About St. Madeleine Sophie · Bellevue, Washington
St. Madeleine Sophie is a Roman Catholic parish in Bellevue, Washington, in the Eastside Deanery of the Archdiocese of Seattle. Founded on June 8, 1968 by Archbishop Thomas Connolly, the parish serves the south Bellevue community from a sloping ten-acre site at 4400 130th Place SE. It offers Mass in English and Korean, hosts St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School (PK–8), and is now grouped with neighboring St. Louise de Marillac Parish in Parish Family 27 under the Archdiocese's Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning process introduced in 2024.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas A. Belleque (Parish Priest and Judicial Vicar), with Very Rev. Anthony E. Bawyn, J.C.D. (Parish Priest); pastoral leadership shared with St. Louise de Marillac Parish
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Eastside Deanery; Parish Family 27 under Partners in the Gospel, 2024)
Why belong here
St. Madeleine Sophie is a multigenerational Eastside parish where parishioners can attend Mass in English or Korean, send children to the parish's own PK–8 elementary school, and engage in faith formation for all ages. The parish is known for strong children's and youth ministry, a sacramental-preparation program, outreach and social-justice work, and a community rooted in the charism of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart who have served the area for decades. As part of Parish Family 27 with St. Louise de Marillac, members share in a collaborative vision of 'Who Does God Want Us to Become?' through parish-family community conversations and shared ministries.
Mass times at St. Madeleine Sophie
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Parish History
Founded June 8, 1968 by Archbishop Thomas Connolly, St. Madeleine Sophie grew out of south Bellevue neighborhoods carved from Sacred Heart, St. Louise, St. Anthony and St. Joseph parishes. Founding pastor Fr. Jarlath Heneghan celebrated the first Sunday Masses at Tyee Junior High ('St. Tyee'), oversaw the construction of the three-level church-and-hall complex (first Masses Palm Sunday 1971), and was succeeded in 1977 by Fr. Gerald Mayovsky. Later pastors — Fr. George Rink, Fr. John Renggli, and Fr. James D. Picton — built up faith formation, lay leadership and outreach. Fr. Picton retired in 2018 after launching the parish school, and the parish transitioned to the priest-plus-pastoral-coordinator model.
- Founded June 8, 1968 under Archbishop Thomas Connolly
- Patron: St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, foundress of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart
- First Sunday Masses at Tyee Junior High ('St. Tyee')
- New church complex dedicated Palm Sunday, April 4, 1971
- 25th anniversary celebrated under Fr. George Rink (c. 1993)
- School announced September 21, 2003; opened September 6, 2005
- 40th anniversary Mass June 8, 2008 honored first graduating class
Our Patron — St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
The parish takes its name from St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779–1865), the French religious sister who founded the Society of the Sacred Heart, a worldwide religious institute of educators. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925, and her liturgical feast is celebrated on May 25. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart already had a convent and school within what became the parish boundaries, which is why the new community was placed under her patronage.
- Born December 12, 1779 in Joigny, France
- Died May 25, 1865 in Paris
- Canonized May 24, 1925 by Pope Pius XI
- Feast day: May 25
- Founded the Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ)
Parish Campus & Architecture
The parish sits on a sloping ten-acre site in south Bellevue. Architectural plans approved by the Archdiocesan Building Committee in February 1970 produced a three-level layout: the church sanctuary on the top level, with the social hall, classrooms and offices below. A Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Reconciliation Chapel were later incorporated into the sanctuary level, and the parish debt was retired during the Mayovsky years. The site has also grown to include dedicated school facilities.
- Three-level design approved February 1970
- Sanctuary on the top level
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Reconciliation Chapel on sanctuary level
- Sloping 10-acre site with existing house (used by founding pastor)
St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School (PK–8)
St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School opened September 6, 2005 under founding principal Daniel Sherman with 41 students in PK–Grade 6. The school is part of the Archdiocese of Seattle's Catholic Schools Office and the Eastside Regional Deanery (14 parishes and 9 schools in northeast King County). It is known for an inclusive 'open philosophy' that welcomes students with learning support plans, gifts, and diverse needs. The master plan envisions a school of nearly 500 students; current enrollment is around 200.
- Opened September 6, 2005 with 41 students
- Founding principal: Daniel Sherman (hired July 2004)
- Grades PK–8
- First dedicated classrooms blessed September 21, 2006
- First graduating class of 8 students — June 8, 2008
- Inclusive 'open philosophy' for students with diverse learning needs
- Master plan capacity: nearly 500 students
Mass & Liturgy
The parish celebrates Mass in English and Korean. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and three times on Sunday, with a dedicated Korean-language Mass at 2:00 PM. Daily Mass is celebrated Wednesday through Friday mornings at 9:00 AM. The Archdiocese also lists Mass in Korean as a particular feature of the parish.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:30 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM (English); 2:00 PM (Korean)
- Daily Mass: Wed–Fri 9:00 AM (English)
- Holy Days: contact parish
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation at St. Madeleine Sophie spans children, youth and adults, with programs for sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Parish Family 27 also has a shared Parish Family Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry serving both St. Madeleine Sophie and St. Louise de Marillac.
- OCIA / RCIA — contact Amy Baumgardner
- Children's Ministries
- Sacramental Preparation (Karen Moretti, coordinator)
- Parish Family Youth Ministry (shared with St. Louise de Marillac)
- Adult Faith Formation (retreats, Advent and Lenten programming)
Parish Life, Outreach & Community
Parish Life welcomes newcomers and parishioners into programs, events, and outreach projects, with pre-registration typically handled through the Parish Life office. The community gathers for Advent and Lenten retreats, an annual Auction, and the Guild. A Pastoral Associate for Outreach and Social Justice coordinates service and justice work. The parish also runs the St. Madeleine Sophie Camino, a pilgrimage-style procession into the 5:30 PM Saturday Mass featuring saints presented by parishioners.
- Parish Life office (425-747-6770 ext. 101)
- Annual Auction and Guild
- Advent and Lenten retreats
- Outreach and Social Justice ministry
- St. Madeleine Sophie Camino parish pilgrimage
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. Madeleine Sophie is currently led by two Parish Priests together with a lay Pastoral Leader, reflecting the Archdiocese of Seattle's parish-family model. The staff includes coordinators for faith formation, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, outreach, music, facilities, and administration.
- Rev. Thomas A. Belleque — Parish Priest and Judicial Vicar
- Very Rev. Anthony E. Bawyn, J.C.D. — Parish Priest
- Sandi Bendix — Pastoral Leader / Pastoral Coordinator
- Ann LaBeck — Office Manager
- Danny Bailey — Facilities Manager
- Terry Moretti — Accountant
- Karen Moretti — Sacramental Preparation Coordinator
- Elaine Low — Children's Ministries
- Gerri Russell — Parish Family PA for Youth Ministry
- Maggie Rader — PA for Outreach and Social Justice
Partners in the Gospel & Parish Family 27
In 2024 the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel strategic pastoral planning process placed parishes into 'parish families' under the leadership of one pastor. St. Madeleine Sophie and St. Louise de Marillac (Bellevue) together form Parish Family 27. The families are hosting a series of community conversations titled 'Who Does God Want Us to Become?' with sessions in English, Korean and Spanish.
- Parish Family 27: St. Madeleine Sophie + St. Louise de Marillac (Bellevue)
- Shared pastoral leadership and youth ministry
- Community conversations: 'Who Does God Want Us to Become?'
- Sessions offered in English, Korean and Spanish
Visiting & Contact
The parish office can be reached by phone at (425) 747-6770 (fax 425-747-6349). The church is located in King County in the Eastside Deanery of the Archdiocese of Seattle, near the parish school. Specific parking, transit, and accessibility details are not published on the parish's official channels.
- Address: 4400 130th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98006-2014
- Phone: (425) 747-6770
- Fax: (425) 747-6349
- Eastside Deanery, Archdiocese of Seattle, King County
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jarlath Heneghan1968–1977
Founding pastor; moved into the parish house; celebrated first Sunday Masses at Tyee Junior High ('St. Tyee').
- Fr. Gerald Mayovsky1977–c.1990
Second pastor; oversaw parish growth with associates Rev. Kurt Woell and Rev. William Harris and assisting Jesuits; Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Reconciliation Chapel built; parish debt retired.
- Fr. George Rink1990–c.1994
Third pastor; emphasized trained lay volunteers and staff; celebrated the parish's 25th anniversary.
- Fr. John Rengglic.1994–c.1997
Fourth pastor; served only three years; remembered for dedication to all who needed priestly care.
- Fr. James D. Picton2000–2018
Fifth pastor; arrived with Fr. Emmanuel Iweh as Parochial Vicar for the Jubilee Year; launched St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic School, which opened September 6, 2005; retired in 2018.
- Loretta Wright Sursely2018–
Pastoral Coordinator (2018) then Pastoral Leader for St. Madeleine Sophie and St. Louise parishes when parish families formed in 2024.
- Rev. Thomas A. Belleque & Very Rev. Anthony E. Bawyn, J.C.D.2024–
Current Parish Priests leading Parish Family 27 (St. Madeleine Sophie + St. Louise de Marillac) under Partners in the Gospel.