This Sunday we have a special honor and joy for our parish. Mr. Abel Magaña, who has served as pastoral associate for the past eight years, received the order of diaconate on Saturday. He was one of some twenty-five married men ordained by Archbishop Brunett after three years of intensive formation. Deacon Abel will be present at both English and Spanish Masses this Sunday morning, along with Deacon Ted (homilist) and Deacon Joe Dunne.

Deacons have been part of the church hierarchy from the earliest times. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that some widows were being neglected in the distribution of food. (Acts 6:1) Because these widows spoke only Greek they were not being well served by those whose first language was Aramaic. So the Twelve Apostles instructed the Greek speakers to select “seven men who were acknowledged to be deeply spiritual and prudent.” (v. 3) Among them was Stephen who would become the first martyr of the early Church (7:54ff.) and Philip, an early missionary to Samaria, who also baptized a court official from Ethiopia. (Acts 8)

Famous deacons include St. Lawrence who was martyred in 258 A.D. and St. Francis of Assisi. The permanent diaconate fell into disuse, but was restored by the Vatican Council. The Catechism outlines sacramental character and duties of the diaconate:

"Deacons share in Christ's mission and grace in a special way.[Cf. LG 41; AA 16.] The sacrament of Holy Orders marks them with an imprint ('character') which cannot be removed and which configures them to Christ, who made himself the 'deacon' or servant of all. [Cf. Mk 10:45; Lk 22:27; St. Polycarp, Ad Phil. 5, 2: SCh 10, 182.] Among other tasks, it is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity. [Cf. LG 29; SC 35 # 4; AG 16." (#1570)

Last weekend I mentioned the CBS smear of the Vatican. Although extreme in its irresponsibility, it does typify a certain approach to reporting about the Catholic Church. We priests and bishops have for sure committed some terrible errors and sins in the past decades. Still, this does not exempt the media from their obligation to avoid distorted and one-sided reporting. Here is what William A. Donohue, Ph.D., president of the Catholic league wrote to the president of CBS:

“For decades, priests in this country abused children in parish after parish while their superiors covered it all up. Now it turns out the orders for this cover up were written in Rome at the highest levels of the Vatican.” That is the way CBSNEWS.com opened its story on August 6. It is a total lie. Nothing in the document even comes close to demonstrating the validity of this scurrilous charge.

In his P.S. Donohue added: Ever wonder why the New York Times and most of the other elite media outlets never wrote one word about this report? And did you ever figure out why the story that was printed in the Boston Herald shot holes through the report? See: http://www.catholicleague.org/03press_releases/quarter3/030812_cbs.htm

A topic of great importance to Holy Family parishioners is immigrant rights. The Catechism teaches: that "more prosperous nations are obliged to welcome the foreigner in search of security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin." (# 2241, cf. Ex. 23:9). Next Saturday there will be a send-off for those participating in the “Freedom Ride” to Washington, D.C. It will take place at the Seattle Center at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 20.

On the weekend of September 27-28, our Building Commission has prepared a special presentation for all of our Sunday Mass. Architect Kevin Broderick who has been working closely with them will speak briefly at all Masses and will be available, along with Tom Weber and commission members, to answer your questions.

Este Domingo tenemos un honor y alegría especial para nuestra parroquia. El Señor Abel Magaña, quien ha servido como asociado pastoral durante los últimos ocho años, recibió el orden del diaconado el día sábado. Era uno de veinticinco hombres ordenados por el Arzobispo Brunett después de tres años de formación intensiva. El diácono Abel será presente en las misas de ingles y español este domingo.

Los diáconos han sido parte de la jerarquía desde el principio de la iglesia. En los Hechos de los Apóstoles, leemos como fue necesario escoger “siete hombres espirituales y prudentes” (6:1) para ayudar con la distribución a las viudas de habla griego. Uno de ellos era el diácono Esteban que fue el primer mártir. Otros diáconos famosos son San Lorenzo y San Francisco de Asís. El Catecismo da esta descripción del carácter sacramental y deberes del diácono:

1570. "Los diáconos participan de una manera especial en la misión y la gracia de Cristo. El sacramento del Orden los marcó con un sello ['carácter'] que nadie puede hacer desaparecer y que los configura con Cristo que se hizo 'diácono', es decir, el servidor de todos. Corresponde a los diáconos, entre otras cosas, asistir al obispo y a los presbíteros en la celebración de los divinos misterios sobre todo de la Eucaristía y en la distribución de la misma, asistir a la celebración del matrimonio y bendecirlo, proclamar el Evangelio y predicar, presidir las exequias y entregarse a los diversos servicios de la caridad."

Un tema de gran importancia para Sagrada Familia son los derechos del inmigrante. El Catecismo enseña: “las naciones mas prosperas tienen el deber de acoger, en cuanto sea posible, al extranjero que busca la seguridad y los medios de vida que no puede encontrar en su país de origen.” (# 2241, cf. Ex. 23:9). El próximo sábado habrá una despida para los que participarán la “Caravana por la Libertad de Trabajadores Imigrantes” que irá a Washington, D.C. Tendrá lugar en el Seattle Center a la 1:30 p.m. el 20 de septiembre.

El fin de semana del 27-28 de septiembre, nuestra Comisión de Edificios ha preparado una presentación especial para todas las misas dominicales. El Arquitecto Kevin Broderick que ha trabajado con la comisión en sus reuniones bi-semanales, hablará en todas las misas y será disponible, junto con Tom Weber y miembros de la comisión, para contestar sus preguntas.