About St. John Vianney · Spokane Valley, Washington
St. John Vianney is a Roman Catholic parish in the Spokane Valley, Washington, serving the community together with its sister parish, St. Paschal, under one pastor. Located at 503 N. Walnut Road in a residential neighborhood of the Valley, the parish is part of the Diocese of Spokane and is currently shepherded by Father Raymond Kalema, who was appointed in 2024. St. John Vianney is home to a PreK-8 Catholic school that has been educating Spokane Valley children since 1953, as well as a wide range of parish ministries covering faith formation, vocations, prayer, the elderly, and Eucharistic adoration. The parish offers Mass on weekends and weekdays, along with Saturday confession and weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, the Curé d'Ars, patron saint of parish priests)
- Rector
- Father Raymond Kalema
- Diocese
- Diocese of Spokane
Why belong here
St. John Vianney is a welcoming Spokane Valley parish where families can root themselves in the Catholic faith through daily and weekend Mass, weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays, and a full sacramental life including Saturday confession. The parish is home to a PreK-8 Catholic school with more than 70 years of history and offers ministries for every stage of life: O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Vacation Bible School, Faith Formation, a vocations group, prayer chain, senior fellowship, funeral hospitality, and Eucharistic adoration. Sharing a pastor with sister parish St. Paschal, St. John Vianney combines the warmth of a neighborhood parish with the resources of an active faith community.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (at St. John Vianney)
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (at sister parish St. Paschal)
- Communal Reconciliation service twice a year, during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at SJV)
History of St. John Vianney Parish
St. John Vianney Parish was founded in 1949 on a five-acre tract of land between Farr Road and Walnut Road, just north of Valleyway, in the Spokane Valley. A temporary church was built that same year and still stands today as part of the parish school complex. The parish grew steadily over the decades: a grade school and convent for religious sisters were added in 1953, a gymnasium in 1959, and the present church in 1988. The parish rectory was originally a house on Farr Road and remains in that role. The campus today includes the church, school, gym, convent building, and rectory, all serving a thriving faith community in the Spokane Valley.
- 1949 — Parish founded; temporary church built
- 1953 — School and convent built
- 1959 — Gymnasium added
- 1988 — Present church constructed
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. John Vianney is led by Father Raymond Kalema, who serves as pastor of both St. John Vianney and its sister parish, St. Paschal. The parish and school staff handle day-to-day operations, faith formation, religious education, finances, and facilities. The Pastoral Council, chaired by Ric Wesselman, provides lay leadership and guidance to the pastor.
- Father Raymond Kalema — Pastor
- Ric Wesselman — Pastoral Council Chair
- Janelle Turcotte — SJV School Principal
- Shelly Humbert — Office Manager / Director of Religious Education
- Sandy Opp — Bookkeeper / Business Manager
- Paul Schuster — Maintenance / Custodial Manager
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. John Vianney welcomes both children and adults who wish to deepen their Catholic faith, doctrine, practice, and culture. The ministry includes O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly R.C.I.A.) for adults preparing to enter or complete initiation in the Catholic Church. Sacramental Preparation classes for Reconciliation and Confirmation / First Holy Communion are offered, and Vacation Bible School is held seasonally. Adult volunteers age 12+ who have received all three Sacraments of Initiation may help with VBS and Sacramental Prep after virtual training and agreement to the diocesan Code of Conduct. Inquiries are directed to Shelly Humbert, Director of Religious Education.
- O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Sacramental Preparation — Reconciliation and Confirmation / First Holy Communion
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Director of Religious Education: Shelly Humbert ([email protected])
St. John Vianney Catholic School
St. John Vianney Catholic School is the parish's educational ministry, serving PreK through 8th grade students from St. John Vianney Parish as well as from sister parishes St. Paschal and St. Joseph. Established in 1953, the school has provided more than 70 years of Catholic education in the Spokane Valley. The campus is located in a residential neighborhood just southwest of the parish church at 501 N. Walnut Rd. and is part of the Central Valley School District. The historic 1953 building — originally built as the school and convent — remains at the heart of the campus. The school welcomes families of all backgrounds and faiths, with a mission of forming faith-filled Catholics, lifelong learners, and contributing community members. Accreditation is held through the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC).
- Established 1953 — over 70 years of Catholic education
- Serves PreK through Grade 8
- Draws students from St. John Vianney, St. Paschal, and St. Joseph parishes
- Located within the Central Valley School District
- Accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC)
- School address: 501 N. Walnut Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99206
- School phone: (509) 926-7987
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. John Vianney offers a wide variety of parish ministries through which parishioners can serve, pray, and grow together. The Prayer Chain prays for petitions and joys shared by parishioners. The Funeral Luncheon Ministry arranges and serves meals at parish funerals. The Vocations Committee fosters a culture of vocational discernment through a monthly Holy Hour for Vocations, altar server recognition, the diocesan Vocation prayer, and a Traveling Crucifix for parish families. The Senior Group welcomes parishioners 55 and older (and anyone young at heart) for potluck lunches and occasional grief-support groups. The Eucharistic Adoration Ministry staffs the parish's weekly Wednesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Faith Formation (children & adults, including O.C.I.A.)
- Prayer Chain
- Funeral Luncheon Ministry
- Vocations Committee — monthly Holy Hour, Traveling Crucifix
- Senior Group (55+) — potlucks, grief support
- Eucharistic Adoration Ministry
- Pastoral Council
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and offers preparation for those preparing to receive them. Reconciliation is celebrated Saturdays and at the sister parish on Tuesdays, plus communally during Advent and Lent. Sacramental Preparation classes are offered for First Reconciliation and Confirmation / First Holy Communion. O.C.I.A. is available for adults preparing for full initiation into the Church. Couples wishing to be married at St. John Vianney should contact Fr. Raymond Kalema at the parish office.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 2:30–3:30 PM and Tuesdays 5:00–6:00 PM (St. Paschal)
- Holy Matrimony — contact Fr. Raymond Kalema at (509) 926-5428
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — Sacramental Preparation available
- O.C.I.A. (formerly R.C.I.A.) for adult initiation
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
Contact, Location & Hours
St. John Vianney Parish shares its campus and ministry with sister parish St. Paschal. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Noon). Messages left outside office hours are returned as soon as possible. The parish mailing address and physical address are both given so that visitors and parishioners can find the church easily in the Spokane Valley.
- Parish address: 503 N. Walnut Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99206
- Mailing: P.O. Box 141125, Spokane Valley, WA 99214
- Phone: (509) 926-5428
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Noon)
- School phone: (509) 926-7987
- Website: sjvchurch.org
Related Ministries: St. Paschal EduCare
Under the umbrella of the linked parishes of St. John Vianney and St. Paschal, St. Paschal EduCare offers a Catholic preschool and daycare for children ages 1 through 12. Children receive a full preschool curriculum delivered by educated teachers in a loving, Christian environment that meets the spiritual, social, physical, emotional, and academic needs of each child. Before- and after-school children are transported via West Valley school buses to Seth Woodard and Orchard Center Elementary Schools.
- St. Paschal EduCare — Catholic preschool & daycare
- Ages 1–12
- Address: 2521 N Park Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99212
- Phone: (509) 922-7616
- Transportation via West Valley buses to Seth Woodard and Orchard Center Elementary
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Richard Poole
Former pastor of St. John Vianney who later served as a U.S. Air Force chaplain. During his tenure the parish acquired 403 N. Walnut Road with plans for elderly housing.
- Father Raymond Kalema2024–present
Appointed pastor of St. John Vianney and St. Paschal parishes in 2024. Ordained in 2019 from Theological College (Catholic University); previously served as administrator of St. Patrick in Colfax, St. Joseph in LaCrosse, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in St. John.