Newsletter | December 14, 2021 |
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WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS |
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This is our first Christmas without Margie. Strangely enough, I still talk to her from time to time, asking her questions like: What is heaven like? Are you enjoying eternal paradise thus far? Do you miss us? Do you miss the Greek food here? (That was one of her favorite foods).
When I was in the parish office, I would often stop by her desk and ask her many questions: Margie, what do you think about this? What do you think we should do? Call me weird, but I still do that from time to time.
But this time is different because I don’t hear her physical voice. The questions are met with silence. But it gives me comfort knowing that she is still with us in spirit. I tell her: I miss you Margie, and I hope you’re doing well, Margie!
I remember a few weeks before she passed, I asked Margie if there’s anything she would like to say to the people. She said: “Tell them I love them, and tell them that I will miss them!” Sitting there by the hospital bed with her, it was not easy to see her struggle and in pain.
Also, everything else seemed so small and minuscule. Sometimes we fret and worry over the little things. We waste time holding grudges or dwelling on our differences. They just don’t seem that important when you’re so close to going home to God. I told her that I was collecting funds for the Mystery Bowl for the auction. She was happy that we are celebrating our Golden 50th, and so sorry that she couldn’t be with us.
Seeing her in so much pain, my prayer was that God would bring her home quickly and peacefully. Looking back, it all happened so fast. It seemed like it was just yesterday that Margie was retiring and looking forward to her retirement and gardening and spending time with her grandkids. She was kind of disappointed that she couldn’t do that. But she said: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Every Christmas we are blessed to celebrate with the people who are still here with us on this beautiful earth. And it also may be a first Christmas without some of our loved ones, those who have gone before us to heaven. Although they are no longer in body, they remain with us in spirit. “I believe in the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”
Wishing you a Merry Christmas! Be sure to take the time to thank God for the people who are still here. And let’s help remind one another to give thanks to God for the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
God bless,
Fr Vu Tran
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Join your fellow parishioners in coming back to mass, to worship at the Lord’s table, to receive Him in the Eucharist to fuel your faith. Catholic Churches have successfully developed effective safety protocols. THANK YOU to all the ministers and volunteers who make this possible for SJV! |
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The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas
- Friday, December 24th at 5:00pm* and 7:00pm (There will be no morning Adoration & Mass on this day.)
- Saturday, December 25th at 10:00am (There will be no Reconciliation or 5:00pm Vigil Mass on this day.)
Please note that participating in Mass on Christmas Day, even an evening Mass, does not satisfy the Sunday obligation. Come celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family with your family on Sunday, December 26th.
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Sunday, December 26th at 9:00am* and 11:00am
The parish office will be closed December 27-31. There will be no morning Adoration & Masses on these days.
The Epiphany of the Lord
- Saturday, January 1st at 5:00pm*
- Sunday, January 2nd at 9:00am and 11:00am
The Baptism of the Lord
- Saturday, January 8th at 5:00pm*
- Sunday, January 9th at 9:00am and 11:00am
* Indicates Masses that will be livestreamed.
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Some changes you'll see at Mass to protect ourselves, to protect our neighbors, and to protect the ability FOR ALL to safely worship together - face masks required, no singing, and no Blood of Christ. Clearly marked sections for worship are available for people seeking physical distancing. Doors will be open to ensure proper ventilation, so we encourage you to come with coats.
Please self-screen and stay home if you are not feeling well. Sick, vulnerable, at-risk, and otherwise concerned persons are encouraged to celebrate Mass with 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! St. John Vianney will be closed December 27-31. This is the last newsletter of 2021. Expect to see the next issue on January 4. "See" you next year! |
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Thank you to the Filipino community of St. John Vianney for sharing your tradition of Simbang Gabi with us this past Saturday. From the planning, decorations, music, and food, we were blessed by it all! |
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CHRISTMAS CARD CONTEST WINNERS |
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Congratulations to Edward Holl (5), Grant Aratari (6), Ilene Klepper (9), and Harlowe Martinez (9)! Thank you for the beautiful art you created, which will go out to all our parishioners as a Christmas greeting. Look for it in the mail soon! |
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Children and youth ages 4 years old and up are invited to participate in the Christmas pageant during the Christmas Eve Mass at 5:00pm. Please sign up by emailing Laura, Lstanger@sjvkirkland.org. Rehearsals are today, December 21 at 3:00pm and Sunday, December 23 at 10:30am in the church.
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DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS
Wednesday, December 22 after Weekday Morning Mass
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We’d love your help getting our church ready for Christmas. We have the crèche to set up, poinsettias to arrange, and more. Bring your family and come get into the Christmas spirit with your church family!
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CHRISTMAS FLOWER OFFERING |
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Christmas poinsettias were purchased by parishioners in Memory/Honor of... |
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Bennie Aranas
Geraldine Basilio
Jose Basilio
Marianito Basilio
Margie Berard
Donald Byrum
Clarita Dalusag
Kasandra Dalusag
VIctorino Dalusag Sr
Ed Deane
Eileen Deane
Ray Guardian
Juanita Harig
Rich Harig
Magdalene Hon
Bill & Hattie Knudsen
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Jude Lamb
Mr. & Mrs. Jose Ocampo
Leleng, Cita & Mila Ocampo
Lydia, Mininig & Pepe Ocampo
Danding, Oscar & Toni Ruiz
Jenifer Sanisco
Arsenio Santos
Rosalina Santos
Jackie Tamayao
Nicolasu Tamayao
Felix Tamayao Sr.
Patricia Taylor
Engracio and Maria Torres
Margaret White
Robert White
Desiree Zaccaria
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HS ESPERANZA MISSION TREK CHRISTMAS TREE LOT |
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Thank you for your amazing support of our HS Esperanza Mission Trek Christmas Tree Lot! Our high school mission trekkers are extremely grateful to you all as they work their way to Tijuana to build houses this summer.
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ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD DRIVE FOR CHRISTMAS BASKETS 2021 |
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Thank you so much for your generous donations to our St Vincent de Paul Food Drive and Giving Tree this year, supporting over 60 families in need in our community! |
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For those of you who provide end of the year charitable contributions through work or an IRA disbursement (or have family who do so), please take a look at our Year End Giving page at sjmvc.ejoinme.org/SJV50in2021.
SJV will be closed the last week of December. All monetary donations for 2021 need to be in the parish office or postmarked by December 31 in order to be applied to this calendar year.
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Infant Baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. If you would like to have your child baptized, please contact Laura, Lstanger@sjvkirkland.org, to get the online class materials and register for the Baptism session.
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PARISH NURSERY IS OPEN!
Sundays during the 9:00am and 11:00am Masses
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Mrs. Fitz and Ms. Maria are happy to be back! The parish nursery is free. You can find the nursery at the bottom of the stairs. The sound system from the church is pumped into the nursery, so if you would like to stay with your child, you may, and you can still hear what is going on in the liturgy. The nursery is recommended for children 1 to 4 years old. |
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The preschool staff would like to wish everyone a blessed Christmas Season and a happy and healthy New Year. Registration for the 2022/23 school year for current families and alumni begins January 10. Brochures and registration forms are available on the parish website. We will start scheduling tours for new families January 10. Please contact Annette Schwientek, aschwientek@sjvkirkland.org or 425-305-9662, if you are interested. For more information visit sjvkirkland.org/preschool.
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CATHOLIC KIDS' CATECHISM CLUB |
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Thank you for your donations for the blessing bags for the homeless as part of our CKCC experience! Enjoy your winter break! CKCC resumes on Sunday, January 9 and Monday, January 10. Come "discover" what is happening with Catholic Kids’ Catechism Club!
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you January 9!
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SJV GAME NIGHT
Hosted by HS Esperanza Mission Trek
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Where? SJV Social Hall
When? January 8, 2022
What Time? 7pm-9pm
Prizes? $10 Amazon Gift card for the winning team!
Everyone Ages 10+ welcome!
$10 minimum Donation
Snacks!
Fun Games!
Meet new people, or stick with your family!
For more info and to RSVP, click on the button below and fill out the form.
Remember to include everyone who you are going to bring!
$10 minimum donation per person required to come and play!
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HISTORY OF RACISM IN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY
Adult Faith Formation Class
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Each Thursday evening starting at 7:00 P.M. on January 6, 2022, we will study of the history of racism in American Christianity. This is an online class using Zoom. The class will provide some context by exploring the apparent contradiction between an individual’s sole responsibility for sins and the transmission of sins from generation to generation, as well as examining the evangelization of the Patristic period. It will then explore the history of racism in American Christianity starting with the colonization of the Americas and continuing to the present day. The class textbook is The Color of Compromise, by Jemar Tisby. To register, please call the parish office or sign up at the welcome table in the narthex. Please indicate whether you intend to supply your own copy of the text or whether you would like one to be ordered for you.
Unfortunately, the American Christian church throughout its history has often betrayed the central tenet that all humankind equally bears the divine image. That this is an ongoing issue, and not a purely historical one, is evident from the sharp separation between the white and black churches in America. As both individual Catholics and as the Christian church in America, we can disassociate ourselves from this heritage and fulfill our mission of imitating Christ in the world only if we make ourselves aware of the racism that has pervaded church history, reject racism, and approach our Lord in a spirit of penance and repentance.
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MYSTAGOGY IN THE PATRISTIC TRADITION
Adult Faith Formation Class
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Mystagogy – or the study of Christ as He’s revealed in the sacraments – was a particular concern of bishops in the Patristic period as they initiated neophytes into the mysteries of the Christian faith. This is an online class using Zoom. Each Monday evening starting at 7:00 P.M. on January 10, 2022, we will study the work of the four major mystagogical writers of the Patristic age: St. Cyril of Jerusalem; St. John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople; St. Ambrose of Milan; and Theodore of Mopsuestia. All readings are available as free downloads. To register for the class, please call the parish office at 425-823-0787 or sign up at the welcome table in the narthex. |
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REFLECTIONS ON CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME
From Laudato Si
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Often, when we see a pest, such as an unwanted species of wildlife, an insect, a slug or a snail, we feel no qualms about eliminating it, typically by using a chemical pesticide or poison. This is an anthropocentric approach; it reflects our assumption that God has made us lords of his creation to do with it as we please. This view, as we’ve argued in What is the meaning of dominion?, is profoundly misguided. And It also profoundly damages the environment and endangers human health, as we’ve argued in Are we the pests we’re getting rid of?. Fortunately, there is an abundance of alternatives to the use of chemical pesticides.
COEXISTENCE: REDEFINING A PEST
“Pest” is a highly subjective category. Very much like one person’s weed is another’s flower (or food source), one person’s pest or nuisance is another’s delight. That subjectivity calls for careful reflection: is the living thing that we consider a pest really a pest, and must it be eliminated? Is coexistence possible?
For example, while it is generally recognized that ladybugs are beneficial because they consume aphids, the larvae of ladybugs, which are even more voracious consumers of aphids, are often misidentified, labeled as pests, and eliminated. Similarly, spiders are able to survive in a home or yard because they find an abundant food source. Given that spider bites are far less common than we think, a sounder strategy is to concentrate on eliminating the insects on which spiders feed. In the meantime, they can be viewed as rendering a public service by consuming the insects that you really don’t want.
Coexistence is particularly appropriate in human-wildlife interactions. Often, we view such creatures as squirrels, chipmunks, racoons, and possums as a threat. Yet, attacks and bites are comparatively rare and most commonly result from inappropriate interactions. Each creature has an important role to play in sustaining viable ecosystems, making coexistence important. The possibility of children coming in close contact with these creatures is often seen as a mitigating circumstance that justifies their extermination. But at the same time, their presence affords parents a wonderful opportunity to teach their children about the glory of God’s creation and the respect that we should show to all living beings.
ENCOURAGE PREDATORS IN A BALANCED ECOSYSTEM
Often, “pests” are allowed unfettered access to our homes and yards because we’ve created an ecological imbalance by eliminating or discouraging the creatures that feast on them. Birds, for example, eat a large variety of insects, as do frogs and toads, and possums eat slugs and snails, as well as small rodents and many insects. By creating a friendly habitat for these predators, as well as by planting Insectary plants to attract beneficial insects, you can establishing your yard or garden as a wildlife preserve and refuge that attracts diverse wildlife rather than repelling it, and in the process restore the natural balance that results in predators consuming your pests rather than having chemicals kill them. For more information, see How to Turn Your Yard or Garden into a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
REPELLING RATHER THAN KILLING
If an animal, insect, arachnid, or mollusk truly is a pest, repelling it, rather than resorting to chemical extermination, a far better alternative. Repellants are often species-specific, but they aim at creating either a border that pests are unwilling to cross or a larger environment that pests find inhospitable. Repellants, rather than killing their targets, simply encourage them to go elsewhere.
Relying on repellants is an important strategy that recognizes the intrinsic dignity of all life forms, and that also recognizes that every life form in its proper context can serve a critical role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The following are some repellants that are effective against unwanted creatures:
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Slugs and snails.
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Place wide copper tape around the area to be protected.
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Create a border of diatomaceous earth, which is available in plant and garden stores. For slugs and snails, it is a true repellent: slugs and snails simply prefer not to cross over it.
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Create a beer trap using an inexpensive canned beer. Rather than killing the slugs and snails, relocate them to a more suitable habitat, such as a forested area where they can perform an important service by eating decaying vegetation.
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More Information: Organic Slug & Snail Control:
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Squirrels, rats, and mice.
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Install a rodent repeller, an electric or battery-operated device that emits a high-pitched sound (inaudible to humans and even to dogs) that rodents find sufficiently annoying that they choose to settle elsewhere.
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Use peppermint oil or peppermint plants to repel vermin. For a variety of applications, see DIY peppermint oil rodents and mice repellent.
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Insects generally.
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Salt (preferably Himalayan pink salt) mixed with water can be sprayed on the soil to form a border around a protected area. It can deter slugs and spider mites.
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Orange citrus oil, when added to water, can repel slugs, cockroaches, and ants.
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Some compostable food products, besides fertilizing the soil, also repel insects. These include coffee grounds, banana peels (for aphids), cucumbers (for ants), and garlic (for beetles and spider mites).
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Neem oil, a traditional repellent whose bitterness drives away most insects.
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A border of chrysanthemum flowers can form a border that repels some insects. It can also be used as an organic pesticide (see below).
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Garlic spray, which produces an odor much less noticeable to people than raw garlic, but no less noticeable to insects, who find it unpleasant.
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Pepper spray made from cayenne or habanero peppers blended with water. Many insects find it even less pleasing than humans who despise spicy food. In addition, it can repel mammals such as squirrels and rabbits.
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Flies and stinging insects.
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Eucalyptus oil, when sprayed in an area that attracts flies, wasps, or other stinging insects, serves as a natural repellant.
- Fleas.
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Black walnut oil capsules or liquid can be an effective repellant for dogs. Monitoring the dosage carefully is important since an overdose can be toxic.
KILLING WITH ORGANIC PESTICIDES
In some cases, you may choose to kill rather than repel pests. The following are some eco-friendly ways to do that.
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Insects.
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DIatomaceous earth, when applied to an area frequented by insects, erodes the protective layer on an insect’s shell, leading to dehydration and death. It is an effective way of dealing with ants, fleas, and a large range of other insects.
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Chrysanthemum flower spray, a spray made from dried, ground, and boiled chrysanthemum flowers. The resulting spray contains pyrethrum, a neuro-toxin that immobilizes insects, leading to death.
BE CURIOUS!
If possible, avoid the use of chemical pesticides at all costs! Their long-term side effects – damage to the soil, to water, and to non-targeted species – as well as the danger they pose to human health make them highly undesirable. We’ve listed some alternatives here, but in fact the number of safe and effective substances for repelling or eliminating pests is virtually unlimited. Once you’ve decided that a “pest” is indeed a pest that you can’t live with, simply do a web search to find an effective and safe means of ridding yourself of that pest.
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Do you need a little 'sunshine' in your life? If so, Sonshine Ministry prepares and delivers no contact meals on a short-term basis for those who are ill, recovering from surgery, elderly, or with a new baby. If you need to catch a ray of the 'SON’ or would like to prepare an occasional meal for a fellow parishioner, please contact the parish office. |
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SJV 50TH ANNIVERSARY BOOKS |
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Looking for a meaningful Christmas gift for a long-time parishioner? A 50th Anniversary Book would make a great gift! A small quantity are available. Pre-ordered books can be picked up after the weekend Masses and in the parish office during open hours. Please contact Susan, sweaver@sjvkirkland.org, for more information.
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SUPPORT US WHILE YOU SHOP |
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A simple and automatic way for you to support St. John Vianney every time you shop! Go to smile.amazon.com and select St John Mary Vianney before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation!
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