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| Staff Youth/Young AdultMinistry Worship & Spiritual Life Bulletin Photo Gallery Minister's Schedule Links & Information |
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, is the Dean for the North Seattle Deanery (hence his title, Very Rev.), 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.
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.
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. Jan Barrett grew up in a variety of towns and rural communities of Western Washington, graduating
from West Bremerton High School and attending Olympic College in Bremerton, and North Seattle Community College. She met
and married Tom, her husband since 1962, when both were employed at Boeing. The Barrett's joined St. Benedict's community
in 1966, with three boys under three. Four more children and eleven years later, she went to work in the parish office,
where she has remained through six pastors and many changes. During that time, her role evolved from secretary/bookkeeper
to administrator, and she has recently cut back to half-time as administrative assistant. All seven Barrett children, now
grown, attended St. Benedict School; two, like their parents, are still parishioners. Jan and Tom are the proud grandparents
of ten (so far). Tom serves as "webmaster" for the parish web site, and Jan as a Eucharistic Minister. Both regard the
community of St. Benedict as their extended family.
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.
