Holy Rosary Parish is a Roman Catholic community rooted on Aloha Street in Edmonds, Washington, where weekday and Sunday Mass flow into a full life of formation, music, service, and pastoral care. Its three-word motto - Encounter Christ. Live Faith. Make a difference. - frames everything from a children's choir rehearsal to a Wednesday morning sandwich for someone who is hungry. Since July 1, 2024, Holy Rosary has been joined to St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood as Parish Family 11, part of the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel pastoral plan, with the two campuses on their way to becoming one canonical parish by July 1, 2027.
The parish sits inside an active school building, anchors a Knights of Columbus council founded in 1999, and runs one of the more unusual music programs in the region: eight different choirs serving three weekend liturgies, including a Swahili choir that sings every other month. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is open around the clock, and on any given morning a visitor might walk into a rosary in the chapel, a parish staff meeting in the Pastoral Center, or a hot lunch being packed for the Lynnwood Hygiene Center down the road.
Mass and Reconciliation
Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday at 5:00 PM (the Sunday Vigil), Sunday at 8:30 AM, and Sunday at 10:30 AM. Weekday Masses are offered Monday at 8:30 AM at the St. Thomas More Campus, Tuesday at 6:00 PM at Holy Rosary, and Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30 AM at both campuses. Mass times for feast days and Holy Days are published in the bulletin and on the home page.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Thursday at 12:30 PM and Saturday at 3:00 PM, beginning promptly and continuing until everyone present has been heard. Reconciliation is also available by appointment with one of the priests. The church is open for personal prayer Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and the parish maintains perpetual Eucharistic adoration; parishioners can sign up for a regular hour through the parish office.
Mass is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel, and bulletins are posted online. Anyone is welcome to attend Mass, and those not receiving Communion are invited to come forward with arms crossed to receive a blessing.
The Seven Sacraments
Holy Rosary accompanies parishioners through each of the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, with dedicated staff, preparation classes, and celebrations tied to the parish calendar.
Baptism
Infant Baptism (for children under seven) is celebrated once a month at all weekend Masses except during Lent. Parents and godparents attend an Infant Baptism Preparation class at the St. Thomas More Campus, submit a registration form, the child's birth certificate, and an annotated Baptism certificate for each godparent. Godparents who live out of town may take a class at their own parish and provide proof of completion. Baptisms for children ages 7 through 18 follow a special preparation program, with adult Baptism prepared through the Becoming Catholic journey and celebrated at the Easter Vigil.
Reconciliation
The parish presents Reconciliation as a regular practice of healing and growth rather than a once-in-a-lifetime event. Step-by-step guidance, an Act of Contrition, and answers to common questions - including nervousness about long-absent confessions - are posted on the parish website, and copies of the prayers and steps are available in every confessional.
Eucharist and First Communion
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared within the parish Faith Formation program on Mondays, 4:30 to 5:30 PM, September through May. Children typically prepare in second grade, with First Reconciliation celebrated in late January and First Communion in early May. Both Catholic-school and non-Catholic-school children are welcome; retreats for each sacrament are required and require a parent to attend.
Confirmation
In the Archdiocese of Seattle, the usual age for Confirmation is seventh grade. Candidates take part in the Middle School Youth Group and are required to attend three Confirmation Retreats spread across the preparation year. High school students preparing for any of the Sacraments of Initiation meet twice a month on Sundays at the Holy Rosary Pastoral Center in addition to High School Youth Group. Adults preparing for Confirmation do so through the Becoming Catholic program and are confirmed at the Easter Vigil.
Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick is offered the first Friday of every month after the 8:30 AM Mass or by appointment, and anyone struggling with physical or mental illness, preparing for a major procedure, in the last stage of life, or actively dying may receive it as many times as needed.
Matrimony, Funerals, and Vocations
Couples preparing for marriage and those seeking convalidation of a civil marriage work with Marti Lundberg. The parish Music Ministry provides a curated selection of approved wedding and funeral music, and the Funeral Ministry assists grieving families with receptions after the funeral Mass.
Becoming Catholic
Adults who are unbaptized, baptized in another tradition, or already Catholic but seeking to complete their sacraments enter the Becoming Catholic and Adult Confirmation program. A fall cohort runs from October through April, with sessions offered Sundays, 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM, at the Holy Rosary Campus, or Thursdays, 6:30 to 8:00 PM, at the St. Thomas More Campus, with participants welcome to alternate between the two. A spring cohort opens in April 2027 for adult Confirmation only.
The program uses a Socratic discussion format with weekly topics that move through the nature of faith, the sacraments, Scripture, the Mass, morality, and the Communion of Saints. Each session ends with a practical action item. Adults preparing for sacraments meet individually with a Becoming Catholic facilitator before the cohort begins, and participants who need them can request baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist together at the Easter Vigil.
Faith Formation for Children, Youth, and Adults
PreK through 5th Grade
Faith formation for children is built around four pillars: prayer, faith education, service, and community. Sessions meet weekly on Mondays, 4:30 to 5:30 PM, with grade-specific curriculum and service projects assigned to each class. The parish welcomes children who attend Catholic school or are homeschooled, as well as children whose families belong to another parish (a permission letter from their pastor is required). A safety curriculum called Circle of Grace is offered once a year.
Middle School
Middle School Youth Group gathers Mondays, 5:00 to 6:30 PM, on the Holy Rosary Campus, with a typical evening that mixes snacks, games, service, and faith. Confirmation preparation takes place within this same Monday rhythm for non-Catholic-school students, anchored by three Confirmation Retreats spread across the year, including an October overnighter.
High School
High School Youth Group meets Sundays, 5:30 to 7:30 PM, beginning with prayer and dinner, followed by games, small-group discussion, and service. The group is open to teens from both Holy Rosary and St. Thomas More, and teens do not need to be Catholic to attend. Sacramental preparation for high school students meets twice a month on Sundays at the Holy Rosary Pastoral Center, 4:00 to 5:15 PM, immediately before Youth Group.
Young Adults
The Young Adult ministry serves people aged 18 to 35 with regular gatherings, faith formation events, and service opportunities. Activities have included a Tuesday evening Mass followed by a picnic on the lawn behind the church. Participants can join the email list through the coordinator and help shape future programming through a parish survey.
Adults
Adult faith enrichment is structured around two recurring series. Faith Forward presents short courses on topics such as Church History - The Reformation, the Rosary, Apologetics for Small Groups, the Mass, and the Holy Spirit. True North, led by Dr. Ron Ryan, is a six-session retreat-style series aimed at adults in the second half of life, exploring themes such as learning from our lives, letting go, befriending mortality, and envisioning the future. Both series meet at the Pastoral Center on the Holy Rosary Campus, with select sessions at St. Thomas More.
Small Groups
Small groups of roughly five to ten people meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly for 60 to 90 minutes, in homes, the church, or a café. Every group includes hospitality, prayer, and discussion; groups have formed around affinity (men's, women's, young adult, married couples) or specific interests such as Bible study or a book club. Facilitators can register their group through the parish so others can find it.
Music and Liturgical Arts
Music at Holy Rosary is led by Ina Canimo and draws on a striking range of ensembles.
The Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil features contemporary choirs including Vigil Voices, Rockin' the Cross (the youth and young adult band), and the Lazaro Family, who regularly lead this Mass with vocals, cello, upright bass, and piano. The 8:30 AM Sunday Mass is served by the Traditional Choir, which sings four-part harmony hymns under the direction of Andrew Seifert. The 10:30 AM Sunday Mass rotates through several contemporary ensembles: the Liturgical Ensemble, One Voice from St. Thomas More, Rockin' the Cross, J.A.M. (the children's choir), and the Swahili Choir, which sings every other month. Rehearsals are scheduled throughout the week and are listed in detail on the parish website.
J.A.M. is the children's choir for students in grades 3 through 6 from both Holy Rosary and St. Thomas More. Choristers rehearse on Wednesdays or on the fourth Saturday of each month and sing at the 4th Sunday Mass, at school Masses, and at the Christmas Eve Mass. Parent volunteers can earn service hours.
The Music Ministry also curates recommended selections for weddings and funerals, and is always recruiting singers, cantors, and instrumentalists of any experience level.
Outreach and Service
Outreach is woven through almost every part of parish life.
Feed My Sheep prepares and serves hot, nutritious lunches to people who are homeless at the Lynnwood Hygiene Center, Monday through Saturday. St. Vincent de Paul organizes parishioners for personal service to neighbors in need. Each year from November through March, the parish hosts its Cold Weather Shelter team, providing dinner, snacks, breakfast, and overnight hospitality on nights when temperatures drop to 34 degrees or colder.
The Respect Life Committee works to build a culture of life from conception to natural death. Activities include supporting Next Step Pregnancy Services, distributing USCCB educational materials, participating in 40 Days for Life, hosting the Sacred Heart Guardians ministry for Christian burial of embryos lost in IVF labs, and partnering with Project Rachel for post-abortion healing. The committee meets the second Thursday of each month.
The Knights of Columbus Council #12591, established in 1999, brings together nearly 100 Catholic men and their families for fellowship and service. Monthly pancake breakfasts, a crab dinner, and other fundraisers support Special Olympics, Next Step Pregnancy Services, Easter Seals, St. Vincent de Paul, Quo Vadis, and seminarian support. The council meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Pastoral Center.
The Women's Association gathers the women of the parish for fellowship, prayer, and service. Meetings start with the Rosary at 8:45 AM in the church on the first Tuesday of each month (no meetings in July or August), followed by breakfast in the Pastoral Center. Events include a St. Patrick's Day luncheon, a holiday giving program, the Holiday Fair, and a widows and widowers' luncheon.
Pastoral Care Ministries
The Homebound Ministry is a trained lay group that brings the Eucharist and prayer to parishioners who are home due to illness, age, or disability, including those in assisted living and the hospital. Visits are scheduled through the parish office; new volunteers can join through Deacon Craig Lundberg.
The Funeral Ministry provides four teams of volunteers who prepare and serve funeral receptions at the Holy Rosary Campus, supporting families with food, setup, and cleanup.
The Grief Ministry hosts a guided mutual-support group from 1:30 to 3:00 PM in the Parish Office Pastor's Conference Room. No reading or preparation is required, and anyone experiencing loss is welcome.
Tribunal Advocacy accompanies parishioners seeking a declaration of nullity for a former marriage, providing information and support through the process.
Prayer Ministries
The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls prayerfully from the first loop to the final knot, with reimbursable yarn and supplies on hand. Shawls are given in times of illness, loss, or hardship and in times of joy such as weddings, births, and baptisms; recipients sometimes pass them on to others. The group gathers every couple of months in the Bride's Room.
The Seven Sisters Apostolate ensures that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the parish's pastor (and, as a second group forms, for the other priests serving the parish family). Members commit to a specific day for a year; the Anchoress of each group commits for two years, June to June.
The parish maintains perpetual Eucharistic adoration with sign-ups coordinated through the parish office.
Leadership Development and World Youth Day 2027
Adults, young adults, and teens called to leadership within the parish can pursue the Catechetical Certification Program, an eight-month archdiocesan certification offered in collaboration with the Augustine Institute's Symbolon program. Specialized tracks also exist for youth, young adult, and adult leaders, as well as for spiritual mentors who accompany others on their faith journey.
Parish Family 11 is joining Verso Ministries and Our Lady of Hope Parish for a pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea, August 1 through 10, 2027. The package includes round-trip group flights, centrally located hotels, WYD registration, a pilgrimage director and Korean guide, preparation materials, and gratuities, with payment scheduled in installments from the registration deposit through March 2027.
Stewardship and Giving
The parish frames stewardship as the recognition that everything entrusted to a Christian - time, talent, and treasure - is a loan to be returned with interest. Online giving runs through PushPay, with giving options for Sunday tithes and special causes such as St. Vincent de Paul. Parishioners may continue to give by check or cash using traditional envelopes, and giving history is accessible through both PushPay and the parish database.
Safe Environment
All adults who work with children or vulnerable adults complete Protecting God's Children for Adults, a VIRTUS training offered by the Archdiocese of Seattle. Children in grades K-12 take part in the Circle of Grace safety curriculum, offered once a year in the parish Faith Formation program. The parish's Safe Environment coordinator is Deacon Craig Lundberg.
Holy Rosary School
Holy Rosary School shares the Edmonds campus and shares its faith with students from kindergarten through the elementary and middle grades. The school partners with the parish in sacramental preparation, the J.A.M. choir, school Masses, and family faith events, and J.A.M. choristers from the school sing at school Masses throughout the year.
Becoming One Parish Family
Holy Rosary Parish and St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood came together as Parish Family 11 on July 1, 2024, under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel strategic pastoral plan. Staff now serve both campuses, ministries are combined or planned collaboratively, and a combined bulletin and shared parish platform link the two communities.
The shared vision statement adopted in June 2026 reads: We are a Catholic community inviting all people to encounter Jesus Christ, be transformed by the Gospel and become lifelong disciples. Eight draft initiatives now under development span communications, hospitality and welcome, pastoral care, intentional discipleship and stewardship, youth and young adult ministry, marriage and family support, lifelong formation, and a sustainable pastoral ministry model.
While the canonical parish will receive a new name, both campuses will keep their longtime identities. Holy Rosary will continue to be known as the Holy Rosary Campus in Edmonds, and St. Thomas More will remain the St. Thomas More Campus in Lynnwood, with both schools keeping their current names. The two parishes are working toward becoming one canonical parish by July 1, 2027.
Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Father Matthew O'Leary, Pastor, with Father John Madigan serving as Senior Priest in Residence and Deacon Craig Lundberg as Pastoral Associate. Ministry directors include Ina Canimo (Music Ministry), Sharon Guerrero (Infant Baptism and Children's Faith Formation & Sacraments for PreK-5), Daria Lobato (Director of Formation, with responsibility for Adult Enrichment, Becoming Catholic, Leadership Development, and Small Groups), Alice McIntyre (Sacramental Records, Registrar, and Young Adult Ministry), Amanda Woyak (Middle School and High School Youth Ministry & Sacraments), Armida Weatherly (Director of Ministry), Marti Lundberg (Partners in the Gospel Project Manager and Marriage & Convalidation Preparation), and Larkin Temme (Holy Rosary School Principal).
Parish governance includes a Parish Family Advisory Council that meets monthly with the pastor and a Finance Council that advises on the stewardship of parish resources. Both bodies serve three-year terms.
The parish office at 760 Aloha Street is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. In a sacramental emergency, the answering service can be reached at 425-977-4545. A Friday Flocknote newsletter keeps parishioners current on what is happening across both campuses, and the parish welcomes new families through a simple registration form on the I'm New Here page.