Seattle Archdiocese

In celebration of the Year for Priests, June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010, The Catholic Northwest Progress is featuring all the pastors ministering in the Archdiocese of Seattle, providing snapshots of the men who have committed their lives in the service of God. As Pope Benedict XVI said in proclaiming the special year: How can I not pay tribute to their apostolic labours, their tireless and hidden service, their universal charity? And how can I not praise the courageous fidelity of so many priests who, even amid difficulties and incomprehension, remain faithful to their vocation as ‘friends of Christ,’ whom he has called by name, chosen and sent?” xx

KEVIN F.X. DUGGAN

Pastor, Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, Sammamish

HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pa., Queen of Angels Parish
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: June 13, 1998, St. James Cathedral
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Celebrating the Eucharist with God’s people, especially when everyone participates fully and actively.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: Meeting and balancing the various expectations and needs in parish communities that are increasingly characterized by cultural and ecclesiological diversity.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9) This passage reminds me that I must trust ever more in Christ, and to quit trying to do it all on my own. It helps me to have more confidence in God and to keep going despite my own imperfections.
RECREATION: In solitude, I like to read and to swim. In company with friends, I like to go to the movies, to go for walks/hikes and to try different restaurants. I also enjoy stimulating intellectual conversation.

FATHER BRYAN L. HERSEY

Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish, Everett

HOMETOWN: Puyallup, All Saints Parish
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: June 13, 1998, St. James Cathedral
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Sharing the spiritual life of people. As I hear the stories of faith, it gives me the ability to share this gift back again with the people of God. I love adult education and the opportunity it affords me to gain new insights into the treasures of our faith. Certainly the Eucharist is absolutely central, since it is the passionate love of Christ for each and every one of us.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: To acknowledge that one person cannot do all good things, but to encourage cooperation between the members of the family of God, and the possibilities open up exponentially.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: The 21st chapter of Revelation — it gives us a view of the goal when “all things will be made new” and “every tear will be wiped away.”
RECREATION: Carpentry, ukulele and reading.

FATHER JACK BUCKALEW

Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish, Bremerton

HOMETOWN: Cary, Miss.
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: June 1, 1974, St. James Cathedral
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Celebrating Eucharist, reconciliation and the anointing of the sick.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: The many, varied needs of parishioners.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly …” (Jn 10:10), and, “if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back again and take you to myself so that where I am you also may be” (Jn 14:3).
RECREATION: Photography, gardening and aerobic exercise.

FATHER EMILIO R. GONZALEZ

Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Lynden and
St. Peter Mission, Deming

HOMETOWN: Mount Vernon, Immaculate Conception Parish
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: June 18, 1988, St. James Cathedral
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Celebrating Eucharist and the sacraments.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: Working in a bilingual, bicultural parish.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: “One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: To dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, To gaze on the Lord’s beauty, to visit his temple.” (Ps 27:4)
RECREATION: Oil painting, ceramics, porcelain, reading, gardening, time with nephews, niece, grandnephews, grandniece and my 95-year-old father.

FATHER DAVID L. MAYOVSKY

Pastor, St. Olaf Parish, Poulsbo and
St. Peter Mission, Suquamish

HOMETOWN: Mercer Island, St. Monica Parish
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: June 7, 1997, St. James Cathedral
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Seeing people develop and use their God-given gifts and strengths.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: Finding the time to write.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6)
RECREATION: Cooking, reading, browsing at the bookstore, walking.

FR. JOHN R. “JACK” WALMESLEY

Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Seattle

HOMETOWN: Vancouver, British Columbia, St. Paul Parish in Richmond, British Columbia
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: June 1, 1974, St. James Cathedral
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Preaching and presiding at Eucharist and the other sacraments.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: Time. Not enough of it for all the demands, and as I get older, not having the same energy as in earlier days.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: In Genesis, where God declares we are made in God’s image and likeness.
RECREATION: Theatre, cross-country skiing and golf.

FATHER GARY C. WEISENBERGER

Pastor, St. Martin of Tours Parish, Fife

HOMETOWN: Kingston, St. Olaf Parish in Poulsbo
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: June 18, 1977, St. Bernadette Church in Burien
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Celebrating Mass with my parish family.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: Parish administration.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (Jn 15:16)
RECREATION: I enjoy cooking, reading, collecting classic movies, listening to good music and spending time with my mother and good friends.

FATHER HORACIO V. YANEZ

Pastor, Holy Family Parish, Seattle

HOMETOWN: Ajo, Ariz., Immaculate Conception Parish
DATE AND PLACE OF ORDINATION: April 15, 1975, Immaculate Conception Church, Ajo, Ariz.
GREATEST JOY AS A PRIEST: Celebrating the Eucharist and being with people.
GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A PRIEST: Praying with people experiencing death or woe.
A SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE THAT INSPIRES YOU: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the death by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” (Rom 6:3–4)
RECREATION: Walk, read and window shop.