Dear Friends in Christ,

Imagine that you lived during the Renaissance period in Italy. Imagine also that you were an adult convert to the Catholic faith and you were preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. You and others were gathered in a special building outside of the Church of Saint Anthony, called the baptistery. As the vigil went along, the time came for your baptism. You were led to the font and as the water was poured over your head, you looked up and saw Menabuoi’s masterpiece, Paradise, looming over you from the ceiling of the high dome. Imagine the beauty and grandeur of what you saw: The figure of Christ the teacher blessing you; your spiritual mother Mary watching over you, and around them both, a cloud of heavenly witnesses, representing all the saints; all the holy men and women of all times and places! Each saint individually and all together, welcoming you into the family of God!

Friends, on this Feast of All Saints, we celebrate what is visually represented in this beautiful work of art, and our place in this reality. We celebrate our incorporation into the great family of God, made up of our officially canonized saints and all the other people who were just as saintly but known only to God. Each one representing a life lived with faith that gave way to eternal life with God our Father in heaven. That, of course, is our hope as well. This feast day is an invitation to hope that we too one day, after a life of faithfulness, will join this great heavenly family.

Do you want to become a saint? I sure hope so. I hope you can see yourself among that cloud of witnesses and aspire to remain close to the Lord Jesus so it may become a reality. On this Feast of All Saints, we truly do pray with the whole Church from our collect at Mass:

Blessings to you all in the week ahead,

P.S. Pray for our country this election week!

As we preapre for the Feast of All Souls Day, we invite you to add the names of dearly departed friends and family to the Book of the Dead by writing the names of dearly departed friends and family on a piece of paper, on an envelope provided at Mass and place it in the offertory basket or send us an email us. Names will be written into the book for you. Names added in the past three years are in the book. The Book of the Dead will be in the sanctuary in November.

Stewardship of Treasure 2021 is underway!

Dear Friends,

I just got through signing over 1,500 letters to all parishioners requesting that you fill out and return your 2021 Stewardship of Treasure commitment card, as well as sign up for Online Giving.

Please take a moment to read my letter. It's not a form letter! I enjoyed signing these letters and I prayed for you all as I did so. I also blessed the cards, so one could consider them sacramentals… don't recycle them… turn them in instead!

Many thanks for your generous support of our parishes and school!

God bless,

After prayerful discernment, go to bit.ly/stewardship2021.

The dispensation for Mass is still in effect.

9 am & 7 pm at St. Patrick Church

VIEW new Mass schedule

Subscribing to our YouTube Channel is not necessary to watch the Mass, however it allows you to set reminders to tune in and provides us with the option of livestreaming from a mobile device when we reach 1000 subscribers. We are so close!

Check-in on Facebook and invite your friends and family to watch and make your weekly offertory gift via Online Giving. [Scroll to the bottom to find your parish link.]

Join us as we welcome back our Sunday evening contemplative chant Mass at 7 pm at St. Patrick Church. The lights are low and the candles are lit for a reflective and prayerful celebration of Sunday Mass.

Simona Gardani joined our parish in 2017 after moving up from California. After many years dedicated to working in children’s ministry, she felt a call to help adults who might be suffering. Simona says, “If I was going through a difficult time, I would need someone with whom I could share my pain and concerns. Someone neutral, not a family member, not a friend, not a colleague. Someone that doesn’t judge or can feel hurt from my words. Someone that believes in God and His miracles. Someone that can pray with me. Someone that has the proper knowledge to walk the path along my side, and eventually offer guidance, completely respecting my boundaries.”

Rhonda Scott felt called to listen to others going through difficult times. “I want to walk beside the person in a Godly loving manner. I know that difficult times pass best with the sharing of Christ based love. I have needed the same at times.” Stephen Ministry “doesn't judge, doesn't preach, it is truly there as an act of loving Christian principles. The ministry provides community for the hurting person.”

Barbara Hepfer became a Stephen Minister because as a visiting nurse for 20 years she “loves meeting people where they are in their journey, for whatever length of time they need.” She feels Stephen Ministers listen without judgment and provide insight to those they serve.

Cheryl Hoffman joined our Stephen Ministry team because of a promise she made when she was still working. “I said that since I had been so blessed when I retired I would give back in some way. It is a place where there is no judgment and strict confidentiality so you are free to confide in someone any and all concerns.”

For Theresa Wheaton, her inspiration to train as a Stephen Minister was Father David's homily on Stewardship. “I was drawn by the mission of the Stephen Ministry as Christ-centered compassionate caring to walk the journey with one who is experiencing a difficult time by listening and offering spiritual healing. Through compassionate caring, the Stephen Minister can provide hope, patience, and understanding while knowing God is in charge of the receiver's situation.”

ldougherty@saintpats.org | 253.383.2783 ext. 4109

National Vocation Awareness Week is celebrated November 1-7, 2020. Ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of a vocation.

Men in the Archdiocese of Seattle age 13-40 are invited to join a presentation on November 8 at 2 PM by Associate Director of Vocations Fr. Justin Ryan to learn about the priesthood, steps for discernment, seminary life, and more! Register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the meeting.

If you have questions about your vocation, contact Fr. Justin Ryan in the Office of Vocations, justin.ryan@seattlearch.org or 206-507-4476. To learn more go to www.seattlevocations.com or on social media @seattlevocations.

October is the Month of the Rosary

Join us as we pray the rosary at 4:30 pm on October 31. Bring your rosary. If you don't have one, we'll provide.

Please wear a mask, sign in when you arrive and practice social distancing in the pews.

Archbishop Etienne began Year of the Eucharist on the Feast of Corpus Christi for the Archdiocese of Seattle and asked us to spend this time pondering the true presence of Jesus's Sacred Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Read his pastoral letter, "The Work of Redemption." Join us for Adoration. Click the parish links below to view adoration schedule and sign up to keep watch for an hour.

An offertory collection basket is located at the back of the sanctuary during Mass for contactless giving. If you are unable to attend Mass in person, please mail in your gift or consider Online Giving, — Fr. David gives this way! It is safe and easy.

The deadline to vote in the General Election is 8 pm on November 3, 2020. You can vote and return your ballot early by mail or to a ballot dropbox. Plan ahead to avoid lines. If you are returning your ballot in the mail, no stamp is needed, but your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day. Find USPS locations.

Pierce County Elections is available to voters who need assistance completing their ballot. Trained staff and specialized equipment are available to help voters with disabilities cast a private, independent ballot. 

and are aligned with Church teachings. When considering political candidates' views on public policies, we recommend reading Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). For more information on public policy issues and guidance from the bishops, visit the Washington State Catholic Conference website [wacatholics.org]

The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC), comprised of the bishops of Washington state, recommends you check "reject" on Referendum 90 (R-90) on the fall ballot. R-90 gives us the opportunity to reject the Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) law that was passed in March. Also called the Comprehensive Sexual Health Education (CSHE) law, Senate Bill 5395 mandates that all schools provide CSHE from kindergarten through 12^th grade. Curriculum guidelines are not aligned with Church teachings, and the CSHE law prevents local communities and school boards from fully protecting their own values and determining local policy.  Click here for more information about what Catholics should know about R-90.

Your gift to our St. Vincent de Paul Conference supports our brothers and sisters in Christ with food, gas and other basic needs. Thank you for your support of this ministry. Make your gift online bit.ly/SVDPdonation or at mass this weekend.

We're make getting ready for the holidays easy! Our 24" adorned Noble Fir wreaths and crosses are perfect for your front door at home or your business. They make great gifts for friends and family, especially the homebound.

Place your order online or drop off your completed paper form along with cash or check at the school office or in the collection basket at mass by November 18.

Did you know that orders of 10 or more qualify for free local delivery. Credit a St. Patrick School student with your order and help them earn a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Gig Harbor is looking for a driven faith-filled individual to join their team of parish staff as a Pastoral Assistant for Communications.

This person will help drive forward St. Nicholas’ mission to evangelize, though helping create and maintain a cohesive marketing and communication strategy. In addition to organizing the parish bulletin, updating the parish web page, and maintaining St Nicholas’ social media, this person will help promote parish ministries internally and externally.

They are looking for a creative individual who can help them get their message out. If this sounds like you or someone you know email parishadmin@stnicholascc.org for more information.