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History of Saint Michael's
Parish
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The first celebration of the mass on a regular basis
in what is now the Snohomish County area is believed to have been held by
Father Chrouse, who came from the Yakima Valley to Tulalip in 1857, two years
before Snohomish was incorporated as a city. He built a church at Tulalip Bay
and also a school for the tribe's children. |
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In 1883 Father Louis Custer came to Snohomish from Seattle as a missionary and
began a movement to build a church on some property that had been donated to the Catholic's in the area b
E.C. Furgeson, the man who is credited for founding the city of Snohomish. Although Fr. Custer was
unable to achieve the goal immediately, he continued to celebrate mass in homes until the Alhambra
Theater became available for services. |
| In 1886 Father Michael
McCauley came to Snohomish as the area's first resident pastor. With his own
money, Fr. McCauley began the process of constructing a church in Snohomish.
The original building was 55 feet long, 28 feet wide, and had a steeple 80
feet high. The building and accompanying rectory were built for about $1600.
The Catholic Church joined two other churches in the city: a Methodist
Church and a Presbyterian church. |
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The
church was originally dedicated as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" but was
later changed for unknown reasons to "Saint Michael's"
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In 1920, the church was renovated and remained much the same until 1986,
when the current building was constructed. The interior of the church stayed
much the same until 1986.
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Following is a list of priests and
initial year of service:
1852 - Fr. Chirouse
1852 - Fr. Mansueto (as a
missionary)
1853 - Fr. Louis Custer
1886 - Fr. Michael
McCauley
1890 - Fr. F.X. Guay
1894 - Fr. Peter Van
Holenbeke
1900 - Fr. John Edwin
O'Brien
1902 - Fr. A.J.Bourke
(Oversaw Construction of Holy Cross in Granite Falls)
1906 - Fr. T.F.Van de
Walle
1948 - Fr. Garrett Galvin
1962 - Fr. Anthony
Throckmortin
1966 - Fr. Patrick O'Neill
1972 - Fr. John Peters
1975 - Fr. Michael O'Brien
1979 - Fr. Dennis
Champagne (Oversaw Construction of present Church)
1999 - Fr. Richard Ward
2003 - Fr. Jay DeFolco |
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