Ministry — Communion visits to hospitals, care centers and homes
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
Parish Life & Hospitality
Beyond the sacraments and outreach, Sacred Heart fosters community through hospitality and accompaniment. The Hospitality for New Parishioners Ministry hosts name-tag Sundays and quarterly welcome coffee hours; the Coffee Hour team provides donuts, muffins and coffee after Sunday Mass; the Funeral Ministry supports families with side dishes and setup/cleanup. Marriage Ministry hosts events throughout the year for couples at every stage, and the Grief Ministry's open-format support group welcomes anyone dealing with significant loss. The Baptism Blanket Ministry knits or crochets blankets for every infant baptized at Sacred Heart and the family parishes.
- Hospitality for New Parishioners (name-tag Sundays, quarterly welcome coffee hours)
- Coffee Hour after Sunday Mass
- Funeral Ministry (food and setup support)
- Marriage Ministry (events for couples)
- Grief Ministry (All-Valley support group)
- Baptism Blanket Ministry (knitters/crocheters)
School & Family Parishes
Sacred Heart is clustered pastorally with the other Skagit Valley Catholic Churches under one pastoral team led by Fr. Tom McMichael. According to the Archdiocese of Seattle directory, parish children attend Immaculate Conception Regional School. The parish shares staff (Music and Liturgy, Faith Formation, Finance) and ministries across the cluster, which is why many phone numbers route through 360-336-6622 with extensions while the parish office direct line remains 360-466-3967.
- Immaculate Conception Regional School (parish-affiliated)
- Clustered with neighboring Skagit Valley Catholic Churches
- Shared staff: Music and Liturgy, Faith Formation, Finance, Facilities
Visiting & Contact
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is at 404 Douglas Street in La Conner, WA 98257. The mailing address is P.O. Box 757, La Conner, WA 98257-0757. The parish office can be reached at 360-466-3967 or by email at [email protected], and the cluster office line is 360-336-6622. The parish shares the Skagit Valley Catholic Churches website at skagitcatholic.org/sacred-heart. Visitors traveling from Highway 20 west are directed south onto LaConner-Whitney Road for four miles, then left on Maple Street, right on Hill Street, and down to Douglas Street.
- Address: 404 Douglas St., La Conner, WA 98257
- Mailing: P.O. Box 757, La Conner, WA 98257-0757
- Phone: 360-466-3967 (parish) / 360-336-6622 (cluster)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: skagitcatholic.org/sacred-heart
- From Hwy. 20 W: south on LaConner-Whitney Rd, 4 mi, left on Maple, right on Hill to Douglas
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul Magnano1986–1998 (initial tenure); later returned
Currently revisiting the pioneer-window stories in Friday morning messages at Sacred Heart.