Friends of Saint Rita of Cascia

09/14/2026

Sad news:

JCTR joins the Southern Africa Province of the Society of Jesus in mourning the passing of Fr. Peter Henriot, SJ, at the age of 90.

09/06/2026

Happy Birthday to our September celebrants: Pierce, Patty, Ari, Kathy, and Ron G. (not able to attend). Wishing all many more years!

09/04/2026

St. Rita History Trivia Last week's question: What were some of the faith formation opportunities Fr. Sacco started?
* Monday Night School of Religion held at Bellarmine on Monday Night replaced the Saturday Catechism Classes for children in grades K through high school. Parishioners volunteered to be the catechists for each grade.

*The Pneuma Prayer. Group met on the Fourth Thursday of the month. It was an adult study and prayer group who discussed the upcoming Gospel and topics from the Catholic Catechism
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This week's question: Who was the long standing principal of Monday School of Religion? Which of the teachers do you remember over the years? Who led the Pneuma Group?

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08/21/2026

Last week's St. Rita history trivia question: Who was the new dynamic pastor appointed in the summer of 1979?
Fr. Carmine Sacco,SJ, was appointed in July 1979. He brought lots of energy and ideas for our little church. He was born in Seattle, our first Washtintonian pastor. He worked tirelessly to increase lay involvement in our parish

This week's St. Rita history trivia question: What were some of the ministries Fr, Sacco instituted at St. Rita? Which were YOU involved in?

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08/15/2026

Thanks Rosa Laudadio and brother Tony Dimonte for sharing your figs at prayer coffee hour this morning! This is about 1/4 of them!!!

08/13/2026

LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO ST. RITA OF CASCIA''S WEEKLY THURSDAY EMAIL LIST.

Last week's St. Rita history trivia question: When Fr. Baffaro passed away in 1979, how was our parish radically changed? When Father passed away on February 17, 1979,, we had interim priests and in July 1979, the Italian National status was dropped. St. Rita and was established as a parish with geographical boundaries in the center of Tacoma. Although the designation was changed, most Italian parisionters stayed at St. Rita even though they no longer lived in the "Hilltop" neighborhood of Tacoma. There has always been a love and loyalty to our church, whether Italian, Vietnamese, or any other heritage. Our new pastor had the interior of the church painted and updated as well as moved some of the statues. He added the beautiful crucifix on the main altar (a gift from the Costanti Family in honor of Mimi) and moved St. Rita to the front right side on the floor of the church.

This week's St. Rita history trivia question: Who was the new dynamic pastor appointed in the summer of 1979?

08/09/2026

Last week's St. Rita history trivia question: Where was Fr. Baffaro born and what was his Italian heritage? Fr. Baffaro was born in Canada and raised in Portland, OR. His Italian heritage was Calabria, the first of our pastors with Calabrian roots.

This week's St. Rita history trivia question: When Fr. Baffaro passed away in 1979, how was our parish radically changed?

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08/05/2026

We are saddened by the passing of Sharon Hauptman earlier this week. She was a longtime St. Rita parishioner. Her funeral is next month at St. Rita. RIP Sharon.

Sharon Hauptman
Funeral Mass on
Tuesday, September 1st at 10:30 am
St. Rita of Cascia Church
Reception following

08/03/2026

We celebrated August birthdays at coffee hour yesterday. Happy BD, Kathy!

07/31/2026

Last week's St. Rita history trivia question: How long did Fr. Biagini minister at St. Rita? Who succeeded him?

Fr. Biagini pastored St. Rita of Cascia Parish from 1943-1948. He only served five years because he was killed in a car accident in California in June 1948. Fr. Anthony Baffaro then became our pastor. He used to mention that all three pastors at St. Rita had the same initials - A.B. He enjoyed all of the parish activities and especially liked to visit parishioners for a home-cooked meal. He celebrated both his 25th Jubilee as a priest and his 50th Jubilee as a Jesuit while at St. Rita.

This week's St. Rita history trivia question: Where was Fr. Baffaro born and what was his Italian heritage?