AUGUST 2021

Dear Parishioners:

The news of the week is that Bishop Calvo, our bishop since 2006, retired. His successor, Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg is an auxiliary Bishop in Seattle. He will be formally installed as our 8th Bishop on September 24. Let’s keep both men in our prayers. This also means we live in a transition time.

FYI on some clean-up projects: we had the carpets and pews cleaned 2 weeks ago. We are having the marble in the Sanctuary also deep cleaned; the light colored grout is not light colored anymore. As well, outside on the west we will be trimming and removing some shrubbery, installing some better drip lines and then covering with rock to make that area a little more presentable. Summer does not mean we have been quiet around here!

I am a little concerned with the rise of CovidDelta. Those most severely hurt by this are the unvaccinated. So once again, please get vaccinated! If you as an adult choose to not be so, remember there are kids who cannot, and they are vulnerable. So please make sure you wear your facemask to Mass for the safety of those children.

As well, this smoke is really bad. If your lungs need to be protected, stay home and stay inside. It is not a sin to miss the Mass for your health.

Your Pastor,
Fr. Bob

JULY 2021

Dear Parishioners:

I think I have the new blog reasonable; you can find it at epi2sunday.blogspot.com. It is called Epilogue to Sunday, referring to the Sunday homily and building on it.

A provocative article on parish life hit the scene in the Catholic world last week. A question it posed is what is the difference between saying “the parish is part of my life” versus “I am a part of the life of the parish.” Parishes do matter for us as Catholics. They are a part of our very lives. But we can slip too easily into thinking of the parish “Well, what have you done for me lately?” Another Catholic writer asks people to reflect on gratitude and what are we truly grateful for that Parish life has given us. This gratitude often can inspire us to participate more and live the mission. I sat down with that thought, what is something I have been grateful for from parish life; and for me it became easy: it was that welcome and sense of belonging I received many years ago when I was alone and unemployed as a geologist. The people at Our Lady of Wisdom tookme in and provided hospitality and welcome. This has inspired me to push hospitality in every parish I have been as priest and pastor. I challenge all of us to take that to heart. Take time this week, go deep; for what are each of us truly grateful for that has been given to us in the life of the Parish.

Your Pastor,
Fr. Bob