News From Archbishop Sartain and Bishop Tyson

April 12, 2011

Dear Brother Priests, Pastoral Coordinators, Archdiocesan Staff and School Leadership,

This e-mail is being sent to you at 3:00 a.m. to announce the wonderful news that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed our own Bishop Joseph Tyson Bishop of Yakima. The announcement is being made at this time in Rome. Bishop Tyson’s installation will take place on Tuesday, May 31, at Holy Family Parish in Yakima, and more details will be forthcoming.

Below you will find a message from Bishop Tyson, which I am pleased to forward to you. However, I would like to add a brief word of my own.

The Holy Father’s appointment is a great honor for the Archdiocese of Seattle, as once again he has recognized the talents and dedication of one of our own. As you know, Bishop Tyson is an extraordinary servant of the Church and gives his all, no matter the ministry, project or assignment. I have enjoyed immensely working with him in the past 4+ months, and, of course, it was not hard to see his talents and love for God’s people. He has done an excellent job as our Superintendent of Schools as well, and no doubt he will be missed by the Schools staff, principals, and all educational leaders of the Archdiocese. Personally, I will miss his insight, counsel and support, but I am delighted that he will remain in our province and that we will all have the continued pleasure of working with him.

Congratulations, Bishop Joseph Tyson, Bishop-elect of Yakima! Ad multos annos.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain
Archbishop of Seattle

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April 12, 2011

Dear Catholic School Leaders,

Peace be with you! You are waking up this morning to information regarding today’s change in leadership for the Diocese of Yakima. I received final confirmation of the time and manner of this announcement on Friday afternoon. Needless to say, I am grateful to God for the ministry of bishop, and I am grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for his confidence in sending me to the Diocese of Yakima. I can only hope and pray that I will serve worthily, united with Christ in this new apostolic ministry.

Going to Yakima is – quite literally – going home to the roots of my own faith. I was baptized in Yakima at St. Paul Cathedral. My mom graduated from St. Paul Cathedral School as well as the former all-girls’ high school in Yakima led by the Sisters of Providence: St. Joseph Academy. My grandparents are buried there in Yakima, and I spent many summer vacations in the Yakima Valley.

My joy in accepting this appointment does not take away my sadness at leaving Seattle and some anxiety about the upcoming transition. Our Catholic School Department staff is keenly aware that a number of programs and projects are underway.We all will want to continue the great stride we’ve made these last three years in a number of areas: the technology training we provide to our schools, our weekly on-line communication, our assessment consortiums, our new and robust accreditation process, the stepped-up Catholic identity processes, our new on-line application system, our direct marketing support, as well as the great working relationship and support from our partners in the Fulcrum Foundation.

Needless to say, I am working with Archbishop Sartain to discuss the future direction he would like to go with the Catholic School Department. I also will be working with all of them, as well as with Dennis O’Leary, to insure that – as best as possible – we continue to have smooth day-to-day operations that continue to support the success of every student and the excellence of every school. Karen Tarabochia has consistently stepped in as the main point person for our department, especially during my Confirmation and bishop travel schedule. She will probably be doing a little more of this during the transition as well.

Most of my time as auxiliary bishop has been with Archbishop Brunett. I am grateful for the way he consistently provided meaningful ministry across a vast expanse of the local Church. It has also been particular privilege to assist Archbishop Sartain in his first months here in Seattle. I feel our time together has been too short, but I am also grateful to stay connected to him since he is the metropolitan of the province, with Yakima as one of the dioceses in this province.

I want you to know how grateful I am to have served with all of you as auxiliary bishop. As pastor, I was pretty tied down in my own parish and often did not get to experience the other parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle. As auxiliary bishop, I have been able to experience our parishes at some of their best moments and, truthfully, in my role as vicar general, I also have stepped into our parishes at some of their hardest moments. I am grateful for both experiences, because I often discover what’s best in a parish in their times of joy and in their times of crisis. Thus, I am grateful to all of you and the entry you have given me into your lives as followers of Jesus.

I hope you will pray for me in the coming weeks and months, as I will for you. Easter is just around the corner. The empty tomb is the first sign the woman has on Easter morning that Jesus has risen from the dead. I hope we will all peer in on Easter Sunday and experience the very same: the risen presence of Jesus Christ, alive in our Church and moving in our world!

With every best wish and blessing, I am

Yours in Christ,


Most Reverend Joseph J. Tyson
Bishop-elect of Yakima