This weekend we are happy to welcome Dawn Eden. She will say a few words at the end of our English and Spanish Mass. She is the author of an excellent book for young adults – The Thrill of the Chaste. We will make her book available after Mass for a very reasonable price, and you will have an opportunity to meet Dawn personally and have her sign your copy. If you are purchasing the book as a gift for someone (for example, for graduation), Dawn can sign it appropriately.
This weekend we will have Fr. Art Gramaje, C.M.F., as celebrant of the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses. I will be preaching at all the English and Spanish Masses. Fr. Felino Paulino will celebrate the 6 p.m. Filipino Mass. Next weekend Fr. John Waldrep, M.M., will be present at our seven weekend Masses. I am looking forward to his visit since I knew Fr. Waldrep when he was a seminarian doing his “oversea experience” in Peru. Fr. Ramon returns to Holy Family at the end of this month.
At the end of the 8 a.m. Mass, I will be giving a blessing for the participants in this year’s Catholic Bible Study. As you may know, they spent an entire year studying one book of the Bible. This year they focused on the Apocalypse (Revelation), which is the final book in the Bible. Those who participated told me that it was exciting to learn how the Book of Revelation applies to our lives today. This coming year they will study Genesis, the first book of the Bible. I believe that many Holy Family parishioners will want to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about God’s Word. I have printed a list of participants in the bulletin so that you can find out more about what is involved in the Catholic Bible Study program.
The book of Genesis addresses the question of origins. As I will say in this Sunday’s homily, we cannot know where we are going unless we have some idea where we came from. If you and I are just a complex bunch of molecules, we are going nowhere. But if we have our origin in three divine persons, we have a destination. The doctrine of the Trinity gives a clue to our destiny, our purpose.
Speaking of human origins, I notice that local theaters are still showing Expelled – No Intelligence Allowed. In this delightful movie, Ben Stein interviews major figures, such as Richard Dawkins, who have adopted Darwinism as the explanation for everything. The movie has created quite a controversy because Stein brings out the connection of Darwinism to eugenics, assisted suicide, abortion, human cloning, Planned Parenthood and “racial purity” movements such as Nazism. To help navigate the controversy about the application of Darwin’s theories, I know no better book than Chance or Purpose? by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn. He writes with great precision and clarity, as you can see from this paragraph:
“Modern philosophy, since Rene Descartes, has radically separated man from the rest of nature, and has set him over against it as a thinking being. With Darwin, man is brought back into being part of nature again. He is a child of the same nature that produced everything else. However, Darwin takes a step in the wrong direction when, in the process of integrating man with nature, what is particular about man is leveled down.”
It is interesting that when Darwin published On the Origin of Species in1859, the Catholic press in general expressed admiration for its scientific discoveries and for its elegant expression. The real problem came about ten years later when Darwin published The Descent of Man (1871), which went way beyond scientific observance and wound up presenting evolution as the theory which explains everything. Thus he argued that human nature and human morality were mere products of a materialistic process. In The Descent of Man he made these statements: “We build asylums for the imbecile, the maimed and the sick. Thus the weak members of civilized societies propagate their kind. No one who has attended to the breeding of domestic animals will doubt that this must be highly injurious to the race of man. Hardly anyone is so ignorant as to allow his worst animals to breed.” And “at some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world.” Although Darwin himself may not have intended it, it is easy to see how such assertions would play into movements such as eugenics, Planned Parenthood and Nazism.
We will have other opportunities to talk about these issues. They are very basic. Trinity Sunday, as I mentioned, gives us a good chance to reflect on where we came from and where we are going. Next weekend we have another beautiful Solemnity – Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. On Saturday (May 24), I invite you to take part in the Procession after the 5 p.m. Mass and the Potluck that will follow in the parish hall. By participating in this procession, we will give a public expression to our faith in Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I ask you to pray for the work of our Parish Council. This year we have been focusing on what it means for Holy Family to become a Stewardship Parish. On Thursday the Council had its final meeting of the 2007-2008 school year and over the summer the Executive Committee, made up of Rica Herrera, Steve Stillwell Sr., Angelica Ramirez, Mary French and me, will be working on bringing together our Stewardship mission and goals. Next September the Council will have an all-day retreat to reflect and pray about these goals.
Also continue your prayers for our parish school. As Mr. Lutz mentions in the School News column, we have some wonderful new teachers for the coming year. This last Tuesday the Search Committee collated the surveys. They were most helpful in identifying needs and concerns of parishioners and school parents. We will use this information as we proceed with the interviewing and hiring process. Please say a prayer that the Lord will send the right person for this vital leadership role.
Thank you to all who turned in your pledge/donation for the Annual Catholic Appeal. If you have not yet done so, please get your envelope to the parish office today or tomorrow. Early this week we will send follow-up letters to those we have not yet heard from. As you can see in the Stewardship section, we are very close to our goal. Next Sunday the two-bit collection will go toward the Annual Catholic Appeal. I know that some of our parishioners are reluctant to use envelopes. The second collection should put us over the top, thus enabling us to purchase a new outdoor sign and make other improvements to beautify our grounds. Thank you for your support and prayers.
And on a final, fun note: This Tuesday I will have the opportunity to see Prince Caspian with our fourth graders. I loved The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and look forward to this second in what will be a series of seven movies.
Felicidades a todos los niños que recibieron su Primera Communion el sabado pasado, a sus papás, padrinos, abuelitos y otros parientes. Ha sido bien emocionante celebrar las dos misas y ver la fe de tantas personas en Jesus, realmente presente en la Eucaristia. El proximo domingo habrá una Procesion con el Santisimo Sacramento, despues de la misa de 12:30. El Padre John Waldrep, M.M., dará la homilia en todas las misas.
Este domingo la Srta. Dawn Eden va a decir unas palabras al final de las misas y ofrecer su libro La Aventura de la Castidad: Encontrando Satisfacción con su Ropa Puesta a un precio muy comodo. Dawn Eden es integrante de un grupo creciente de talentosos profesionales norteamericanos que encuentra deficiente el mensaje de nuestra cultura acerca del sexo. La experiencia de su vida le permite demostrar por qué vivir castamente es, como lo sugiere el título del libro, “una aventura”.
“Para mí –dice la autora–, todo comenzó como un experimento. Había cumplido alrededor de treinta y cinco años. Sabía que quería estar casada. También sabía que el sexo al estilo Nueva York, cediendo a los impulsos y tentaciones, precipitándose a tener sexo con la esperanza de que se convierta en amor, o usando el sexo con la esperanza de obtener un compromiso, no estaba funcionando. Me veía deslizándome en la resbalosa pendiente del cinismo, el resentimiento y la soledad”.
Usando sus propias experiencias en la selva de solteros de la ciudad de Nueva York, Dawn Eden muestra a las mujeres cómo ellas también pueden pasar de la inseguridad a la pureza y de la tristeza al nuevo nacimiento. Recomiendo su libro no solamente para mujeres jovenes, sino tambien por varones que desean un “amor bello.” Tambien los papás ganarán mucho beneficio de este buen libro.
With Mark Shea and Dawn Eden at Ivar's
With Dawn and Fr. Sean Raftis, S.J.
Dawn and Todd Aylard at Seattle University
Prince Caspian with Holy Family fourth grade:
School News
Sunday, May 18
Dear Parishioners,
I want to continue to encourage you to choose Holy Family Parish School for your child. We have an outstanding Catholic school. At times, it might seem ‘unsettling’ with all of the changes. However, keep in mind that for 80 years HFPS has served well the parish families and others living in this area that seek out a Catholic education.
Please welcome Sarah Boyd who will join us as the Fourth Grade Teacher in 2008 – 2009. Sarah comes to us with a solid foundation of teaching in a variety of settings including Assumption Catholic School in Bellingham and currently is a director and teacher for Sylvan Learning Centers. She is highly qualified, very excited to be teaching at HFS, and she and her husband along with their 2 small children are looking forward to being a part of the Holy Family faith community. Please keep them in your prayers.
Just a reminder, that Mrs. Wilson, the Fourth Grade Teacher, will be taking the Music position and serving as the Vice-Principal.
Ginnie Hance, the Art Teacher, and Mrs. Hokenson, the Seventh Grade LA Teacher just finished facilitating the Art, Music and Literature Fair which was held this past Tuesday. The Middle School children did a magnificent job of preparing outstanding projects, and in some cases performed musical pieces. We are very proud of these students and their teachers and thankful for the wonderful parental support.
We are still accepting new students in all grades. Please contact us if we can be of assistance.
Happy Birthday, May 18, to Mr. Chuck Secrest, 6th Grade Homeroom Teacher and Math specialist.
God Bless,
Glen t. Lutz
Principal
ANNUAL ARCHDIOCESAN CATHOLIC APPEAL
Thank you to all who have made your Annual Catholic Appeal Pledge! As you can see, we are still around $10,000 below our required contribution amount. Please keep in mind that it is also the norm that a certain percentage of the amount pledged will not be fulfilled. Last year, approximately $10,000 of our total pledge was uncollected. In order to not have to fulfill our Appeal obligation through our general budget, it is imperative that we have enough pledges made through this pledge drive to not only cover our required amount but also additional pledges to help off-set any amounts that won’t be collected. All monies collected over our required amount will be returned to US!
As of today, approximately 30% of our 1076 registered families have turned in their envelope. If you compare this number to last year’s Archdiocesan wide parish participation level, this puts Holy Family at 154th place out of 171 parishes. This means that only 17 out of 171 parishes last year had a participation rate lower than our current 30% and 153 parishes had a higher participation percentage. We know that Holy Family can and should do better than that! We are asking for 100% participation, which means that ALL registered families return an envelope regardless of whether or not you can make a pledge. We are also asking you to consider a gift of at least $100, which is only $10/month over the next 10 months. If you can give more, please consider the Archdiocesan average gift of $265. If you cannot contribute at this time, then please at least fill out the envelope and write “Prayer” or “No Pledge.” Doing this will help us in our mailing costs as it will prevent you from receiving both a follow-up letter from us as well as the Archdiocese and is the least that should be done as a good Steward of the parish’s resources.
We are one Universal Church and it takes all of us working together to accomplish what none of us can do alone. Please support the Annual Catholic Appeal and your parish by returning your pledge card today.
Pledges can be fulfilled by credit card, automatic deduction from your bank account, monthly statements, or on-line. To make a pledge on-line go to www.seattlearch.org/aca.
Annual Catholic Appeal Update as of May 11 Registered Families: 1076 Participating to Date: 345 % Participating 32% Archdiocesan Average Gift: $265 Holy Family Average Gift to Date: $170 Total Required: $62,759.00 Pledged/Donated to Date: $52,727.00 Parish Stewardship Giving Summary Wk. 46 of Fiscal Year (July 1, 2007 – May 11, 2008) Amount Needed Each Sunday: $ 12,289.00 May 11 Check/Cash Envelope: $ 7,128.57 May 11 Mother’s Day Envelope: $ 260.00 May 11 EFT(Automatic Deduction): $ 768.93 May 11 Loose Cash: $ 3,951.32 May 11 Total Offering: $ 12,108.82 Weekly Income Difference: (-) $ 180.18 Budgeted Fiscal Year to Date: $565,294.00 Collected Year to Date: $552,541.01 Income Difference Year to Date: (-) $ 12,752.99 Some of the Gifts from the Other Half of our Stewardship 2-Bit Collection (Mary Bloom): $ 2,221.94 Saint Vincent de Paul: $ 114.36 Capital Campaign Total Households Pledging: 734 Total Pledged: $1,208,774.63 Total Paid: $1,037,097.49 Balance: $ 171,677.14