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From our Pastor
Dear parishioners,
Thank you for welcoming me to your community. It is an honor to serve and to learn from you. Looking back 21 years ago, I was a seminarian here at St. Francis of Assisi. Some of you may remember me being here so many years ago. I learned a lot from all of you - including how to be kind and how to be a loving priest. Thank you for teaching me all this. Now, I am honored to be your pastor. I have a lot more to learn from you, so I ask you to be patient and to help me. I want to learn your names so that I can know you better. Time has moved fast. I have already been here almost a week. I look forward to the days ahead.
In Christ,
Fr Khanh D. Nguyen
Pastor
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OCIA - Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
Have you been yearning or inquiring within your heart about faith, God, the Catholic faith or, joining the Catholic Church? OCIA may be for you.
What is OCIA? “The Order of Christian Initiation For Adults.
This inquiry class is a time for adults to gather once a week, from 7 PM to 8 PM, in Parish Hall. Refreshments will be served, study DVD’s will be watched and discussed. Workbooks will also be provided for you so that you can journey through this exciting opportunity to inquire, learn, ask questions, and be in preparation should you wish to join the Catholic Church this year at Easter Vigil.
Father Khanh D. Nguyen, our Pastor, will facilitate these meetings/classes on a weekly basis. Hand out materials, workbooks and the class syllabus will be distributed for you when you begin Monday, August 26th.
There will be time for questions, answers, and group participation. The classes meet each Monday evening, with the exception of holidays or Holy Days of Obligation. These are important sacred days in the Catholic Church that Catholics are obliged to attend Mass.
OCIA is the process for adults who desire to know more about faith, God, and those who wish to join the Catholic Faith.
Classes will begin Monday, August 26th at 7 PM in Parish Hall. Please contact Kathi Swan if you have any questions or wish to register for these classes.
The classes end with the beautiful Easter Vigil, when (if you wish) you will be Baptized, Confirmed and receive First Holy Communion. Those of you who have been Baptized previously and wish to join the Catholic Church, may also do so at Easter Vigil.
We wish to invite our parish families of St. Bernadette's and Our Lady of Lourdes. We would be delighted to have your inquirers join us. We welcome each of you and are looking forward to seeing you there.
Kathi will be available before or after Mass to answer any of your questions or can be reached at:
kswan@stfoa-parish.org
206-242-4575 ext. #29
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Calendar of the week of July 15 - July 21
Monday, July 15th
Mass, Church 9:00 AM
Rosary, Church 9:30 AM
Tuesday, July 16th
Mass, Church 9:00 AM
Rosary, Church 9:30 AM
Wednesday, July 17th
Adult Basketball , Family Center 7:00 PM
Thursday, July 18th
Mass, Church 9:00 AM
Rosary, Church 9:30 AM
Friday, July 19th
Mass, Church 9:00 AM
Rosary, Church 9:30 AM
Knights of Columbus, Parish Hall 7:00 PM
Saturday, July 20th
Confession, Church 4:00 PM
Mass, Church 5:00 PM– live streamed
Sunday, July 21st
Mass, Church 8:00 AM
Mass, Church 10:00 AM
UPCOMING FUNERAL
Rose Marie Rose
August 16th @ 11:00 AM
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All Parish Welcome Gathering
Please join us to welcome our new Pastor, Father Khanh D. Nguyen, Father Paul Thanh Parochial Vicar, Father John Ludvig Senior Priest and Father Dwight Lewis Parochial Vicar.
We will be celebrating their arrival with fun: Sunday, August 25th from 11 AM to 1 PM
We would like to treat you to some delicious ice cream from Seattle’s most popular ice cream truck. And, if you are hungry, we will have food for purchase from a couple of fabulous and popular food trucks on site for your enjoyment.
Beverages to include: coffee, tea, water and assorted soda drinks.
Please stay turned as we “dial in,” who our food trucks will be. It will be a beautiful afternoon to celebrate with family and friends as we meet our parish family members, Father Nguyen and our parish priests.
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We appreciate the support of the fine members of the business community whose ads appear on the back of the printed bulletin and at the bottom of this emailed bulletin. With their generosity we are able to have a printed weekly bulletin at no cost to us from LPi. | |
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St Francis of Assisi,
St. Vincent de Paul Conference
Helping Neighbors in Need.
Your help is needed in this ministry.
There are various ways to help out.
For more information, please contact Conference President: Pat Pomeroy at 206-280-6115
We collect after Masses the 1st weekend of the month with the exceptions of holiday weekends. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry through your prayers and financial donations.
https://svdpseattle.org/
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Faith Formation
Cheryl Brooten | cbrooten@stfoa-parish.org
Why the story matters
How well do you know the biblical story? Most of us can name the key players: Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Israel, Moses, David, Solomon, John the Baptist and of course Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Christian luminaries include Peter, John, James and Paul. But what connects the Old Testament to the New Testament? An ancient heresy called Marcionism sought to eliminate the Old Testament from the Christian bible. The God of the Old Testament seemed incongruous with Jesus being God. The church rejected Marcionism because, without the Old Testament, the story of Jesus loses its historical context. For those of us who want to follow Jesus, the Old Testament story is also our story, grounding our understanding of God, creation, human beings and our salvation.
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If we have not absorbed the biblical drama and made it our own, we run the risk of not knowing who we are, of why we are here, and of our destiny. Being a Christian is not just following a set of moral standards and professing certain beliefs but becoming an undeniable member of God’s family. We recognize our familial heritage in the struggles experienced by the Israelite people to escape from domination by evil and serve God. Their mistakes, trials and tribulations demonstrate God’s fidelity and mercy. We realize our limitations and dependence on God through their failures and suffering. Through our roots in the story of the Israelite people, we come to know our desperate need for a savior, a Messiah who will restore our familial status, recreate us once again as children of God.
Only through the Old Testament, can we recognize that Jesus is the one promised by God, foretold by the prophets and sent to this particular people who were eagerly awaiting his arrival. Accordingly, Jesus’ teachings and actions must all be interpreted within the context of his Jewish heritage and cultural milieu. For example, Jesus’ declaration at the last supper that he is making a new covenant though the breaking of his body and shedding of his blood presupposes an understanding of the old covenant God made with the Israelites. Christianity is firmly rooted in Jewish history, thought and tradition. When we know and live the story, we become bearers of the message and part of the salvation narrative; we become Christians.
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Thank you - My most heartfelt gratitude, thanks, and most sincere appreciation for each of you who volunteered to make Father Hayatsu‘s retirement gathering such a spectacular event! And…..I do mean spectacular! Our beloved funeral reception ministers were on site Saturday morning at 9 AM fresh like a daisy to set up the venue, organize all the little details and idiosyncrasies for the event. They were also there on Sunday at 9 o’clock to set up for the actual event day. When they saw that we didn’t have a strong cleanup crew, they all just rolled up their sleeves, had some water, and began doing what they do best. Loving the Lord, and serving his people. | |
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My gratitude, love, and thankfulness for each of you and all that you are for our Parish, our Parishioners and Jesus. You are truly such a blessing, each and every one of you. You are dearly loved and appreciated.
Thank you to Bonnie Wong, Paula Dugger and Soonie Parks for the magnificent floral designs for each table, the dessert table, and memorial table, the flowers on the altar, and those that the precious children presented to Father at the 10 AM Mass.
Thank you to Pauline Hoyt for your expertise, vision and “know how.” Your displays both in the vestibule and in Unity were breathtaking, tenacious and creative. Thank you for your attention to detail and the history of St. Francis of Assisi Parish and Father Dick. Thank you to Cheryl Brooten, Laurie Fleehart, Nicole Highland, Moira Schumacher and Jean Walz for your support, guidance and encouragement for our spectacular volunteers during these two days.
Husky Deli - Thank you for the most delicious ice cream on planet earth. Thank you for setting us up with everything we needed from scoops, to bins, to put the ice cream in.
Our Parishioners– Thank you for your most generous and delicious desserts, sweet breads, gooey, yummy rice pudding, and everything that you shared of your baking talents .
Thank you to our Pacific Islander dancers who performed at the event. And…….Even got Father Dick to participate . Such a perfect gift of love for all in attendance, and Father Dick.
A monumental thank you to Rick Fleehart, our pastoral assistant, for outreach technology. He rigged up all that special “ techy stuff” on the stage so that people could share their thoughts and memories of Father personally, and with privacy . He also came into the church office and filmed those additional people who didn’t have an opportunity to share at the party. It will be given to Father on a thumb drive so that he can watch it for years and years to come. He also live-streamed the 10 AM Mass as well as filmed the actual party . It’s available on our website, You Tube and Facebook. Thank you Rick.
Thank you to Lynn Johnson and Leo Ehreth for your support and assistance with clean up. You both are “Golden”.
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Altar Serving - It has been a privilege and honor to serve Mass with Father Nguyen this week at morning Mass. There are some changes in how we serve and also how we set the Altar of the Lord. I will be working with you individually so that we can all learn together, at our own pace, and in our own unique styles. It’s an exciting and beautiful time. | |
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I will be arriving to weekend Mass early so that we can have reorientation. Also, I will be serving the Altar with you at the weekend Masses until such time that you are comfortable in serving solo.
All of the changes to Altar serving are beautiful and sacred. I am very happy to be learning right along with you.
Sacristans - There are changes in how we sacristan for Father Nguyen. I will be working with you, one on one, before Mass. I will be available every weekend to work with you until you are comfortable in setting up for Mass. The same will be happening for our daily Sacristans.
Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers - We have changes in our communion service. We will meet before Mass to talk about those changes. I am always in the church for your questions, to support you, and to serve side by side with you. Never hesitate to ask questions. I’m extremely new at these changes too. I assure you that if I don’t have the answer, I will research it with Father Nguyen and get back to you in a timely fashion.
Liturgical Ministers - Please know that I am here for you and happy to assist you, individually, however you need.
These changes are beautiful and add to the sacred mysteries of our faith; elevate the presence of the Holy Trinity as we serve God, Father Nguyen and the Altar of the Lord It’s such a beautiful time for our church. I am embracing it all with enthusiasm, peace, and joy.
My continued prayers, and peace are with each of you. Thank you for your dedication, commitment, love for our Lord and each other. Blessed be God, forever.
Peace and blessings!
-Kathi
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CATECHISM NOTES
Catherine Szeiert | cszeibert@stfoa-parish.org
The U.S. Bishops have called for a Eucharistic Revival! We are invited and challenged to develop an interior devotion and sense of awe and gratitude for Jesus present in the Eucharist. St. Peter Julian Eymard wrote many beautiful reflections on the topic. We pray for his intercession to help us appreciate this incredible gift.
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St. Peter Julian Eymard writes," In order to adore well we must keep in mind that Jesus, present in the Eucharist, glorifies and continues therein all mysteries of His mortal life. We must keep in mind that the Holy Eucharist is Jesus Christ past, present, and future; that the Eucharist is the last development of the Incarnation and mortal life of our Savior; that in the Eucharist Jesus Christ gives us every grace; that all truths tend to and end in the Eucharist; and that there is nothing more to be added when we have said, "The Eucharist," since it is Jesus Christ."
He continues, "It is not difficult to find a relation between the birth of Jesus in the stable and His sacramental birth on the altar and in our hearts. Who does not see that the hidden life of Nazareth is continued in the Divine Host of the tabernacle, and that the passion of the Man-God on calvary is renewed in the Holy Sacrifice at every moment of the day and night, all over the world? Is not our Lord as meek and humble in His Sacrament as during His mortal life? Happy is the soul that knows how to find Jesus in the Eucharist and the Eucharist in all things!"
--St. Peter Julian Eymard
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Every Little Bit Can Help – Donations Needed
Every Little Bit Can Help (ELBCH) is a ministry based at St. Francis of Assisi with an operation that extends beyond parish boundaries. We help our clients create a home using donated furniture and household goods provided for free. We began at St. Martin de Pores shelter, helping men emerging from homelessness, but now will help anyone making a similar life transition. Our clients are referred to us by Catholic Community Services, St. Vincent de Paul parish conferences, as well as by word of mouth. In a busy month, we help 6-8 households. Whether providing a replacement for a worn-out recliner or furnishing an entire apartment, our aim is to quickly deliver items to fill each client’s particular need.
ELBCH accepts new or lightly used furniture, small appliances, kitchen/dining wares, and other household items. Think “What would I need?” if I was moving into an empty studio or 1-bedroom apartment.
Please call to discuss/schedule a donation pick-up. If you are able, a small donation of $25 is suggested to cover the expenses of pick-up and storage.
CONTACT: Email ELBCHelp@gmail.com or text (or call) Mark Smith at 206-291-8083 regarding donations, for more information about ELBCH or to volunteer.
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Getting videos & photos off devices. In our last episode, I talked about how I got the still photos and videos off two different devices. It seems like for every smartphone or camera there is a different method for transferring files. AirDrop for Apple-to-Apple file transfers, Dropbox for USB camera file transfers, or just plain 'ole USB cable transfers. To make a 'simple' thing even more complex, there are two different types of USB cables! One is a charging only; it does not allow data transfer – FUN! The other allows data transfers. How do you tell? When buying a USB cable see if it states charging only. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. One way to tell is to buy a more expensive cable, they usually charge more for the data capabilities. Plug in the cable to both your PC and your smartphone and see if the smartphone or PC gives you a hint that it can see the smartphone as more than just a charging device. | |
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I thought getting videos off the Pixel Pro 6 smartphone would be easy on the Mac, nope. Isn't everything Apple does easy? Nope. To get photos and videos off the Pixel smartphone to an Apple Mac takes an app called "Android File Transfer" (an extremely imaginative name for the app). The app runs in the background, waiting for the moment when you plug an Android smartphone into you Mac. You would think it would be easy, nope, I had to restart my Mac, and restart the Pixel phone, along with disconnecting the USB-C data cable three times. You also must grant permission on the Pixel phone to allow file transfers (find that setting: good luck). Once all the stars align and you say a few "Hail Marys" (or possibly other words), the file transfers start up.
I used the Pixel smartphone to shoot the short videos for the thank you video I have put together for Father Dick. Deb ran the video booth up on the stage during the retirement party. We got 29 videos total. That includes a few staff members that added theirs yesterday and today (remember bulletin time). To a USB thumb drive I have added the complete set of 29 'testimonials' along with the collection of photos that was showing on the TV at the retirement party, along with the video I built of the retirement party (this video went to Facebook and YouTube). Father will be able to watch the videos on his laptop whenever he feels the need.
Putting together the thank you video was easy once I had the videos from the Pixel camera. I just added them in the order they were shot. I added fun and different transitions between each video. I did have to shave off some 'dead space' when the person doing the video did not want me in the room. I would turn on the video, quickly leave, then come back after they had finished. Beginnings and endings of those short videos would be the 'dead space' I removed in editing. Overall, the video look pretty good and I know Father Dick will enjoy it for many years.
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The Printed Version of the Bulletin
Download and read our printed bulletin in PDF HERE. This one is what you will pickup after Mass when you come to church. It is a bit different than this emailed version which often has last minute updates and text corrections.
If you subscribe to this version, they send you an online version on Wednesday morning.
These links go to the LPi St. Francis' page so you can see some of the ads and visit them and remark how nice they are for supporting our bulletins.
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Stewardship of Treasure
Year to Date Report
July 1 through June 30, 2024
Sunday Goal: $985,000
Sunday Actual: $970,920 ($14,080)
June Goal: $70,950
June Actual: $65,246 ($5,724)
Thank you for your continuous and generous support of St. Francis of Assisi Parish!
God bless you!
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Administration
Annual Catholic Appeal: We are well short of our goal. The goal is $114,800 and $76,000 has been pledged. The primary reason for the shortfall is fewer people have given to the Annual Appeal. This year, 206 families have supported this very important effort. Last year, 318 families give generously to the 2023 Annual Appeal. The 2023 refund was over $20,000. The parish can proceed to purchase a new and safe Unity Place kitchen gas stove. Letters to those who gave in 2023 yet have not pledged/given in 2024 was delayed. These letters will go out in July.
Online Giving Platforms: Over the past several years, the parish has been using three online giving services: Vanco, Our Sunday Visitor, and PushPay. This month, we want Vanco and Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) online users to switch to PushPay. The two main reasons: it lessens possible entry errors and reduces administrative burden. In the forementioned online services, each online gift must be manually entered into PushPay online. PushPay online is integrated in our new church management system, ChMS. Once entered, the gifts are uploaded into parishioners’ records.
Parish Operating 2024-2025 Budget: Ordinary Income goal is almost the same as it was in 2023-2024. Ordinary Income is another name for all church donations to the parish operating budget. The 2024-2025 goal is $984,173. The 2023-2024 goal was $985,000.
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Making Sunday Giving Easier: For fast access use the QR code. Point your smartphone camera to the QR code and say yes or OK.
https://www.stfoa.org/giving
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Life, Justice, and Peace
Ken Gollersrud | stfoa.ljp@gmail.com
St Francis Community:
Please take time for some silent prayer while walking in God’s beautiful creation here in Western Washington.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace) Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
In these divided times there are challenging elections, Supreme Court decisions that we either agree with or are angry with, and municipal issues that divide us along Ideological lines. Where is this leading us? In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: Chaos or Community. The choice is ours. In basic words this column is about the practice and practice of Contemplative Dialogues…
What do I propose by these words?
Individual prayer, communal prayer/meditation, deep listening (what I mean is really listening to the person across from you, giving up judgements/arguments to make once the other person is done speaking ( I am smiling because we all do this J, yours truly included.)
Several years ago (2017) a dozen of us parishioners participated in a Contemplative Dialogues program that our Life Justice and Peace Committee led. We followed a program developed by IPJC, Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center in Seattle. There are many similar programs that you can study on the internet listed below. This is an invitation to listen in a new way. Imagine being transformed in your relationship with your family, friends, faith community, community of where you live, this country, and this world in a deeper way. LJP would love to hear your experience through our email or better yet meet in person, after mass, for a cup of coffee, or whatever works for you. The only thing you’ve got to lose is judgement of others. It could make Thanksgiving 2024 a bit easier and less stressful for you as you gather with family and friends who have very different opinions than you do.
Sisters of Mercy-Contemplative Dialogue <-link
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LJP) <-link
Innercommuntiy Peace & Justice Center (IPJC) <-link
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Life, Justice and Peace meetings:
We meet the 4th or last Monday of the month 7 pm via Zoom.
Email us your thoughts and comments at stfoa.ljp@gmail.com
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DID YOU KNOW?
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Formed Subscriber, which means all parishioners can stream the videos and programming available for free! Follow the instructions below and use our ZIP code, 98062, to find our parish. Sign up and start watching great Catholic videos and programs for adults and kids.
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Please support our
Little Free Pantry
The Little Food Pantry is located on the west side of the church near the sidewalk. This little pantry has been such a blessing for so many, as we have noticed it being utilized more and more. If you feel so inclined to donate a few items to support our local community in their need, please consider items that don't require cooking such as pop top meals in a can, tuna fish, peanut butter, protein shakes, granola bars, fruit in a pop top can, etc.
Feel free to add the items yourself or drop them off in the parish office. Thank you so much for showing your support and generosity to our neighbors.
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Rachel's Vineyard
Project Rachel offers a compassionate and confidential environment for those who suffer the effects of an abortion.
Find hope and healing after abortion.
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat
August 2-4, 2024-English
October 25-27, 2024-Spanish
For more information about the Project Rachel ministry or our healing retreats, please call Frances at (206) 920-6413
Llame Alejandra at (206) 450-7814
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