Whatcom Catholic

• Life & death emergencies requiring the presence of a priest: 360-733-1388

• To schedule appointment with a priest: [email protected]

Guest Pastor’s Note written by Olivia Phillips, Director of Operations

New Facilities Staff Hired

Whatcom Catholic is pleased to announce that the county has hired a new Regional Director of Facilities, Keri Cleary. She will be taking over the previous position of Bert Bertshinger, who will be retiring near the end of this month.  Keri will work on a part-time basis and be responsible for the administrative tasks associated with the Regional Director of Facilities. Keri will supervise all parish family maintenance employees, serve as the project manager for all facilities projects, and work to ensure compliance with local and Archdiocesan policies. Keri will also help with establishing best practices across the county and creating facilities maintenance schedules. Keri comes to the county with a wealth of non-profit project management and emergency management experience. Keri served as the interim emergency manager and emergency & safety specialist at the Swinomish tribe. She also served as the transportation and emergency manager for the Nooksack Indian tribe.

In addition to Keri, the county is pleased to announce that we have hired Ryan Wittig as a Regional Maintenance Person. Ryan will serve in his position full-time. Ryan will work throughout the county providing hands-on maintenance to the buildings, grounds, and equipment across the parish family. Ryan previously served as Maintenance Director for Christ the King and owned his own construction company.  

Keri, Bert, and Ryan will be overlapping for the next 2 weeks until Bert retires. While Ryan’s work will be primarily hands-on, he will have a desk in the regional office annex in Lynden. Keri’s office is based out of Church of the Assumption.

We are so thankful for Bert and his dedication and service to the county, and hope he enjoys his retirement with hopefully fewer emergency facility phone calls.

Please join us in welcoming Keri and Ryan—we are so thankful to have them aboard the Whatcom Catholic parish family.

FY 2024-2025 PARISH ANNUAL REPORT TO PARISHIONERS

Each year, parishes are asked to prepare and create an Annual Report to Parishioners (ARP), as highlighted in canon 1287 https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib5-cann1254-1310_en.html. This year, in conjunction with Partners in the Gospel, Whatcom Catholic compiled all of the ARP into one document to include all 7 churches, Assumption Catholic /school, and Viking Catholic ministry. If there are any specific questions about the ARP, please look at the compilation information below on who to contact, and then visit our staff page. https://www.whatcomcatholic.org/staff.  Whatcom Catholic is thankful for the time, treasure and talent of its parishioners and volunteers.

The full PDF report of the Annual Report to Parishioners can be found here:

https://www.whatcomcatholic.org/reports/2026/2/9/fy-2024-2025-parish-annual-report-to-parishioners

Compilation

Finance

The Regional Director of Finance compiled the financial aspects of the report. A more in-depth look into how the county finances work can be found here and here, as the county is still not one canonical parish.

Sacraments/Celebration

Sacramental data is recorded for each church location pursuant to canon law: “Can. 535 §1. Each parish is to have parochial registers, that is, those of baptisms, marriages, deaths, and others as prescribed by the conference of bishops or the diocesan bishop. The pastor is to see to it that these registers are accurately inscribed and carefully preserved.” The archdiocese of Seattle also has parishes that keep track of Quinceañeras; however, it is important to note that they are not sacraments. Those who wish to celebrate weddings/funerals/Quinceañeras can do so at any of our 7 locations. This data was compiled by each location’s Director of Faith Formation and Location Manager.

Community Events & Engagement

Location Managers and Church Coordinators worked to incorporate and highlight important events that happened in their church’s community.

Facilities

The Regional Director of Facilities, in conjunction with Location Managers/Church Coordinators and dedicated facilities volunteers, worked to compile the facilities reports.

Utilization Metrics

More information at: https://www.whatcomcatholic.org/about-the-process

Or follow us on Facebook: “Whatcom Catholic Fellowship” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586701240099

The second Viability Metric the PFAC looked at was Utilization Metrics. This involves looking at church utilization and capacity at each location. The general goal for a parish family is a utilization between 50%-80%. In this metric we also looked at the number of weekend Masses per priest.

• Church utilization and capacity: This identifies how full the churches in a parish family are on a given weekend. To determine utilization, count the participants at each Mass on a weekend, then divide by the total weekend capacity (number of Masses x total seating capacity). The general goal for a parish family is a utilization between 50% and 80%.

• Number of Sunday Masses per priest: As is stated in canon law, “A priest is not permitted to celebrate the Eucharist more than once a day except in cases where the law permits him to celebrate or concelebrate more than once on the same day. If there is a shortage of priests, the local ordinary can allow priests to celebrate twice a day for a just cause, or if pastoral necessity requires it, even three times on Sundays and holy days of obligation.” B1: Who Are We Overview | 1 (Can 905 §1-2) Given local realities, Archbishop Etienne has determined that pastoral necessity requires permitting celebrating up to one Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses. The goal, therefore, is that priests celebrate no more than three Sunday Masses and one Saturday Vigil Mass. This metric determines whether the Sunday Mass schedule meets this goal.

Prior to the Challenges and Opportunities Listening Sessions in April the Utilization Metric information will be shared.

Ash Wednesday

• February 18, 2026

• 7:15 am Mass at Sacred Heart

• 5 pm Mass at Viking Union Building WWU

**Confessions will be offered during 6 pm Stations of the Cross every Friday at Sacred Heart in place of March First Friday Confessions at Assumption.

**Join us after our first Stations of the Cross, Friday February 20th for a delicious soup supper hosted by parish staff (Ellie & Kim)

In Person Small Group: Hope and Renewal Through the Season of Lent with Pope Leo XIV

Five 60-90 minute small group sessions of prayer and reflection.

**A Vietnamese Mass will be offered on February 22nd at 3 pm at Church of the Assumption. A reception will follow in the gym. Everyone is welcome.

School

Northern Deanery Catholic High School:  

Why a Catholic high school matters, especially here

The idea of a Catholic high school is new for our region. There aren’t generations of alumni stories being passed down at the dinner table, so for many families the top questions tend to be: Why choose a Catholic high school, and why is it worth the investment?

The answer lies in the student experience.

Catholic high schools educate the whole person, creating an environment where students are known, challenged, and guided during their most formative years. Students benefit from close relationships with teachers, strong academics and mentorship, and a community that supports their personal growth and faith development. This combination builds a strong foundation for life beyond high school.

What does that look like in real life? Alexa Rosson, a 2015 graduate of Archbishop Murphy High School, recently shared how her Catholic high school experience shaped her both personally and professionally. Her story offers a powerful glimpse into what’s possible for both our students and our Catholic community.

Watch Alexa’s story on our new Northern Deanery Catholic High School YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Zf68f2vOI

Interested in enrolling a student in this school, but unsure if it works financially? We have a new scholarship fund available to help families like you! For more information, send an inquiry via our Contact Us page.   https://ndhighschool.org/learn-more/

Versión en español:

Assumption School

Affiliated Organizations

CRS Rice Bowl

This Lent, our community will participate in CRS Rice Bowl—connecting our prayers, fasting and almsgiving to encounter God through our global family. We’ll meet, pray for and learn from families in Ghana, Guatemala and Timor-Leste who are rising above the challenges of hunger and malnutrition. Pick up your rice bowl starting on Ash Wednesday February 18th. To learn more or donate visit: https://www.crsricebowl.org/

Letter to Families (printed copies available in the entryway.)

In Case You Missed It

Ash Wednesday

February 18, 2026

BELLINGHAM

7:15 am Mass Sacred Heart

10:00 am Word & Ashes Assumption

12:30 pm (School) Mass Assumption

5:00 pm Mass WWU Campus Viking Union Building

5:30 pm, Word & Ashes Assumption

NORTHWEST CORNER

7:15 am Mass Ferndale

12:30 pm Mass Blaine

5:00 pm Mass Lummi

5:30 pm (Spanish) Mass Ferndale

NORTH / EAST COUNTY

8:00 am Mass Lynden

5:30 pm Mass Deming

5:30 pm Word & Ashes Lynden

For a full list of Masses in Whatcom County, visit the Whatcom Catholic website: whatcomcatholic.org.  

Women’s Connect: Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit, Thursday February 26th, 6-8:30 pm Sacred Heart Parish Hall

All women are welcome. There will be prayer, food, singing by Kerry Morton of Sacred Heart, crafting, liturgy helps and a message by Zelda Buck from CCS and a testimony by Theresa Meurs of Assumption Church. Please reply on the website www.womensconnect.live. There is a $10 charge at the door or by pushpay on the website. We look forward to seeing you there.

Faith Alive with Fr. Tyler: Catholic Fundamentals, February 28th 7-8 pm, Sacred Heart Church- everyone is welcome!

Contact the school office or scan the QR code to register for tickets or for more info.  https://school.assumption.org/

Send all bulletin requests to [email protected]