Holy Cross Parish opens in Mattawa

MATTAWA — The Catholic population of Mattawa pulled off a remarkable feat, Yakima Bishop Joseph Tyson said. “For the first time in the history of the Diocese of Yakima, we have a church construction project that has come from predominantly Spanish-speaking parishioners,” Tyson said at the parish dedication Friday. “And most of the money has come from immigrant communities. This has never happened before.” Tyson officially dedicated the newly-named Holy Cross Parish in a ceremony attended by 20-25 priests, half a dozen deacons and enough parishioners to fill the 450-seat church building to overflowing. The previous building held only 150, said Fr. Lalo Barragan, pastor of the parish.