St. Michael Catholic Parish
Snohomish Washington
Our History

 

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.
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.
Saint Michael's circa 1889 Saint Michael's circa 1920 The Church interior until 1989
The church was originally dedicated as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" but was later changed for unknown reasons to "Saint Michael's"
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.
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