About St. Frances Cabrini · Lakewood, Washington
St. Frances Cabrini is a Latin Catholic parish located at 5715 108th Street SW in Lakewood, Washington, in Pierce County. Established in 1952 by Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly and named in honor of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini — the first United States citizen canonized as a saint — the parish has served the Lakewood community for over 70 years and anchors an affiliated Catholic school founded the following year. The parish is now part of the Lakewood Catholic Parish Family (Parish Family 37), sharing pastoral leadership, staff, and ministries with neighboring St. John Bosco since the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel restructuring on July 1, 2024. Worship is offered in English and Spanish, with a monthly Swahili Mass reflecting the area's cultural diversity, and the parish is known for its mission-driven ministries of catechesis, Eucharistic adoration, and works of mercy.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Mother Cabrini) — patron saint of immigrants, hospital administrators, missionaries, and impossible causes; first United States citizen canonized (1946).
- Rector
- Rev. Louis R. Cunningham
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Deanery: Pierce Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Frances Cabrini is a Catholic community on mission, where every parishioner is invited to follow Mother Cabrini's example through worship, formation, and service. The parish offers Mass in English and Spanish as well as a monthly Swahili Mass, a robust OCIA (Becoming Catholic) process, faith formation for children and youth, Bible studies, and small groups, alongside works of mercy such as food drives and home visits to the homebound. With its long-running parish school, perpetual availability of Eucharistic adoration, and 24/7 open church for personal prayer, it is a vibrant, diverse home for families — including a special welcome to military families from nearby Joint Base Lewis–McChord.
Mass times at St. Frances Cabrini
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- First Fridays: Exposition and Confessions following Mass until all Confessions are heard
- First Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Sundays during Lent and Advent: 2:00 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday: Exposition following Mass
- First Saturday: 6:00 PM – 6:00 AM (Sunday)
- Church open 24/7 for prayer
History & Heritage
On January 18, 1952, Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly officially established St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Lakewood, dedicating it to the memory of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini — the Italian-born foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and the first U.S. citizen canonized (1946). The first Mass was celebrated January 27, 1952, in the gymnasium of Visitation Villa, a Catholic girls' school on the site now known as Lakewood Towne Center. Under founding pastor Fr. Andrew J. Squier, construction of a permanent church and school began immediately. By late September 1953, the parish school opened its doors with nearly 300 students taught by six Holy Names Sisters in the on-site Cabrini Convent. The current church building was completed in December 1963 and dedicated by Archbishop Connolly on March 15, 1964. The community celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003.
- Founded January 18, 1952 by Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly
- First Mass: January 27, 1952 in the gymnasium of Visitation Villa
- Founding pastor: Fr. Andrew J. Squier
- School opened September 1953; current church dedicated March 15, 1964
- 50th anniversary celebrated in 2003
- Reorganized July 1, 2024 into Parish Family 37 with St. John Bosco
Parish School (1953–Present)
St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School opened in late September 1953 with nearly 300 students, taught by six Holy Names Sisters living in the Cabrini Convent. Enrollment grew to 720 by the late 1960s, making it the third-largest Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Seattle at its peak. The convent was closed in 1986 and repurposed for parish offices and meeting rooms. Longtime principal Stephanie Van Leuven (1989–2011) oversaw library renovations, new Pre-K and Extended Care facilities, and a Science and Computer Laboratory; in 2017 the school received its third consecutive six-year accreditation through the Western Catholic Educational Association. Today the school serves pre-kindergarten through grade 8, drawing families from Lakewood, Steilacoom, DuPont, Tacoma, University Place, Spanaway, and Joint Base Lewis–McChord, with a special welcome to military families.
- Located at 5621 108th Street SW, adjacent to the church campus
- Pre-K through grade 8
- Principal: Deb Dewar; Admissions: Rose Vlad, (253) 584-5748
- Mission: academic excellence, diverse community, active disciples of Christ
- Accredited through the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Louis R. Cunningham, who also serves as pastor of neighboring St. John Bosco as part of the joint Lakewood Catholic Parish Family. Rev. Paul J. Brunet serves as Parochial Vicar, and Rev. Fr. Dean Mbuzi serves as Senior Priest in Residence. The parish family staff includes lay and ordained leaders in faith formation, youth catechesis, communications, music, liturgy, school leadership, and administration.
- Rev. Louis R. Cunningham — Pastor
- Rev. Paul J. Brunet — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Fr. Dean Mbuzi — Senior Priest in Residence
- Gabriela Grossman — Pastoral Associate (ext. 306) / Director of Sacraments and Youth Catechesis
- Susy Martinez — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation
- Laurie Kaiser — Parish Family Secretary
- Debbie Pedraza — Pastoral Assistant for Administration
- Fabiana Pacheco — Director of Communications, Small Groups & Charitable Works
- Joe Greey — Director of Music, Liturgy & Parish Life (ext. 307)
- Deb Dewar — School Principal
- Rose Vlad — School Admissions (253-584-5748)
- Mike Kizer — Maintenance (SFC)
Faith Formation & Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
St. Frances Cabrini offers catechetical programs for children, youth, and adults. The Beginning Catholic / OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process welcomes those new to the faith or returning to the Church. Sacramental preparation programs support First Communion and Confirmation, and a new Director of Youth Confirmation, Teens & Young Adults was being recruited as of the parish's most recent posting.
- Becoming Catholic / OCIA
- Sacramental preparation (First Communion, Confirmation)
- Catechesis for children and youth
- Director of Youth Confirmation, Teens & Young Adults (recruiting)
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates encouraged
Small Groups, Bible Study & Youth
The parish family hosts Bible Studies in both English and Spanish (Estudios Bíblicos) along with small groups facilitated by the Director of Communications, Small Groups & Charitable Works. Spanish-language youth ministry (Pastoral Juvenil para Cristo) meets weekly, and a Soup Supper followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a parish retreat talk forms part of the parish mission cycle.
- Bible Study with missionaries (English, SJB)
- Estudios Bíblicos (Spanish, SFC)
- Pastoral Juvenil para Cristo (Spanish youth)
- Small groups program
- Soup Supper + Adoration + Retreat Talk
Works of Mercy & Outreach
Following Mother Cabrini's example of service to immigrants, orphans, and the sick, the parish family actively embodies the Works of Mercy through food drives, regular home visits to homebound parishioners, and a retreat for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Eucharistic Visitors. The Director of Communications, Small Groups & Charitable Works coordinates these initiatives.
- Food drives
- Home visits to homebound parishioners
- Retreat for EMHC and Eucharistic Visitors
- Special welcome to military families from JBLM
Lakewood Catholic Parish Family (Partners in the Gospel)
Since July 1, 2024, St. Frances Cabrini has been grouped with neighboring St. John Bosco as Parish Family 37 under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning initiative. The two parishes share a single pastor, Rev. Louis R. Cunningham, and share staff, ministries, and outreach programs while maintaining distinct worship sites and parish identities. St. Frances Cabrini also administers the affiliated St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School, while St. John Bosco administers the historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in nearby Steilacoom.
- Parish Family 37 within Pierce Deanery
- Established July 1, 2024
- Joint website: lakewoodcatholic.org
- Single pastor: Rev. Louis R. Cunningham
- Sister parish: St. John Bosco (Lakewood, 98498)
Visit, Register & Contact
New parishioners are warmly invited to register with St. Frances Cabrini — whether new to the area, returning to the Church, or already attending for years. Registration enables participation in sacraments, ministries, and parish communications. The parish office is open Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM (Mon–Fri 1–6 PM per the homepage), and an emergency phone line is available for Anointing of the Sick.
- Address: 5715 108th St. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
- Phone: (253) 588-2141
- Email: [email protected] (also [email protected])
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM
- Emergency phone for Anointing of the Sick available
- Online registration available via cabrini.us
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Andrew J. Squier1952 (founding)
Founding pastor; led construction of the church and school.
- Rev. Louis R. Cunningham2024–present
Current pastor of the Lakewood Catholic Parish Family (Parish Family 37), grouping St. Frances Cabrini with St. John Bosco under Partners in the Gospel.