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Dear Pastoral Assistants of Faith Formation and Catechists,
I’m wishing you a blessed start to November! We have many new saints to celebrate this month, including Peter To Rot, a lay catechist from Papua New Guinea and Vincenza Maria Poloni, an educator of marginalized women. We also welcome young saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. These and other youthful saints from all over the globe will be featured at this year’s Catholic Youth Convention, taking place on November 15th at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey. This year’s theme revolves around saints, and high school students from all over Western Washington will gather for a day of Catholic speakers, music, Mass, and Adoration. Please pray for our young saints in the making!
This is a full month for Lifelong Formation as catechist certification courses are well underway, the Faith Formation Commission meets, and Advent begins on November 30th. In the coming weeks, we’ll also offer a Marriage and Family Life support meeting (Tuesday, November 25th), and we have resources for you below for the Jubilee 2025 on Christ the King Sunday. We know this is a busy time for you too and we’re happy to provide you with whatever support you need. Do not hesitate to contact us with questions or requests for information and resources. We are here to accompany you as you walk with those you serve.
Wishing you blessings and joy in ministry,
Kimberly
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CATHOLIC YOUTH CONVENTION 2025
Registration is now open for Catholic Youth Convention 2025! Join us at St. Martin’s University for the annual Catholic Youth Convention, for high school students in the Archdiocese of Seattle. This faith-filled day includes live worship music, games, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, adoration, and Mass with Bishop Schuster.
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Pope Leo Apostolic Exhortation: Dilexi te: On Love for the Poor
The first apostolic exhortation of Pope Leo XIV was released on 9 October 2025. The exhortation, which was released on the feast day of Saint Francis, focuses on Christ's love for the poor and the call for the Church to renew its commitment to those most in need.
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USCCB - Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth Resources
Looking for resources for Marriage and Family Life, Youth and Young Adults, or Natural Family Planning? Resources for these ministries are now available in one place.
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Archdiocesan Children's Prayer Book
- Credit card payments can be taken at time of ordering or choose to pay later (parish invoiced).
- Order form is available online so you can refer parents/guardians to visit the webpage and order directly.
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Spanish/English & Vietnamese/English bilingual versions are available online only.
- Contact Lisa Hillyard with any questions.
| | Contact Lisa Hillyard with any questions. | | | |
Confirmation Retreat Dates
If you would like to bring your youth to one of the upcoming Confirmation retreats provided by Youth Ministry Services, please take a moment to fill out the form below to help us in retreat planning and logistics. These retreats are one-day events ending with Mass, by 5:00 or 6:00 PM based on retreat and Mass start times. Click on the button below to learn more and submit your response.
March 7, 2026 at St. Frances Cabrini, Lakewood
April 18, 2026 at Mary, Queen of Peace, Sammamish
May 2, 2026 at St. Nicholas, Gig Harbor
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Lifelong Formation Support Meetings
Starting in the fall, our support meetings will now occur quarterly! Please see below for specific dates and Zoom information for each meeting. All meetings start at 12:00 noon.
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PAFF Support
Anyone working in Faith Formation can join these meetings to network, share ideas, ask questions or just visit with others working in faith formation.
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DECEMBER 9, 2025
MARCH 10, 2026
JUNE 9, 2026
2nd Tuesday of the month
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 864 5781 8172
Passcode: 536483
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OCIA Support
Parish staff working in OCIA share good practices, ideas to improve current processes, tips on how to deal with difficult concerns, and ideas to celebrate the Rites.
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JANUARY 20, 2026
APRIL 14, 2026
JULY 21, 2026
3rd Tuesday of the month
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 842 6568 4119
Passcode: 559697
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M&FL Support
Anyone working in ministry with Marriage and Family Life can join these meetings to network, share ideas, ask questions, or just visit with others.
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NOVEMBER 25, 2025
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
MAY 26, 2026
AUGUST 25, 2026
4th Tuesday of the month
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 832 3928 5444
Passcode: 140295
| | | | Registration is open for the February 2026 date. | | |
Important Message from Retrouvaille: It has been brought to our attention that several Marriage and Family life offices across the country have received packets from Rediscover Retrouvaille. They are slick and look amazing. They are continuing to use the Retrouvaille logo and name after being served with cease and desist letters from our attorney. They appear to offer an array of marriage help including but not limited to a 6 week course to a marriage cruise not just a weekend. This is not from Retrouvaille but from a competing company that is not sanctioned by the Vatican.
Please contact seattle@helpourmarriage.org with any questions.
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Be sure to check the Liturgical Calendar pages in both English and Spanish. These pages will contain who and what the Church celebrates each month.
| | Please note: If you receive this newsletter before the beginning of the next month, content on the webpage will update on the 1st of each month. | | Advent begins November 30th | | St. Martin de Porres - November 3 | | St. Charles Borromeo - November 4 | | St. Charles Borromeo What would you do if you knew you had only 15 more minutes to live? When St. Charles Borromeo was asked that question, he was playing pool. His answer? “Keep playing billiards.” | | | St. Martin of Tours - November 11 | | St. Frances Xavier Cabrini - November 13 | | Presentation of Mary - November 21 | | |
The Presentation of Mary in the Temple It is held by tradition in the Catholic Church that the Virgin Mary was presented by her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne, to the Temple in Jerusalem at a very early age.
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St. Cecilia Her life serves as a reminder of the central role music plays in the liturgy.
A Novena to St. Cecilia Let the harmonious choirs proclaim, Cecilia’s ever blessed name.
| | | For more feast days & observances not included here, visit the Liturgical Calendar resource page. | | Advent begins November 30th | | November Devotion - Holy Souls in Purgatory | | Black Catholic History Month | |
African American Affairs - USCCB The Subcommittee on African American Affairs assists the U.S. Catholic bishops individually and collectively to attend to the needs and aspirations of African American Catholics regarding issues of pastoral ministry, evangelization, social justice, worship, development of leaders and other areas of concern.
Black Catholic History Timeline - Learn more about the history of Black Catholics and influential figures by following our timeline from colonial settlements to the present day.
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Psalms of Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle
Thanksgiving and the Virtuous Circle of Gratitude A virtuous circle occurs when we reflect on all that we are grateful for. In doing so, we develop an attitude of gratitude, which leads us to a desire to serve others generously.
Grateful ; A Lesson Plan on Giving Thanks to God The Grateful Lesson Plan helps young people grow closer to God by learning to say thank you. It shows how being grateful is not just about good manners, but about seeing God’s hand in our lives.
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National Vocation Awareness Week -
November 2-8
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The Annual Global Celebration of Youth and Young Adults - November 23-25
Pope Leo XIV will continue to celebrate youth and young adults on November 23, 2025, the Solemnity of Christ the King, which Pope Francis established in 2020, when he called for a renewal of the annual global celebration of young people in local Catholic communities which began with Pope John Paul II in 1986. Pope Francis noted at the time: "The center of the celebration remains the Mystery of Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Man, as Saint John Paul II, the initiator and patron of WYD, always emphasized." Click here to learn more.
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Catholic Youth Convention - November 15, 2025 at Saint Martin's University, Lacey
Betrothed Marriage Preparation Retreat - February 27- March 1, 2026 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way
Annual Lifelong Formation Lenten Retreat - March 16-17, 2026 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way
Middle School Encounter - March 21, 2026 at Kennedy Catholic High School, Burien
Annual PAFF Conference - June 10, 2026 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way
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ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE
Lifelong Formation
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