History of the Parish

St. Bridget Parish was established in 1968, after the close of the Second Vatican Council.  As such, the parish exudes an energetic, progressive spirit, with extensive lay involvement, unfettered by memories of the difficult transitions which plagued other parishes for years after the Council.  Its open, semi-circular architecture embodies the “People of God” theology articulated in the Council documents.

Archbishop Thomas Connolly announced that the new parish would be established as an outgrowth of Assumption Parish, with Fr. Stanton Boyle as founding Pastor.  On June 23rd, 1968, some 300 “founding families” began gathering for weekend Mass in the chapel of the Sacred Heart Villa, at the invitation of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.  

Fr. Boyle was joined in 1976 by Fr. Gerald Stanley, living in residence as Catholic chaplain at Children’s Hospital.  In 1978, Fr. Boyle was replaced as Pastor by Fr. Dennis Muehe, who came to us from his former position as Director of Catholic Community Services.  In 1983, Fr. Stanley was reassigned, and St. Bridget hired Mr. Denny Duffell as chaplain, also serving the parish as Religious Education Director.  In the mid-1980’s the parish’s slow but steady growth forced it beyond its offices in the basement of the Rectory, and St. Bridget built new offices, classrooms, a Youth room and Fireside room as part of a new Parish Center.  Around that same time, Denny entered formation for the permanent Diaconate, eventually being ordained for full-time diaconal service at St. Bridget in spring of 1989.  Unfortunately, Fr. Muehe retired as pastor at nearly the same time, due to increasingly poor health.  

Shortly afterwards, Fr. Harold Quigg came to St. Bridget as Pastor, appointed Deacon Denny as his Pastoral Administrator, and led the parish during a time of great neighborhood change, which resulted in a great influx of new, younger families and unprecedented overall growth, with the parish doubling its size to over 800 families.  This growth led to the Family of Faith project, which increased the area for children’s programs and meeting rooms, doubled the size of the Youth Room and Fireside Room, provided for a Nursery, and added seating in the church, along with other liturgical improvements.  Fr. Quigg retired in 2000 for medical reasons, to be replaced by Fr. Marlin Connole, from the same “former parish” as his predecessor. 

Marlin, as he was popularly known, oversaw the construction phase of the Family of Faith project, including the artistic stained glass windows and the new Baptismal Font, which was completed in the spring of 2003.  Fr. Connole retired from St. Bridget at the end of June, 2007.   

That July, Archbishop Brunette appointed Fr. Gary Morelli, a newly retired priest, to serve the needs of St. Bridget for one year.  In late spring of 2008, the announcement was made that Fr. Tim Sauer would become the new pastor at St. Bridget, to begin serving in October, after a much-needed sabbatical.  Fr. Sauer formerly served at O'Dea High School for many years, and for the previous 12 years was the pastor in Ferndale and Blaine, and on the Lummi reservation.

Outreach to those in need, inspired by our patroness, St. Bridget of Kildaire, is a major reason the parish has been blessed in recent years.  Whether to the homeless families at the Sacred Heart Shelter or Sand Point Transitional Housing, to the sick children and their families at neighboring Children’s Hospital, to the residents of Jonestown, Mississippi, or to the school children of our sister parish of Namitembo Mission in Malawi, Central Africa – this outreach continues to be a major focal point of activity within St. Bridget Parish.

History of the Saint

St. Bridget (c.450-525) -- Feast day, February 1.

St. Bridget was probably born at Faughart, near Dundalk, Louth, Ireland.  Her parents were baptized by St. Patrick, with whom she developed a close friendship.  According to legend, her father was Dabhthach, an Irish chieftain of Leinster, and her mother, Brocca, was a slave at his court. 

Even as a young girl, she displayed an interest in religious life, and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan, and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who is believed to have conferred abbatial authority on her.  She settled with seven of her followers at the foot of Croghan Hill for a time, and about the year 468 followed Mel to Meath.  About 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara, and was abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland.  The foundation developed into a center of learning and spirituality, and around it grew up the cathdral city of Kildare.  She founded a school of art at Kildare, and its illuminated manuscripts became famous, notably the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago.

Bridget was one of the most remarkable women of her times, and despite the numerous legendary, extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt that her extraordinary spirituality, boundless charity, and compassion for those in distress were real.  She died at Kildare on February 1.  "The Mary of Gael," she is buried at Downpatrick with St. Columba and St. Patrick, with whom she is patron of Ireland.  Her name is sometimes Brigid and Bride.