Married Life

Religious Life

The Diaconate

Meet our priests

The role of the priest is to provide sacraments, preach and teach the word of God and apply it to people's day-to-day lives. They provide pastoral counseling to people in times of need, and are shepherds of God's people. Of course, priests are also called, like all of us, to be disciples and follow Jesus.

To be a priest in the Archdiocese of Seattle is a great mission. There are opportunities to find new ways not only to serve those who are Catholic but to also serve the needs of the larger community.

#prayforpriests

Congratulations to our Jubilarian priests celebrating 25, 50, 60, 65, and 70 years of priesthood! Thank you for saying "Yes!" to God's call.

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We have over 170 diocesan priests in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Get to know some of them here! If you are interested in information about a particular priest, go to our searchable priest directory.

Father Ben Bray

Parochial Vicar
St. Philomena, Des Moines and St. Thomas, Tukwila

Date of ordination
June 22, 2019, St. James Cathedral

Favorite field of study
Spirituality — learning to integrate and teach various approaches to the spiritual life.

What person most influenced you to answer the call?
Father Gary Zender came to St. Anthony in Renton when I was 8 and he clearly loved being a priest! He would laugh and welcome everyone while at the same time preaching with passion and conviction. Not only could I see myself being a priest, but it helped knowing that priests could be joyful, smiling and happy! Also my father, who has lived a life of sacrifice and love. His example has helped me look at my priesthood through the lens of commitment, sacrifice and fatherhood.

Favorite recreations
I enjoy sports, especially college football — go Cougs! I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, board games, movies, walks and reading.

Father Cal Christiansen

Pastor
All Saints, Puyallup, St. Martin of Tours, Fife, and Sacred Heart, Tacoma

Date of ordination
June 7, 2008, St. James Cathedral

Greatest joy
The multiple dimensions of ministry — celebrating the sacraments, youth ministry, administration, working with families/marriages/individuals in crisis. I love the variety and complexity of priestly ministry.

Greatest challenge
The same as the joys: the multiple dimensions of ministry — celebrating the sacraments, youth ministry, administration, working with families/marriages/individuals in crisis.

Inspirational Scripture passage
There are many, but the one that I return to on a regular basis is Sirach 2:1-5: "My son, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials...."

Favorite recreations
I enjoy active and endurance activities — skiing, running and cycling, and road biking.

Father Brad Hagelin

Pastor
Holy Family, Kirkland and St. John Vianney, Kirkland

Date of ordination
June 11, 2011, St. James Cathedral

Greatest joy
Witnessing the spiritual awakening of those who have been “asleep,” and also spiritual growth of parishioners in general. It is amazing to see what God can do with anyone who has opened their heart to his grace.

Greatest challenge
The overall spiritual apathy of our culture. My uncle, Jesuit Father Rick Ganz, well phrases it: “existential torpor and indifference.”

Inspirational Scripture passage
Romans 8:31-32: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?”

Favorite recreations
Skiing, cooking, watching the Seahawks and Gonzaga Basketball.

Father Tyler Johnson

Parochial Vicar
Church of the Assumption, Bellingham; Sacred Heart, Bellingham; St. Joachim, Bellingham; St. Joseph, Lynden; St. Anne, Blaine; St. Joseph, Ferndale; St. Peter, Deming; Newman Center, WWU, Bellingham; and Associate Director of Vocations, Northern and Snohomish Deaneries

Date of ordination
June 22, 2019, St. James Cathedral

Favorite field of study
Christology. As Pope Benedict XVI says, everything stands and falls on the person of Christ. The credibility of Christianity rests on Jesus. Christ himself is a mystery; but better understanding who he is and why he came on earth will certainly impact and affect our life.

What person most influenced you to answer the call?
There were two people. The first was the youth minister at my home parish when I was volunteering in the youth group. Her zeal and love for the faith eventually led me to love the faith more deeply. The second, Father Todd Strange. He was the first priest to ever directly ask me to consider a priestly vocation. It certainly makes a difference when a priest asks you point blank, "Have you ever considered becoming a priest?"

Favorite recreations
I enjoy a variety of things, most especially music, baseball and movies. I regularly play the guitar and sing. I also enjoy the outdoors, particularly camping and hiking.

Father Tuan Nguyen

Pastor
Pope St. John XXIII, Tacoma; St. John of the Woods, Tacoma; South Tacoma Chapel, Tacoma; and St. Rita, Tacoma

Date of ordination
June 13, 1992, St. James Cathedral

Greatest joy
Being with people, meeting, sharing and chatting with people.

Greatest challenge
Too much work — it's never done!

Inspirational Scripture passage
John 21: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

Favorite recreations
Traveling, fishing, skiing, hiking, reading and walking.

Father Matthew Oakland

Pastor
St. Joseph, Issaquah; Mary Queen of Peace, Sammamish; Our Lady of Sorrows, Snoqualmie

Date of ordination
June 12, 2010, St. James Cathedral

Greatest joy
Each and every day, I get to share in people’s joy as they come to know Jesus Christ and follow him more closely. And in and through prayer, the sacraments, counseling, visits to the sick, teaching classes and the many other facets of priestly life and ministry, I get to help them.

Greatest challenge
Our culture is becoming ever more hostile to faith, and to Jesus Christ and his Church in particular. Many willingly settle for worldly joys when they could possess the pearl of great price.

Inspirational Scripture passage
Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ, yesterday and today; the same forever."

Favorite recreations
Reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling, spending time outdoors in God’s beautiful creation.

Father Carlos Orozco

Pastor
Holy Spirit, Kent; St. John the Baptist, Covington; and Associate Director of Vocations for the Hispanic Community

Date of ordination
June 22, 2019, St. James Cathedral

Favorite field of study
My first love since childhood has been biological anthropology. We are called to love God, and our neighbor as ourselves. In this call it is important to understand what it means to be human, in all its dimensions.

What experience most influenced you to answer the call?
Holy Week 2006. After the Holy Thursday Mass homily, my pastor, Father Philip Bloom, called up 12 people for the washing of the feet, something I witnessed yearly. This time, something was different. I was completely captivated by every gesture. At the moment of kneeling and pouring water on the feet of the first person, I was overcome with grace. All my doubt of God's existence became certainty of his love for me and for others. I had an unexplainable desire, a need, to take the priest's place. I had an encounter with Jesus Christ that night — he met me in my doubt and gave meaning to my life, and all I wanted was to respond with a life of service.

Favorite recreations
Too many? Artist (Insta @mindofcarlos), earth explorer (I have a goal to hike all 58 national parks; Insta @eyeofcarlos), exotic pet/plant keeper (since childhood, mostly fish, reptiles, amphibians, orchids, and carnivorous plants; Insta @petsofcarlos). I also enjoy cutting hair, trying new ethnic foods, working out and watching wildlife documentaries.

Father Todd Strange

Pastor
St. Philomena, Des Moines and St. Thomas, Tukwila

Date of ordination
June 13, 2009, St. James Cathedral

Greatest joy
As a priest, I have the privilege of being part, a bridge of sorts, of so many moments that mark people’s lives — joyous ones and difficult ones — moments that they either want or need to know God is with them. It’s truly a blessing to be part of that.

Favorite saint
St. Joseph is my favorite saint. Without having received a word from him, he says so much to us about what it means to be courageous and faithful to what God asks of and entrusts to us, even when it’s filled with uncertainties, causes for fear and is downright humbling.

What person most influenced you to answer the call?
Father Michael G. Ryan and Father Peter Chirico, each in their own ways, had significant impact on me. I was always moved by how Father Ryan celebrated the Mass so beautifully, as well as his ability to connect with the faithful. Father Chirico was generous in taking time to talk to me and answer questions, and is the one who asked me, “Have you ever thought about being a priest?”

Favorite recreations
I enjoy outdoor activities, whether it’s paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, camping.

Father John Walmesley

“I no longer call you servants ... I call you friends.”

~ John 15:15

NOTE: We do not sponsor or accept anyone from outside the Archdiocese of Seattle. Applicants for seminary will be considered after living in the area on their own for at least two years.