The archdiocese is blessed with the ethnic and cultural richness of African-American, Chinese, Hispanic, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Pacific Islander, Native American and Filipino persons. The Catholic Church in Western Washington is more than just a group of statistics. The Church, through its archbishop, clergy and laity, is a dynamic voice for the good news of Jesus Christ in one of the most unchurched areas of the United States. The challenge to live and proclaim the Gospel is daunting in any environment but especially so in such an unchurched area. Since the mid-1970s, the Archdiocese of Seattle has moved vigorously to implement the vision, spirit and teachings of the Second Vatican Council.
Major emphasis is placed on the concept of shared responsibility.
The Archbishop employs a consultative process in which information and ideas are drawn from diverse audiences and decisions are formulated through interaction of the leadership of appropriate groups within the Archdiocese. To facilitate the participative process and the concept of shared responsibility, the Archbishop meets regularly with archdiocesan consultative bodies. He meets once a month with the Presbyteral Council, a group of about 20 priests elected by their peers to provide strategic pastoral direction and advice to the Archbishop. The Archdiocesan Finance Council works with the Archbishop to analyze long-range financial needs and to develop and recommend strategic plans to manage archdiocesan business and financial affairs effectively. The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council is a group of laypeople, priests and religious who provide advice and counsel on the development of long-range pastoral goals for the archdiocese.