News - December 2022

Monday, January 2, 2023

January 6-8 following Mass

Join us for the Christmas Season at St. Bridget's!

Dear Friends in Christ, A blessed Christmas! I offer a warm word of welcome to all visitors who have joined us for our Christmas liturgies which continue through January 9th, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Please consider keeping most of your holiday decorations up until then to extend the celebration well into the new calendar year!

Dear Friends in Christ, Something recently occurred at St. Bridget’s for the first time in a while: One of our Bishops, Frank Schuster, came to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for 45 of the youth from Assumption and St. Bridget Parishes. I recall the last time that happened, which was May 10, 2019. It was my third day as your pastor, and everything was brand new to me. The presider then was our former Archbishop Peter Sartain who had asked me to come serve at St. Bridget’s. I’ve thanked him on numerous occasions for this assignment which has been a blessing and joy to me in so many ways.

Dear Friends in Christ, Much civic debate in recent decades revolves around the role of the Supreme Court of the United States as it interprets the meaning of the original constitution that is the foundation of our democracy as a country. It’s not my intention here to comment on that, other than to encourage us to be united in our prayer for unity and respectful cooperation among all who dwell in our land.

Dear Friends in Christ, This weekend's second Sunday of Advent is our opportunity to hear about and support the annual “Appeal for the Poor” through Catholic Community Services in Western Washington. John Hickman, who has been associated with CCS for many years will speak at both of our Masses this weekend. Please consider a generous gift to CCS this Advent, anticipating the words we hope to hear from the Lord Jesus when our human lives end: Whatever you did for the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me! (Matthew 25:40)