A Parish Born from a "Lost Cause"
St. Jude Catholic Church sits on 166th Avenue NE in Redmond, Washington, a few minutes from the Microsoft campus in a city that did not exist as a Catholic community when the parish was born. In the early 1970s, Redmond was still a rural town turning into a bedroom community for the Eastside, and the Catholics among its new residents were driving to Kirkland, Issaquah, Bellevue, and Bothell for Mass. The Archdiocese of Seattle had quietly purchased a parcel of land here years before, waiting for the day the Catholic population would support a parish. That day arrived in 1977, when four parishioners - Jim Daily, Florence Favollita, Gert Pitman, and Ed Cade - sat down with Archbishop Hunthausen to make their case. He was encouraging. The following September 16, 1978, the first Mass was celebrated in the cafeteria of Redmond Middle School at 5:00 PM, with about 250 people in attendance. By the end of that first weekend, roughly 1,000 people from just over 300 families had come through for Eucharist across three celebrations.
Fundraising began in 1979 and the church was dedicated on October 25, 1981, by Archbishop Hunthausen and Abbot Adrian of St. Martin's Abbey. A guild once attached to Holy Family Parish in Kirkland suggested the name St. Jude, and the choice stuck for a reason the parish still tells: the original families thought building a Catholic church in Redmond was a "lost cause," and St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes. From those cafeteria beginnings grew what the parish describes as a community noted for its spirit and vitality, one that the broader Redmond community came to value for its service to those in need.
Three Pastors and a Growing Campus
Father Jerry Lovett was appointed the first pastor and led St. Jude for twenty-five years. Under his tenure the parish outgrew its original footprint, and the multipurpose building now called Lovett Hall was added in 1986. By 2003 the church itself was renovated, gaining a new narthex and Eucharistic Chapel. Father Dave Rogerson took over in July 2004 and continued the parish's tradition of hospitality, hosting Tent City four times between 2007 and 2013 and creating the annual Display of Nativities during the Christmas-to-Epiphany season that filled the narthex with hundreds of unique pieces from around the world. Father James Johnson arrived in July 2013, and his tenure has been marked by an enthusiasm for worship and liturgy, a particular commitment to reaching out to families with young children, and a deepening partnership with neighboring parishes.
Mass, Confession, and Adoration
St. Jude offers Mass every day of the week except Tuesday. Weekday Mass is at 9:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and each of these liturgies is livestreamed. The Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:00 PM and is also livestreamed. Sunday Masses are at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Confessions are heard on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 8:50 AM and on Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, with appointments available by calling the parish office. A communal Parish Penance Service is celebrated twice a year in Advent and Lent.
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration every Friday following the 9:00 AM Mass, continuing until 9:00 PM. Adoration is hosted by the parish's House of Prayer ministry and includes guided Adoration with praise, worship, a brief talk, and silence. The parish also hosts a First Fridays Holy Hour at 7:00 PM with the same format. Regular adorers can sign up for a weekly hour through the parish's We Adore Him page, and substitutes are always needed.
Communion may be received on the hand or on the tongue. Reservations are not required, and the parish does not check vaccination status. Masks are no longer required to attend Mass in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Those who are not feeling well are asked to stay home.
Becoming Catholic and the Sacraments of Initiation
Adults who want to explore the Catholic faith journey through the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) work with Deacon Reuben D'Sa and a team of sponsors through a communal process rooted in the early Church. The OCIA journey moves through the Period of Inquiry, the Rite of Initiation, the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election, the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and finally Mystagogy. Adults who have already been baptized in another Christian tradition prepare for Confirmation and Eucharist through a similar path. Baptisms of older children and youth who are not yet baptized are also prepared through this process.
Adults who were baptized Catholic but never received Confirmation can join a separate Adult Confirmation class each fall, with the sacrament typically celebrated in January or February. Registration is done online, and the class is led by Deacon Reuben with support from the OCIA team.
Sacraments at Every Stage of Life
Baptism. Infant Baptisms are scheduled monthly, with required preparation classes for parents and godparents. A godparent verification form is required for each sponsor, and separate forms exist for parishioners of St. Jude and for those registered at another parish. Adult baptisms take place at the Easter Vigil through OCIA.
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Children in grades 2 to 3 (and again in grades 4 to 6 for older children) prepare for these sacraments as part of Family Faith Formation, exploring the meaning of rituals, symbols, gestures, and prayers.
Confirmation. Youth in grade 7 and above are invited into a two-year preparation that centers on becoming an active disciple of Jesus Christ, rooted in the parish community. Adult Confirmation is held each fall for Catholics who never received the sacrament as teenagers.
Marriage. Couples are asked to begin the scheduling process six to ten months in advance, with a twelve-month preparation period typical. Engaged couples meet with Father Johnson to begin.
Anointing of the Sick. Available to anyone experiencing serious illness, advanced age, or preparing for surgery, by contacting the parish office during business hours. After hours and in emergencies, the Eastside Pastoral Care priest on call can be reached at 425-655-3200. A communal celebration is held twice a year.
Funerals. Arranged through the parish office during business hours. The parish provides a long list of approved readings from Scripture, including options specific to the Easter season, for families to choose from.
Faith Formation from Kindergarten through High School
St. Jude's Family Faith Formation program gathers families in the parish to learn the Catholic faith together, building up strong Catholic households in which parents remain the primary educators of their children. K-6 classes meet on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall. First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation is built into the same classes for grades 2 to 3 and grades 4 to 6.
Confirmation preparation for grades 7 and above begins with an orientation meeting with Father Johnson and then alternates Sunday and Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The Teen Ministry group for grades 7 to 12 meets every other Sunday from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, with dinner and desserts provided, and combines lively discussion, videos, and activities designed to shape spiritual growth and emotional resilience.
Volunteers are essential to the program, and current openings include a grade K-1 teacher, a grade 5-6 teacher, classroom helpers, and a Teen Group mentor. All teaching materials are provided.
Music at the Two Sunday Masses
Music at St. Jude is shaped by the two choirs that lead worship each Sunday. The 9:00 AM Sanctuary Choir sings under the direction of Ryan Beise, with rehearsals on Thursdays at 6:30 PM. The 11:00 AM Contemporary Choir sings under the direction of Hannah Discher, with rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. A seasonal Children's Choir for parish youth ages 5 to 18 rehearses during Advent and sings at the Christmas Eve 5:00 PM Mass. All choirs welcome new members.
Small Groups and Prayer Life
The parish's ongoing prayer and study offerings are designed to deepen Catholic life beyond Sunday Mass. The Brothers in Christ men's prayer group meets on Friday mornings in Lovett Hall. The Women of Faith group meets on Monday mornings, also in Lovett Hall. The Rosary is recited every morning after weekday Mass, and on Fridays before Mass at 8:30 AM. The Rosary Cenacle and Divine Mercy Chaplet are prayed together on Thursdays at 1:00 PM in the church. The House of Prayer gathers on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM in Lovett Hall for praise, worship, music, and meditation on Scripture.
The parish library, kept by volunteers, holds a selection of books, pamphlets, and CDs on spirituality, Catholic living, theology, and the saints, available for a small donation in the narthex. Two Catholic supply shops are recommended for devotional items: Kaufer's Catholic Supply in Seattle's SODO neighborhood, and HolyArt for online orders.
Reaching Out: Safe Parking, Refugees, and St. Vincent de Paul
St. Jude's outreach ministries are central to parish identity. The Safe Parking Ministry is a volunteer-led program that provides a secure, supportive environment for individuals experiencing homelessness by hosting them in the church parking lot. Volunteers help guests with goals, connect them to social services, and on the coldest winter nights the church itself has been opened so guests can warm up. The ministry works with community partners to help residents find housing, jobs, transportation, and vehicle repairs, and was featured in Northwest Catholic for its work. Volunteers can sign up to provide a hot Sunday meal or nonperishable food items, and the ministry accepts gift cards for gas and groceries.
The Refugee Ministry, now in its fourth year, is currently accompanying Ukrainian families displaced by the war. In one recent year, the parish provided over $40,000 in financial assistance for rent, food, utilities, visa renewal fees, and other critical needs. Volunteers host gatherings, deliver essentials, and offer rides, with one family sharing that a parish picnic felt like "a true celebration here in the USA." Microsoft employees and others with employer matching gift programs can direct contributions to Fund 118-Refugee Support.
The St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. Jude meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM in Lovett Hall, helping neighbors in need with rent, utilities, groceries, and furniture. The conference partners with Hopelink, Holy Innocents Food Bank, Renewal Food Bank, Open Kitchen, NW Share, the Salvation Army, Catholic Community Services, United Way, Overlake Christian Church, the Muslim Community Resource Center, and other agencies, and an emerging youth component helps gather items for older children. The SVdP Helpline for those in need of assistance is 206-767-6449.
Other works of mercy include the Giving Tree at Christmas, the Hopelink food collection, ministry to the homebound and those in hospitals or retirement communities, and a Pro-Life Ministry focused on faith-based education and support.
Parish Life and Hospitality
Sunday morning coffee and donuts are a regular gathering, organized by volunteers. The Wine and Cheese reception follows the Saturday Vigil Mass twice a month. The Welcoming Committee hosts New Parishioner Gatherings a few times a year. Funeral Ministry invites volunteers to provide salads or desserts or to assist at funeral receptions, which are typically scheduled in the mornings.
The Knights of Columbus, Council 15116, is a Catholic fraternal organization that assists with parish projects and sponsors social events. The Guardians and Angels ministry is a group for moms that meets on Friday mornings during the school year in Lovett Hall for fellowship, faith, and service. St. Bernadette's Guild is a women's ministry that meets quarterly. The parish office relies on volunteers for projects including donation counting and bulk mailings.
Becoming One Parish Family
St. Jude is part of the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel initiative, an archdiocesan-wide renewal effort to form parish families that can carry out the mission of the Church together. St. Jude has been grouped with Holy Innocents Catholic Church in Duvall and St. Anthony Mission in Carnation, and the three communities are now discerning how to become one canonical parish. The pastor of the family is Father James Johnson, and the process is being guided by a Parish Family Advisory Council and a Parish Family Leadership Team with support from the archdiocese.
The work proceeds in phases. Phase 1, "Who Are We?", has included a parish-wide Gifts Survey, listening sessions held at each of the three parishes, and a bulletin insert series from Father Johnson explaining the One Parish Plan. Future phases will look at who God is calling the parish family to become. While the journey unfolds, the three parishes continue to share pastoral staff and joint liturgical events, and the Sunday bulletins are now published together as the "One Parish Family" bulletin.
Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure
St. Jude's stewardship message draws on the U.S. Bishops' pastoral letter: a Christian steward receives God's gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them responsibly, shares them in justice and love, and returns them with increase to the Lord. Parishioners are asked to make an annual commitment of time, talent, and treasure through a Stewardship Renewal Form and a Stewardship of Treasure pledge.
The parish's primary online giving platform is PushPay, where one-time and recurring gifts can be set up. Donations can also be mailed, dropped off, or placed in the collection basket using giving envelopes. Beyond cash, the parish accepts qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, donor advised funds, and gifts through wills, trusts, retirement funds, and life insurance policies. Microsoft employees and others whose employers match charitable gifts can direct those matches to St. Jude's outreach funds.
The Annual Catholic Appeal supports the regional work of the Archdiocese of Seattle. St. Jude's combined goal for the 2026 appeal is $230,000, with every dollar raised above the goal going toward replacing the carpets in the parish hall classrooms. The parish's federal tax ID is 91-1052558.
Staff and Pastoral Leadership
Father James Johnson is pastor, and Father Raphael Ambadan serves as parochial vicar. Deacon Reuben D'Sa directs the OCIA and Adult Confirmation programs. Betty Reyes serves as Pastoral Associate and is the contact for many of the parish's hospitality and liturgical ministries. Krista Schafer is Pastoral Assistant for Administration. Joan Chandran directs K-6 Faith Formation, and Martin Clavijo directs Youth Ministry. Norma Estoy manages communications and events from the front office, Avril Allori handles registration and sacramental records, Dorota Milewska coordinates the database and ministry scheduling, and Angel Herrera is the Facilities Coordinator.
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on Friday from 9:00 AM to noon. The church is open for private prayer Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with extended hours on Friday to accommodate Adoration until 9:00 PM. The main phone number is 425-883-7685.
Syro Malabar Catholic Mission
St. Jude warmly hosts the Holy Family Syro Malabar Catholic Mission, an Eastern Catholic community in the Syro Malabar tradition. The mission shares the Redmond campus, and Mass times, news, and updates are available through holyfamilyseattle.org.