About St. Vincent de Paul · Federal Way, Washington
St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic parish in Federal Way, Washington, canonically established on November 21, 1961 by Archbishop Thomas Connelly for what was then a fast-growing suburban area south of Seattle. It is a parish family of the Archdiocese of Seattle that, since July 1, 2024, shares one pastor with neighboring St. Theresa Parish under the archdiocese's Partners in the Gospel initiative. The parish runs an attached Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school (founded 1964) and serves a diverse community through weekend and weekday Masses in English and Spanish, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, faith formation for children and youth, and outreach to the poor of South King County.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Michael A. Dion
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a long-established, growing Catholic community in Federal Way with a parish-owned Pre-K–8 school, an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. in the main church), and Sacramental preparation for children, youth, and adults — including a Spanish-language Mass that makes the parish accessible to the wider Latino Catholic community of South King County. The parish family of St. Theresa and St. Vincent is in an exciting transitional moment under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative, so newcomers joining now will help shape the vision of what the merged parish becomes.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (St. Vincent)
- Wednesday 9:30 a.m. (St. Vincent)
- Wednesday 6:00 p.m. (St. Vincent)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (St. Vincent main church)
- 1st and 3rd Fridays 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. in the Holy Family Chapel
History of St. Vincent de Paul Parish and School
St. Vincent de Paul was canonically established on November 21, 1961 by Archbishop Thomas Connelly, drawing about 300 founding families from the booming Federal Way area. Construction of the original church, parish hall, and CCD center began in 1963; the addition of a parish school and convent was authorized when the Sisters of Notre Dame agreed to staff it. St. Vincent de Paul School opened September 9, 1964, and the parish grew steadily through the 1970s and 1980s. Population growth in the 1980s and 1990s outgrew the original sanctuary, and in 1996 the parish dedicated a new church; the older worship space was converted to a gym (with a wooden floor in 2001), a music room, and classrooms. A 2003 expansion added kindergarten, a science lab, and a second-story library/computer lab. The school received NWAAS and WCEA accreditation in 2004, 2010, and 2016.
- Canonically established November 21, 1961 — first pastor and ~300 founding families
- School opened September 9, 1964, staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame
- 1966: first eighth-grade class graduates 34 students
- 1970: junior-high program suspended for financial reasons
- 1986: decision to restore grades 7–8; 7th grade reopens 1989, 8th grade 1990
- 1996: new church dedicated; old church converted to gym/music/classrooms
- 2001: all-wood gym floor installed (funded largely by school families)
- 2003: kindergarten, science lab, library, and computer lab expansion completed
- 2004, 2010, 2016: NWAAS / WCEA accreditation cycles
Partners in the Gospel: Parish Family 31
On July 1, 2024, the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative consolidated 136 parishes into 60 parish families. St. Vincent de Paul was paired with St. Theresa Parish (Federal Way, 98023) as Parish Family 31, sharing a single pastor — Rev. Michael A. Dion — and a parochial vicar, Rev. John Paul Tomassi. The parish family adopted an interim logo uniting the two communities and is moving through the One Parish Planning process in 2025 to articulate a shared mission and eventually form one canonical parish.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael A. Dion
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. John Paul Tomassi
- Partner parish: St. Theresa, Federal Way (98023)
- Deanery: South King Deanery
- County: King
- Process: Partners in the Gospel → One Parish Planning (2025)
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School
St. Vincent de Paul School is a parish-affiliated Catholic elementary school serving preschool through eighth grade, located at 30527 8th Ave. S. on the parish campus. Founded September 9, 1964, the school has twelve homerooms, two portables, a library, a computer lab, a music room, a gym, a faculty lounge, a health room, administrative offices, and a flex classroom. Students use the parish social hall as a lunchroom, and parish ministries such as CCD, Grapevine, Life Teen, and CYO share the campus facilities. The current principal is Wanda Stewart; Extended Care is led by Julie; the office is reachable at 253-839-3532.
- Grades: Pre-School/Pre-K through 8
- Original staff: Sisters of Notre Dame under Sister Dolores
- Accreditation: NWAAS and WCEA (2004, 2010, 2016)
- Principal: Wanda Stewart ([email protected])
- Phone: 253-839-3532
- Athletics & activities: CYO, Life Teen, Grapevine
- Mission: 'a faith-centered Catholic school that promotes academic achievement and spiritual development'
Stained Glass and the Architecture of the 1996 Church
The current St. Vincent de Paul church, dedicated in 1996, is best known for its coordinated stained-glass program articulating a Catholic theology of the transcendence and immanence of God. Ten lower windows and the four south-wall windows together form a catechetical cycle. The north-wall windows portray what happens when God's love is present through the seven sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, Marriage and Holy Orders). The four south-wall windows embody the transcendental qualities of God identified by St. Thomas Aquinas — Unity, Beauty, Goodness, and Truth — described in the parish's 'Our Story' as 'the ultimate desire of the human heart.' The scriptural foundation includes Ephesians 4:6 ('one God and Father of all') and Psalms 97:9 / 108:5 on the Lord's exaltation above all the earth.
- North wall: six windows on the seven sacraments
- South wall: four windows on Unity, Beauty, Goodness, Truth
- Lower windows: transcendence vs. immanence of God
- Scripture anchors: Ephesians 4:6; Psalm 97:9; Psalm 108:5
- Older (1960s) church building repurposed as gym / music room / classrooms after 1996
Clergy, Staff, and Parish Leadership
The parish is currently staffed by Pastor Rev. Michael A. Dion, Parochial Vicar Rev. John Paul Tomassi, and Deacon Juan Lezcano, OFS (Secular Franciscan Order). Roxanne Moynihan serves as Executive Assistant to the priests (253-400-9396, [email protected]). Pastoral staff includes KayLynne Barnes (Director of Pastoral Ministry), Katie Goodson (Pastoral Assistant for Adult Faith Formation and Parish Life), Vanessa Tompkins (Youth Ministry and Mission Trek), Kim Bowman, Allison Ramirez, and a Receptionist/Administrative Assistant. Marty Krause is the Facilities Supervisor. Wanda Stewart is the school principal.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael A. Dion
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. John Paul Tomassi
- Deacon: Juan Lezcano, OFS (253-400-9405)
- Director of Pastoral Ministry: KayLynne Barnes
- Adult Faith Formation & Parish Life: Katie Goodson
- Youth Ministry & Mission Trek: Vanessa Tompkins
- Executive Assistant: Roxanne Moynihan
- Facilities Supervisor: Marty Krause
- School Principal: Wanda Stewart
Sacraments and Anointing of the Sick
St. Vincent de Paul prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion (through CCD), Confirmation, Matrimony, and Holy Orders. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is offered for adults seeking full initiation. Reconciliation is heard Saturday 3:30–4:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The Anointing of the Sick is celebrated on the First Monday of the month at the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Vincent; the parish family also offers the sacrament on Thursdays at St. Theresa and on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at St. Theresa.
- Baptism — infant preparation and adult through RCIA
- First Reconciliation / First Communion via CCD
- Confirmation
- Matrimony / Marriage preparation
- Holy Orders — vocations support
- Anointing of the Sick — First Monday 9 a.m. (St. Vincent)
- Anointing of the Sick — Thursdays (St. Theresa) and Fridays 9:30 a.m. (St. Theresa)
Parish Mission, Identity, and Vision
The parish's published Mission Statement reads: 'Inspired by the Holy Spirit and empowered by the Sacraments, our diverse community worships, serves and grows in the love and knowledge of Jesus.' Its Vision Statement adds: 'We are a growing Catholic community united and passionate in deepening and sharing our relationship with Jesus Christ through justice, love, and compassion.' Together these statements frame St. Vincent de Paul's ministry around the three pillars of worship, formation, and service — embodied in its school, its long-standing Eucharistic Adoration schedule, its Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, and its outreach to the wider Federal Way community through youth and adult faith formation.
- Mission: worship, serve, grow in love and knowledge of Jesus
- Vision: deepen and share relationship with Christ through justice, love, compassion
- Three pillars: Worship, Formation, Service
- Identity markers: diverse community, weekly Adoration, parish school, Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Visiting, Contact, and Location
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is located at 30525 8th Avenue S, Federal Way, WA 98003-4100. The parish office phone is 253-839-2320 and the general email is [email protected]. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any weekend Mass; first-time visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves to the priests after Mass. The parish sits in central Federal Way, with access from I-5 (S 320th St or S 348th St exits) and is reached by King County Metro buses on Pacific Highway S and S 304th St. The campus includes the 1996 church, the older converted church/gym, the school building, and two portables, with on-site parking.
- Address: 30525 8th Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003-4100
- Phone: 253-839-2320
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stvincentparish.org/
- Archdiocese listing: https://archseattle.org/parish/st-vincent-de-paul-federal-way-98003/
- Deanery: South King Deanery (King County)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Unknown founding pastor (appointed 1961)1961 – ?
Archbishop Thomas Connelly canonically established the parish on November 21, 1961; the name of the first pastor assigned is not on the parish or archdiocesan web pages reviewed.
- Rev. Frank Schusterserving 2021 – 2022
Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul at the time of his appointment by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle (announced March 8, 2022). Subsequently named Archbishop's Representative and Chair of the Boards of Trustees for Catholic Community Services, Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington, and the Catholic Charities Foundation on December 20, 2023.
- Rev. Michael A. Dion2022 – present
Succeeded Father Schuster as pastor and was named pastor of Parish Family 31 (St. Vincent de Paul and St. Theresa) on July 1, 2024 under Partners in the Gospel. Featured in the archdiocesan Partners in the Gospel video series.
- Rev. John Paul Tomassi2024 – present
Parochial Vicar of the parish family since the Partners in the Gospel consolidation.