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St. Vincent de Paul Parish Newsletter
September 17, 2020
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The things you can find on the internet
The internet has brought an incredible amount of information to our fingertips. It has also brought before us many egregious opinions posing as facts Some of these deal with our faith and our Church. If someone tells you that it is a sin to vote for a particular candidate or to be a member of a particular political party, that person (even if it be a priest or even a bishop!) has shown himself unfaithful to the official magisterial teaching of the Church. If an organization with the word, “Catholic" in its name tells you how you must vote as a Catholic, that organization is not an official part of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church does not endorse political candidates or political parties. It does however deal with issues. Each Catholic is called to form their own conscience and decide whom they can support for public office. That conscious formation includes examining Church teaching, spending time in prayer, and wrestling with a wide variety of complex issues and concerns.
In his address to the joint session of our congress, Pope Francis said: "We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leaders can govern." As Catholics, we have a right, and a duty, to participate in our democracy. It takes the hard work of educating ourselves, forming our consciences and engaging in civil dialogue.
I invite you to be a part of our 4-week study on Faithful Citizenship to do just that. Scroll down to find our more information about the Faithful Citizenship study.
-Fr. Bill
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Last week I shared my diagnosis of prostate cancer. As I begin radiation treatment this week I want to say thank you for the cards, messages of prayer and support, and offers for help. Thank you to those who shared a bit of their own journey with cancer. I feel very supported and know I will get through this fine (possibly a little worn out for a while, but definitely more spoiled by your kindness).
Fr. Bill
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We would greatly appreciate your input as we put the finishing touches on our new family formation opportunity for the Year of the Eucharist. Please click the button below to complete a short survey by Tuesday, September 22nd. This survey will help us see how we can best meet your family's needs. |
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Miscarriage and Infant Loss
When: Thursday, October 15th
Time: 6 pm
Where: Church
Please join us as we offer Mass for all families who have experienced miscarriage and/or infant loss. You
are not alone and your parish is praying with you.
Save the Date!
Registration is required for this event.
We will begin registering for this event October 1st.
We will be live streaming this Mass.
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If you are an adult who has never been baptized or, an adult who has been baptized in another Christian tradition, you are invited to participate in the RCIA, a process of initiation into the Catholic Church. You can learn more by contacting John Simpson, 253-839-2320, ext. 209 or jsimpson@stvincentparish.org.
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For registration information about Sacramental Prep:
First Reconciliation & First Communion please contact Stephanie Gray Nguyen.
Registration forms are due by Thursday, September 24th.
Class begins October 11th.
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Baptism of young children at St. Vincent parish
We celebrate baptisms of young children (0-6 years) five times each year at one of our weekend Masses. Parents/guardians are asked to participate in Baptism Preparation Classes to update their understanding of baptism, the important responsibilities of Christian parenting, and to learn more about the many ways our parish supports families. To schedule an initial interview and reserve a date for your child's baptism, or for more information, please contact John Simpson at jsimpson@stvincentparish.org or through the parish office at 253-839-2320.
Commonly Asked Questions
Are there any requirements in order to have my child baptized at St. Vincent?
Parents/Guardians are required to be a baptized Catholic and a registered parishioner for more than six months.
Who can be a godparent? Church law requires that there must be at least one qualified godparent for the child baptized. Godparents need to be active, practicing and confirmed Catholics at least 16 years in age. If married, they need to be married in the Catholic Church. Godparents need to submit a letter of recommendation from their Pastor.
Can a non-Catholic be a godparent? No, only a Catholic can be a godparent because they are asked to promise to help support raising the child in the Catholic faith. A baptized Christian of another faith tradition who is active in their community and who has never been a Catholic, may serve as a Christian Witness. However, at least one Catholic godparent is required.
What if the godparents can't come to the actual celebration? You can have a proxy stand in for the godparent(s) if they live in another area, state or, are otherwise unavailable.
Can I schedule a private baptism? Sacraments are public events that strengthen the whole community. By its very nature, a sacrament cannot be private. In the Archdioceses of Seattle, under normal circumstances, baptisms are to be celebrated during the Sunday Mass. During the Covid-19 pandemic, baptisms are celebrated in a communal ritual outside of Mass on a Sunday afternoon. Families experiencing exceptional circumstance should bring their concerns to the pastor.
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Political engagement is part of
our Catholic Call!
You are invited to join a 4-week study on Faithful Citizenship via Zoom. To maximize effective discussion, there will be three groups which are limited in size. Beginning September 22nd, they will be offered: Tuesdays and Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM; and Thursday mornings at 10:00 AM. Please register here. For more information, please contact John Simpson at jsimpson@stvincentparish.org.
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Would you like to get up-close and personal with the Mass like never before?
Then live streaming might be a great ministry for you!
To help live stream Sunday Mass and other services please contact Stephanie Nguyen for more information.
This ministry is open to those ages 14 and up.
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When: Saturday, October 3rd
Time: 11 am
Where: Church
253-839-2320 x205 with questions.
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This three-hour training is designed to teach participants how to recognize the signs of abuse, how to respond to suspected abuse and how to keep our ministries, programs and schools safe. Required for clergy,
employees and volunteers with ongoing
unsupervised contact with minors and
vulnerable adults.
Monday, September 28
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Register at
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FOOD DRIVE
The St. Vincent de Paul Society's annual food drive will take place Sep 27 – Oct 4. Because of COVID-19 there will be some changes implemented to ensure the safety of all.
Please click on the button below to access our "Shopping List" We will not be supplying bags this year. Bags of food can be delivered to the pantry/garage at the Life Center House from 10 am – 12 pm Sep 27 until Oct 4. To accommodate the 5 pm Sunday Mass the garage will be open from 4:30 – 6:30 pm.
All food donations benefit our St. Vincent de Paul Society food bank here at the parish and are delivered to our neighbors in need in Federal Way by our Society members.
Thanks for your support.
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Knights of Columbus Council 7528 invites all parishioners to a rosary for the parish on Thursday Sep 17th at 7pm. The rosary will be conducted virtually via the Zoom application. To receive an invitation and link to the rosary send an email to the council Grand Knight at GK@kofc7528.org.
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This weekend is the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Collection, which aims to end the cycle of poverty by supporting programs that make permanent changes in the lives of the 40 million people in the US living on the margins. 25% of the funds collected will be used to empower those living in poverty in our own Archdiocese. Please be generous and know that you are giving people a hand up, not a hand out. |
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Please continue to give:
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:
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Online - signup to give onetime, weekly or monthly, click the link on the below to sign up.
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Mail - you can mail us your contribution to 30525 8th Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003.
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