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Fr. Steve Sallis
Rev. Steve Sallis
Pastor



Father Steve Sallis has been the Pastor at St. Benedict since July 1, 2002 (his birthday)!   He was ordained a priest on June 9, 1980, at St. Benedict Abbey in Atchison, Kansas (he was a Benedictine monk at the Abbey from 1973-1986).

In addition to serving as Pastor at St. Benedict, Fr. Steve serves on the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission, is a liturgical consultant for parishes that are building or renovating their church, and is a member of the Presbyteral Council.

Father Steve has served at the following parishes since 1986: Assumption and Sacred Heart in Bellingham, St. Brendan in Bothell, St. Joseph in Lynden, and St. Peter in Deming.   He also served in campus ministry at Western Washington University in Bellingham.

Father Steve enjoys going to the theater and movies, and is a great second-hand store shopper.

  • Monsignor Doogan Award recipient
  • Monsignor Doogan Award Video






  • Marlene Liu

    Marlene Liu
    Pastoral Assistant For Administration and Stewardship

    Marlene was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She attended Eastern Illinois University graduating with a degree in Elementary Education.  Marlene worked with autistic and developmentally disabled young adults for several years before pursuing her second passion, martial arts.  She became owner/instructor of five TaeKwonDo Schools prior to moving to San Diego, CA in 1989.

    While in California, Marlene worked in venture capital and became a member of the start-up team for an automotive parts retail/wholesale business.  She was instrumental in developing the company's sales & inventory audit systems and operational training manuals ultimately advancing to Regional Manager.

    Saying she received a "working tour of the California coast", Marlene also met her future husband Chris, whom she married in 1994, becoming a step-mother.  In 1997, Marlene joined Chris at Wal*Mart, Inc.'s International Division where they worked as a husband/wife team.  They were transferred to Argentina where her primary responsibility was training and developing local management staff in the SAM's Clubs.

    When their assignment was completed, they elected to come to the Seattle area eventually settling in Renton.  Marlene left Wal*Mart and became the Director of Sales and Business Development for Daniel Smith Artists' Materials in the SODO District.  She is an active member of the leadership of St. Anthony's Parish in Renton and has been on the Pastoral Council, serves as a lector and is a Tribunal Advocate for the Archdiocese. Her community activities include MultiFaith Works, A.R.I.S.E. Shelter, Renton Police Academy, Page Ahead, and Governor's Mansion Foundation.

    While most of Marlene's family, including 3 sisters, live in the Chicago area and Chris' family live in Hawaii, her brother and many relatives for both sides of the family reside in the Seattle area.  Marlene and Chris are the proud grandparents of 6-year old Yoshi who lives with his parents in Redmond.





    Charles Hiestand
    Charles Hiestand, D.M.A.
    Pastoral Assistant For Music

    Charlie works at St Benedict Parish half time as Pastoral Assistant for Music.  The other half of his time he does many things musical.  He teaches piano and theory, he produces records, he writes odd little songs, he plays jazz piano.   He has played quite a bit for theaters and churches all around Seattle for some years.

    In 2003, Charlie released a CD of his piano music called "The Element of Joy."  Recently, he and friends have released a CD of songs called "Mosaic".

    In what seems like another life he was one of those computer geeks, programming and training, mostly for a Paul Allen company.    He says, "I try not to do that anymore, but some times my friends make me fix their computers."

    He has two daughters, one goes to Lakeside, the other to Christ the King.

    Charlie invites you to come participate in music at St Benedict's.  He says it's a great way to deepen your worship and to help others deepen theirs.  






    Maureen Blum
    Maureen Blum
    Principal, St. Benedict School

    Maureen Blum, School Principal, has her Masters in Education/Curriculum and Instruction/Gifted Education, Seattle University; an Administrative Certificate, Seattle University; and Bachelor in Education/Social Studies/Language Arts, Seattle University.

    She also served as principal at Our Lady of the Lake, Seattle from 1995-2006, and Holy Family, Kirkland from 1986-1995.   She taught grades 3, 5, 6 & 7 at St. Brendan, Bothell and Grade 6 at St. Francis Solano School, Sonoma, California.

    Mrs. Blum grew up in Bellevue, attended St. Louise Parish School and Sammamish High School.   Mrs. Blum, her husband, Tom and daughter, Katie, live in Woodinville and are members of St. Brendan Parish, Bothell.













    Val Keller

    Val Keller
    Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation

    Val was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan.   She received a Catholic education, graduating from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   She has taught in Catholic high schools in Gaylord and Manistee, Michigan, and worked in Catholic parishes in the dioceses of Grand Rapids, Michigan, LaCrosse and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.   

    Val worked in an ecumenical organization in Grand Rapids in food and hunger issues and the development of an AIDS Pastoral Care Network of congregations.   Her experience is wide and varied in the areas of Faith Formation: Sacramental preparation, Family and Intergenerational as well as elementary, youth and Adult Formation, and Liturgy and Human Concerns.   

    She spent 17 years in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Central Offices as a Parish Consultant and Director of Evangelization, working with parishes in leadership development/formation, resourcing, planning, and retreats.   She has been involved in RCIA and Evangelization Ministry for over 30 years.  

    In August, 2007, she moved to Washington state and ministered at Holy Rosary, Edmonds.   She enjoys travel, photography, music, reading and thoroughly enjoys the mountains, water and beauty of the Northwest.



    Renee Lindstrom

    Renée Lindstrom
    Pastoral Assistant For Youth/Young AdultMinistry

    Renée grew up at St. Luke Parish in Shoreline, where her parents are still members.   She graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, a Benedictine school, with a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies and a Women's Studies Minor in 2000.

    She has ministered with the young people of our parish since 2001, leading them in prayer, friendship and service.   Her passion for service has inspired her leadership of our summer service projects (Youth Migrant Project and Esperanza).

    Our parish and the Seattle Archdiocese supported Renée for 4 years as she pursued a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies at The School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University.   She gained further tools for leadership through Christifideles, the Archdiocesan formation program for Lay Ecclesial Ministers.

    Renée has been married to her husband Jeffrey since 2003, and together they welcomed their first child into their family in 2007.







    Mona Fonseca

    Mona Fonseca
    Administrative Assistant

    I was born in India (Bombay), was raised and studied in the Middle East (Dubai) and immigrated with my family (parents and two younger sisters) to Toronto, Canada in June 1996.    In 1998 I met, dated for five years and eventually married my husband, John, in Toronto in October 2003.

    In April, 2004, I joined my husband in Seattle.    He had moved here with his work.    We immediately joined the youth ministry program at St . Louise de Marillac (Bellevue) which is our home Parish.    This was the start of five wonderful years of sharing and living our faith as a young couple in the Catholic community of St. Louise, which has become our "home away from home".    Over the years I've served as a member of the Life Teen Core Team, Confirmation Core Team, Faith Formation Teacher for grades 1 & 2, Leadership for the Adult and Teen Mission Trips to Mexico with Esperanza International, Wedding Coordinator, Minister of the Word, Eucharistic Minister, Sacristan, Funeral Committee and most recently on the Parish sponsored Faith Raising Capital Campaign Committee.

    Being a Canadian Citizen and living in the United States as a dependent of my husband who was here on a work visa, I could not be employed right away.    This gave me the time and opportunity to volunteer.    Last year, with the acceptance of our residency application, I was able to start working again.    I picked up right where I left off in Canada, as a Project Administrator in a fast paced office environment.    I've been working part time since July 2008 as a Client Coordinator in an organization on the Eastside where I still work when I'm not at St. Benedict.

    I joined the parish staff as Administrative Assistant in June 2009.    I'm thrilled and excited to be a part of this vibrant Catholic community, and look forward to getting to know everyone!!!




    Anita Hardwick

    Anita Hardwick
    Parish Maintenance Person

    You've seen the movies "Yours, Mine and Ours".   Anita says that was her life growing up.   Her mother married her stepfather when Anita was 5, and she became one of twelve children!

    Her first introduction to the Catholic Church was at the age of six.   She was staying with her stepfather's sister when she lost her brother, Dougie.   She saw everyone getting something to eat (going to Communion) and said, "where's mine?"

    After graduating from Lincoln High School, attending North Seattle Community College, and four years in the United States Air Force, she finally joined the Church.   In 1993, she became a member of the Parish of St. Benedict, which also happened to be her stepfather's family parish from his childhood.

    She was hired as Cook/Housekeeper for the priests in 1999, and in 2002 became the Parish Maintenance person.