About St. John Bosco · Lakewood, Washington
St. John Bosco Parish is a Latin Catholic parish located at 10508 112th Street SW in Lakewood, Washington, in Pierce County. The parish is named for Saint John Bosco (1815–1888), the Italian priest and founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco who is known for his ministry to youth and the poor. Since July 1, 2024, St. John Bosco has been paired with its sister parish, St. Frances Cabrini, as the Lakewood Catholic Parish Family under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative, sharing one pastor and joint ministries while maintaining each parish's distinct identity and worship site.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- Saint John Bosco
- Rector
- Rev. Louis R. Cunningham
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle
Why belong here
St. John Bosco welcomes visitors and newcomers as a faith-filled, family-oriented Catholic community guided by the Holy Spirit and centered on the Eucharist. As part of the Lakewood Catholic Parish Family, the parish shares robust formation, youth, music, and outreach ministries with sister parish St. Frances Cabrini — including Confirmation preparation, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Eucharistic adoration, Bible study, food drives, and regular visits to homebound parishioners. It is also the steward of the historic Immaculate Conception mission chapel in Steilacoom, the oldest Catholic church in the archdiocese, giving parishioners a living link to the missionary roots of the Church in Washington.
Mass times at St. John Bosco
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. John Bosco: By appointment — call the parish office (253-582-1028)
- St. Frances Cabrini: Thursday 4:00–6:00 PM; Saturday 3:00–4:45 PM
- Archdiocese of Seattle directory also lists Reconciliation Thursday 5:00–6:00 PM at the parish
Adoration times
- Exposition (St. Frances Cabrini): 1st Friday of the month, after 8:30 AM Mass
- Exposition (St. Frances Cabrini): 1st Saturday of the month, 8:00–9:00 AM
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. John Bosco Parish describes itself as 'a faith-filled, family oriented Catholic community, guided by the Holy Spirit, living out our faith through the Eucharist.' Since July 1, 2024, St. John Bosco and St. Frances Cabrini have been joined as the Lakewood Catholic Parish Family under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative. The two parishes share pastoral leadership, staff, and ministries while keeping their own identities and worship sites. Visitors are warmly invited to spend time in quiet prayer before the Tabernacle and to register as parishioners online or at the parish office.
- Motto: 'The Lord awaits you here!'
- Sister parish: St. Frances Cabrini, Lakewood
- Parish family website: lakewoodcatholic.org
History of the Parish
Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly established St. John Bosco Parish in June 1968, drawing its territory from Visitation Parish and St. Frances Cabrini Parish. The founding pastor was Father Edward J. Norris. From June 1968 until August 1971, while the church was being built, Masses were held in the Classatorium at Lakes High School. Archbishop Connolly dedicated the new church on November 7, 1971. In 1991 Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy dedicated a major expansion that added a parish hall, nursery, library, offices, and meeting rooms. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was dedicated by Archbishop Alexander Brunett on July 11, 1998, and on May 1, 1998 the Knights of Columbus Council 11762 dedicated the Parish Meditation Park.
- Established: June 1968
- Founding pastor: Father Edward J. Norris
- Church dedicated: November 7, 1971
- Expansion dedicated: June 2, 1991
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel dedicated: July 11, 1998
- Meditation Park dedicated: May 1, 1998
Immaculate Conception Mission, Steilacoom
Although St. John Bosco Parish itself was only established in 1968, it traces its spiritual lineage to the Immaculate Conception Church in Steilacoom — the oldest Catholic church in what is now the Archdiocese of Seattle. Soldiers at Fort Steilacoom built the chapel around 1857, and Father Louis Rossi, a Belgian missionary, celebrated the first Masses there. In 1864 the soldiers and settlers moved the chapel into downtown Steilacoom, where Bishop Augustin-Magloire Blanchet blessed it on June 26, 1864. The Washington State Historical Society placed a commemorative tablet on the building on September 21, 1918. Today St. John Bosco Parish administers this historic mission.
- First Catholic church in Washington Territory (c. 1857)
- First priest: Father Louis Rossi (Belgian missionary)
- Moved to downtown Steilacoom and blessed June 26, 1864
- Historical marker dedicated September 21, 1918
- Operates today as a mission under St. John Bosco Parish
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
The Lakewood Catholic Parish Family is led by Pastor Rev. Louis R. Cunningham and shares a team of clergy and parish staff across St. John Bosco and St. Frances Cabrini. The pastoral team includes a parochial vicar, a senior priest in residence, and three deacons, supported by parish-family staff in faith formation, music and liturgy, communications, youth catechesis, and administration. The parish-family secretary for St. John Bosco is Laurie Kaiser ([email protected]).
- Pastor — Rev. Louis R. Cunningham
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Dean Mbuzi
- Senior Priest in Residence — Rev. Paul J. Brunet
- Deacon George Mounce, III
- Deacon Jeff Greer
- Deacon Mauricio Anaya
- Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation — Gabriela Grossman
- Director of Music, Liturgy & Parish Life — Joe Greey
- Director of Communications, Small Groups, Charitable Works — Fabiana Pacheco
- Director of Sacraments and Youth Catechesis — Susy Martinez
- Parish Family Secretary (SJB) — Laurie Kaiser
- Pastoral Assistant for Administration & Facilities Supervisor — Debbie Pedraza
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith formation is offered for children, teens, and adults across the parish family. Programs include catechetical formation for children, Confirmation preparation for teens (with a parish family Director of Youth Confirmation, Teens and Young Adults), and the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) for those entering the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation covers Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. The parish welcomes homebound parishioners with regular visits and provides Anointing of the Sick through the parish emergency line (253-312-3754) outside of office hours.
- Children's catechetical formation
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick (after-hours emergency line)
Music, Liturgy & Devotions
Liturgy and music at the parish family are coordinated by Director of Music, Liturgy & Parish Life Joe Greey. The parish's description centers on life 'through the Eucharist,' and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is supported by a dedicated Blessed Sacrament Chapel (dedicated 1998) and regular Eucharistic Exposition on the First Friday and First Saturday of each month at sister parish St. Frances Cabrini. The Knights of Columbus Council 11762 developed and maintains the Parish Meditation Park behind the church, dedicated in 1998 as a place for outdoor prayer and reflection.
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel (dedicated 1998)
- First Friday Exposition (after 8:30 AM Mass at St. Frances Cabrini)
- First Saturday Exposition, 8:00–9:00 AM at St. Frances Cabrini
- Parish Meditation Park (dedicated May 1, 1998)
- Knights of Columbus Council 11762
Parish Life & Outreach
Beyond the worship life of the parish, St. John Bosco and the wider Lakewood Catholic Parish Family support a number of outreach efforts. Through the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) of the Archdiocese of Seattle each April, the parish family helps sustain hospital and healthcare outreach, prison ministry, support for immigrants and refugees, multicultural ministries, seminarian formation, faith formation, and programs for youth and young adults. Local works of mercy include food drives and regular visits to homebound parishioners. Each parish registers new members online or at the parish office.
- Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) participation each April
- Hospital and healthcare outreach
- Prison ministry
- Support for immigrants and refugees
- Multicultural ministries (English, Spanish, Swahili)
- Seminarian formation support
- Food drives
- Homebound visits
- Parish registration online or in person
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
St. John Bosco is located at 10508 112th St. SW, Lakewood, WA 98498. Office hours are Monday 9 AM–12 PM, Tuesday–Thursday 9 AM–4 PM, and Friday 9 AM–1 PM. The parish phone is (253) 582-1028 and the parish email is [email protected]. An after-hours emergency line for Anointing of the Sick is shared by both parishes: (253) 312-3754. The church is open for prayer during office hours; visitors are encouraged to contact the office for details.
- Address: 10508 112th St. SW, Lakewood, WA 98498
- Phone: (253) 582-1028
- Email: [email protected]
- Emergency Anointing line (24/7): (253) 312-3754
- Office hours: Mon 9–12, Tue–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–1
- Parish family website: lakewoodcatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edward J. Norris1968–
Founding pastor; served from the parish's establishment in June 1968.