Ordained for the Archdiocese of Seattle in 2004, Fr. Phil Raether is a lifelong Washingtonian who has served Catholics throughout Western Washington for more than two decades. Following his studies at Mount Angel Seminary, his first assignment was to the Lewis County communities of St. Joseph Parish in Chehalis and St. Mary Parish in Centralia, together with their mission churches.

He later became pastor of St. Augustine Parish and St. Mary Mission on Whidbey Island, serving there for seven years before being assigned to Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Seattle in 2013. After serving in Family 52, Archbishop Etienne appointed him pastor of Family 50 in 2026, where he now leads the parish family of St. Cecilia, St. Olaf, and St. Peter.