About Sts. Peter and Paul · Tacoma, Washington
Saints Peter & Paul is a Roman Catholic Polish-American parish in Tacoma, Washington, located at 3422 East Portland Avenue in the 98404 ZIP code. Originally founded in 1892 as a Polish National parish, it is now an apostolate of the Society of Christ (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe, S.Chr.), a Polish clerical congregation, and belongs to the Archdiocese of Seattle. The parish is bilingual, celebrating Mass in both English and Polish each week, and serves as a spiritual home for Tacoma's Polish community while also welcoming parishioners of every background.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
- Rector
- Rev. Klemens Dąbrowski, S.Chr.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Pierce Deanery)
Why belong here
Saints Peter & Paul offers a uniquely bilingual Roman Catholic experience in Tacoma, with three Sunday Masses — one in Polish, two in English — plus a Saturday Vigil and weekday Masses in both languages, making it easy for families of any background to worship together. The parish is small enough to know one another, anchored by a long tradition of the Rosary (Koła Różańcowe), a weekly Friday Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration, and a welcoming coffee hour (Kawiarenka) after Mass. As an apostolate of the Society of Christ Fathers, it brings a distinctive Polish-Catholic spiritual patrimony — confession before every Mass, devotion to the Blessed Virgin and the apostles Peter and Paul, and a multi-generational community — to the east-side Portland Avenue neighborhood of Tacoma.
Mass times at Sts. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Sunday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Also: 30 minutes before each Mass
Adoration times
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Holy Hour / Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish History
Saints Peter & Paul was founded in 1892 as the first Polish Roman Catholic parish in the Pacific Northwest, two years after the Polish National Alliance organized Tacoma's Polish community in 1890. For nearly a century the parish was led by the Benedictine Order, whose priests not only served the Tacoma Polish community but also traveled to Seattle to celebrate Polish-language Masses for scattered faithful there.
- Founded 1892 as a Polish National parish
- Benedictine (OSB) pastoral leadership from the early years through 1981
- Last Benedictine pastor transferred in 1981; parish briefly served as a station church of Holy Rosary
- October 3, 1983: Rev. Wladyslaw Gowin, S.Chr. (Provincial of the Society of Christ) met Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle
- Archbishop agreed to establish a Polish Ministry on the condition the Society of Christ supply the priest
- Society of Christ (S.Chr.) took canonical possession of the parish in 1983
- In 2008 the parish celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Society of Christ Fathers' presence
Apostolate of the Society of Christ
Since 1983 Saints Peter & Paul has been an apostolate of the Society of Christ (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe, S.Chr.), a Polish clerical congregation dedicated to serving Polish communities abroad. The Society provides the pastor and ensures that the parish remains a vibrant center of Polish-Catholic spiritual life in the Pacific Northwest, while remaining in full communion with the Archdiocese of Seattle.
- Society of Christ (Towarzystwo Chrystusowe / S.Chr.) — canonical pastor and leadership since 1983
- Parish is part of the Archdiocese of Seattle's Pierce Deanery
- Listed as Parish Family #60 in the Archdiocese of Seattle parish finder
Sacraments
Information on the seven sacraments is published in the parish bulletin, which is bilingual (English and Polish). Baptisms are typically celebrated communally at Sunday Mass; couples preparing for marriage, families seeking First Communion, and the sick in need of Anointing should contact the parish office.
- Baptism (Sakrament Chrztu Świętego) — celebrated communally; recent example: Sunday June 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Eucharist — see full Mass schedule
- Confirmation — through the Archdiocese of Seattle's preparation process
- Reconciliation — 30 minutes before Mass plus scheduled slots
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
- Matrimony — contact the parish office for preparation in English or Polish
- Holy Orders — vocations inquiries directed to the Society of Christ or Archdiocese
Parish Ministries & Groups
Saints Peter & Paul is a small parish with an active volunteer culture. Ministries are coordinated through the parish bulletin, where parishioners sign up to serve in lector roles, host the Kawiarenka coffee hour, sponsor altar flowers with a personal intention, support the Annual Catholic Appeal, and maintain the buildings and grounds.
- Koło Różańcowe — Rosary Groups, with monthly prayer intentions
- Lector ministry — published lector schedule for the 9:00 AM English Mass and Polish services
- Coffee hour / Kawiarenka — hosts sign up weekly to serve refreshments after Mass
- Altar flowers — $100 offering with a personal intention read at the Prayer of the Faithful
- Parish registration drive — ongoing census update (84+ families registered as of mid-2026)
- Building Maintenance & Grounds committees
- Annual Catholic Appeal committee — parish goal for 2025–26 cycle: $13,995
- Religious Education support
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is pastored by a priest of the Society of Christ, supported by a part-time pastoral assistant who manages administration and bookkeeping. Substitute clergy and visiting priests assist the pastor for weekday coverage and special occasions.
- Rev. Klemens Dąbrowski, S.Chr. — Pastor (Księża Chrystusowcy / Society of Christ)
- Diana Cantonwine — Pastoral Assistant for Administration / Bookkeeper
- Substitute clergy (engaged as needed)
Parish Bulletin & Communications
The parish publishes a bilingual weekly bulletin (BIULETYN PARAFIALNY / WEEKLY NEWS OF ST. PETER & PAUL PARISH), with schedules, ministry sign-ups, Mass intentions, financial reports, and announcements. Back issues and the most recent bulletin are available as PDFs on the parish website.
- Bilingual weekly bulletin — Polish and English
- Available at stspeterpaultacoma.com/bulletins/bulletin.pdf
- Annual Financial Report (FY 2023–24) published at stspeterpaultacoma.com/bulletins/Annual-Report-FY-2023-2024.pdf
- QR code for the parish Facebook page referenced in recent bulletins
Facilities: Church & Parish Hall
The parish church at 3422 East Portland Avenue is the principal place of worship. Adjacent to it stands the parish hall, which the parish acquired after the dissolution of a local Polish National Catholic congregation, and which now hosts the Kawiarenka coffee hour, ministry meetings, and parish social events.
- Church — 3422 E. Portland Ave., Tacoma, WA 98404
- Parish hall — formerly the Polish National Catholic Church building, converted for parish use
- Used for the Kawiarenka coffee hour, ministry meetings, and social events
- No specific parking or accessibility details are published online
Patron Saints — Peter and Paul
The parish takes its name from the two great apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, who together are honored as founders of the Church of Rome. They share a single Solemnity on June 29 — the universal feast day of the parish's patrons and one of the most important feasts in the Roman liturgical calendar.
- St. Peter — chief of the Apostles, the Rock upon which Christ built His Church; patron of fishermen, net makers, and shipbuilders
- St. Paul — Apostle to the Gentiles, missionary, and author of many New Testament epistles
- Shared Solemnity celebrated June 29
- Together regarded as patrons of Rome and of the universal Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Benedictine Order (OSB)early 1890s – 1981
Pastored the parish from its founding era through nearly a century; the last Benedictine pastor was transferred in 1981.
- Society of Christ (S.Chr.)1983 – present
Took canonical possession in 1983 after Rev. Wladyslaw Gowin, S.Chr., Provincial, met Archbishop Hunthausen; the Society marked its 25th anniversary at the parish in 2008.
- Rev. Klemens Dąbrowski, S.Chr.
Current pastor of the parish.