eNewsletter | December 22, 2020 |
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FATHER VU'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE |
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Dear friends,
A few weeks ago before Mass, a parishioner shared with me a wonderful insight, filled with hope, and she said: “One way I see this is that we have gotten this far, might as well keep going just a little further.” There is much truth in what she said, namely, how much we have been through in the last 10 months, and looking back, we learned to adapt to many changes in 2020, to do our part to slow the curve by implementing new norms, social distancing, face masks, reducing day to day operations. Loved ones have been taken, escalating numbers of the infected, and living in isolation...our faith has surely been shaken this last year.
It is with hope that these things will soon be behind us, as we look to the dawning days ahead with the production and distribution of the vaccine. One aspect of the gift of hope is that it doesn’t have a definitive time frame. We don’t know exactly when this will all be over, but we hold on to the gift of hope, assured that there will be a better tomorrow, not if, but when that day comes. It is definitely a fragile time for many of us, as we find ourselves at the edge of the abyss, a cloudy future with many uncertainties, but God’s word reminds us that we walk not by sight, but we walk by faith. Faith is the assurance that God is with us, and that is the heart of the mystery of Christmas: “Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and he shall be called Emmanuel which means God is with us.”
I do want to thank you for all your continued prayers and support for your Church in the last year. Thank you also for your patience! You’ve been very wonderful, by staying connected to Mass online via Facebook and YouTube, your financial contributions to help the church continue to meet many spiritual needs and demands of the faith community, and sharing your wealth and resources with the less fortunate. During the last year, there were many times I thought to myself “What difference does it make?” There were times when I didn’t want to get out of bed, because anything I do is not even going to matter a whole lot. But your prayers, support and encouragement gave me strength and motivation, to me and I’m sure the parish staff could say the same. And as you know, in a dark room, just a little bit of light makes a big difference. Yes, we can choose to be part of the darkness, but as disciples of Christ, it’s better that we choose to be a light for Christ. Rest assured that every offering and sacrifice for Christ, whether large or small, it makes a big difference.
On behalf of the SJV parish staff, wishing you a blessed Christmas, and may the Lord give you strength and endurance, to have the physical, spiritual and mental stamina to outlast the virus and other adversities. We’ve gotten this far, let’s keep going a little further. On this long, tiresome marathon, let’s continue to assist each other with food and drink through prayer, encouragement, and support. I’m grateful to God for you, and please be assured of thoughts and prayers.
Together for Christ,
Fr. Vu Tran
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CHRISTMAS MASSES
Thursday, December 24 at 5:00pm (FULL) and 7:00pm
Friday, December 25 at 11:00am
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There is limited space available at the 7:00pm Christmas Eve Mass and the 11:00am Christmas Day Mass.
If you are interested in attending Mass for Christmas, please register by emailing Joan Sullivan, jsullivan@sjvkirkland.org. Please include in your email:
- the names of all those who will be attending with you
- if those attending with you can sit with you or will need their own pew
- your preferred Mass time
We will do our best to accommodate your given time, but please understand that capacity is limited.
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VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Thursday, December 24 at 4:45pm
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MASS FOR THE SOLEMNITY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
Friday, January 1 at 10:00am
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Safe capacity is limited, so we ask that you please register if you are interested in attending by emailing Joan Sullivan, jsullivan@sjvkirkland.org. You may also join us via live stream.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR |
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We want to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. Aside from weekend Masses, St. John Vianney will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day. There will be no weekday Masses.
All monetary donations for 2020 need to be in the parish office or postmarked by December 31 in order to be applied to this calendar year.
This is the last eNewsletter of 2020. Expect to see the next issue on January 5. "See" you next year!
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ST. JOHN VIANNEY PRESCHOOL |
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The staff of St. John Vianney Preschool would like to wish everyone a blessed Christmas Season and a happy and healthy New Year.
Registration for the 2020/21 school year for current families and alumni begins January 11, 2020.
An updated brochure and registration form will be available the end of December on the parish website. We will start scheduling tours for new families January 15, 2021. Please contact
Annette Schwientek, aschwientek@sjvkirkland.org or 425-305-9662, if you are interested. For more information visit our website - sjvkirkland.org/preschool.
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KIDS FAITH FORMATION
Sundays at 10:15am
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Kids are invited to join Zoom Children's Liturgy of the Word. Monthly faith formation packets are also available. Email Laura Stanger, LStanger@sjvkirkland.org, for more information.
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Enjoy your holiday break! We'll meet again virtually on January 3rd. |
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St. Vincent de Paul
CHRISTMAS BASKET FOOD DRIVE & ANNUAL GIVING TREE
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Thank you so much for your amazing support of our Annual Christmas Basket and Giving Tree Drive, serving 70 neighbors in need. |
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High School Esperanza Mission Trek
CHRISTMAS TREE SALES
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Thank you so much for your generous support of our Christmas Tree and Calendar sales for our High School Mission Trek. We sincerely appreciate you! |
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High School Esperanza Mission Trek
2021 CALENDARS NOW ON SALE
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WEEKEND MASSES
Saturdays at 5:00pm
Sundays at 9:00am & 11:00am
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IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED A MASS YET AND WOULD LIKE TO:
Please contact Joan Sullivan, jsullivan@sjvkirkland.org, or call the parish office by noon on Thursday. Please include the names of all those who will be attending with you.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED A MASS:
You do not need to register each week. We will keep your household in our Mass assignment rotation. Safe capacity is limited so you may not be able to attend Mass every week. Keep a look out for confirmation emails sent late on Thursdays to see the next date and time you are assigned to a Mass. If you have not heard by Friday please email Joan.
We cannot take requests for dates or times.
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PRIVATE PRAYER IN THE CHAPEL
Monday-Friday from 8:30am-Noon
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION & MASS
Wednesday-Friday at 8:45am
No Weekday Masses between Christmas and New Years Day.
No registration necessary. Please do the Self Health Assessment before coming, and sign in at the table in the narthex when you arrive.
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LIVE STREAM MASSES
Saturday Vigil at 5:00pm
Wednesday-Friday at 9:00am
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If there is someone in your household who would also like to receive our eNewsletter please sign them up. |
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