St. Joseph

Parish History

The Catholic roots of St. Joseph reach back to 1883, when Father Emanuel Domanez celebrated the first known Mass at the Squak Valley home of Michael and Anne Donlan. After decades as a station church and mission served from Renton and Bellevue, the community was elevated to parish status in June 1962 by Archbishop Connolly and given its first resident pastor, Father George McLean. On March 7, 1965, the parish celebrated its first Mass in the present church at 220 Mountain Park Blvd SW. Father Patrick Clark's 1990s tenure added the gathering space and the parish school; Fathers McGirl, Russell, Evenson, Dolejsi, and Strange have shepherded the parish since, and Father Matthew Oakland is the first pastor of the new three-parish Parish Family formed under Partners in the Gospel in 2024.

• 1883 — First Mass in Squak Valley at Michael Donlan home
• 1891 — Land, lumber and labor donated for a church on Sunset Way
• 1896 — St. Joseph Station Church dedicated
• 1910 — Bishop O'Dea names St. Joseph a mission; served from St. Anthony Renton and later Sacred Heart Bellevue
• 1962 — Elevated to parish; Father George McLean named first resident pastor
• 1965 — New church at 220 Mountain Park Blvd SW opens
• 1994 — Parish school founded under Father Patrick Clark
• 2024 — Joined Parish Family with Mary Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Sorrows under Father Matthew Oakland

Clergy and Pastoral Staff

The parish is led by Father Matthew T. Oakland, appointed Pastor in 2024 as part of the Partners in the Gospel Parish Family, with Father Randy Guarino serving as Parochial Vicar since 2025. Pastoral staff includes Tom Walker (Pastoral Assistant for Administration), Mary Williams (Evangelization and Adult Formation), Maureen Fellez (Family and Youth Formation), Maria Graham (Administrative Assistant for Pastoral Ministry), Michael Marquez (Facilities Manager), Ann Shikany (Assistant to the Pastor), Van Kasnick (Bookkeeper), Tim Dunn (Office Manager), and Shauna Richards (Principal of St. Joseph Parish School). Deacon Pat Moynihan previously provided interim pastoral leadership between Father Rob Evenson and Father Bryan Dolejsi.

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith Formation at St. Joseph spans cradle to adult. Children's Formation centers on a 2-year First Sacrament preparation and the 'God's Plan in Scripture' Family Faith Hour for grades K-3; Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass for ages 5-9. Youth ministry is led by Maureen Fellez. Adult Formation offers Adult Confirmation, ongoing Bible study and the 'Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come' series; contact is Mary Williams.

• Children's Liturgy of the Word (10:30 AM Sunday)
• God's Plan in Scripture – Family Faith Hour (Sundays 12-1 PM)
• First Sacraments (Grades 2-5)
• Adult Confirmation
• Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come (Thursdays 10:30 AM-12 PM)

St. Joseph Parish School

St. Joseph Parish School, founded by Father Patrick Clark in 1994 to serve the families of Issaquah, Sammamish, and Snoqualmie, operates two campuses — one in Issaquah and one in Snoqualmie. The school's principal is Shauna Richards, and its work is part of St. Joseph's broader Partners-in-the-Gospel Parish Family.

Parish Groups and Ministries

The parish is served by a Faith Formation Commission and an Outreach and Social Concerns Commission. Adult groups include Bible Study (Tuesday evening and Thursday daytime), Scripture Study / Seasons of Faith (Wednesday mornings Sept-June), Family Ministry, Men's groups, the parish library, and Vacation Bible School (K-5, one week each summer 9 AM-noon).

• Bible Study – Tuesday evenings and Thursday daytimes
• Scripture Study / Seasons of Faith – Wednesday mornings (Sept-June)
• Family Ministry
• Vacation Bible School
• Parish Library

Outreach: Works of Mercy

St. Joseph runs one of the more extensive outreach ministries on the Eastside through its Works of Mercy Ministries. Parishioners can serve through Issaquah Community Services (rent, utilities, medical), St. Vincent de Paul home visits, the Weekly Food Drive to the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, KidVantage textile drives, Issaquah Meals Program, Detention Ministry at Monroe Reformatory, the Jesse Tree Christmas giving program, the Legion of Mary (which brings Communion to the homebound and promotes Pilgrim Virgin Statue visits), Pastoral Care Ministers, the Quilt Group (sewing for Eastside Baby Corner), and the Respect Life Committee.

• St. Vincent de Paul (Food, clothing, rent, utility, furniture assistance)
• Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank
• Issaquah Community Services
• Issaquah Meals Program
• Detention Ministry – Monroe Reformatory
• Jesse Tree – Christmas giving
• Legion of Mary
• Pastoral Care (homebound, assisted living, nursing homes)
• Quilt Group
• Respect Life Committee

Knights of Columbus Council 7907 (Father McGirl Council)

All men of the parish aged 18 and older are invited to join Knights of Columbus Council 7907, named for the beloved pastor Father Anthony McGirl. The council meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 PM in the St. Francis Room downstairs; members serve the parish and wider community in the four tenets of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Contact is Grand Knight Robin Pavlish.

Sacraments

Information on Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion, Confirmation (youth and adult), Marriage Preparation, Anointing of the Sick, and funeral arrangements is available through the parish office, with dedicated staff for Adult Formation (Mary Williams) and Family/Youth Formation (Maureen Fellez).

Partners in the Gospel Parish Family

Since 2024, St. Joseph has shared its pastor, Father Matthew T. Oakland, with Mary Queen of Peace in Sammamish and Our Lady of Sorrows in Snoqualmie under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel strategic pastoral planning effort, intended to re-invigorate the local Catholic Church by grouping parishes into families with shared leadership. Mass and reconciliation schedules are unified across the three parishes.

• Mary Queen of Peace – Sammamish
• Our Lady of Sorrows – Snoqualmie

Visit, Contact and Office Hours

St. Joseph is located just east of Seattle in Issaquah, Washington. The parish office is reached up the stairs from the upper parking lot, at 250 Mountain Park Blvd SW; the mailing address is PO Box 200, Issaquah, WA 98027. Phone: (425) 392-5516; Fax: (425) 392-2722; Email: [email protected]. Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8 AM-4 PM (closed for lunch 12-1 PM) and Friday 8 AM-12 PM. For after-hours pastoral emergencies, call (425) 655-3200. Mass and confessions are also offered at Mary Queen of Peace and Our Lady of Sorrows as part of the Parish Family.