Father Paul Magnano will shift Sacred Heart role

The prayers of a La Conner priest have been answered.

Father Paul Magnano, 83, won’t be relocating to Seattle full-time after all.

Magnano will continue serving historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Conner and other Skagit County parishes with a new schedule allowing him to divide his time with Christ Our Hope Catholic Church in downtown Seattle, which he founded.

It’s truly a “best of both worlds” arrangement for Magnano, who feels equally at home here and in the city.

Perhaps best of all, Magnano will cut his freeway commute time in half by pastoring two weeks in the Skagit Valley and two weeks at Christ Our Hope.

“The freeway has gotten dangerous and it takes forever,” Magnano told the Weekly News. “I just can’t take it anymore. There was one week where I spent eight hours on that freeway.”

Magnano, who entered the priesthood more than a half-century ago, feared he was nearing a pivotal decision regarding whether La Conner or Seattle would be his exclusive home base going forward.

“I love it here,” said Magnano, “but I’m very involved with Christ Our Hope and outreach services in Seattle.”

Ultimately, the decision was made for Magnano.

A priest at Christ Our Hope who had planned to leave the urban parish instead chose to stay there on a two-weeks on, two-weeks off basis.

Magnano will fill a similar schedule.

“I’ll be commuting every other week instead of every week,” Magnano said, flashing his trademark grin.

Magnano served one of several tours at Sacred Heart from 1986-1998 and has over time become well acquainted with and appreciative of the parish’s rich history.

That includes the unique stories behind the late 19th century church building’s stunning stained-glass windows, the role of town namesake Louisa Ann Conner in the church’s establishment and the impact here of the late Father John J. Hartnett (1905-67), for whom a La Conner schools campus flagpole is dedicated.

Magnano’s fondness for La Conner, though, isn’t limited to his parish duties.

“I absolutely love it here,” said Magnano, who has a home on S. Third Street and enjoys the fellowship of friends and family in the community. He is also a frequent contributor to the Weekly News.

Yet he is as much at home in Seattle, having grown up on Queen Anne Hill. He earned two advanced degrees in his hometown, including a PhD in psychology from the University of Washington.

Magnano’s doctoral dissertation was on hope, a concept he insists is long-term. It’s no coincidence, then, that the Seattle church is named Christ Our Hope.

“Christ Our Hope – I love that name,” said Magnano. “We all have hope. It doesn’t mean that we can completely get away from the darkness and hard times in the world. But we have an opportunity each day to go out and live God’s word in the world.”

Ordained in 1967 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Magnano ministered to Western Washington University students early in his career, many of whom were concerned with being drafted to serve in Vietnam.

He eventually made his way to La Conner and Sacred Heart, returning after each subsequent departure. He notes that his experience here has covered three distinct phases of La Conner’s development – from a virtual ghost town to a vibrant working town to today’s tourist magnet where menu prices match those in Seattle restaurants.

Meanwhile, Magnano – a tireless advocate on behalf of the homeless – founded Christ Our Hope Church in the name of social justice. He chose the Pike Place Market area as its location.

Whether in La Conner or Seattle, Magnano is committed to his daily charge of helping others, serving God and enjoying the important moments and milestones in the lives of his parishioners.

He couldn’t be more pleased with his dual role.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “I’m in the two worlds that I love. I love it here and feel needed in downtown Seattle. I’m staying here and staying there and doing less driving on the freeway. I’m much happier than if I were in one place or the other.”