About
Even before the first church was built the Catholic community of Port Angeles came together for services. Father Maniliux is said to have come from Port Townsend to say Mass during the summer of 1890. After Father Faber came ot Port Angeles in late 1890 or early 1891, services were held at local "halls." Port Angeles had a full-time priest until April 1900, when Father Faber left the area and probably returned to Scotland. It would be some time before the community could meet their "Easter obligation".
The local Catholic community formed the Catholic Union Association of Port Angeles at a meeting after Mass on a Sunday in August of 1890. From these two groups a search began for an appropriate site for the first church.
The first Port Angeles Catholic church was built in 1891 on Lincoln Street between Second and Third Streets. The tenure of that building as a church was brief and it was sold to the County in 1892. It was used as a courthouse from May 1892, until 1914. By 1915 the new courthouse was completed. The grading on Lincoln Street had been so severe that by May 1, 1915, the "old church/courthouse" was torn down. By mid-1892, located where it resides today at 11th and Oak Street and "parish" status was established in 1904. The current church building was completed in 1953.
The first Catholic Church for the colony was at Lincoln and Second streets. It was vacated for use as the first county courthouse during the downtown reconstruction period. This is the day of the move to the new courthouse.
Historical Timeline
August 10, 1890 -- The Catholics in Port Angeles form the Catholic Union Association of Port Angeles.
October 25, 1890 -- A petition is sent to Bishop Aegedius Junger requesting a priest.
Early 1891 -- Rev. Austin V. Faber becomes pastor, but apparently never actually lives in Port Angeles.
1891 -- The first church is built on the corner of 2nd and Lincoln, but it is sold to the County in 1892.
1892 -- Rev. Patrick Fay becomes pastor.
August 5, 1892 -- The first baptism is recorded in the parish.
1893 -- The second church is built on Oak Street near 11th.
August 21-22, 1894 -- Bishop Junger visits Port Angeles and confers the sacrament of Confirmation on 17 people.
Spring of 1900 -- Rev. J. J. Gribbin is sent to Port Angeles as its third pastor.
1903 -- The parish is taken over by the Benedictine Fathers of Lacey, and Fr. Oswald Baran, O.S.B., is appointed pastor.
Spring of 1904 -- Rev. Wolfgang Steinkogler succeeds Fr. Oswald as pastor.
August 1911 -- Rev. Albert Erkens, O.S.B., becomes pastor.
December 1914 -- Construction is begun on a new church at the corner of 11th and Oak.
February 14, 1915 -- The new church is completed.
1924 -- Rev. Benedict Schweizer, O.S.B., becomes pastor.
1925 -- Rev. Demetrius Jeuneman becomes pastor.
1926 -- A parochial school is built on the corner of 10th and Oak.
1927 -- The school and convent are opened, staffed by the Sisters of St. Ann from Victoria, B.C.
1928 -- Rev. Bernard Neary becomes pastor.
1930 -- A second story is added to the school under the Rev. Bernard Neary, O.S.B.