Fr. Patrick McDermott

Father Patrick McDermott was born in Seattle and grew up in Christ the King Parish in the north end. His father was a doctor and his mother was a homemaker. He has two brothers and one sister. His brother Fr. Michael, is pastor of St. Charles Parish in Tacoma. Fr. Patrick was ordained in 1967 in St. James Cathedral by Archbishop Thomas Connolly. His first assignment was at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Federal Way as assistant pastor. His first pastorate was St. John of the Woods in Tacoma in 1975.  In 1977 he ministered with the Maryknoll Fathers in their Associate Priests Program for five years in Peru and Bolivia and he speaks Spanish fluently.

 

He has served in a number of parishes in the Archdiocese in Bellevue, Seattle, Sumner, Centralia, Shelton, Ferndale, the Grays Harbor Cluster and the Skagit Valley. His priestly ministry has been rich and varied, having served as priest administrator, parochial vicar, chaplain and pastor.

 

He was appointed Priest Personnel Director from 1989 to 1994 under Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen and Archbishop Thomas Murphy. From 1998 – 2001, he served as one of the Parochial Vicars with Sister Deanna Carr, Pastoral Coordinator, in Grays Harbor (five parishes). His last assignment from 2001-2007 was Pastor for the Skagit Valley Cluster of six parishes. He served as the Dean of the Northern Deanery for three years. He retired in 2007 but was still involved in active ministry in a number of parishes..

 

Father Pat has expressed his admiration for all the ministries that are thriving at Sacred Heart. He recognizes that we are a very busy community. He supports the Building the Body of Christ Campaign and is very pleased with the generous response of our parishioners. He is very happy to be at Sacred Heart as pastor.