Dear Friends in Christ, Thank you for your welcome for Fr. Duc and myself as we begin our service to our family of parishes. I am particularly grateful for your patience as we go through the adjustments of changing schedules and staff roles to better serve our communities. I have appreciated the good quality of liturgy and music in all four of our parishes. I am particularly grateful to see the number of people from Assumption and St. Bridget who have made their way to the 5:00 pm Masses at OLL and St. Catherine. Please feel welcome at any and all Masses in our family.

Dear Friends in Christ, Our transition to becoming a family of parishes in Northeast Seattle continues. Last weekend, I had the privilege of presiding and preaching at St. Catherine, Assumption, and Our Lady of the Lake, the three parishes where I am the new pastor. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, Grace and peace to the people of Assumption, St. Bridget. St. Catherine and our Lady of the Lake who July 1st, began the process of becoming a family of parishes who will eventually become one faith community. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, One of the calendars that order our life is the “Fiscal Year” which for most organizations begins July 1 and ends June 30.  FY 2023-24 is drawing to a close with some transitions in a significant line item in our parish budget, namely staff who serve the St. Bridget Community. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, The month of June is a time to celebrate graduation from one stage of education and at the same time the commencement of another. Congratulations to the recent graduates of our ASB parish school, and those from our neighborhood Villa Academy. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, As I prepare to transition into my role as pastor of our family of 4 parishes, there is something important for me to do here at St. Bridget’s, and that is to say “Thank you” to all who volunteer in this parish. This coming Sunday, June 9th, at 5:30 pm in the parish hall, we will hold a special “Volunteer Appreciation Celebration” for all who generously give of their time and talent in service to our community.

Dear Friends in Christ, This weekend the church celebrates the solemnity of the “Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ” formerly known as “Corpus Christi.” This is a special reminder that when we gather for Mass, we receive the real presence of Christ in bread and wine that becomes his body and blood. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, This month is a special anniversary in my life and ministry. Five years ago on May 11, 2019, I began my service as your pastor here at St. Bridget Parish. It was an unexpected assignment for me but as I settled into the community here, I quickly fell in love with the people in this parish...continue reading.

Dear Friends in Christ, This Sunday’s great feast of Pentecost reminds us of something central in our Christian lives, that in the great diversity of gifts, charisms, and ways of living, that the Holy Spirit inspires, there exists a unity that binds us together as well.

Dear Friends in Christ, The Acts of the Apostles we hear every Sunday during the Easter Season recalls the beginning of the Christian Church that was born from Jesus’ resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, I’m writing this before heading out on a cruise to Alaska April 30-May 5th. I will be back in the office on May 6th although you may notice when you see me that I’ve put on a few pounds. Taking a cruise will do that!

Dear Friends in Christ, Last week on April 17-19 I attended a workshop for priests assigned to be pastors of a family of parishes that officially begins July 1. The workshop was held at the Lodge at St. Edward in Kenmore, formerly the site of our diocesan seminary which I attended for 8 years many moons ago. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, ​​​​​​​ Something happens this Saturday, April 20 that ranks near the top of our priorities as a Catholic faith community. Congratulations to our 34 parish children who receive their first holy communion. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, Last weekend, Archbishop Etienne announced the largest number of priest assignments in the history of our archdiocese. This is part of the Partners in the Gospel plan to eventually consolidate the current 130 parishes in Western Washington into 61 dynamic faith communities. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, Continued blessings of Easter peace and joy! Let me remind you again that the Easter season lasts a full 50 days of celebrating the presence of the risen Lord in our midst. So don’t put it away any time soon. As the Orthodox say, “Christ is risen, he is risen indeed!” Those are words for all of us to savor and feast upon.

Dear Friends in Christ, Welcome to all who gather to celebrate the central core of our Christian faith, the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord! Here is our reason to be disciples of Jesus, which is to witness through our thoughts, words, and deeds that God’s love is richer than gold, and more powerful than death. Continue reading...

This Sunday, March 24th begins the church’s celebration of Holy Week, where at the start of the Passion/Palm Sunday Mass, we hear these words that introduce this sacred week in the life of our church. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, I’m dating myself in recalling the film Casablanca which starred Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. A famous song originated in the film called “As time goes by.” Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, Many of you have seen the film, “The Shawshank Redemption.” I have seen it numerous times and often return to the scene where Andy Dufrane writes his best friend “Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping that this letter finds you and finds you well.” Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, One phrase used by many of Irish descent when asked how things are going in their lives is to reply, “It’s all grace upon grace.”