June 2, 2024

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. This holy communion we share makes us Christ’s body in the world, called to manifest the real presence of his love and mercy, his compassion and peace to all we encounter.
One aspect of this special feast is our call to unity as the body of Christ. That is a challenge in our present age when so many issues divide our world, country, and church. We have a special opportunity as Catholics here in Northeast Seattle to begin to join four separate parish communities into one through the Partners in the Gospel Plan. As I get to know our sister parishes in more detail, I see a great diversity of gifts, styles, and ways of being church. Yet the Eucharist which is the heart of every Catholic Community reminds of us something we dare not forget, especially as we transition to this new model of parish life. The liturgical musician Marty Haugen put it this way in one of his songs:
We are many parts
We are all one body
And the gifts we have
We are given to share
May the spirit of love, make us one indeed
One, the love that we share
One, our hope in despair
One, the cross that we bear

Blessings of peace,
Fr. William Heric, Pastor