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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.
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.
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, 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 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. 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. 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!!!
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.
