A Cultural Tug-of-War in Tacoma’s Catholic Church
Thousands of Irish-American parishioners lobby the Vatican for an English-speaking clergy, citing a disconnect with the current leadership.
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The members of the Catholic church of Tacoma, who are natives of Ireland or the descendants of Irish parents, have asked, through Father O'Gorman, that Mgr. Satolli consider the proposition of sending more English-speaking priests to this city. Edward J. Walsh, a prominent young Catholic, says: 'There are 10,000 Catholics in this city, 7,000 of whom are Irish or the descendants of Irish parentage. Of the balance, the Germans have perhaps 2,000 and the Poles and Italians 1,000. The only priest in the city who can speak English is Father Himmous, a German, of Old Tacoma. The principal congregation is Leo's, which numbers about 5,000 and has no English-speaking priest.' It is proposed to build a cathedral at the corner of Yakima Avenue and South Thirteenth Street as soon as the congregations are in entire sympathy with the priests in charge.
“The only priest in the city who can speak English is Father Himmous, a German, of Old Tacoma.”
This struggle over linguistic and cultural representation in the church reflects the broader immigrant experience in the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the century. The proposed cathedral location remains a central historic intersection in Tacoma today.
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