If you only remember one thing from this pastor’s column, let it be this:

Catholics who marry are obligated to wed in the Catholic Church.  Failure to do so would constitute grave evil and the union would not be a valid marriage in God’s eyes. 

I never heard this fact growing up Catholic, so it was news to me when I discovered it in my early 30’s, and it may well be news to you too. 

So what happens to a Catholic who weds outside of the Catholic Church?  Although the union is recognized by civil society as marriage, it is not recognized by God as such: thus the couple are sleeping together outside of marriage. 

About five years ago I met Brian Willis, a parishioner at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Portland. In 2007 Brian started a non-profit called Global Health Promise to help prostitutes and their children. His work was covered in the Catholic Sentinel, the former paper for the Archdiocese of Portland. Here’s the problem that Global Health Promise (GHP) is trying to alleviate.

Prostitutes are arguably the most desperate and threatened women in the world. Women who prostitute themselves are trapped in that hellish profession in mind, body, and spirit.

This is an update on Partners in the Gospel, my second installment on the subject and taken together with the Archbishop, the third time you’ve found a page length or more article in the bulletin on it. A reminder: the Archdiocese of Seattle, or the Church in Western Washington, is going to implement the greatest reorganization of parishes and missions in our history starting in the summer of 2024. This is a brief reminder of why and where the process is at this time.

There is no Jesus without the Catholic Church, and hence, there is no salvation without the Catholic Church. Let me explain. Jesus Christ, God, founded only one Church and that Church is the Catholic (Greek for ‘universal’) Church. Before the Catholic Church, God made a covenant with the chosen people, now called Jews. If you belong to a religion other than Judaism or Catholicism, then God is not your founder. Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews and Gentiles, with his revelation a new covenant of salvation was created through the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Everything we know about Jesus Christ, the Holy Trinity, the Communion of saints, heaven, purgatory, and hell comes from the Catholic Church. It was the Catholic Church that wrote the New Testament and decided what books and letters would go into the Bible.

Remember the first precept, that we are obligated to attend Mass on all the Holy Days of Obligation, and Sunday is always a Holy Day of Obligation. However, we are not obligated to receive the Holy Eucharist (Communion) at each of those Masses, for that-we need to be in a “state of grace” or free of mortal sin. Concerning the fourth precept, as evident by the percentage of people who receive the Holy Communion at Mass, most Catholics in the U.S. assume that they are supposed to receive Holy Communion if they attend Mass, this is not correct. Only those who are Catholic, have received their 1st Communion, and are not aware of unconfessed mortal sin are able to receive Holy Communion.

Forgiveness of sins is so important that God decided to sacramentalize it. Today the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls that sacrament by various names: Confession, Reconciliation, Penance, Forgiveness, and even Conversion. A supernatural thing happens when we go to confession: our sins are absolved (removed), no matter how bad or how often they have been committed, and we are restored and strengthened in our life of grace with God. There is no other way on earth to have our mortal sins absolved other than through sacramental confession. So why don’t more people take advantage of it: ignorance of the information being presented here, and pride.

This week we continue our series on the Precepts of the Catholic Church: “pre” meaning “before”, and “cept” meaning “life” – before there can be full life in God, these seven laws must be observed. Failure to live them out would constitute a mortal sin: when one has knowledge of them, and acts without undue coercion to disregard them. “The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor”. Catechism #2041. This week we continue working our way through them by exploring the second precept.

We know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide; we know how to drive a car with all its myriad rules; we know about photosynthesis; we know what it takes to do our taxes annually; but when it comes to knowledge of our faith, we can be woefully uninformed. Almost four years ago I ran a multiple part series on the precepts of the Catholic faith. I run them again now because they are critically important to know and live, and most of you don’t have them memorized and should, finally we should be able to teach them to others.

Jesus Christ: the Way, the Truth, and the Life ~

Our gospel this Sunday ends with the words:

“But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” Jesus ~ Mt. 10:33.

I read an article recently about the great loss of faith amongst Americans, and the rest of the world for that matter. I’ve attached the article below. How do we deal with this? The answer to that is the same in every age but especially in this one: sanctity. If you and I want to help people who have stopped believing what the Catholic Church has always taught, or simply doesn’t care enough to live it, then the best we can do for them is to be a saint. The example this sets for people is amazing, and what’s more, the grace that God releases through a holy person upon others is amazing.

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.