St. Francis

History of St. Francis Parish

Catholic missionary priests from the dioceses of Vancouver Island and Nesqually/Seattle began visiting the San Juan Islands in the 1850s. In 1860 a log cabin church and cemetery were established on San Juan Island as Saint Francis Xavier Mission. The log cabin burned in 1874; the present church was built in 1884 under Father Regis Manioloux of Port Townsend. The mission was administered from Sedro-Woolley (1900–1910) and then from Anacortes under Father Gustave Treunet, who served 38 years until his death in 1948. In 1968, with Father Gerald Moffat as first resident priest, Saint Francis became a parish, and worship sites were established on Orcas (dedicated 1995) and Lopez Islands.

• 1860 — Log cabin church built, St. Francis Xavier Mission founded
• 1884 — Present Saint Francis Church built under Fr. Regis Manioloux
• 1910–1948 — Father Gustave Treunet's 38-year pastorate
• 1959 — Church moved to Price Street site
• 1968 — Parish established with Father Gerald Moffat
• 1995 — Saint Francis Church, Orcas dedicated by Archbishop Thomas Murphy
• 2024 — Joined Parish Family 1 under Partners in the Gospel

Parish Life Across the Islands

San Juan County is unique in Washington State — entirely made up of islands reachable only by water or air — and Saint Francis Catholic Parish is unique in the Archdiocese of Seattle for encompassing all of them. Priests have always travelled by canoe, rowboat, ferry, small airplane and even private boat (Father Auer famously waded ashore at night on Orcas to administer the last sacraments). Mass schedules on Orcas and Lopez are subject to ferry schedules, and parishioners traditionally provide transportation and meals for visiting priests. Even with a resident priest, laypeople fill the parish roles: catechists, office helpers, building and land stewards, and council and committee members.

Sacraments

The parish offers the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation 30 minutes before every Mass and at the Saturday 4:00 PM session in Friday Harbor. The site's Sacramental Information page directs parishioners to the parish office for baptism, marriage, anointing of the sick, and other sacramental preparation; the parish also coordinates pastoral visits to the hospitalized and homebound through the office, and an annual Mass with Anointing is celebrated.

• Reconciliation
• Baptism
• Marriage preparation
• Anointing of the Sick
• Hospital/homebound visits

Faith Formation and Religious Education

The parish's Children's Faith Formation page emphasizes that the family — the 'domestic church' — is the first place faith is shared, and the parish program seeks to support lifelong faith formation centered on and flowing from the events of Church life. Contacts are listed for each island: Michele Gosinski in Friday Harbor (360-378-2910), Sister Moira on Orcas (360-468-3134), and Cheryl on Lopez (360-375-0189).

• Friday Harbor: Michele Gosinski, 360-378-2910
• Orcas Island: Sister Moira, 360-468-3134
• Lopez Island: Cheryl, 360-375-0189

Returning Catholics — Landings

The parish hosts the 'Landings' program for Catholics who have been away from the Church and feel called to return. Parishioners with relatives or friends who might be interested are invited to contact Maureen Geneste at 360-333-7884.

• Contact: Maureen Geneste, 360-333-7884

Liturgical Ministry

St. Francis Xavier welcomes lay men, women and young people into a range of liturgical roles. Volunteers are coordinated through the parish office at (360) 378-2910.

• Altar Servers
• Lectors
• Music Ministry
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (temporarily inactive due to COVID)
• Ushers / Greeters
• Sacristans

Parish Staff and Clergy

The current parish leadership, as listed on the parish website and the Archdiocese of Seattle directory, consists of a pastor and parochial vicar supported by an office manager, administrative assistant and pastoral assistant.

• Pastor — Rev. Xavier S. Bazil, H.G.N.
• Parochial Vicar — Rev. Mel V. Strazicich (Fr. Straz)
• Pastoral Assistant — Jan Steckler
• Administrative Assistant — Michele Gosinski
• Office Manager — Vivette Bordas

Worship Locations

The parish celebrates Mass at three worship sites across the islands. The main church of Saint Francis Xavier sits at 425 Price Street in Friday Harbor. On Orcas Island the congregation worships at Saint Francis Church, 956 N. Beach Road, Eastsound. On Lopez Island, after years at Center Church, Mass is now celebrated at Grace Episcopal Church, 70 Sunset Lane, following a lease agreement effective April 1, 2024.

• Friday Harbor — 425 Price St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
• Orcas Island — 956 N. Beach Road, Eastsound, WA 98245
• Lopez Island — Grace Episcopal Church, 70 Sunset Lane

Contact, Office Hours and Directions

Parish office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1489, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. The original parish phone number has been disconnected; current calls should be directed to the Parish Family Office at 360-293-2101. Email is [email protected]. The historical Saint Francis Cemetery is administered by the parish; please call the parish office for funeral services, internments, site sales, monuments and memorials.

• Tuesday/Thursday/Friday: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
• Wednesday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Mailing: P.O. Box 1489, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
• Parish Family Office: 360-293-2101

Partners in the Gospel — Parish Family 1

In 2024, parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle were grouped into parish families under the leadership of one pastor through Partners in the Gospel, the archdiocese's strategic pastoral planning process. Saint Francis in Friday Harbor was placed in Parish Family 1 with St. Mary and St. Paul in Anacortes, serving the San Juan Islands, Anacortes and Swinomish together.

• Parish Family 1 — San Juan Islands, Anacortes, Swinomish
• Companion parishes: St. Mary, Anacortes; St. Paul, Anacortes