I would like to begin by asking your prayers for the eternal rest of three persons whose funerals we celebrated this week. The first was for Irene Susan Alm who was a Holy Family parishioner for 43 years. Irene attended daily Mass and always had a lovely smile and sense of humor. Our condolences go to her daughters Patty Kendall and Roberta Vannoy as well as Irene’s grandchildren.

Also we remember Rocio Sanchez Contrares, a 23 year old woman, who died tragically, leaving behind a one year old child. We extend our condolences to Esperanza, her mother and the brothers and sisters of Rocio.

Thirdly we extend our condolences to Jacqueline and Pablo Ledesma whose daughter, Kalinda Juanita died shortly after birth. Her mortal remains were blessed at a Mass on Friday and on Saturday she was interred in the infant section of Calvary Cemetery. Our prayers are with Jacqueline and Pablo as they strive to draw near to God during this time of healing.

Prayer is always our first, last and greatest recourse. It’s important to remind ourselves of that especially during this election time. For sure we want candidate who will reflect the values we most hold dear - especially the incalculable worth of each human life. But it is a mistake to think the ultimate victory will happen in the political sphere. Ultimately only prayer has the power to change hearts, starting with yours and mine.

I experienced a wonderful confirmation of the power of prayer during these past four weeks. I admit that six weeks ago I was most discouraged about the possibility of getting the right person as Pastoral Associate for Administration. It just did not seem that we could compete with what a person with similar responsibilities would earn in the secular sphere. A number of parishioners told me they were praying before the Blessed Sacrament that an excellent candidate would come forward. I picked up the Novena to Our Lady of Good Help which Tim had given us last spring. By the time I finished two excellent men, right from our parish, came forward. Also we received resumes from outside the state, as well as in the King County area. With the help of Tom Swim and an interview committee we did finally make a selection. His name is Tom Weber. I will be saying a little bit more about him in my column for next week’s bulletin. I don’t want people to think he will solve all of our problems, but with your continued prayers, he will do much to help get our parish administration on a solid footing.

As I prepare to go down to Peru, I want to call your attention to a most important part of our parish life: Stewardship or Sacrificial Giving. We have our Sacrificial Giving speaker lined up for November. Duane Carriere will speak at all English Masses on the weekend of November 18-19. Duane, as many of you know, is a long time parishioner. Recently he attended the Archdiocesan training. The week before that Sunday, we will have our Gala Auction at the W Hotel. I know that this event will be a wonderful boost for our parish, especially for our school renovation project. I do need to emphasize that for the day to day operation of the parish we depend on your Sacrificial Giving in the first collection of each Sunday Mass.

Please keep up your prayers, especially the Rosary during this month of October. The full fifteen decades of the Rosary for Life will be recited each Friday evening in the Ailbe House Chapel. If you have not made a personal or family consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I encourage you to do so. Below is the prayer of consecration in Spanish. The English version can be found in last weekend’s bulletin.

I will be remembering you in Peru especially at the tombs of St. Martin de Porres and St. Rose of Lima. Thank you for your donations this weekend to the Mary Bloom Center to aid the poor in that country. You can be assured that those benefited will remember you for your generosity.

Consagracion de la Familia

Sagrado Corazon de Jesus e Immaculado Corazon de Maria, vengo a consagrarme y a toda mi familia a los dos corazaones. Deseo renovar los votos de mi bautizo y poner cada miembro de mi familia en acto de fe, eszperanza y caridad en union con la Sagrada Familia de Jesus, Maria y Jose. Yo dedico mi ser y cada miembro de mi familia a los Angeles Guardianes de Dios que nos han dado a cada uno de nosotros. Oh Angel de la Guarda, iluminame, guiame, y protejeme a mi y a cada miembro de mi familia para llegar  al  cielo. Madre querida de Dios, bendicistes al mundo cuando te aparecistes en Fatima con San Jose y el Niño Jesus. Oh, Sagrada Familia, bendiceme y a mi familia para asi poder imitar a Cristo. Deseo que cada miembro de mi familia adore siempre la Santisima Trinidad y ame el Santisimo Sacramento. Dales la paz a cada miembro de mi familia. Mantenlos bajo la gracia de Jesucristo. Nunca permitas que ninguno de mi familia se aleje de la fe verdadera. (Si algun miembro de mi familia, se ha alejado, yo te suplico que sanes sus heridas, levantes a los caidos, mantegas y cures a todos en gracia. Devuelvelos a la verdadera casa del Padre.). Amen