About St. Peter · Deming, Washington
St. Peter Mission is a small Catholic mission parish serving the rural communities of Deming, Kendall, and the surrounding Columbia Valley in eastern Whatcom County, Washington. Tucked along the Mount Baker Highway in the shadow of the North Cascades, the mission is one of the oldest Catholic communities in northwestern Washington, tracing its origins to an 1893 mission journey on foot from Bellingham. Today it shares clergy and staff with nearby St. Joseph Parish in Lynden as part of 'Whatcom Catholic,' the collaborative of seven area parishes created under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative. The mission offers Sunday and weekday Mass, faith formation for children, a robust social-action outreach, and remains a close-knit rural faith community of about 99 registered households.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jeffrey H. Moore
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Northern Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Peter Mission offers a warm, small-town Catholic community in one of the most beautiful corners of the North Cascades, where many families still trace their faith back five generations to the original German-descent homesteaders. Worship is rooted in the same Highway that Father Boulet walked on foot in 1893, and the parish carries on his missionary spirit through its 'Thursday Afternoon with Our Friends' social-action program — a free clothing and household-items outreach that complements the Foothills Food Bank and serves neighbors in need. With faithful Sunday and weekday Mass, Reconciliation before Mass, sacramental preparation in English and Spanish, and the shared resources of Whatcom Catholic, it is an intimate rural parish where everyone tends to know one another by name.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00 am (before 8:30 am Mass)
- Anytime by appointment — call the parish office at 360-354-2334
Adoration times
- Exposition and Adoration of the Eucharist — see parish bulletin / Whatcom Catholic schedule
St. Peter Mission in Deming
St. Peter is a small Catholic mission parish serving the rural communities of Deming, Kendall, and the Columbia Valley in eastern Whatcom County, Washington, along the Mount Baker Highway. With about 99 registered households, it is an intimate rural faith community that traces its origins to 1893 and shares clergy, staff, and resources with St. Joseph Parish in Lynden under the Whatcom Catholic collaborative.
- Address: 6210 Mt. Baker Hwy., Deming, WA 98244
- Phone: 360-354-2334
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stjoseph-stpeter.org
Our History — From a Cedar-Log Church to the Present Mission
Catholic families of German descent — the Zenders, Buckenmeyers, Warners, Theisens, Koehlers, Nicalays, Schwabs, and Schrolls — homesteaded the Columbia Valley beginning around 1889. Missionary priest Father J. B. Boulet walked the trails from Bellingham out to those families, and on August 23, 1893, celebrated the first Mass in Columbia Valley in a schoolhouse near the old Mersch place before thirteen people. The pioneers built their first church from cedar logs hewn from the nearby forest on land donated by a man named Schroll; that log church was destroyed by a forest fire in 1914. A second, larger church was built on the Sumas-Kendall Road in 1910, where it still stands amid the second-growth timber. The present St. Peter Mission Church on the Mount Baker Highway was dedicated on April 27, 1975, after St. Joseph's Mission at Clipper consolidated with St. Peter's in 1972. The Mission marked its 125th anniversary on August 25, 2018 with a Mass celebrated by Father Francisco Cancino.
- Founded: August 23, 1893
- First church: cedar logs (destroyed by fire 1914)
- Second church: Sumas-Kendall Road, 1910 (still standing)
- Current church: dedicated April 27, 1975
Pastoral Ministry — Whatcom Catholic
St. Peter Mission is shepherded under 'Whatcom Catholic,' the collaborative of seven parishes in Whatcom County organized under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative. Very Rev. Jeffrey H. Moore serves as Pastor of 'Family #2,' which encompasses the parishes and missions of Bellingham, Blaine, Deming, Fairhaven, Ferndale, Lummi, and Lynden. He is assisted by three parochial vicars.
- Very Rev. Jeffrey H. Moore — Pastor, Whatcom Catholic
- Rev. Gerardo — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Stephan Arockia Doss Thomas, H.G.N. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Tyler Y. Johnson — Parochial Vicar and WWU Catholic Chaplain
Languages and Hispanic Ministry
Mass is celebrated in English at St. Peter's, while the broader parish family of St. Joseph / St. Peter also offers Spanish-language Masses (Saturday 7 pm at St. Joseph) and Spanish sacramental preparation. The parish employs Spanish-speaking staff — including Marisol Esparza as Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation and Hispanic Coordinator, and Lorena Duarte as Location Manager — to accompany the Spanish-speaking community.
- English-language Sunday Mass at 8:30 am
- Spanish-speaking staff for faith formation and parish coordination
- Children's RCIA often offered in Spanish
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
The parish runs vibrant faith-formation programs for children and teens, with an average of 30–40 students per sacramental class. The programs follow Canon Law's expectation of weekly Mass attendance and pair students with parent-only Family Faith Formation classes. Sacramental preparation is available in both English and Spanish for Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion (a 2-year program for children age 7+), Confirmation (grades 7–12 or age 12+), and Children's RCIA for those 12 and older who have not yet been baptized.
- Baptism — children 7+ after one year of religious education; parents/godparents must complete prep classes
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2 consecutive years, age 7+
- Confirmation — grades 7–12 or age 12+
- Children's RCIA — for students 12+ not yet baptized or making First Communion
- Registration opens June 18 each year
Volunteer Opportunities
St. Peter and St. Joseph rely on an extensive corps of lay volunteers to make Mass and ministries possible. Roles include liturgical service during Mass (Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister of Host or Cup, Greeter, Usher) and faith-formation service (Catechist or Assistant Catechist with training provided, ~2–3 hours per week). Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed for the Saturday 7 pm Spanish Mass.
- Sacristan
- Eucharistic Minister (Host / Cup)
- Greeter / Usher
- Catechist / Assistant Catechist (training provided)
- Social Action volunteer
Social Action and Outreach
The St. Peter Social Action Program — based in Kendall — runs 'Thursday Afternoon with Our Friends,' a weekly gathering that complements the Foothills Food Bank by offering free clothing and household items. The program is sustained by the work of St. Peter's Social Action group, fellow church members, community members, and Costco. Parishioners also support the PREPARES program (currently serving more than 50 local families with diapers, wipes, and basic necessities) through donations and an Amazon Wishlist.
- 'Thursday Afternoon with Our Friends' — free clothing & household items weekly
- Foothills Food Bank partnership
- PREPARES program — supplies for 50+ local families
- Amazon Wishlist: a.co/1bH9HCh
- Contact: Marie Valum
St. Peter's Cemetery
In addition to the church on Mt. Baker Highway, the parish maintains St. Peter's Cemetery at 9330 Heady Road, Sumas, WA 98295. The cemetery is one of the older Catholic burial grounds serving the eastern Whatcom County missions and remains under the care of the parish.
- St. Peter's Cemetery — 9330 Heady Road, Sumas, WA 98295
Parish Office, Staff, and Contact
All records and information for St. Peter Mission are handled at the St. Joseph parish office in Lynden. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9 am – 4 pm (closed for lunch 12:00–12:30 and all day Wednesday). Bilingual staff assist with parish life and sacramental preparation.
- Parish office: 205 12th St., Lynden, WA 98264
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9 am – 4 pm (closed Wed)
- Lorena Duarte — Location Manager (Se Habla Español), 360-354-2334
- Marisol Esparza — PA Faith Formation & Hispanic Coordinator, x 202
- Olivia Phillips — Admin Assistant & Bookkeeper, x 204
- Elizabeth Ames — Contract Accountant, x 200
Emergency and Sacramental Assistance
If a parishioner requires the presence of a priest for extreme illness or death at any hour, the parish maintains a 24/7 emergency line. Anointing of the Sick can also be scheduled by appointment through the Executive Assistant for Clergy.
- Emergency line (priest for extreme illness or death): 360-510-9786
- En español — Extrema enfermedad o muerte: 360-510-9786
- Anointing of the Sick appointment: Executive Assistant for Clergy, 253-356-5522
Becoming a Parishioner
Newcomers are warmly welcomed. Registration packets can be picked up at the parish office or completed online through the Archdiocese of Seattle's registration form.
- Online registration (St. Peter): archseattle.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2477/responses/new
- Online registration (St. Joseph): archseattle.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2475/responses/new
- Parish motto: 'We build our community by hearing, living, and sharing the gospel and look forward to seeing you soon.'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. B. Boulet (later Msgr.)1893–1912
Missionary priest from Bellingham; walked the trails; celebrated the first Masses in Columbia Valley and at Keyes Post Office.
- Rev. E. T. / E. F. McCarthy1912–1913
- Rev. P. J. Ryan1913–1917/1918
- Rev. James Wagner, O.M.I.1917/1918–1926
Formerly of Canada.
- Rev. J. M. Hoehn1919–1926
- Rev. Robert Dillon1925–1926
- Rev. Benedict Schweizer, O.S.B.1926–1936
First resident pastor; Mission of Columbia Valley formally attached to Lynden parish.
- Rev. Maurice Foley1936–1944
- Rev. Garret Galvin1944–1949
- Rev. Andrew Donohoe1949–1952
- Rev. Maximillian Murray1952–1955
- Rev. James Van Gogh1955–1966
- Rev. Kenneth Ogrodowski1966–1970
- Rev. Gerald Mayovsky1970–1977
- Rev. John (Jack) Jennings1977–1980
- Rev. Patrick Keaty1980–1985
- Rev. James O'Grady1985–1986
- Rev. Timothy McKenna1986–1990
- Rev. Gary Southerton1990–1995
- Rev. Woody McCallister1995–2001
- Rev. Don Perea2001
- Rev. Steve Sallis2001–2002
- Rev. Tim Sauer2002
- Rev. Emilio Gonzalez2002–2014
- Rev. Jose Alvarez2014–2017
- Rev. Francisco J. Cancino2017–2024
Celebrated the Mission's 125th anniversary Mass in August 2018.
- Very Rev. Jeffrey H. Moore2024–present
Pastor of Whatcom Catholic 'Family #2' under the Archdiocese's Partners in the Gospel initiative; oversees St. Joseph, St. Peter and the broader Whatcom Catholic cluster.