About the Leadership Team
Our team brings together many decades of combined education and experience, along with a wide variety of personal interests and deep roots in the community.
We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you into our spiritual community.
Father David Young
I grew up in the Brown’s Point neighborhood of Tacoma, in a family of three children, with an older sister and a younger sister.
Our home faced west, and we enjoyed beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains, the Brown’s Point lighthouse, and maritime traffic in Commencement Bay. I spent countless hours at the local salt water beaches, and came to know some of the ships by name.
After high school, my education consisted of bachelor and master degrees in mechanical engineering, from Gonzaga University and WSU respectively.
In my mid-twenties I began discerning a new direction, which led me to enter Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. This is where I first studied theology and received my initial formation for ministry. I graduated with a degree known as a Master of Divinity and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Seattle in 2002.
The gift of spiritual direction was part of my formation during my Mount Angel years, and has since become my special area of focus. As long as I can remember I’ve been drawn to contemplative spirituality and the practice of being present. I approach life and ministry and service as pastor through the heart of a spiritual director. To cultivate greater competency in this I enrolled at Saint John’s University in Minnesota, for a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction. The church has a beautiful heritage of listening, accompaniment, discernment, prayer, and seeking God in our lives. Some among us are called to learn this heritage and share it. I am one of them.
Boating (sailing in particular), hiking, and being outdoors are ways I experience the blessings of the sacred in ways beyond our liturgies and other experiences of communion at church.
With blessings of peace, love, and joy to all of us and our families. 😊
Michelle Charmante
I grew up in the Cincinnati area, and came to Washington State in the 1990’s. My three children were raised in north Kitsap, and I now welcome four grandchildren to my home when I’m not visiting with them either where they live or via Zoom.
While I began my professional career as a computer programmer and corporate trainer, I soon realized that I enjoyed sharing my Catholic faith more than writing code. This has led me over the years to earn a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) from the University of Dallas and a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) from St. Paul University in Ottawa. Currently, I am completing my doctoral thesis for a Doctorate in Canon Law (JCD) from St. Paul in Ottawa.
I have been blessed to serve the parish families of St. Olaf and St Peter Mission for 20 years as a Pastoral Associate. The youth who were in First Holy Communion classes when I began my ministry in 2003 are now marrying and baptizing children of their own. One of the greatest gifts I receive in my ministry is walking the journey with those who are learning about the Catholic faith and deepening their relationship with God through sacramental preparation.
My ministry as a canon lawyer supports people’s healing journeys by providing access to the resources of the Church’s internal legal structure and tribunal (courts). Our Code of Canon Law is the oldest ongoing legal system in the world, expressing our theology in juridic language. Its beauty is that there are no ‘winners’ and ‘losers’; rather, only a common search for the truth.
Walking with my dogs Mosie and Jasmine is a great source of delight for me. I also enjoy the culinary arts, working in my kitchen creating dishes from among the classic standards as well as new recipes.
Joy Erickson
I am the PAA (Pastoral Associate for Administration) for St. Olaf. I began my ministry at St. Olaf in March 2015. My responsibilities include bookkeeping, payroll, safe environment, supplies, construction and helping to teach Confirmation Class. One of my great passions has always been helping people. My ministry at St. Olaf has brought a lot of joy into my life much like my five grandchildren and my husband of 27 years. Life brings many struggles into our lives and faith has helped me along this journey.