History of St. Andrew's Parish

The following is an article from the public library published around 1988.  It has been edited for clarity.

The history of St. Andrew's Catholic Church dates back to the mid-1800s when the first mission chapel was built by the oblates of Mary Immaculate. The missionaries had been working with the Yakima Indians and in 1847 Chief Aourrhai (Owhi) asked Father Ricard to send a Priest to teach his people in the Kittitas Valley.  A location was found in the Manastash and in 1848 Fathers Pandosy and Chirous built a chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.  Father Pandosy stayed in the valley until the Indian wars forced him to leave.  The chapel was burned but records do not agree when this chapel was rebuilt, or if a different location was used.

The mission work in the Kittitas Valley was turned over to the Jesuits in 1871.  In 1875 or 1878 depending on the source you use, Father Grassi built the last chapel in  the valley.  The 16x20 foot building, with a small addition on the back for living quarters, was located on the Nanum about two miles from Ellensburg. 

When Father Parodi came in 1880 the number of Catholic families in the valley had grown considerably.  In addition to the chapel, the Jacob Becker home was used for Church services. 

Along with his many responsibilities working with Native Americans and settlers, Father found time to conduct classes for the children of the settlers.  He used the chapel for his classroom by dividing the Altar area from the rest of the room with a red curtain.

To assist the Priest, the ladies of the Catholic families organized an Altar Society.  One of the main responsibilities was to provide the Priest with one hot meal each day.  WHen the Charter was received several years later it had on it the names Mrs. Martin Michels, Mrs. Uebelacker, Mrs. Mike Rollinger, Mrs. Nick Rollinger, Mrs. Jacob Becker, and Mrs. J.J. Suver.  From this beginning, St. Andrews Altar Society continues today as an active parish organization carrying on the tradition of service to the church.  The 1988 roll includes descendants of these first members.

In 1884 these dedicated Catholics decided it was time to build a church in town. On December 3, 1884, Mr. John Shoudy, owner of the townsite, deeded Lots 1 and 2, Block 1 on the corner of 7th and Water to Bishop Junger for $1.  Jacob Becker, Martin Michels, Nick and Mike Rollinger, J.J. Mueller, Henry Clerf, Henry Bieren, Nick Felkin, and Jacob Pott raised $1750.00 and St. Andrews first church was built.  The parish extended 18 miles south of Ellensburg to the summit of Snoqualmie Pass, covering the upper watershed of the Yakima.

Father Parodi served the parish until a resident Pastor, Father Louis Kusters, was appointed in 1887.  That year a new parish was established in Roslyn, taking the northern part of St. Andrew's.  A notice in the Church Directory of the Ellensburg Capital of November 16, 1888 reads as follows: "Catholic - High Mass every Sunday at 11 a.m. Instructions for children at 2 p.m.  Vespers and Benediction at 3 p.m. Low Masses every morning at 7:30. First Sunday of each month the above services will be held at Roslyn. Rev. Father Kusters, Priest."

Father Kusters had a tower and transept added to the Church, and a rectory built on the adjoining lot. He, with the help of Bishop Junger, made the first appeal to the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma to establish a school in Ellensburg. The request was unsuccessful and the Lynch Block property deeded to the Church by Patrick Lynch to be used as a school and convent was lost because the mortgage payments could  not be made.

Father Kusters was succeeded in 1897 by Father John Sweens.  Father Sweens was not pleased with the odor from the Palmer Livery Stable down the block from the Church and in 1904 decided to relocate the Church.  Property at 7th and Pine was purchased, the Church was moved and a new rectory was built for $2500. The parish still wanted a Catholic school, so Father contacted the Dominicans again and the answer was "YES". A fund drive was organized, the property at 7th and Ruby next to the Church was deeded to the Sisters, and in 1908 Lourdes Academy was opened.

In 1909 at a cost of $16,757 Maryland Hall was built at Pine and 8th to provide a high school for boys and a place for community and parish activities. In 1912 the Acadamy high school program was opened to boys. The activities in the Hall were not raising enough money for expenses. How to use Maryland Hall was the topic of many discussions as was the condition of the Church which was old and in need of extensive repairs. The decision was made to abandon the old Church and use Maryland Hall as Church and Parish Center.

The necessary remodeling was completed and in 1914 the furnishings of the Church were moved to Maryland Hall, home of St. Andrew's Church for 52 years.  Holy Cross Cemetery was established that year with provisions for perpetual care made in 1926.  Also in 1914 a new Pastor, Father Joseph Luyten, came to Ellensburg.

During the years 1920-1926, the old furnishings of the Church were replaced with new Altars, Altar Rail, Stations of the Cross, and solid oak pews.  These were used until 1980.  After 32 years of service to the Parish and community, Father Luyten retired but remained at St. Andres as Pastor Emeritus.  Father Desmond Dillon was appointed Pastor and Administrator in 1946.  In 1947 work on refinishing and remodeling Maryland Hall activity center, and enlarging the playground of Lourdes Acadamy was completed and dedicated as a living memorial to E.K. Brown, Jr., William F. Flynn, John Kelleher, Jr., J.W. Lipsey, Joseph Palmiero, Carl Rogowski, Harvey Thacker, Donald Webb, and Mary Louise Webster, the young members of St. Andrews who gave their lives in World War II.

Father Luyten celebrated the Golden Anniversary of his Ordination in 1949 and recieved the title of MInsignor in 1959.  At his death in January 1966, the Parish and community lost a beloved and respected friend and Priest.

The fifties were a decade of change and activity for St. Andrew's.  In June 1951 Pope Pius XII created the DIocese of Yakima including Kittitas County.  The first Bishop was Joseph P. Dougherty.  The county had previously been part of the Seattle Diocese.

The Legion of Mary was organized under parish and Diocesan sponsorship in 1955 and continues to serve the parish today.  Father Dillon started the St. Vincent de Paul store and two years later, in 1957, the Catholic Credit Union was organized with Joe Kelleher, Sam Webster, LeRoy Sanders, and Phillip Fitterer as officers.

Fifteen acres were purchased on South Willow in 1958. That was also the year Lourdes Academy celebrated the school's 50th anniversary.  Parodi Council of Knights of Columbus celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 1959 with five charter members prsent - Jerry and Clyde Suver, George ROllinger, J.J. Kryger, and Jacob Pott.

Women's organizations have always made valuable contributions to the life of the parish, but as the parish grows and needs change, the organizations change also.  The late fifties were the time for such a change.  Ten neighborhood guilds were organized to provide an opportunity for more women to participate.  The activities of the guilds were coordinated by a council consisting of guild representatives.  The work previously done by St. Margarets, with the college and high school students and Lourdians with the Academy, was continued through the guilds.  Altar Society continued as before, but changed the name to Sacred Heart Guild.  Legion of Mary continued without change.  The first women's social club, Maryland Women's Club which was started by Father Luyten in 1916 had disbanded many years before.  By the seventies some guilds had disbanded and the Parish Council of Catholic Women was organized.

Father F.E. O'Hearn served as Pastor from 1959-1963.  His four years of pastorship saw continued spiritual growth as well as increased participation in parish activities.  In 1962, the beginning of Vatican II increased interest in the possible changes that would be made in the liturgy of the Mass.  The first change to be implemented at St. Andrew's was in the language of the Mass -- English instead of Latin.  Use of adult lay readers and communion distributors -- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers -- followed in the seventies and eighties.

Father Maurice Mulchay was appointed in 1961.  In 1966 all Church property between 8th and 7th, including the school, was leased for the construction of a supermarket.  The YMCA building at 4th and Water was purchased for "temporary" housing for Church , rectory, and school.  The facility was used for 16 years!

Father Seamus Kerr was appointed Pastor in 1966.  Plans were made to build a new school on the South Willow property.  St. Andrew's School opened in the fall of 1967, but was closed in June 1972 because of low enrollment and high expenses.  The "Old Y" continued to serve as Church, rectory, and parish hall.  From 1975-1977 Father Arthur Waters seved as Co-Pastor with Father Kerr.

In 1978 the dream of a new church was close to reality.  The building committee, organized in 1972, had completed preliminary plans; the finance committee had a successful fund drive going; the Bishop had given his approval, Doudna and Williams were hired as architects, and a construction contract was awarded Sevigny Construction, Inc.  Ground breaking ceremonies were held on June 3, 1979 and construction of a new Church on South Willow was underway.

Father Richard Wuertz was appointed Pastor in 1980 as the final work was being done on the new facility.  Sale of the "Y" to the Eagles was completed, and a home was purchased on Maple and Manitoba for a rectory.  The move from the "Y" was made and the first Masses were celebrated in the new Church on July 26 and 27.  Bishop William Skylstad presided at the Dedication Ceremonies on November 20.  Within the year, the sale of the St. Vincent property to the Diocese was completed and the land south of the school -- now the Parish Center -- was sold to the city.  In 1982 a program of Perpetual Adoration, which continues today, was started.

Father John Murtagh became pastor in 1983 and St. Andrew's started planning a Centennial Celebration for 1984.  The year of special events ended with the Centennial Mass on November 20.  The stained glass windows were installed in 1985 and 1987.  Stephen Ministry was organized in 1985 and continues to involve more parishioners in this important work.

Father Richard Scully joined St. Andrews as Pastor in April 1987. Father John Heneghan came a year later.  While amny changes have taken place during the past 100+ years, the one constant has been the dedication of the members of St. Andrew's Parish Family to the teachings of the Catholic Church and the willingness of individuals to work for the continued spiritual growth of the Parish.  Today's parishioners look back with pride and forward with enthusiasm as they continue the work of the past in the new century.


The most striking features of the interior of the Church are the Tree of Life which rises over the matching altar and lectern, the beautiful stained glass behind the altar which depicts creation, the stained glass saint windows, and the scriptural Stations of the Cross.

St. Andrew's is dedicated to ministering to one another in many ways. You can become an active member of St. Andrew's parish family by participating in the ministries and organizations included in the attached handbook. We welcome you and your gifts and talents as we continue to grow in serving the Lord in His people.