The Rev. J. Michael Holland Felt Special Link To Hispanics

The Rev. J. Michael Holland, who in 35 years served thousands of Hispanic Catholics in the Skagit Valley as well as in Seattle and Bellevue, was known to many as "Padre Miguel."

He was a student of diverse traditions, whether ministering to families in the fields of Skagit and Whatcom counties or creating teen centers in Seattle's Central Area.

Not Hispanic himself, he became fascinated with people of that heritage after being assigned to help farmworkers in California in the early 1970s, and to pastor in Bolivia, Chile and Peru in the late 1970s.

"I really believe the Hispanic people shaped Mike's priesthood," said the Rev. Paul Magnano, former pastor of the Skagit Valley parishes and current pastor of St. Therese parish in Seattle.

"In one of his trips to Mexico, Mike wrote: `The Mexican people and the culture are, for me, a spiritual retreat. It seems I can access God so much more easily. . . . I feel at home, very relaxed and yet more alert than usual to what is happening.' "

Father Holland died last Friday (July 24) of cancer. He was 61.

Born in Los Angeles, he grew up in Hollywood and Seattle. He graduated in 1955 from the former St. Edward Seminary High School in Bothell and in 1959 from St. Thomas Seminary College. He was ordained at St. James Cathedral in 1963.

As parochial vicar to St. Louise Church in Bellevue, he taught lay persons and high-school students.

His real ministry began at St. Mary's Church in Seattle's Central Area and at Immaculate Conception Church in the University District during the turbulent late 1960s and 1970s. A champion of civil rights, he was arrested for protesting discrimination in the hiring of minorities at a construction site at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

He also protested the treatment of farmworkers in California and cutbacks in social services. He monitored activities of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Seattle and in the Skagit Valley, and was involved with housing, elderly and education issues.

He began focusing on Hispanics in 1978 while in South America.

"I saw poor neighborhoods in Peru where people based their entire community value system on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and dedicated themselves to helping others," he once said. "These people were more Christian than I ever hope to be."

In 1979 he was assigned to Skagit County. He helped develop lay and youth leadership among the area's large Spanish-speaking community.

In 1986 he became the first bilingual pastor in Seattle's St. Mary's Church. But his heart remained in the Skagit Valley, so in 1993 he returned there as part of the pastoral team.

A baseball fan, he was delighted when members of St. Charles parish in Mount Vernon sent him to Mariner spring training in Peoria, Ariz.

Surviving are Father Holland's father, Walter Holland of Detroit, and brothers Richard Holland and James Holland, both of Florida.

A funeral Mass has been held.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is cbeers@seattletimes.com