Today is Announcement Sunday for the Annual Catholic Appeal. At the end of each Mass we will have an informative announcement regarding this year’s appeal. At our April 10 Parish Council meeting we discussed possible parish projects for contributions above our archdiocesan goal ($62,759). Given the success of last year’s Appeal, I believe we will achieve that goal and more. Our Parish Council members agreed that we need to devote additional funds to beautifying our parish grounds. We would start with the planters on Roxbury Street. These could be greatly improved to make Holy Family Parish more attractive. Other parts of our grounds need repair and renovation. Your contributions beyond the archdiocesan goal will go toward that purpose. Next weekend you will hear more about the Annual Catholic Appeal. I have asked Rica Herrera, Chair of our Parish Council, to give a presentation at the English and Filipino Masses. Below is a picture of the Council, taken by Glen Lutz at our February meeting. The names of Council members are on the vestibule bulletin board, along with approved minutes.

Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States has given many people an opportunity to hear him, perhaps for the first time. He inevitably has something thought-provoking to say. Here are a few of his many memorable quotes.

“Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. ... Whereas relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and 'swept along by every wind of teaching,' looks like the only attitude acceptable to today's standards.”

“We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as definitive and has as its highest value one's own ego and one's own desires...”

“Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd. Do not allow your net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity.”

“Today, I, too, wish to reaffirm that I intend to continue on the path toward improved relations and friendship with the Jewish people, following the decisive lead given by John Paul II.”

“The Eucharist is far more than just a meal; it has cost a death to provide it, and the majesty of death is present in it. Whenever we hold it, we should be filled with reverence in the face of this mystery, with awe in the face of this mysterious death that becomes a present reality in our midst.”

“After the Second Vatican Council, the impression arose that the pope really could do anything in liturgical matters, especially if he were acting on the mandate of an ecumenical council. Eventually, the idea of the givenness of the liturgy, the fact that one cannot do with it what one will, faded from the public consciousness of the West. In fact, the First Vatican Council had in no way defined the pope as an absolute monarch. On the contrary, it presented him as the guarantor of obedience to the revealed Word. The pope's authority is bound to the Tradition of faith, and that also applies to the liturgy. It is not "manufactured" by the authorities. Even the pope can only be a humble servant of its lawful development and abiding integrity and identity. . . . The authority of the pope is not unlimited; it is at the service of Sacred Tradition. . . . The greatness of the liturgy depends - we shall have to repeat this frequently - on its unspontaneity.”

“Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment. Such attraction fades quickly - it cannot compete in the market of leisure pursuits, incorporating as it increasingly does various forms of religious titillation.”

“A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate's permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia. When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.”

"It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity. Through Mary, and the other holy women, the feminine element stands at the heart of the Christian religion. And this is not in competition with Christ. To think of Christ and Mary as being in competition means ignoring the essential distinctions between these two figures. . . . That is not a competition, but a more profound kind of intimacy. The Mother and Virgin form an essential part of the Christian picture of man." "Love, in the true sense, is not always a matter of giving way, being soft, and just acting nice. In that sense, a sugar-coated Jesus or a God who agrees to everything and is never anything but nice and friendly is no more than a caricature of real love. Because God loves us, because he wants us to grow into truth, he must necessarily make demands on us and must also correct us."

El obispo Joseph Tyson estará con nosotros este lunes para la celebracion de Confirmacion. Le damos una cordial bienvenida. La presencia del Obispo Tyson nos hace recordar la importancia de apoyar nuestra arquidiocesis por medio de la Peticion Catolica Anual. Habrá un aviso al final de la misa sobre esta colecta para apoyar los programas pastorales y caritativos de la Arquidiocesis de Seattle. Como mencione en la parte en ingles, toda contribucion sobre nuestra meta diocesana ($62,759) sera dedicado al mejorar la aparencia de los terrenos parroquiales. El proximo domingo habrá testimonios en todas las misas.

Dear Parishioners,

I know that many of you attended the REACH Auction, last night. Thank you! And, those that were not there have been praying for a successful auction. Thank you! I will update you next week on the results.

Tomorrow, Monday, the Class of ’08 (8th Grade) and their teacher, Mrs. Schau, will be spending the day at Camp Huston working on team building.

Please keep Grade Five and their teacher, Mrs. Budde, in your prayers of thanksgiving. They will be spending this week at Camp Waskowitz Environmental Camp.

Grade Four is currently taking the WASL Test. This is a two-week exam. Please keep them in your prayers as well. The children under the guidance of Mrs. Wilson have worked hard to prepare for this important test.

This week is National Turn Off Your TV Week and what a great opportunity to read a good book or listen to Sacred Heart Radio. How will you fill up your time with Christ-centered choices? What a blessing!

Happy Birthday to Mrs. McKeehan-Hart, 7th Grade Teacher, on Tuesday, April 22.

On Wednesday, April 23, we celebrate Administrative Professionals Day. Let’s be sure to show our appreciation for all of those women and men who serve in this position of leadership, for example, Monica in the Parish Office. I am sure she would appreciate a nice card, even with a Starbuck’s Coffee Card included. 

And, remember it will be Father Ramon’s Birthday on Friday, April 25. Father Ramon is a true blessing and we are very fortunate to have his priestly presence.

Speaking of Friday, April 25, the following 7th Graders will be recognized by the Catholic Schools Department for their servant leadership: Isabella Fernandez, Zach Stilwell, Gretchen Martin, Renard Bansale, and Steven Ponce. Congrats!

Last but not least, the 8th Grade, thanks to the Art teacher, Mrs. Virginia Hance, will be participating in the Sacred Icon Workshop. Hopefully, we will be able to display their completed work in the vestibule of the church at some point in time.

Please keep in your prayers of celebration those youngsters who will be receiving their First Communion on Saturday, April 26. Congrats!

We are still currently accepting new families in all grades (PreK – 8) for next year. Please contact the main office or drop by during the week or send me an email, Principal@HFSeattle.org and let me know how we can be of service.

Finally, as the Capital Campaign draws to its official close, I can’t thank you enough for your support of the school. We could not do it without you!

Glen t. Lutz
Principal 




Fostering Stewardship As a Way of Life

Stewardship Reflection

~ US Bishops’ Letter – Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response

Parish Stewardship Giving Summary
Wk. 42 of Fiscal Year (July 1, 2007 – April 13, 2008)

Amount Needed Each Sunday:		$  12,289.00
April 13 Check/Cash Envelope:	$    6,284.46
April 13 EFT(Automatic Deduction)  $       790.43
April 13 Loose Cash:			$    2,727.04
April 13 Total Offering:			$    9,801.93

Weekly Income Difference:		       (-) $    2,487.07 

Budgeted Fiscal Year to Date:		$516,138.00 
Collected Year to Date:			$503,124.79
Income Difference Year to Date:            (-) $  13,013.21

Some of the Gifts from the Other Half of our Stewardship
2-Bit (Terlicker Scholarship Fund):		$    2,421.78
Saint Vincent de Paul				$       596.00

Capital Campaign
Total Households Pledging:			728
Total Pledged:					$1,206,067.62
Total Paid:					$1,033,671.69
Balance:					$   172,395.93