Bulletin (May 3, 2009)
Today is Commitment Sunday for the Annual Catholic Appeal. Deacon Ted will be preaching in the English Masses, with Fr. Jim Williams as celebrant. I ask you to give Deacon Ted your undivided attentions (as you always do).
It is particularly appropriate that Commitment Sunday falls on the Fourth Sunday of Easter – Good Shepherd Sunday. The Appeal supports the training of seminarians – the future priests who will shepherd in Jesus name. It also supports the training of permanent deacons and others who collaborate with Archbishop Brunett in providing pastoral care throughout Western Washington. Moreover, the Appeal also makes possible a structure of religious education and youth ministry in the Archdiocese. It provides ministry for brothers and sisters in hospitals, jails and homeless.
A couple of weeks ago - on Divine Mercy Sunday - Fr. Frank Pavone spoke about receiving God's mercy and extending it to others. He described ways we reach out to women who are in crisis pregnancies, as well as healing for those who have been involved in the tragedy of abortion. The Annual Catholic Appeal, by supporting Catholic Community Services and Project Rachel, is an important part of that effort. With the current economic crisis, the Appeal is more important than ever.
Last Sunday I mentioned that we are asking parishioners to consider giving a dollar a day for the Appeal. I had to ask myself if – considering all the other needs, especially the Mary Bloom Center in Peru – I could give at that level. I decided not to, but to at least make a small increase in my pledge. Well, on Saturday evening (after I had made my pledge) a man unknown to me gave me an envelope. He told me to use it as I considered best. When I opened it, I was amazed. It contained almost exactly double what I had pledged! Clearly the Lord was speaking to me. I decided to change my pledge and give $365 to the Appeal. God can never be outdone in generosity. When we give, he always pours out an unexpected blessing.
Speaking of giving, I want to thank you for your steady support of Holy Family Parish. In recent weeks, we are seeing some of the fruits of your generosity. As part of the Capital Campaign vision, we are doing some renovation on the interior of the church. The pictures show Ron Runsha and Gilberto Chirino, whose company has been carrying out the renovation work. They have completed the sanding and refinishing of the majority of our pews. They are now beginning the work of taking out the carpet (it has seen more than its allotted years of service) and restoring the beautiful tiled floor. Our parish administrator, Gary Samaniego, has a committee that is guiding this work. They are working on the final details of the plan for repainting the church interior. Please keep them in your prayers – and thank you for your generosity that is making this work possible.
This Thursday, May 7, is the First Thursday of May. I will be available for confessions from 6 to 8 p.m. Those who want to go to confession to Fr. Armando Red will have to take a long trip – he is currently in the Philippines enjoying a few weeks with his sister and brother. We pray that he will have a restful time and return safely on May 22.
This Thursday we will have the traditional May Crowning of Our Lady. You are invited to join the children of our school for this beautiful Mass (May 7, 8:30 a.m.). Also, I encourage you to come to the school play on May 20 & 21. It is a musical called “Romeo and Harriet,” based on the Shakespeare classic with a similar title. The children have been practicing with great enthusiasm. The play should be a lot of fun.
Next Sunday is Mother’s Day. It is a time to honor our moms and pray for them – whether living or deceased. Also, I will be inviting you to reflect on the deeper significance of honoring our mothers and fathers. Not only our eternal salvation, but our well being in this world is linked to respect for paternity and maternity. I read a thought-provoking article titled “Demographics and Depression” by David Goldman who argues that our economic crisis has resulted from the devaluing of parenthood – and the subsequent decline in the number of children. The percentage of children in our society has dropped drastically while the percentage of seniors has increased enormously. In next week’s bulletin, I will put a graph that dramatically illustrates this change. It is not a pretty picture for our future. Meanwhile, one of the best things we can do is to honor our mothers – and fathers. More next week.
Hoy es Domingo de Compromiso para la Petición Católica Anual. El Diacono Abel esta predicando en las misas en español. Es muy apropiado que este domingo coincide con el Domingo del Buen Pastor. La Petición apoya la formación de seminaristas y diáconos – y los otros que nos pastorean en nombre del Señor. Como miembros de ese rebaño, dependemos de el. Y nos ayudamos uno al otro. Me acuerdo cuando estaba en el Altiplano del Perú, visitando unos pueblos lejanos. En la tarde se podía ver las ovejas juntitas para calor y seguridad. Como esas ovejas, no solamente necesitamos el Pastor sino uno al otro.
Hace unas semanas - el domingo de la Divina Misericordia - el Padre Frank Pavone hablo de recibir la misericordia de Dios y extenderla a otros, especialmente a mujeres en embarazos de crisis. Lo hacemos apoyando la Petición Católica Anual que hace posibles servicios a los necesitados. Quisiera agradecer a ustedes por su apoyo de la Petición.
También les agradezco por su apoyo a la parroquia, especialmente de la Campaña Capital. Como se puede ver en la sección en ingles, seguimos con la renovación del templo. Hemos renovado la mayoría de las bancas y ya hemos quitado la alfombra antigua para tener un piso más bello. La foto abajo muestra a dos de los muchachos (Josué y Marco) en el proceso de sacar la alfombra.
Su donacion a la Peticion Catolica Anual ayudara este ano a proveer los recursos tan necesarios para miles de individuos. A medida que enfrentamos tiempos economicos dificiles, sean conscientes que algunos de sus companeros de la parroquia no podran apoyar financieramente a la Peticion este ano. Pero a los que si estan en posicion de poder hacerlo, les pido que consideren aumentar su contribucion este ano, para compensar por los que no pueden. Su donativo a la Peticion Catolica Anual esta haciendo la diferencia en la vida de alguien, hoy. Por favor, unanse a mi apoyo a la Peticion, regresando su sobre do ecompromiso hoy mismo.
Which Building Are You Climbing?
A young man gets out of college and starts his career. He keeps his nose to the grindstone, focusing on making his mark and getting ahead. He succeeds at climbing the corporate ladder, one rung at a time. But his success comes at a price. Over the years, his wife and children drift from him. He makes no time for God. His focus is on reaching the top of the ladder. Even his wife’s filing for divorce doesn’t stop him. Eventually, he reaches the top of the ladder, only to realize he was climbing the wrong building.
This story plays itself out in a variety of circumstances in thousands of families every year. What’s the moral of the story? It’s not that we don’t need to develop a strong work ethic, because we do. It’s about looking at the big picture, and successfully setting priorities that stand the test of time. We want to make sure we climb the right ladder!
In today’s world, it’s easy to spend many years chasing after things that in the end, just don’t matter very much. Today’s reading says, “He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11).
True financial freedom is all about using the gifts and resources we have been entrusted with in ways pleasing to God. Take a few moments to reflect on how you are using your gifts. What are the most important priorities in your life? Is Christ the cornerstone of the building you are climbing? God love you.
Faith and Finances with Phil Lenahan © – www.VeritasFinancialMinistries.com
Parish Stewardship Giving Summary: Wk. 43 of Fiscal Year, April 26, 2009 Amt. Needed 1st Collection Each Sunday: $ 14,100.00 Check/Cash Envelope: $ 9,393.00 EFT (Automatic Deduction): $ 1,032.63 Loose Cash: $ 3,005.95 Total Offering: $ 13,431.58 Weekly Income Difference: - $ ( 668.42) For on-line donations to parish or school: www.HFSeattle.org Gifts from the Other Half of Our Stewardship: Rice Bowl: $ 1,546.55 2009 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
Today is Commitment Sunday for the Archdiocesan Annual Catholic Appeal. Below, are the results to date. Your gift to the Appeal will help provide the much needed resources to thousands of individuals this year. As we are faced with challenging economic times, be aware that some of your fellow parishioners will not be able to financially support the appeal this year. If you are in a position to do so, I ask that you consider an increase in your gift this year to make up for those who can’t. Your gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal is making a difference in someone’s life today. Please join me in supporting the Appeal by returning your pledge envelope today. For those who have already made a pledge, thank you for your generosity! ~ Father Bloom
Annual Catholic Appeal 2009 Results
Please return your pledge envelope so we can meet our parish goal. It is our hope this year that ALL our parish families will participate by completing an envelope. For easy pledging, you can go to our web-site at www.HFSeattle.org and click the link to make a pledge!
Registered Parish Households: 1,276 Pledge Envelopes Returned: 159 % of Participating Households: %13 Our Annual Catholic Appeal Goal: $71,868 Total Pledged To Date: $16,445 % Of Goal Reached So Far: %23Gilberto Chirino & Mary French
Polo & Gilberto
Manuel Chirino