About St. Aloysius Gonzaga · Spokane, Washington
St. Aloysius Gonzaga is a Roman Catholic parish in Spokane, Washington, staffed by Jesuits of the USA West Province and situated on the west edge of the Gonzaga University campus in the historic Logan neighborhood. Founded in 1890 and housed in a striking 1911 Romanesque church — the largest Catholic worship space in Spokane, seating 1,100 — the parish draws students, faculty, neighborhood families and friends from across the region. Its life is shaped by Ignatian spirituality, partnership with Gonzaga University, Gonzaga Preparatory School and the parish grade school, and a robust social-ministry outreach grounded in Catholic Social Teaching.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga (Patron of Youth)
- Rector
- Fr. Tom Lamanna, S.J.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Spokane (Bishop Thomas Anthony Daly)
Why belong here
St. Aloysius offers the rare gift of a century-old Jesuit parish church — the largest Catholic worship space in Spokane, with twin spires and a real pipe organ — woven into daily life with Gonzaga University, Gonzaga Prep and the parish grade school. Members grow in Ignatian spirituality through vibrant Eucharistic liturgies (including a livestreamed daily Mass), strong liturgical ministries, OCIA, a K-8 school, children's programs, and a social-ministry outreach that partners with Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, Second Harvest, Family Promise, L'Arche and others in direct service, legislative advocacy, global solidarity, care for creation and empowerment.
Mass times at St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 4:30 p.m. (Time subject to change during Christmas, Lent, and Holy Week.)
Parish History & Heritage
Founded in 1890 alongside Gonzaga University (established 1887 by Fr. Joseph Cataldo, S.J.), the parish replaced an earlier wooden St. Joseph Church with the present Romanesque church designed by Preusse & Zittle and dedicated October 12, 1911. Its cornerstone was laid by the Bishop of Seattle in 1909, and over more than a century the parish has hosted moments of Spokane's history — from a young Bing Crosby serving as an altar boy to the 2013 memorial Mass for Speaker Tom Foley.
- Parish formed in 1890 (Rev. James Rebmann, S.J., first rector)
- Cornerstone laid October 24, 1909, by Rt. Rev. Edward John O'Dea
- Church dedicated October 12, 1911
- Cost: $176,125; architect: Preusse & Zittle (Herman Preusse & Julius A. Zittel)
- Bing Crosby was an altar boy and choir singer here
- Tom Foley memorial Mass held October 2013
Spokane Landmark — The Church Building
The 1911 church is a Spokane landmark: an adapted Romanesque structure with rounded arches and circular features, twin spires housing the great bell 'Catherina,' oak woodwork, Italian-marble altars and ambo, and a true pipe organ of 37 ranks. It is the largest Catholic worship space in Spokane, seating 1,100.
- Adapted Romanesque style
- Twin spires / bell 'Catherina'
- Pipe organ — 37 ranks
- Italian-marble altars and ambo
- Seating capacity: 1,100
- Self-guided tour brochure available in the narthex
Jesuit Identity & Mission
St. Aloysius is staffed by Jesuits of the USA West Province and works in cooperation with the Catholic Diocese of Spokane. Ignatian spirituality shapes the parish's mission: knowing, loving and serving God through vibrant Eucharistic celebrations, discernment, intellectual rigor, care for the vulnerable, and bridge-building with the wider community.
- Pastoral Vision: 'a community of Jesuits and apostolic partners formed by the Gospel and the Spiritual Exercises'
- Cooperation with Gonzaga University, Gonzaga Preparatory School, and St. Aloysius Grade School
- Emphasis on Ignatian discernment, hospitality, and faith-that-does-justice
Devotions & Special Liturgies
Each March the parish hosts the annual Novena of Grace in honor of St. Francis Xavier — a nine-day Jesuit devotional tradition that fills the church daily. The parish also hosts the Gonzaga University Chorale's annual Christmas Candlelight Concert and a yearly Children's Mass on the Third Sunday, when children are invited forward for a Children & Family homily.
- Novena of Grace (St. Francis Xavier) — March, nine days
- Christmas Candlelight Concert — annual
- Children's Mass — Third Sunday each month
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by two Jesuits of the USA West Province, supported by a team of lay staff in operations, faith formation, music, liturgy and outreach.
- Fr. Tom Lamanna, S.J. — Pastor
- Fr. Peter Berger, S.J. — Associate Pastor
- Alexious Ferrante — Secretary / Receptionist
- Joyce Sedano — Business Operations
- Michele Lassiter — (Baptism coordination)
- Andrea Nguyen — Faith Formation
- Ann Smith — (Marriage coordination, sacramental records)
- Shareen Elloy — (Ministry to the Sick & Homebound)
- Andrea Timm — Music Director
- Lora Langford — Liturgical Coordinator
- Mrs. Angie Krauss — Principal, St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish welcomes adults preparing for full initiation through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). Sessions begin with the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass and continue with conversation on the readings and a presentation. Children's faith formation includes Little People's Church for ages 3 through Grade 1 (during 11:00 Mass) and the monthly Children's Mass.
- OCIA — Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Mass through 11:00 a.m.
- Pre-Catechumenate, Catechumenate, Election & Scrutinies, Sacraments of Initiation at Easter Vigil
- Little People's Church (ages 3–Grade 1) during 11:00 Mass
- Children's Mass — Third Sunday each month
Liturgical Ministries
Lay people serve in every dimension of parish worship: as altar servers (4th grade and up), lectors ('A Voice of the Word'), Eucharistic Ministers at Mass, and Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound. The Music Ministry coordinates five Mass ensembles spanning Taizé, traditional hymns, and Praise & Worship.
- Altar Servers (Grade 4 and older)
- Lectors ('A Voice of the Word')
- Eucharistic Ministers at Mass
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound (Shareen Elloy)
- Music Ministry — 5 ensembles; director Andrea Timm (509-313-7008)
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School
An integral part of the parish community, St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School offers an Early Learning Center and Montessori programs for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, and a K-8 school. Principal Mrs. Angie Krauss leads a program that pairs academic excellence with faith formation. The school is located at 611 E. Mission Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202.
- K-8 elementary school
- Early Learning Center (ages 6 weeks–5 years)
- Montessori Pre-School
- AM/PM Kindergartens
- Principal: Mrs. Angie Krauss
- Address: 611 E. Mission Ave., Spokane, WA 99202
Parish Social Ministry & Outreach
Parish Social Ministry organizes parishioners around five complementary callings — charity and direct service, legislative advocacy, global solidarity, care for creation, and empowerment — rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. A monthly Collection for the Poor supports a network of local partner agencies, and parishioners also engage a sister parish in El Salvador and interfaith initiatives such as the Eastern Washington Legislative Conference.
- Catholic Charities Eastern Washington (CCEW)
- St. Margaret's Shelter (CCEW)
- CAPA/Prepares (CCEW)
- Rising Strong (CCEW)
- Gonzaga Family Haven
- L'Arche
- Second Harvest
- Mission Community Outreach
- Christ Kitchen
- House of Charity
- Esperanza
- Transitions
- The Lands Council
- Sister parish in El Salvador
- Family Promise of Spokane
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments with thorough preparation. Baptism is offered on scheduled weekends with a parent-preparation session the week before (contact Michele Lassiter). Marriage requires at least four months of preparation, a Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend, Natural Family Planning instruction, and full prenuptial paperwork (contact Ann Smith). Reconciliation is heard Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.
- Baptism — preparation required; Michele Lassiter
- Marriage — 4-month prep; Ann Smith
- Reconciliation — Thursday 4:30 p.m.
- Anointing of the Sick / Viaticum available
- Funerals (~55 per year) and Quinceañeras coordinated through the parish
Visit & Contact
Parish office hours are Tuesday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to follow a self-guided tour brochure available in the narthex and near the Visitors' Guestbook. The parish is part of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, led by Bishop Thomas Anthony Daly.
- Address: 330 E Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99202
- Phone: (509) 313-5896
- Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Spokane (Bishop Thomas A. Daly)
- Federal Tax ID: #91-1156041
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Rebmann, S.J.1887–
Approved by Bishop Alphonse Glorieux as rector of the new parish following the 1887 founding of Gonzaga College by Fr. Joseph Cataldo, S.J.
- Father Mackin, S.J.1904–
Put forward the initial 1904 plan to replace the wooden St. Joseph Church; project stalled amid controversy.
- Father Goller, S.J.1909–
Resumed the building project in 1909; cornerstone laid Oct. 24, 1909; church dedicated Oct. 12, 1911.