St. Cecilia Catholic Church at 26900 78th Ave NW, Stanwood, WA 98292 US - History of Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, Stanwood

In the 1860's, extensive and fertile land attracted settlers to the lower Stillaguamish Valley. This land was and is suitable for the production of wide varieties of grains, fruits and vegetables. Coexistent with the early agricultural development was a booming lumber industry. For in the early days, these densely timbered lands had to be logged before they could be farmed. The pioneers of this promising area did not come to claim a fast fortune, but hoped to carve a secure and productive life in America's last frontier.

Of the early settlers to this region there came, in the 1880's and 1890's, a small number of Irish families from Canada and the Central United States. They had come west to build a brighter future and they brought with them their Catholic faith. In the 1890's, several Catholic families living in the lower Stillaguamish Valley prevailed upon Father P. Dubbel, from the Tulalip Indian Reservation, to hold services for them. Three to four times a years, Mass was offered in the homes of Edward Tolin, Edward O'Melia and Walter Hogan. Also in the 1890's, Father H. Saindom, Father J. Dellanoy and Father P. LeRoux came by wagon to offer Mass in Private homes. A catechism class was organized by Mrs. Peter Carlson in the early 1890's. In 1896, the first class was taken by train to Tulalip for Confirmation. Stories, from the early Catholics, tell of Father P. Gardas a kindly missionary Priest, who came by canoe to this area at the turn of the century. In 1900, Father Gard took a group of six boys along the beach to Tulalip for Confirmation. It was a disheveled group that entered Tulalip one afternoon. Their clothes were muddy and torn from stumbling over rocks and brush. Father Gard did his best to have their clothes cleaned and mended for Confirmation, which was held the next morning.

The desire of these early Catholics to have their own church prompted Father Quigley to purchase a small tract of land from the Giard Estate, in 1906. In 1908, because of the generous contributions from townspeople and businesses (a majority of whom were not Catholic) money raising dinners and socials, the Catholic families were able to construct a new church, under the guidance of Father Patrick O'Donnel. It was Father O'Donnel who chose Saint Cecilia as our patroness. Bids for the little church were advertised in The Stanwood Tidings, on January 19,1908. On September 4, 1908, The Stanwood Tidings reported the foundation for the new $1,600.00 Catholic Church was being laid just west of Mr. Giard's residence. The contractors expected to have it ready in about six weeks. The new church was blessed by Father Brogan, S.J.

The original congregation consisted of Mr. and Mrs. James McFarland, Mr. and Mrs. Edward O'Melia, Mr. and Mrs. William McDougall, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Tolin, Mr. and Mrs. Dan McDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McGinnis, Mr. and Mrs. James Hall, Mrs. Walter Hogan, Mrs. Andrew Carlson, Mrs. Peter Carlson, Mrs. Catherine McFarland, Robert Ferguson and Hugh Callaghan. We still have third, fourth and fifth generation descendants of these pioneer families.

Mrs. Andrew Carlson was the great grandmother of Joe, Terry and Mary Seabury and the great-great grandmother of Angela, Brenden and Jessica Seabury. Mr. and Mrs. Edward O'Melia were the grandparents of Peter McDougall.

The first funeral in Saint Cecilia's Church was for Mrs. Bridget Hogan, March 1909; the first wedding was Mary Dolan and Walter Hogan, August 1910; and the first baby to be baptized was Albert Moe Jr. Up until 1915, Father O'Donnel came by railroad to administer to the congregation of the new Church.

In 1918, St. Cecilia was detached from Marysville and canonically attached to Arlington. Father William Fitzgerald attended to the needs of the Stanwood Mission until 1925. Father McGrath cared for the mission from 1925 until 1933; Father Francis Jones from 1933 until 1936; Father Roger Furlong, 1936 until 1947; Father Edwin Budde, 1947 until 1948; Father William Ogden, 1948 until 1952 and Father James Deady, 1952 until 1958.

The Stanwood congregation had grown over the years and the little 1909 church could not meet the needs of the regular parishioners and the growing number of summer visitors from Camano Island and Warm Beach. In the summer, Mass was held at the east Stanwood Town Hall (now the American Legion Hall), because the summer parishioners and visitors alike had to stand outside the church in order to attend the service. Anticipating an even larger population, Father Deady realized that a larger church would be needed. A seven acre plot of ground, overlooking Stanwood, was bought for $7,125.00.

During this time, there were many fund raising projects to finance the new building. There were bazaars, bake sales, dollar fairs, raffles and oyster stews. The people of the parish were dedicated to raising money for their new church. Father Edward Boyle cared for the parishioners from 1957 until 1965. Under his guidance, in 1963, the building fund goal of $49,500.00 was reached. In that same year, Archbishop Connelly authorized the plans for the construction of the new church in Stanwood. With a basic bid of $128,000.00, Schaffer Construction Company of Everett was awarded the contract. The overall cost was $170,000.00. To launch a financial drive, a loyalty dinner was held December of 1962. The three year goal was to raise $40,000.00, in addition to the regular Sunday offering. With over $41,000.00 pledged, the three year program was inaugurated in January of 1963. In the Spring of 1964, the building was nearly completed. Many of the men from Saint Cecilia formed work parties to clear the the grounds. With the love and sacrifice of the parishioners, local and summer visitors, the congregation was able to move into the new church, which was blessed by the Most Reverend Thomas J. Connolly, D.D., J.C.D. on July 12, 1964.

In 1965, Father Boyle was succeeded by Father Earl LaBerge, 1965-1968; Father William Slate, 1968-1974; Father Bernard Jonientz, 1974-1979; Father Richard Basso, 1979-1980; Father Dell, 1980 and Father Oliver Duggan, 1980-1981.

We have even been blessed with two priests from our own Parish. Father Thomas Marti, M.M., son of Alfred and Anna Marti and Father Phillip Bloom, son of Mel and Mary Bloom.

In the late 1970's, Camano Island parishioners asked Father Basso to celebrate Mass once a week on Camano. Father agreed and Mass was celebrated every Wednesday, first in private homes and then at the Country Club Fire Hall. Father Dell continued this when he became Pastor. Father Treacy, who was Ecumenical, asked permission to say Mass at Camano Lutheran Church. This continued until the summer of 1998, when it was decided the Wednesday Mass would be celebrated at Saint Cecilia.

On July 10, 1981, St. Cecilia was declared the newest parish in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen officially installed Father William Treacy as Pastor on July 29, 1981. With their own Pastor, the people of Saint Cecilia now needed a Rectory. Plans were presented to the Archdiocesan Planning Commission for approval. Sunday, October 25, 1981, became pledge Sunday, with a goal of $150,000.00. On December 7, 1981, in pouring rain, Archbishop Hunthausen broke ground for the Rectory, which was completed in June 1982. On December 5, 1982, the mortgage was burned in the presence of the entire congregation. Paying off the cost of the Rectory and paved parking lot in such a short time showed generosity and support of the parishioners and our summer visitors. Father Treacy retired as Pastor in 1989.

The growth of our Parish continued and on November 20, 1982, we were blessed with our own Deacon, Don Hanika. He and Vera have worked tirelessly for the welfare of Saint Cecilia. In 1995, our parish family was honored to be part of their 50th wedding anniversary. In 1998, Don retired and he and Vera were given a farewell party attended by the whole parish. Don will be greatly missed as our Deacon, but he and Vera remain with us in our parish family.

In 1989, Carmelite priests came to Saint Cecilia. On June 20, 1989, Father James Geoghegan, OCD, was appointed as Administrator when the Carmelite Order made Stanwood their home and headquarters. He was appointed as Pastor to the parish in July of 1990. Along with Father James came Father Colm Stone, OCD, who was appointed Director of the new Institute of Spirituality, located two doors down from the church here in Stanwood. Both priests were a blessing to Saint Cecilia. Father James directed the extensive renovations in 1993. In addition to being the Institute of Spirituality, the house also serves as a retreat house known as the Carmelite Center. Father David Centner, OCD, arrived in September of 1993 and the three priests formed a "Carmelite Community." In September of 1995, the Carmelites purchased the "Larson House" next door to the Institute. It is now known as the St. John House, and also serves as a retreat house as well as housing the Institute's administration staffs. In July of 1996, Fathers James and Father David were transferred to California to serve the Carmelite community. Father Matthew Williams, OCD arrived from California and was appointed our Pastor. Father Colm remained among us and served as the Director of the Institute and our Parochial Vicar. Now, we are blessed to have Father Colm with us and we miss Father James and Father David.

In 1996, Father Matthew Williams came up from California to serve as Pastor. With Father Matthew, Saint Cecilia entered into a new phase in our parish life. We started a fund drive to build a social hall addition to our church. In July of 1999, Father Matthew was transferred back to California, and Fr. Paul Koenig, a Carmelite priest from California, joined us as our newest pastor. Father David Centner returned to serve with Father Colm in the Institute, and to assist with parish duties as well. It was good to see Father David return.

Unfortunately, it was a short stay and Fr. David relocated to Holly Hills, Wisconsin in late 2001.  In September 2002, Fr. Colm was transferred to help establish the Carmelite Mission in Uganda, East Africa.  He was replaced at the Institute of Spirituality by Fr. Charles Garrity, O.C.D.  In 2005, Fr. Matthew Williams returned as pastor.

Our parish is growing! The parish has grown from the original 14 families, who worked so hard to build the first little church and our present church of over 600!  Our recent addition of a new social hall, entryway, gathering area, bathrooms and storage space was needed to accommodate our parishioners. The faith, dedication, love and sacrifice of our early day parishioner continues in our present parish and we will see the hopes and dreams of all of us to come true.