Fr. Bill, Fr. Tom, Deacon Juan and the Parish Staff wish everyone a
very Joy Filled Christmas Season.
Message from your Pastor
Christmas always happens

In times of war and in times of peace; in times of prosperity and during economic hardship and crisis;  when families can gather and when families are separated - Christmas always happens.  The experience of Christmas or the feeling of Christmas may vary due to the circumstances of life. Maybe, the greater the hardship, the greater the hope of Christmas shines through.  

Remember that first Christmas came amidst political upheaval, in a country occupied by a foreign army. Society was deeply divided between those who collaborated with the Romans and those who wanted to fight them.   Roman taxation reduced most to poverty.  Because of a government edict, a young couple, the mother pregnant with her first child, had to close up the carpenter shop and leave home and relatives at a time they needed them most and travel to register for a census.   There, alone in a stable, Christmas happened. Hope arrived with the sound of a newborn baby crying.

God had become one of us. God had entered into human suffering. And God continues to enter into our suffering. It is there that God often invites us to a deeper relationship.   The hope of Christmas is realizing how near God is to us, how close God wants to be with us.   

Who could have imagined the hardships facing us this Christmas? For some it is the loss of employment; for others, illness; for some the inability - whether by choice or circumstance- to gather with family and friends. It may be the fear of infection as we await the vaccine; not being able to gather for Eucharist; family turmoil as stress begins to take its toll. 

Yet Christmas always happens. Let Christmas happen for you.  God desires to be close to you, especially in your hardships and suffering. God proved that when he entered human suffering in the manger that first Christmas and again when he accepted that cross to suffer for us till he could suffer nor more. But the story does not end with suffering; it ends with resurrection, with hope. Above all, may your Christmas be filled with hope.  

-Fr. Bill
Message from your Parish Administrator
Merry Christmas! Many things are different this year, but we’ve kept as many traditions as we can. One is collecting and publishing the names submitted for our Christmas Flower Memorial collection. Each year parishioners can give a donation in memory of friends or loved ones, and that donation helps defray the cost of our Christmas decorations. We publish the list so the whole parish can be praying together for those who have gone before us, or who need special prayers. It binds us together as community, and reminds us of the great cloud of witnesses who are interceding on our behalf, as we are on theirs. God bless all of you this Christmas, and all of your loved ones who have joined the Heavenly Host. Hosanna in the Highest!
-Tracey Rockwell
The 5pm Christmas Eve and 11am Christmas Day Mass
will be live streamed on Facebook.
The calendars are here!
 
The parish calendars are available for pick-up at Masses. If you cannot attend Mass, please call the parish office and schedule a time to pick up a calendar, or have one mailed to you.
Thank you for donating to our
Christmas Flowers Fund
WATCH
Forgiven - Session 1: Where are You?
LEARN
Formed Now! Who is Saint Stephen
LISTEN
Marriage and Family: Love Unveiled by Dr. Scott Hahn
Grief Ministry Support Groups
 
If you are saddened by the recent loss of a loved one, you might want to join our nine week Grief Group beginning in January. A Grief Group can help you through the natural process of grieving. We will use ”The New Day Journal” written by Maureen O’Brien O.P. This journal is based on the premise that writing and sharing your thoughts, feelings and experiences will be a helpful way to get beyond the pain caused by the death of someone you love.   This group will help you move on with your life, always remembering your loved one and using those memories to build your own future.
 
The group will be facilitated by Robin La Moria, former Family Minister at St. Vincent de Paul Parish.

This first group will be gather on Zoom due to the current restrictions in place by the Pandemic.

Please call Katie Goodson at the parish 253-839-2330 x205 or kgoodson@stvincentparish.org. if you are interested in participating. Date and time will be determined by participant’s preferences.
Strength Finders

Strength Finders is back! We are going to start our 4 week session on Monday, January 11. We will meet on zoom from 7pm to 8:30pm. This is a great opportunity for anyone in relationships with other people. As you learn your strengths you will better understand how you relate to the people around you. You can sign up by emailing or calling Katie Goodson. kgoodson@stvincentparish.org or 253-839-2320.
Its Vincentians time again.

We will meet on January 12 to play our annual New Year’s Bingo game. We will play on zoom. You can register on line, or by calling the office. If you need help with zoom let Katie know, she is happy to help you get on. Once you register Katie will email you bingo cards to print out.


Prayerfully Give
Sunday Giving:
Like you and your families, the church still has fiscal responsibilities, and your Sunday Contributions make up 90% of our parish income. If your household income has been affected by circumstances due to the corona virus we ask you to please offer up prayers for our church as your Sunday Giving.

Ways to give:
  • Online - signup to give onetime, weekly or monthly, click the link on the below to sign up.
  • Mail - you can mail your contribution to 30525 8th Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003.