Pastor's Corner

Dear St. Stephen the Martyr and St. Anthony parishioners,

Thank you for the warm welcome at both parishes by parishioners and staff!

The first week has been filled with sacraments, moving in, sorting out office details, meeting with staff members individually, and getting to know many parishioners. Fr. Marlo is moved into the rectory at St. Stephen and I am living at rectory at St. Anthony. Fr. Chanda is in Zambia for the rest of the week so we have been covering all activities the best we can including a few funerals and anointings in our first week.

In the next coming weeks we are planning for ways for us to work together that make sense at this time. Mostly some getting to know you events between staff, councils, clergy and parishioners. As I mentioned over the weekend, the process of partners in the gospel will take time as we continue to focus on supporting each other in following Jesus each day. I will keep you up to date as things continue to unfold. I have taken to asking for the intercession of both St. Anthony and St. Stephen at each mass.

People have been very positive and already exploring ways to work together in ministry such as communications, adult faith formation, and outreach to the poor.

The priest presider schedule will be posted and as the pastor I will be rotating through all the masses roughly in a three-week cycle as we have 11 masses on the weekend between our two wonderful parishes. God Bless and I look forward to meeting you all soon. Peace.

Fr. Bryan Dolejsi, Pastor

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Dear St. Anthony and St. Stephen the Martyr Parishioners,            

    May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you all. I pray for you and look forward to meeting you all soon in my transition as your new pastor of our parish family in Renton starting July 1, 2024. I recently met with your current priests and parish staffs following a joint mass the end of May. I look forward to serving with Fr. Sylvester Chanda, and Fr. Marlo Abad. Fr. Chanda and I will live at St. Anthony and Fr. Marlo will live at St. Stephens. Fr. Gilberto Mora Tapia will also help at times along with parishes in Kent and Tacoma.

    I realize with partners in the Gospel and becoming a new parish family many still have various questions.  Sadness of losing departing priests, energy to welcome new priests, AND slowly over time collaborating as parishes in our new family structure will all take time, so I encourage you all just to be faithful and flexible (and patient).  I will be at both parishes as your pastor equally as best I am able.  If we trust the Holy Spirit and remain focused on Jesus all will be well.  We are the largest parish family in the archdiocese; just think of all the good we can do together to share the joy of the Gospel, grow in holiness, and build the kingdom of God!    
 
    I am returning home.  I was baptized at St. Paul parish, and then we moved to Cascade Vista where I attended Tiffany Park, Nelsen and Lindbergh H.S. (class of 1993).  We were regular parishioners at St. Stephen and would occasionally attend mass at St. Anthony depending on schedules.  Many of my friends attended St. Anthony school growing up.  My family moved out of the area to Seattle, and I attended Western Washington University earning a teaching degree in History and Language Arts.  I served as a teacher and missionary before entering seminary as a Dominican.  After four years of formation, I discerned to return home to the Archdiocese of Seattle and was ordained in 2006. 
  
    As a priest I have served as a parochial vicar in Tacoma, priest administrator in Issaquah, Vocation Director, chaplain at Kennedy Catholic High School, parish priest at St. Benedict, St. Mary and for a time St. Anthony in Renton.  I am completing three years as pastor at Holy Family Kirkland.  

    I also serve the archdiocese on the priest personnel board, Partners in the Gospel oversight committee, mentor for first time pastors, instructor for the deacon formation program, and recently finished my Doctor of Ministry from Mount Angel Seminary.

    I will pray for you and ask you to pray for all parish families and priests during this time of transition.  I look forward to praying with you and greeting you all very soon.  


Your Servant in the Risen Christ,
 Fr. Bryan Dolejsi, Incoming Pastor