Dear Friends in Christ,

By now, you know I love The Chosen, the multi-season, multi-episode series on the life of Christ and His disciples. The past week I have re-watched episode 7 a few times, which I think contains one of the most powerful scenes, which depicts Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisee named Nicodemus from chapter three of John’s Gospel. You can watch this scene by clicking here.

In many ways, the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is similar to many that take place in our world and Church today, on any number of hot-button issues. At the heart of these discussions as it relates to the role of faith is this question: What’s the point of all this? Why believe? And if I believe, what’s the outcome going to be?

Today, we want to know who’s going to win the election and what the consequences will be. Many feel that if their candidate doesn’t win, society as we know it will collapse. Both sides feel this way! The same is true concerning the various issues on the ballot, candidates up and down the ballot, and all the strife that is rampant in the country and the world today. There is so much anxiety. People are at the boiling point. And so we ask, will the Messiah change this if I believe in him?

In Israel at the time of Jesus, there was similar anxiety; perhaps even more. The people were ruled (oppressed really) by the Roman Empire. They were looking to be saved from this tyranny. They wanted the Lord God to send Messiah to save them; to take up arms and defeat the Romans. This was the expectation.

In chapter three of John’s Gospel, Jesus makes the point that the coming of Messiah and salvation means much more than the end of political or military strife. Salvation is about the big picture, not so much about the world as we see, know, and experience it. And that’s a good reminder for us today as well.

When I was young, you could go to sporting events and see people holding signs that read John 3:16. That verse says:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. ~John 3:16

A great promise, indeed! But I think the verses that follow are even more profound:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. ~John 3:17-19

In other words, God the Father sent Jesus to save the world and the people in it; not so much to allow us to conquer or fix the world in some good or benevolent way. In the above scene I recommend from The Chosen, Jesus shows how his chief concern is with the sin of the people as opposed to the sin or oppression of the Romans. We will always have oppression as long as there is sin. We will always have the poor as long as we have sin. Sin is really what needs to be overcome. This confirms the Lord Jesus’ first words in Mark’s Gospel:

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” ~Mark 1:15 

Repent! Repent from what? Repent from sin. Our repentance from sin and our belief in the Lord Jesus is what saves us. It saves us and opens us to the grace of God in our lives, so we can be better instruments of his love and mercy in our world. Friends, all of that is much more effective than putting all of our angst, worry, and hope in political candidates and causes. They will not transform the world to satisfy your expectations. They never have. What’s more, politicians and programs, while necessary and good, are for us Christians ALWAYS secondary to our faith and trust in the Lord. And those political or societal things should never rob you of your peace, security, or your sleep! Our sure hope is in the Lord, and not candidate A, B, or C. Unless we open our hearts to God’s grace and salvation to root out our own sin and sinful inclinations, there is no ability to change or reform the world in which we live. To again mention G.K. Chesterton from a few weeks back, the change always begins with me.

During this final stretch before the election, get out your bible and take solace in the words of Jesus in the Gospels. Let him give you peace. You might also want to check out The Chosen, by getting the DVD here, or downloading The Chosen App on your device to watch all eight episodes for free right now!

Many blessings to you all,

The dispensation for Mass is still in effect.

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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.]

All Souls Day is a Catholic day of remembrance dedicated to those who have died.

Mass will be celebrated and livestreamed at 7 pm on November 2 at St. Patrick Church.

As we prepare for the Feast of All Souls, 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.

Hosted by the Native American community and the multicultural ministry for the Archdiocese of Seattle, join Archbishop Paul Etienne in celebrating the gift of Native American Catholics to the Church, particularly by honoring St. Kateri of Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint. She was noted for her deep prayer life and special devotion to the Eucharist. The miracle that led to her sainthood occurred locally under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Seattle.

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 Saturdays in October. Bring your rosary. If you don't have one, we'll provide one for you.

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.

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE Renewal

Have you wondered what Stewardship as a Way of Life means? Every year at this time, we are asked to think about our stewardship of all the gifts that God has placed in our trust. Not just how we are taking care of those gifts, but how we are sharing those gifts with our parish and community. In the coming weeks you'll be asked to consider if we are returning a proper portion of those gifts to our Church for the Lord to build up His Kingdom.

It’s not too late to contribute to the Annual Catholic Appeal. Many of our parish households have not responded yet. All three of our parishes have aways to go to achieving goals. Please contribute what you can to support the good work of the Church in Western Washington!

If you have already made your gift - THANK YOU! If you haven't, please make a gift this year. No gift is too small. If you’re unsure what to give, please consider a gift of $1 a day or $365 or more. The average gift is $417. Make your gift online, use the pledge envelope you received in the mail or call in your gift at 800-809-4921.

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.

Register online to vote before October 26.

After October 26 you can register to vote in person at your county election office.

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.

Over 60 million American children have died through abortion. This Vigil of Prayer, fasting, and public witness has saved over 16,000 known lives since its inception in 2007. Volunteers are needed now through November 1 for two hour shifts, especially on Fridays to stand witness on the sidewalk in from the Cedar River Clinic, 1401-A Martin Luther King Jr Way in Tacoma. Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. To sign up email Tacoma40DaysForLife@gmail.com.

2020 has been a most challenging year. St. Patrick School has risen to the challenge but we need every parish family to contribute so that we can deliver our high caliber, Christ-centered education to as many students as possible.

"Believe that St. Patrick School brings our children into the ever-present love of Jesus Christ, that our school delivers academic excellence, and that our school builds a community of responsible learners, critical thinkers and servant leaders."

The average gift to Annual Fund 2020 was $509 and 100% of our school families participated. Parishioners comprised 40% of the gifts made to the annual fund. Believe that your support is as critical now as it has ever been; as always we strive for full participation from our school families and hope to exceed our financial goal of $190,000 with the support of our parish community!

Ready to make your gift? DONATE today! After you make your gift you can set up a personal fundraising page to invite friends and family to support Catholic education.