SEATTLE – The Archdiocese of Seattle has purchased a new residence and hospitality center for the archbishop and archdiocesan visitors in the Mount Baker neighborhood. The new residence will be named Bethany House.
“I chose this name calling to mind the hospitality Jesus experienced in the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany,” said Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, who moved out of Connolly House, the traditional archbishop’s residence, and into a small rectory in August 2020.
As a part of the First Hill Sustainable Redevelopment initiative, the archdiocese sold properties including Connolly House, which had served as the residence for the bishops, archbishops and priests of Seattle since 1920. Connolly House was sold for $13.5 million to developer Westbank, with a clause to preserve the historic home.
“We are pleased that the new owner wishes to preserve Connolly House,” Archbishop Etienne said.
The archbishop explained that his temporary residence at the rectory worked well during the COVID-19 pandemic but was too small to accommodate visiting guests, now that travel concerns related to COVID are subsiding.
“I am unable to offer proper accommodations for visiting bishops and priests, nor am I able to entertain guests and host meetings given its size and layout,” Archbishop Etienne said of the rectory.
The archbishop said he explored several other options and consulted with Father Michael G. Ryan, pastor of St. James Cathedral, about moving into the cathedral rectory.
“This was determined to be impractical, given the use of the rectory as offices for cathedral staff,” Archbishop Etienne wrote in a letter to the Archdiocesan Finance Council.
The Chancery’s leadership sought a home smaller than Connolly House that was close to the cathedral and would provide the archbishop and guests with a retreat-like experience. Like Connolly House, the new home will serve as a place for hospitality as well as the archbishop’s residence.
After weeks of exploring options, the archdiocese made an offer on the Mount Baker home, which provides the archbishop and archdiocesan guests with a view of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains.
“It is good that the archdiocese will once again have a gathering place for fellowship, which we have found to be essential in our post-COVID world,” said Caitlin Moulding, chief operating officer for the archdiocese.
Moulding explained the proposal to purchase the new residence was shared with multiple consultative groups, including the Archdiocesan Finance and Real Estate Committees, Pastoral Council, Presbyteral Council, and College of Consultors.
The new home was purchased for $2.4 million in early November, using a portion of the $13.5 million proceeds from the sale of Connolly House.
The remaining proceeds from the Connolly House sale will be used to fund other ministries in the Archdiocese.