We had a great pilgrimage last week from Holy Family to St. James Cathedral. The final picture shows part of our group on the Cathedral steps. Someone counted 240 people on the walk and 260 at the Mass. It was a wonderful community building activity for our parish and an opportunity to pray and converse as we walked the path to downtown Seattle. This was our tenth annual Cathedral Walk. As you might remember, we began these pilgrimages in the Jubilee Year 2000.
Holy Family Parish, 7 a.m.
Delridge Ave Arco
Delridge Park
West Seattle Bridge
Waterfront
Bremerton Ferry Dock
Madison St. & 6th Ave
Under I-5 Freeway
St. James Cathedral Steps
This week I met with a group of parishioners to talk about a different kind of pilgrimage. As part of the three-year Stewardship Plan developed by our Parish Council, I will be taking a delegation to Peru at the end of September. Four parishioners are making the commitment to participate in this trip. Also, a married couple from Queen of Angels in Port Angeles has expressed interest in joining us. Queen of Angels is a parish that has supported the Mary Bloom Center through their own Stewardship plan. During Lent many of our school children are selecting a toy to donate. We will take as many of the toys as possible in order to establish a link between our children and children in Peru, who often have so much less than ours do.
Speaking of Holy Family School children, this Wednesday we will have Lenten Confessions for grades 2-8. Because of our school Reconciliation Services, Eucharistic Adoration this Wednesday will take place in the Ailbe House Chapel.
This Thursday is the first Thursday of April. Fr. Red and I will be available in the church from 6 to 8 p.m. for Confessions. Our goal this Lent is to give every adult and young person in our parish the opportunity to receive the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation. Besides the First Thursday Confessions, we are available on Wednesday evening, during and after the 7 p.m. Mass and Fridays at 7 p.m. during the Spanish Way of the Cross. Also, there are regularly scheduled Confessions on Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m.
In the Stewardship column, you will see that our Annual Catholic Appeal rebate has reached $3,593. We still have until April 20 for the rebate from the 2008 ACA. Remember that the goal of this rebate is to purchase a new reader board. The one that stands at the northwest corner of the church has seen years of service – and it is time to get a more attractive one.
Speaking of improvements, you will notice that the work on the church pews is moving forward. Parish Administrator Gary Samaniego also has a committee making the final plans for the repair and repainting of the interior of our church. This will be the last major project under the umbrella of the Capital Campaign. Again, I want to express my gratitude to all who supported the Campaign. It was a three-year Campaign, but some parishioners made a four or five year commitment. A few continue to fulfill their pledge – and of course their donations are appreciated.
This year our major fundraising effort has centered on the Randy Terlicker Endowment. We have received a good number of pledges and donations, both from parishioners and from friends of Holy Family. On Easter Sunday we will make available the Randy Terlicker brochures and envelopes. Please say a prayer for this important effort for the future of our school and parish.
It is hard to believe that Holy Week begins next Sunday! I would like to make a special invitation to the Palm Sunday Procession at 7:45 a.m. We will gather on the Ailbe House steps for the Blessing of Palms and a short procession to our church. This Holy Week I want to emphasize the Divine Mercy. It sums up what we celebrate in the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. At 3 p.m. on Good Friday we will begin the Divine Mercy Novena. This year it will be most special because of the presence of Fr. Frank Pavone on Divine Mercy Sunday (April 19). Please set aside the time from 3 to 4 p.m. that Sunday for the Hour of Divine Mercy that will take place in front of the Madison Street Planned Parenthood. Bishop Eusebio Elizondo will lead the opening prayer and give a blessing to those who attend this Hour of Divine Mercy.
It is never too late to begin the program to read the Bible/Catechism in one year. A number of you began this program with me on March 15. It involves reading three short sections from the Bible each day, as well as about a page of the Catechism. I am enjoying it very much. It is wonderful to read the Bible word for word – and the Catechism makes great spiritual reading. We have booklets available in the church and parish office.
Please do not miss the opportunity this Tuesday to hear Dr. Tom Curran’s presentation on the Mass. Many have told me they are benefiting from his new book on the Mass. You will enjoy his lecture even more. Dr. Curran gears his presentation for High School students and adults. Child care will be provided, but please notify the parish office (206-767-6220) so we can prepare properly. Once again: Tuesday evening - March 31 - from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in our parish hall.
Because of this special presentation, there will be no Latin Mass this Tuesday evening. The next Latin Mass (using the Missal of Blessed Pope John XXIII) will take place on Tuesday of Holy Week, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. Following that Mass, a group from our parish will lead a Taize Prayer Service. All are welcome.
Gracias a todos los que participaron en la Peregrinación a la Catedral. Abajo hay unas fotos. En la parte en ingles he escrito mas. Aquí quisiera hacer unas invitaciones: a la presentación del Dr. Tom Curran este martes a las 7 p.m. en el salón de la escuela. Habrá traducción simultanea, si usted desea asistir favor de avisar a Mónica en la oficina parroquial (206-767-6220).
El día miércoles la Adoración Eucarística se llevar a cabo en la Capilla de la Ailbe House, a causa de Confesiones para niños de la escuela en el templo. El día jueves habrá Confesiones para todos de 6 a 8 p.m. Igualmente durante el Vía Crucis este viernes a las 7 p.m. La Procesión del Domingo de Ramos empezara a la 1 p.m. en las escaleras de la Ailbe House.
El martes de la Semana Santa tendremos un Servicio de Taize después de la 7:30 p.m. Misa en Latín.
Les invito a participar en la Novena de la Divina Misericordia que empieza el Viernes Santo a las 3 p.m. y concluirá el Domingo de Divina Misericordia (19 de abril) a las 3 p.m. ante el Planned Parenthood localizado en la Calle Madison. El Obispo Eusebio Elizondo dará la oración inicial y una bendición a todos los participantes.
Pido sus oraciones para el Fondo Perpetuo Randy Terlicker. Habrá folletos y sobres de este fondo el 12 de abril (Domingo de Pascua de Resurrección). Es un proyecto muy importante para el futuro de nuestra parroquia y escuela. Finalmente: un agradecimiento por su participación en la Campaña Capital. Estamos por terminar los últimos proyectos: la extensión del parking, renovación de las bancas y la refacción del interior de nuestro templo con nueva pintura. Los que tienen preguntas o sugerencias pueden hablar con el administrador parroquial, Gary Samaniego, el Diacono Abel Magaña o conmigo. Dios los bendiga.
El Diacon Ted Rodriguez, su señora y la Hermanas Misioneras del Santo Rosario de Fatima
Despues de la Misa por su 50 aniversario, San Eduardo, Seattle
Stewardship Reflection:
Sometimes marriage and money can be like oil and water – they don’t mix easily! Yet it shouldn’t be that way. Opening the lines of communication between spouses is a key to fulfilling your financial responsibilities well. Family Budget Meetings are a great tool to accomplish this. Are you having yours?
Faith and Finances with Phil Lenahan © – www.VeritasFinancialMinistries.com
Parish Stewardship Giving Summary:
Wk. 38 of Fiscal Year, March 22, 2009
Amt. Needed 1st Collection Each Sunday: $ 14,100.00 Weekly Comparison
1st Week (Mar. 1) $12,795.99
2nd Week (Mar. 8) $13,352.85
3rd Week (Mar. 15) $11,503.25
4th Week (Mar. 22) $12,156.09
5th Week (Mar. 29
Check/Cash Envelope: $ 8,306.00
EFT (Automatic Deduction): $ 850.54
Loose Cash: $ 2,999.55
Total Offering: $ 12,156.09
Weekly Income Difference: - $( 1,943.91)
For on-line donations to parish or school: www.HFSeattle.org
Gifts from the Other Half of Our Stewardship:
Second Collection: Catholic Relief Serv.: $ 2,661.00
Annual Catholic Appeal Rebate Grows, but Time is of the Essence!
This past week we received another rebate check from the Archdiocese for a total of $3,593 in rebates! This is good news, but we are still below the average fulfillment rate for the Archdiocese at this time (83% for us compared to 94% archdiocesan wide). I am confident that with your help, we can close that gap this last month.
The deadline for all payments is April 20th. If you have not yet fulfilled your pledge, I strongly encourage you to do so in order for us to maximize the final rebate for our parish project. Please send your final payments directly to the Annual Appeal Office at 710 9th Ave, Seattle WA 98104. Thank you and God bless you for your generosity!
~ Father Bloom As of March 24 Total Pledged: $80,062 Required Donation: $62,759 Possible Rebate: $17,303 Total Paid to Date: $66,352 Rebate to Date: $ 3,59312:30 p.m. Mass, March 22, 2009
Camano, March 23
