St. Thomas More

About St. Thomas More Parish

St. Thomas More Parish is a Catholic community of nearly 1,800 households in Lynnwood, Washington, in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Founded in 1962 and liturgically established in 1966, the parish serves a culturally diverse congregation of Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Korean, Caucasian, Eritrean, and Kenyan families on a shared campus with St. Thomas More School. Since 2024 the parish has been joined with neighboring Holy Rosary in Edmonds as Parish Family 11 under the Archdiocese's Partners in the Gospel strategic pastoral planning process.

Parish History

The parish was formally decreed on October 2, 1962, by Archbishop Thomas A. Connelly, and ground was broken on Christmas Eve 1967 for the church, school, and convent. The first Mass was celebrated July 31, 1966, and St. Thomas More School opened that September with 120 students in grades 1–3, staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. After more than twenty years of planning, a roughly $3 million renovation of the aging church building was completed for Easter 2021, and the church was formally rededicated by Archbishop Paul D. Etienne on September 26, 2021.

• 1962 — Parish formally decreed by Archbishop Thomas A. Connelly
• 1966 — First Mass celebrated July 31; school opens in September with 120 students
• 1967 — Christmas Eve groundbreaking for the church-school-convent complex
• 1977 — Arts and Science wing added to the school
• 1981 — First kindergarten class; Family Center built
• 1982 — Convent converted to Primary Learning Center
• 1995 — Library, science lab, computer lab, music room, and counseling space added
• 1999 — School fully accredited by NASC and WCEA
• 2006 — Preschool program launched
• August 2020 – Easter 2021 — $3 million church renovation
• September 26, 2021 — Church rededicated by Archbishop Paul D. Etienne
• 2024 — Paired with Holy Rosary, Edmonds as Parish Family 11

2021 Church Renovation & Rededication

Because the original church was intended only as a temporary worship space and the parish could not raise enough money for a new building, parishioners chose a roughly $3 million renovation. Construction began in August 2020 under project manager Dick Pyle and was completed in time for Easter 2021. On September 26, 2021, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne celebrated a Mass of rededication, anointing the altar with sacred chrism and sealing into it relics of St. Frances of Rome, St. Clement, and St. Victor. The 3,000-pound granite altar slab had previously served St. Bridget Parish in Seattle.

• New altar platform and tabernacle platform/stand
• 1,800-square-foot narthex added to the western entrance
• Improved lighting and new sound system
• Relics of St. Frances of Rome, St. Clement, and St. Victor sealed in the altar

St. Thomas More School

St. Thomas More School opened in September 1966 with 120 students in grades 1–3, originally taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur living in the parish convent. Over the decades the campus grew to include a 1977 Arts and Science wing, a 1981 Family Center, a 1982 Primary Learning Center, a 1995 expansion with library, science lab, computer lab, music room and counseling space, full accreditation in 1999, a preschool program added in 2006, and ongoing technology upgrades. The school today serves Preschool through 8th grade and operates independently under a School Commission that advises the principal and pastor.

• Founded September 1966 alongside the parish
• Originally taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
• Preschool through 8th grade
• Accredited by the Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Education Association
• Principal: Richard Hernandez
• School Commission advises the pastor and principal on policy

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The parish describes growing in faith as a lifelong process and offers formation tracks for every age. Children's faith formation (PreK–5th grade) meets on Sundays from 9:30 AM to 10:25 AM, while youth in middle and high school gather weekly for formation, retreats, and Confirmation preparation. The Young Adult ministry serves ages 18–22 and 23–35, and adults gather through the Koinonia series, retreats, ministry, and outreach. Becoming Catholic (OCIA) welcomes children and adults preparing for Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation, and Leadership Development trains youth and adult catechists.

• Children (PreK–5): Sundays 9:30 – 10:25 AM; sacramental prep for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
• Youth (6th–12th grade): weekly formation, retreats, Confirmation preparation
• Young Adults (18–22 and 23–35): weekly formation, monthly retreats, annual conventions
• Adults: Koinonia series, retreats, ministry & outreach
• Becoming Catholic (OCIA) for children and adults
• Leadership Development for catechists
• Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation and OCIA: Sharon Guerrero

Outreach & Service Ministries

Service to those in need is a central part of parish life. The St. Vincent de Paul Society meets in the school library on the Tuesday before the 3rd Sunday of each month at 7:00 PM and offers person-to-person help to neighbors in need. The Knights of Columbus council supports the parish through events, the ICC Festival, Stations of the Cross and Fish Fry dinners, and serves dinner monthly to 200–250 men at a Seattle homeless shelter, while also raising more than $40,000 for seminarians. The Feed My Sheep Lunch Ministry prepares and serves hot, nutritious lunches to the homeless at the Lynnwood Hygiene Center Monday through Saturday.

• St. Vincent de Paul Society — contact Gordon Alexander
• Knights of Columbus — auctions, ICC Festival, Stations/Fish Fry, shelter dinners, Pennies for Vocations
• Feed My Sheep Lunch Ministry — Lynnwood Hygiene Center, Monday–Saturday
• Council contact: Grand Knight

Councils, Commissions & Committees

Parish leadership is supported by several advisory bodies. The Faith Formation Commission advises the pastor and formation staff, assessing needs and ensuring quality programs for children, youth, adults, and OCIA candidates; it is chaired by Vy Lai. The School Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the school principal and pastor, setting and monitoring policies in line with Archdiocesan guidance.

• Faith Formation Commission — chaired by Vy Lai
• School Commission — staff liaisons Sharon Guerrero, Violeta Juzon, and McKayla Vu

Parish Staff & Clergy

St. Thomas More Parish is led by Pastor Fr. Matthew O'Leary, with Fr. Stephen Okumu serving as Parochial Vicar. The lay staff supports faith formation, liturgy, music, school, finances, administration, and facilities across the Parish Family 11 campus.

• Rev. Matthew L. O'Leary — Pastor
• Rev. Stephen Okumu — Parochial Vicar
• Marti Lundberg — Pastoral Associate
• Sharon Guerrero — Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation and OCIA
• Violeta Juzon — Pastoral Assistant for Liturgy and Family Sacraments
• Michael Lam — Pastoral Assistant for Music
• Fadia Kassab — Bookkeeper
• Lauren Woyak — Administrative Assistant and Media Specialist
• Amanda Woyak
• Richard Hernandez — School Principal
• Jacques Bragg — Facilities Supervisor
• McKayla Vu — Formation Coordinator

Partners in the Gospel — Parish Family 11

In 2024 the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative paired St. Thomas More with Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonds to form Parish Family 11, led by Pastor Fr. Matthew O'Leary. The two parishes will work together over several years to form one new canonical parish while continuing to serve their respective communities and schools.

• Holy Rosary, Edmonds — 630 7th Avenue N., Edmonds, WA 98020
• St. Thomas More, Lynnwood — 6511 176th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98037
• Pastor: Rev. Matthew L. O'Leary
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Stephen Okumu

Sacraments

Information on every sacrament is available on the parish website, with age-appropriate preparation programs for children, youth, and adults. Sacramental emergencies (Anointing of the Sick, last rites) can be arranged by calling the parish office at 425-743-2929 and following the recorded directions.

• Baptism, First Eucharist, First Reconciliation — Children's Faith Formation
• Confirmation — Youth Faith Formation
• OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — for children and adults
• Marriage preparation — contact the parish office
• Anointing of the Sick / Sacramental Emergency — 425-743-2929

Visit, Contact & Office Hours

Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM and closed Friday through Sunday. Mass times for feast days and holidays are published in the bulletin and on the parish home page.

• Address: 6511 176th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98037-2929
• Phone: 425-743-2929
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.stmp.org
• Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; closed Friday–Sunday