Newsletter | September 19, 2023

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Saturday at 5:00pm

Sunday at 9:00am

Sunday at 11:00am

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

PRACTICE OF HOPE

Jesus is always telling his followers what the kingdom of heaven is like. Using parables, he tries to illustrate for us the truth expressed by Isaiah in the first reading: God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his ways our ways. To us, with our pettiness and parsimony, God's abundant love and mercy are an unfathomable mystery. In fact, this mystery is grace, and it is God's grace that is our greatest source of hope. No matter how assiduously we defend our worthiness as opposed to the unworthiness of others, the grace of God confounds these efforts, leaving us at once confused and hopeful. In the face of such incomprehensible love, what can we do but surrender?

We are doing our best to continue to provide a safe space to worship for everyone. Click here to see current COVID safety measures.

Self-Screen | Live Stream Mass

PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL

Proposed Partnership Announced this Weekend, September 23-24

The Partners in the Gospel initiative is continuing to move forward. We will have several listening sessions in the following three weeks. Please sign up to attend a listening session here, on the signup sheets in the Narthex, or by emailing the parish office at sec@sjvkirkland.org. If none of the listening session options shown work for your schedule, please check back soon as we will be adding more sessions, and at least one Zoom session.

The listening sessions will be structured along the lines of the synodal process - two main questions will be put forth:

1. What concerns do you have about the proposed family grouping? What challenges might this grouping pose?
2. What hopes do you have regarding the proposed family grouping? What opportunities or possibilities might this grouping offer?

All people present for the listening session will have an opportunity to speak on the questions and all comments will be given to the Archdiocese for their continued discernment. Trained facilitators will lead the sessions.

Please continue to pray for the church in Western Washington as we move through this time of transition.

Please review the Partners in the Gospel materials available to become more familiar with the overall mission of the Church, the goals of this effort, and the process we are undertaking.

HARRY POTTER RETREAT

September 22-24 at SJV

Please pray for our High School and Middle School youth who will be on retreat this weekend, that all who attend will be open to the movements of the Spirit. Embolden their faith to foster a stronger connection with Christ. 

There are 5 spots left for this kickoff event. Email Maybeth, mterashima@sjvkirkland.org to register!

Faith & The Deathly Hallows (Part 2) Retreat, themed after the eighth movie in the series, is a 3-day (no overnight) retreat experience here at SJV:

• Friday 6-9pm - Movie Night, Deathly Hallows (part 2) open to all MS & HS
• Saturday 9am - 5pm for those registered for the retreat
• Sunday 8am - 12:30pm for those registered for the retreat

CELEBRATION OF CULTURES PARISH PICNIC

Thank You

Special thanks to everyone who helped with the Celebration of Cultures Parish Picnic last Sunday! What a wonderful gift and event it was to see the Light of Christ shine so brightly through all those who helped, prepared, and enjoyed the picnic. What a blessing it is to be part of such a diverse and loving community! The Holy Spirit was present in the hands that prepared the food, served the food and drink, helped raise the tents, tables, chairs, decorations, and in those hands that cleaned up, stacked the chairs, folded the tables, and put things away with such care. The Holy Spirit was present in those that welcomed one another, smiled, laughed, sang songs, played music, danced, and demonstrated martial arts, and entertained us with joy and generosity! Thanks to those who represented their cultural backgrounds: Italy, Croatia, Greece, Malta, Ukraine, Columbia, Honduras, Mexico, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Hawaii, Guam, Korea, Ireland, Germany, Kenya, Ghana, and Brazil!!  

Special thanks to Greg Seiler, Greg Leptich, Greg Nolan and Klaus Schwientek who prepared our big top! Our patchwork tent is a true reflection of all the pieces coming together for a united purpose, to shade and cover us in the grace and goodness of God. The big top really sets the mood for the event! Thanks to AJ Mijares who was our DJ, and Erv Desmet our MC. Thanks as well to our Young Adult Group who coordinated and prepared our raffle baskets! 

Bishop Matthew said it best last year at our Celebration of Cultures Parish Picnic, “This is what I think Heaven is like, many people coming together to share the Love of Christ!”

STYROFOAM RECYCLING

Thank You

Thank you for your tremendous support of our Styrofoam Recycling Event and keeping it out of our landfills. We sent a 20’ truck full of Styrofoam to Styro Recycle in Kent where it will be made into blocks and shipped to manufacturers to be made into plastic products. Special thanks to Boy Scout Troop 565 for volunteering their time at our event, and to Bob & Shari McCornack for transporting the Styrofoam to Kent. 

MUSIC MINISTRY

Last night was our first full music ministry rehearsal post-quarantine! The Holy Spirit was truly present. God is good!

REST IN PEACE

The funeral mass for Jim O’Brien will be on Friday, October 6 at 11:00am. God of peace, we ask that You receive him from death into eternal life.

There will still be 9:00am Adoration & Mass and Anointing of the Sick that day.

CANDLELIGHT ROSARY PROCESSION

Friday, October 6 at 7:00pm

Inspired by his recent visit to Lourdes, France, Fr. Vu would like to invite you to join him in a candlelight Rosary procession every first Friday of the month in honor of Our Lady. The first one will be in October, the month of the Holy Rosary!

OKTOBERFEST

Saturday, October 28 at 6:30pm

The SJV Knights Oktoberfest will include all the fun and entertainment of last year's event. This will include dinner, desserts, raffle, bar, and live band. The tickets will be on sale after each weekend Mass, starting this weekend, September 23-24. The cost will be $30 for adults, $10 for children under 12yrs, and free for children under 5yrs.  

AUCTION PLANNING MEETING

Tomorrow - Wednesday, September 20 at 5:30pm in the Social Hall

Join the auction planning meetings. There are so many ways to help with the auction; come see how you can! All are invited and welcome!

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

This Thursday, September 21 at 7:00pm

Membership is open to males 18 years of age or older who are practicing Catholics. Meetings are every third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm. For more information contact the Grand Knight: Brad Lund, bradelund@comcast.net. See you then!

ADULT FAITH FORMATION CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK

RACIAL JUSTICE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

As we as a people of faith continue to struggle with the issue of racism in society and in the church, it appears that, while there is a unanimous recognition that racism Is sinful or evil, there is little shared agreement about what racism is. Also surprisingly, there is almost never an attempt to provide a Biblical or theological underpinning for the rejection of racism. In addition, in both Christianity and Catholicism in America, there is rarely a consistent emphasis or recommended course of action for combatting racism. As a result, for many of the unchurched, the Catholic Church appears to be largely indifferent to the issue of racism and social justice. However, both individually and as the people of God as a whole, we can deepen our understanding of racism, repent of racism, begin to actively promote racial justice, and so fulfill our mission of imitating Christ in the world. One of the ways to do this is to directly confront racism through study.

Each Thursday evening at 7:00 P.M. starting on September 21, 2023, we will examine the relationship of the Catholic Church to racism. The class is online using Zoom; all sessions are recorded and will be available on the SJV Kirkland Adult Faith Formation Channel on YouTube. The class will focus on Fr. Bryan Massingale’s book Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, (available as a Kindle edition from Amazon or as a free one-hour loan from Internet Archive) along with Conor Kelly’s book, Racism & Structural Sin (available as a Kindle edition from Amazon). To register, please call the parish office or sign up at the welcome table in the narthex.

STUDY OF THE PATRISTIC TRADITION

As Catholics, our faith has been preserved and handed down to us over the course of almost 2,000 years. A critical role in preserving and further articulating the faith of Jesus and the Apostles was played by the Patristic Fathers and Mothers during the first eight centuries after Christ’s death and resurrection. Yet today, despite Vatican II’s call to return to the Patristic tradition, we’ve virtually lost sight of the Patristic Fathers and their contributions to our faith. Often, the best we can say is, “I’ve heard of her (or him).” Join us as we study the Patristic tradition and, in the process, learn more about our faith and who we are as Catholics. The class is held remotely via Zoom on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. The course text is Mike Aquilina’s The Fathers of the Church, 3rd Edition, available in a Kindle edition from Amazon. This class started yesterday, September 18, but if you would still like to register, please call the parish office.

RUMMIKUB

Tuesday, September 26, at 7:00pm in the Social Hall

We meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm in the Social Hall. We play three or four games (very flexible) and then finish with the Left, Right, Center dice game. You do not need to know how to play. Both games are simple and quick to learn, and old timers will be happy to help you learn. Open to everyone! Hope to see you!

SENIOR DINNER DATE CHANGE

Saturday, September 30 after the 5:00pm Mass

If you are 55 or older, we would like to invite you (single and married couples) to our monthly dinners held the third Saturday of every month. After dinner we play the Left, Right, Center dice game, so remember to bring four quarters. For $10, come join us for food and fun. Please prepay with cash and sign up at the parish office by Tuesday, September 26. We look forward to seeing you! Friends are welcome!

Water Access Now will be hosting a free wine tasting in support of drilling a well in Ghana in a village that has no access to clean water. For more information go to: www.wateraccessnow.org

CATHOLIC KIDS' CATECHISM CLUB

Begins Sunday, October 1 or Monday, October 2

Time to put our heads together to start another year of CKCC! Kids ages 3 years old through 5th grade are invited to sign up for the fun and learning that comes with membership into coolest club in town! We learn about our faith, complete some wacky challenges that teach us about all sorts of aspects of our Catholic Faith, and how to be lights in the world for others! 

Registration forms are available here.

• 3 year olds – kindergarteners are scheduled during the 9:00am Sunday Mass.
• Grades 1-5 are scheduled either from 10:00 -11:00am on Sundays, or from 7:00-8:00pm on Mondays.

Catechism Clubhouse Leaders and assistants are also needed to get this year’s clubs started!  

YOUTH GROUP NIGHTS

Begin Sunday, October 1

After our kickoff Harry Potter Retreat, Youth Group will meet on Sundays from 5:00-6:30pm. Join us for Mission Impossible night on Sunday, October 1. Looking forward to seeing everyone! Registration forms are available here.

We are gearing up for our 2023-24 Trek, June 23 - 29, 2024! High school sophomores to seniors are welcome to join us. Meetings, fundraisers, and service opportunities take place throughout the school year to build team unity as our trekkers earn their way together. Our first meeting will be Sunday, October 1, following Youth Group. Please contact Susan, sweaver@sjvkirkland.org, for an application or more information.

"YOU ARE THE VINE, WE ARE THE BRANCHES"

GALA DINNER & AUCTION

Saturday, November 4 after Mass at 4:00pm

“I am the Vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.“ John 15:5.

PROCUREMENT PUSH IS ON!

Summer is over and back to school is in the rearview mirror. NOW is the time to procure for the auction. Many of you received a packet challenging you to procure three items from local businesses that you frequent. Frankly, not many of you rose to the challenge. We currently have 117 items for the auction, but we need closer to 300 in order to have a successful auction. Please consider procuring some items and turning them in by October 9th. After that date, any items turned in will be kept for next year’s auction. More procurement forms and letters are available on the Welcome Table. If you have specific questions or needs regarding procurement, please reach out to Ann V. 

Do you make a special dinner that you could either whip up at someone's house or deliver hot? That would be a great item. Do you have some friends that you could host a “traveling or progressive dinner” with? Maybe start with hors d’ oeuvres at one house, salad at another, main dish at another, and lovely dessert and drinks at another? Have fun with your friends and each of you get to showcase your very best dish. Maybe we can add a limo to the package to make it a very special night! Gift Certificates to restaurants are always a winner, but so are cooking classes, gardening certificates, cabins, overnight stays in a fun place, and anything fun and unusual you have enjoyed in the past. Help us bear much fruit at this auction!

Volunteers are needed in many positions to make the evening happen. We will be having sign ups after Mass all through October. If you aren’t going to attend the auction, please consider helping make it run!

Finally, raffle tickets are on the way! Still only $50 and we have some great prizes this year. Look for them near the volunteer sign ups after Masses.

We will be having a planning meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 20 at 5:30pm in the Social Hall. ALL ARE INVITED AND WELCOME!

RECTANGULAR TISSUE BOXES

Please drop off empty rectangular tissue boxes in the office for the preschool craft project!

GOODWIN GROUP TREK

All are welcome October 28 - November 4. Contact Kenny & Mary at 425-466-4460 or goodwin.hp@gmail.com. Learn more

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

The National Eucharistic Revival is a national movement to restore understanding and devotion to the Real Presence in the Eucharist. At the local level, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne is encouraging increased participation in the liturgical life of the Church, especially through Eucharistic Adoration.

To learn more and how the Archdiocese of Seattle is participating, go to archseattle.org/eucharisticrevival.