On Saturday, June 3rd, a seminarian from our parish was ordained to the priesthood at St. James Cathedral in Seattle by Archbishop Etienne. The next day, Father John Paul Tomassi celebrated his first Mass here as a priest. We rented a couple of 55 passenger buses to travel up to Seattle and back on that Saturday, and hosted a reception the next day for Fr. Tomassi after his first Mass here. I heard the word “joy” a lot that weekend, yet the word that kept rolling around in my mind was “beautiful.”

The whole weekend was just beautiful. From the charity and anticipation of the people riding up on those buses to Seattle; to the profundity and glory of the ordination liturgy at the Cathedral; to the giddiness and fatigue of the people riding back on those buses; to the joy and hope of Fr. Tomassi’s first Mass; to the victory celebration at the reception afterward – it was all just beautiful.

Jesus Christ left us an inestimable gift before he parted from this world, that gift is His very self in the form of the Eucharist. As most of us know, the bread and wine consecrated at Mass becomes the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ (who is God). This isn’t just what Catholics believe, as if others who believe differently might be right too, nor is this true because we want it to be; the bread and wine consecrated at Mass truly become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ whether we accept this fact or not. In 6:61 of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus asks, “Does this shock you?” The answer to that question is ‘yes’ because most of the people listening to Him got up and left. But you and I do believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist and in His power because it is true.

Many of you know me, or at least know me from a distance and have been supporting me as I journey through seminary. So, to start off: thank you for this support, and especially all of the prayers that have helped me along.

My seminary formation began ten years ago, but God began preparing me to respond to a priestly vocation long before that. Born the fourth of five in an Irish-Italian Catholic family in the Portland area, I knew from a young age that God could call me to be a priest – or, as I might have said it, I knew that I could be a priest when I grew up. So on and off in childhood, I wanted to be a priest. 

Over the past fifty years or so, Catholic funerals have fallen on hard times. Most Catholics do not have a Catholic funeral upon death, and that number continues to drop. That is very unfortunate and clearly reflects a loss of faith in general, and a lack of understanding in the meaning and value of a funeral.

Two weeks ago, I presided at my brother’s funeral Mass in Lewiston Idaho. Among other things, the experience reminded me of the need for all of us to have clarity around death and funerals. Last Sunday my pastor’s column was on “What happens to us after we die,” you can check it out on our website. This Sunday I want to deal with funerals. This pastor’s column not only speaks to the nature of Catholic funerals, but what our policies are at Holy Redeemer Parish. Please plan to have a Catholic funeral, and read on.

Over the past fifty years or so, Catholic funerals have fallen on hard times. Most Catholics do not have a Catholic funeral upon death, and that number continues to drop. That is very unfortunate and clearly reflects a loss of faith in general, and a lack of understanding in the meaning and value of a funeral.

This Sunday we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven. Forty days after Jesus’ Resurrection, He ascended into heavenly glory where He is exalted at the right hand of His Father. The Ascension of Christ into heaven is as important to us as His Resurrection. Our Lord’s Resurrection makes it possible for us to rise from the dead, but to what end? So we can haunt the earth? Christ’s Ascension matters to us because it makes our own ascension into heaven possible. While the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead gives us the faith we need to unite ourselves to Him in baptism and discipleship, His Ascension is the event that makes heaven possible for us.

For years now I have been reading in my priest prayer book (breviary) a Second Century letter sent from an anonymous author to someone named Diognetus. It is an amazing testament about the Christian faith and Church in all times and places. As you read it, you’ll recognized that what was true for Christians in a hostile Roman Empire 1900 years ago, is still true for us today. Enjoy!

Within the past couple of weeks, you received a letter from Archbishop Etienne introducing you to this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Each year at this time we pause and consider all the good that is accomplished because of your support of the ACA: the homeless are sheltered, retired priests and nuns are cared for, our seminarians are prepared to serve as our future priests, and so much more. If you haven’t already done so, I pray you will join me in supporting the Catholic Church in Western Washington by giving to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal.

Within the past couple of weeks, you received a letter from Archbishop Etienne introducing you to this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Each year at this time we pause and consider all the good that is accomplished because of your support of the ACA: the homeless are sheltered, retired priests and nuns are cared for, our seminarians are prepared to serve as our future priests, and so much more. If you haven’t already done so, I pray you will join me in supporting the Catholic Church in Western Washington by giving to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal.

“I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not walk in the darkness; he will have the light of life.” Jesus – Jn. 8:12. This, and: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden . . . Your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.” Jesus – Mt. 5:14 & 16.

As many of you know, Holy Redeemer is a blessed and fortunate parish. I liken it to a safe refuge, a lighthouse in the dark night of a storm tossed sea, or a shining city on a hill. The Lord, who is Light, wants us to be light too, and to share our light with those in darkness. I was reminded of this Light, Jesus and us, throughout Lent culminating in Easter. I want to share some reflections on the light that shines here at Holy Redeemer, that you may have your faith strengthened, give praise to Almighty God, and share your faith and light with others.

Most of us are aware of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. We’ve been praying it every Friday in the church at 3pm for years, and I’m sure you’ve heard it sung or said if you’ve ever listened to a Catholic radio station. The most famous author and voice of the sung version (in English), Donna Cori Gibson, was here Palm Sunday and blessed us with a concert. It is a very popular devotion, one worth learning and using.

In the 1930’s Jesus began to visit a Polish nun named Faustina Kowalska (a canonized saint now) and passed on to her a series of messages that she recorded in her diary which has become a book called: Divine Mercy in My Soul. It’s a book about God’s abiding presence and love for us; as well as an underlying warning to turn away from sin and to turn to the infinite mercy of God.

The greatest thing that has ever happened was when God died for our sins. No greater act has ever happened, not the creation of heaven, the universe, the earth, man, or the future new heavens and new earth. Creation is something God can do with a mere thought, with no suffering, while adding to His Glory. Being crucified for the sins of others is something that God had to physically act out, with much apparent humiliation, and with great suffering. All of those things are beneath God’s dignity, yet He endured His Passion and Death to demonstrate His infinite love, which is the greatest feature of God’s Glory. The greatest manifestation of God’s Glory is not revealed in His power, which is infinite, but in His mercy, which is the most unfathomable aspect of His infinite Love.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what Jesus looked like, how do we know? Answer: The Shroud of Turin.

Today is Passion or Palm Sunday, where at Mass we solemnly read through Our Lord’s Passion and death. Yet the Scriptures aren’t the only place that testify to what happened to Our Lord Jesus Christ at His death. There is one relic par excellent that irrefutably testifies to the truth of the Scriptures. That relic is the Shroud of Turin – the burial cloth of Jesus Christ.

As part of 1st Century Jewish burial custom, people were wrapped in a burial cloth. “They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to Jewish burial custom.” (Jn 19:40) and “They both ran, but the other disciple [John] ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in” (Jn 20:4). Because of what they discovered on it, the burial cloth that was wrapped around Our Lord’s body, was preserved by his disciples after the Resurrection and became a closely guarded relic.

The last two weeks of Lent are historically known as Passiontide. During this time many churches cover their crosses, images of Jesus, angels, and saints with purple cloth. The season of Passiontide was more or less abrogated in 1969 when the Church came out with a new set of readings for Mass.

It used to be that two Sundays before Easter (5th Sunday of Lent), the Gospel reading was about Jesus confronting the established powers with his divinity; this caused those in authority to pick up rocks to stone him, “but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple” (Jn 8:46-59). Jesus would stay hidden from the religious authorities until his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday); yet even then, he did not give anyone a chance to seize him until he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Lent began on Ash Wednesday with Jesus telling us in the Gospel to pray, fast, and give alms; and by us receiving ashes, reminding us of our mortality. On the first Sunday of Lent we heard about Satan tempting Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden and tempting Jesus in the wilderness. In our modern world, Satan’s temptations abound, so much so, that we don’t recognize them much of the time, many people don’t recognize them at all; yet they are all about us leading us into sin and its consequences: slavery, suffering, death, and damnation.

Having fallen, having seen so many others fall, seeing the progress of evil in the world (and in the Church), we naturally become despondent. We can even give up on Christ and join the majority on the broad, easy road to perdition. (Mt 7:13)

This pastor’s column might seem mundane yet it’s important enough for you and the parish that I’m going to run it two weekends in a row. Please continue reading and get plugged in.

Information technology has been around for a generation now and as we all know, it is constantly improving, which is to say, it’s constantly evolving. Beginning this month, we began moving much of the data that we have on file with you to a significantly enhanced system called ParishStaq. We all also starting to transition those of us who are using on-line giving, from Vanco to a much better system called Pushpay. These two systems will work together to substantially improve our current information systems and should last for a long time to come.

This pastor’s column might seem mundane yet it’s important enough for you and the parish that I’m going to run it two weekends in a row. Please continue reading and get plugged in.

Information technology has been around for a generation now and as we all know, it is constantly improving, which is to say, it’s constantly evolving. Beginning this month, we began moving much of the data that we have on file with you to a significantly enhanced system called ParishStaq. We all also starting to transition those of us who are using on-line giving, from Vanco to a much better system called Pushpay. These two systems will work together to substantially improve our current information systems and should last for a long time to come.

Lent has begun and I hope you’ve made a resolution or more, yet it’s not too late if you haven’t. My pastor’s column from last Sunday was chock-full of helpful ideas, check it out on our website if you are still without a resolution or two.

Amongst various things, Lent provides us with an opportunity to focus on spiritually and/or morally improving upon an area or more of our lives; not victory, that’s up to God, but progress through our effort and God’s grace. To this end I want to address the predominant fault that lies within each of us.

Lent is a special penitential season when Catholic Christians try to become better Catholic Christians. Specifically, we try to make some sort of sacrifice for God’s Glory, our salvation, and to atone for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Some people do big things and some people do just one small thing, but we should all do something for the One who did everything for us.

Lent begins this Wednesday, so if you haven’t already made a Lenten resolution, please do so now. Great things, even little things, don’t happen without a commitment and a plan: marriage, parenting, career, good health, etc., all take great commitments and a plan. So does our faith. Martyrs have died for the Lord, and saints have given their whole lives for Him. This Lent please join me in making a commitment, with God’s grace, to a sacrifice that would please the Lord and perhaps better ourselves in the process.

In the Apostles Creed, a prayer we say at the beginning of the Rosary, we hear the words: “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.” We hear it said again at Mass in the Nicene Creed: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.” This is often referred to as The Second Coming.

At the end of our lives, all people regardless of their religion or lack thereof, will be judged by Jesus Christ and ultimately end up in heaven or hell. This is a frightening thought for many but not for all. If you read the lives of the saints you’ll notice that they don’t fear standing before the Lord – they long for it! For the rest of us, well let’s just say we still have work to do. Most people ignore unpleasant or scary things yet our final judgment is one of those things we shouldn’t ignore, but prepare for.

Lent is fast approaching and I started thinking about what to do, and more importantly, how to spiritually prepare. This gets me thinking about the spiritual life and a pastor’s column I wrote 18 months ago on the stages of the spiritual life. I reread it and thought I should share it with you again. A reminder, you can access all my past pastor’s columns on our website.

There is a path or way in the spiritual life to holiness or sanctity, common to all saints. Few know of its existence, and fewer still reach the highest stage in this life, most people never even start on the journey. I find it simultaneously enlightening and depressing. Enlightening because I can see the way forward, what can be, and how to proceed.