Rev. Felix Wirth O.S.B. arrived in August of 1968 to take up his appointment as the Eighth Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish.
Father Wirth brought with him a sense of stability and continuity that had been lacking for the previous few years. The parish population was in free-fall, and enrollment at the school had reached critically low levels. Both were financially insolvent.
In 1970, Father formed the first parish pastoral council to advise him. Through patient outreach and fundraising, the dire situations at both the parish and the school are slowly addressed, so that within just three years both are again good standing financially.
“This church is a monument to the glory of God and to the honor of His Blessed Mother”.
(Rev. Felix Wirth, O.S.B.)
In 1972, extensive repairs and restoration work is begun in the church and school, which continues over the next several years.
On July 23, 1975, Holy Rosary Church is designated an Architectural Monument in the City of Tacoma by the Tacoma City Council.
On March 21, 1980, the 1,500th Anniversary of Saint Benedict is celebrated in the church.