About Visitation · Tacoma, Washington
The Church of the Visitation is a Roman Catholic parish in South Tacoma, Washington, belonging to the Archdiocese of Seattle. Founded by the Benedictine Fathers in 1892, it has served South Tacoma families for more than 130 years and today functions as the South Tacoma Chapel of Pope Saint John XXIII Parish Family. Its beautiful Gothic Revival church, designed by the Tacoma architectural firm of Lundberg & Mahon, was dedicated by Bishop Edward J. O'Dea on June 15, 1913. All Masses are celebrated in the Ordinary Use of the Roman Rite in English, with weekend services on Saturday morning and Sunday morning, plus a Thursday school-year Mass.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady's visit to her cousin Elizabeth)
- Rector
- Rev. Tuan V. Nguyen, D.D.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Pierce Deanery)
Why belong here
Visitation is a multi-generational South Tacoma Catholic community with deep roots — founded in 1892 by the Benedictine Fathers and still worshipping in its 1913 Gothic Revival sanctuary. As part of Pope Saint John XXIII Parish Family, it offers weekend Mass in English, Saturday-morning confession, and a Thursday school-year Mass, supported by an active outreach network (the Food Bank / Ministries of the Poor, Knights of Columbus, and parish-school partnership through Pope St. John XXIII STEM Academy). Parishioners highlight a welcoming, multicultural, family-oriented atmosphere where ministries such as the Food Bank, Flower Ministry, CCD, and music ministry are run by fellow parishioners.
Mass times at Visitation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:00 AM (before the 9:00 AM Mass)
History of Visitation Parish
Visitation Parish was founded by the Benedictine Fathers in 1892 to serve Catholic families in South Tacoma. After two decades of growth, the parish moved to its present site at South 58th and Warner in 1912, and Bishop Edward J. O'Dea formally dedicated the new Gothic Revival church on June 15, 1913. The parish grew quickly — by 1924 it counted more than 200 families and 220 children — and a parish school was dedicated on August 23, 1925, originally staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Benedict's Convent in Minnesota.
- Founded 1892 by the Benedictine Fathers
- Current church dedicated June 15, 1913 by Bishop Edward J. O'Dea
- Pastors Albert Erkens, OSB (1925) and Demetries Jueneman, OSB (1924–25) shaped the early parish
- Parish school dedicated August 23, 1925; staffed by Benedictine Sisters
- Joined the South East Tacoma Cluster in 2006
Gothic Revival Church Building
The current Visitation church was designed in 1912 by the Tacoma firm of Lundberg & Mahon — Charles F. W. Lundberg and C. Frank Mahon — and is identified by the City of Tacoma's Sacred Places Inventory as one of the best-articulated Gothic Revival churches in the city. The building displays the classic Gothic features of vertical massing, masonry construction, and prominent stained glass.
- Architects: Lundberg & Mahon (C. F. W. Lundberg and C. Frank Mahon)
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Year built: 1912; dedicated June 15, 1913
- Address: 3318 South 58th Street (parish campus)
Pope Saint John XXIII Parish Family
In 2021 Visitation was merged into Pope Saint John XXIII Parish, and on July 1, 2024 the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative brought four parishes — St. Ann (now Saint John XXIII Church), Visitation, St. John of the Woods, and St. Rita — together as Parish Family #38 under the name Pope St. John XXIII. Visitation continues to function as the South Tacoma Chapel, sharing staff, the bulletin, the website, and a unified calendar with the other campuses. Father Tuan V. Nguyen was appointed Pastor and Father Hendry Arockiasamy serves as Parochial Vicar of the family.
- Merger into Pope Saint John XXIII Parish: 2021
- Parish Family #38 formed: July 1, 2024
- Other campuses: Saint John XXIII Church (formerly St. Ann), St. Rita, St. John of the Woods Mission
- Pastor: Rev. Tuan V. Nguyen, D.D.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Hendry Jesu Rajan Arokiasamy, H.G.N.
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by Pastor Father Tuan V. Nguyen, Parochial Vicar Father Hendry Jesu Rajan Arokiasamy, H.G.N., and Deacons Mike Teskey and Theman Pham. Pastoral and outreach support is provided by the Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Go Vap, parish staff, and parish leadership teams.
- Pastor: Rev. Tuan V. Nguyen, D.D. ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Hendry Jesu Rajan Arokiasamy, H.G.N.
- Deacon Mike Teskey
- Deacon Theman Pham (Baptism classes, Liturgy Support)
- Administrative Assistant: Jeannine Wargo
- Project Coordinator: Thien Dinh
- Sister Anna Nguyen (Sr. Hang) — Homebound & Outreach Ministry, anointing of the sick, food bank, senior events
- Ministry of the Poor Chair: Linda Lamb (phone 253-474-0835)
Ministries of the Poor & Outreach
The Food Bank and Ministries of the Poor are the parish's signature outreach. Located in the basement of Visitation (Warner St. entrance), the ministry operates a sandwich program and food/clothing bank Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, distributes grocery bags, gas cards, and bus tickets, and partners with St. John of the Woods Mission and other PSJ23 campuses. In one recent reporting month the ministry distributed 8,015 pounds of food, 526 lunches, 91 grocery bags, and 20 gas cards, while serving roughly 600 people with the help of 21 volunteers.
- Food Bank & Sandwich Ministry: Monday–Friday 9:30–11:30 AM
- Gift Card / Voucher Assistance: by appointment, Tues. & Thurs. 9:30–11:30 AM
- Outreach phone: 253-474-0835
- Outreach email: [email protected]
- Provides food, clothing, bus fare assistance; no rent/utility financial assistance
- Linda Lamb, Ministry Chair; Margaret Thompson, Vice Chair; Deacon Mike Teskey, Chaplain
Parish Organizations & Faith Formation
Visitation parishioners run and participate in a range of lay organizations and faith-formation ministries. The Knights of Columbus meets after Sunday Mass and supports CCD children and parish events. The Women's Club and the Visitation Leadership Team collaborate with the pastor on parish direction. Faith formation for children and youth includes CCD classes and a parish-school Confirmation program.
- Knights of Columbus
- Women's Club
- Phoenix Housing Network
- Visitation Leadership Team (works with the Pastor on parish discernment)
- CCD / Religious Education
- Confirmation preparation
- Natural Family Planning resources (Couple to Couple League)
Pope St. John XXIII STEM Academy (Visitation Catholic STEM Academy)
The parish school, originally Visitation Catholic School, was dedicated on August 23, 1925 under Father Demetries Jueneman, OSB and was first staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Benedict's Convent in Minnesota. In 2012 the school adopted a STEM focus with an emphasis on project-based learning, becoming Visitation Catholic STEM Academy. Following the formation of Parish Family #38, the school is now Pope St. John XXIII STEM Academy and serves students from 6 weeks through 8th grade with an 11:1 student-teacher ratio.
- Originally Visitation Catholic School, dedicated August 23, 1925
- Began with the Benedictine Sisters of St. Benedict's Convent, Minnesota
- STEM focus adopted in 2012
- Renamed Pope St. John XXIII STEM Academy after 2024 parish family merger
- Grades: 6 weeks through 8th grade
- Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
- School address: 3306 S. 58th St., Tacoma, WA 98409
- Phone: (253) 474-6424
Contact, Location & Visiting
Visitation Church is located in South Tacoma at the corner of S. 58th Street and Warner Street. The parish offices, school, and outreach ministries are all based at the parish campus. The Ministry of the Poor / Food Bank is in the church basement, with the entrance on the Warner Street side.
- Address: 3314 S 58th St., Tacoma, WA 98409-5306
- Parish phone: (253) 473-4960
- Fax: (253) 474-8378
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Outreach phone: 253-474-0835
- School: 3306 S. 58th St., Tacoma, WA 98409 — (253) 474-6424
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Wolfgang Ste... (Ste[?]) OSBLate 19th century (early pastor during founding era)
Listed as one of the founding-era Benedictine pastors who organized what would become Visitation Parish.
- Rev. Albert Erkens, OSBActive 1925; ~34 years in the parish by 1925
Quoted by the Tacoma Times in 1925 reflecting on the parish's mission and growth.
- Rev. Demetries Jueneman, OSB1924–c.1925+
Broke ground on the parish school in October 1924 and oversaw its dedication on August 23, 1925.
- Rev. Tuan V. Nguyen, D.D.2024–present
Appointed Pastor of Parish Family #38 (Pope St. John XXIII) when the four parishes were united on July 1, 2024.