Newsletter | December 7, 2021 |
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Join your fellow parishioners in coming back to mass, to worship at the Lord’s table, to receive Him in the Eucharist, to fuel your faith. Catholic Churches have successfully developed effective safety protocols. THANK YOU to all the ministers and volunteers who make this possible for SJV!
Please join us at one of the following Masses:
Saturday at 5:00pm
Sunday at 9:00am
Sunday at 11:00am
Some changes you'll see at Mass to protect ourselves, to protect our neighbors, and to protect the ability FOR ALL TO safely worship together - face masks required, no singing, and no Blood of Christ. Clearly marked sections for worship are available for people seeking physical distancing. Doors will be open to ensure proper ventilation, so we encourage you to come with coats.
Please continue to self-screen and stay home if you are not feeling well. Sick, vulnerable, at-risk, and otherwise concerned persons are encouraged to celebrate Mass with us via live stream.
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SUNDAY MASS OBLIGATION TO BE REINSTATED
December 8
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The general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation (including the Saturday/vigil Mass) is to be reinstated during Advent on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Mass is not a high-risk activity; tens of thousands of Masses have taken place and we have no cases of anyone contracting COVID from attending Mass. Mitigation interventions are still important (staying home when sick, washing hands, wearing a mask, distancing, and good ventilation).
Valid reasons for people to continue to stay home:
- They have underlying conditions, are pregnant or are in a high-risk category.
- They exhibit flu-like symptoms.
- They have good reason to think they might be asymptomatic of a contagious illness (for example, they were in recent contact with someone who tested positive for a contagious illness such as COVID or influenza).
- They care for the sick, homebound or infirmed.
- They are 65 years of age or older (per the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation for high-risk individuals).
- You cannot attend Mass through no fault of your own (no Mass is offered; you are infirm; or, while wanting to go, you are prevented for some reason you cannot control, such as your ride did not show up).
Livestream Masses and homebound communion ministry will continue.
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WOMEN'S BOOK GROUP
Tonight, December 7 at 7:00pm
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Our Women’s Book Group gathers on the first Tuesday of every month with wine and chocolate to discuss a book that has been chosen by the group. The December Book is Love like a Saint by Elizabeth Kelly.
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SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Tomorrow, December 8
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On this Holy Day of Obligation, Masses will be celebrated at 9:00am (livestream available) and 7:00pm. |
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ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE
This Thursday, December 9 at 7:00pm
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Check our Fr. Vu's video about Confession above, and make time for Reconciliation this Advent. After the Reconciliation Service multiple priests will be available for Confession.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available every Saturday from 3:30-4:30pm.
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HS ESPERANZA MISSION TREK CHRISTMAS TREE LOT |
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Our Tree Lot is Open for the Season! Please stop by to find your Christmas Tree and Wreath and support our trekkers on their journey to build houses in Tijuana. |
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CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES & CATHOLIC HOUSING SERVICES
2021 APPEAL FOR THE POOR
This Weekend, December 11-12
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The Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services 2021 Appeal for the Poor Campaign kicks off this weekend. CCS/CHS are our local Catholic Charities at work serving nearly 100,000 Western Washingtonians across 170 programs every year. With over 4,200 staff and 6,200 volunteers, CCS/CHS continue to accompany and work alongside the men, women, and children who seek their essential services. Consummate professionals and tireless advocates, CCS/CHS continue to provide compassionate charity and advocate for justice throughout the uncertainty of 2021.
To showcase the impact of their work over the past year, CCS/CHS created a video to invite us to join them and bring light and hope to those in need. We encourage you to watch the video above prayerfully and consider how you might join the thousands of volunteers and staff this year. Is it through prayer, advocacy, volunteerism, or a generous donation?
For those who have never given, an anonymous donor has given $10,000 to incentivize new parish donors. The first 100 new households who give at least $100 will have $100 of their gift matched–doubling your impact of Light & Hope to our neighbors in need!
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ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD DRIVE FOR CHRISTMAS BASKETS 2021 |
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The SJV St. Vincent de Paul society will be assembling and distributing food baskets again this year for families in great need. Last year we helped approximately 70 families, over 280 people! Of course, we would not be able to do this without your help. Over the next several months, we will be collecting non-perishable food items. When you do your own shopping, please consider purchasing some of the items on the food drive schedule for our pantry. Checks (payable to SJV St. Vincent de Paul) or cash donations are always welcome and may be dropped off in the parish office. Gift cards will be given out to each family to purchase the perishable items they need. Thank you for making stewardship a way of life.
We are particularly in need of: Oil, Mayonnaise, Jelly, Instant Potatoes, Cornbread Mix, Bisquick Mix, Stove Top Stuffing, Pancake Mix, Pancake Syrup, Salt 1lb, Frosting
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ST. VINCENT DE PAUL ANNUAL GIVING TREE |
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Please support our annual giving tree for local families in need by contributing gift cards from Amazon, Fred Meyer, Target, Safeway, and QFC in $25 or $50 denominations, to be used for family gifts and perishable foods. Please write the gift card amount clearly on the card. Gift cards may be turned in to the SJV office during open hours until December 12. Thank you for your support. |
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RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS |
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If you know of someone who is interested, or has a spark within them, an inkling of becoming Catholic, and joining the Catholic Faith Community, please contact Fr. Vu or Laura, Lstanger@sjvkirkland.org.
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PARISH NURSERY IS OPEN!
Sundays during the 9:00am and 11:00am Masses
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Mrs. Fitz and Ms. Maria are happy to be back! The parish nursery is free. You can find the nursery at the bottom of the stairs. The sound system from the church is pumped into the nursery, so if you would like to stay with your child, you may, and you can still hear what is going on in the liturgy. The nursery is recommended for children 1 to 4 years old. |
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CATHOLIC KIDS' CATECHISM CLUB |
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YOUTH GROUP
Sundays from 5:00-6:30pm
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REFLECTIONS ON CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME
From Laudato Si
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Our weekly columns aim at providing practical steps that we each can take to defend our common home, as well as discuss ways in which we can change our way of thinking about science, about our relationship to the world around us, and about our understanding of our faith. Our hope is that, through our columns, we can deepen our understanding of the crisis facing us and embrace new behaviors that help us to preserve our common home.
For the three of us who currently do the research for and write this column, we’ve found not only that our knowledge has grown, but that we’ve become aware not only of the way in which our common home is in danger, but of the way in which everyday activities that use everyday products also pose a threat to our health and well-being. For us, it has been important not only that we produce our column on a weekly basis, but that we also allow what we’ve learned to change our own behavior.
This week, we list the changes we’ve made to preserve our common home since we’ve begun writing this column. In parentheses, we’ve listed how many of us have adopted a particular practice, and we’ve provided a link to blog posts that provide more information. Note that this list excludes things we were doing to preserve our common home before we began this column. For example, you won’t see recycling listed here, since each of us recycled beforehand. Some other items were not applicable for each of us. For example, switching from plastic to cardboard milk cartons is only applicable for those of us why buy milk.
Note the diversity of the steps we’ve taken to protect our common home. It testifies to the fact that there are numerous starting points, and for those of us who are already very concerned with preserving our common home, there are always numerous additional steps that we can still take. As You Don’t Have to Be an Environmental Superhero! argues, we don’t have to do everything at once. We just have to start somewhere and continue to expand our actions and our practices over time.
Laundry
- Do only full loads of laundry (1).
- Use a plant-based or eco-friendly laundry detergent (3).
- Do laundry primarily with cold water, using hot water only when necessary (1).
- Use a bath towel at least three times before washing, and wear clothes more than once (2).
- Stop using dissolvable laundry pods (1).
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Always use the tap cold instead of the cold setting (1).
Dishwashing
- Use eco-friendly dish detergent (3).
- Use eco-friendly automatic dishwasher liquid (3).
- Use a dishwasher more frequently, since it consumes less water than handwashing (1).
- Handwash dishes with dishwater in a pot instead of using constantly running water (1).
Cleaning
- Use only eco-friendly cleaning products (1).
Water preservation
- Turn off shower while shampooing hair and soaping the body (1).
- Fill a glass with water to rinse (instead of using constantly running water) when brushing teeth (2).
- Flash the toilet only if necessary (2).
- Wash the car only if needed or necessary (1).
- Water plants once a week except during high temperatures (1).
Food and food waste
- Buy only the quantity of groceries needed for immediate consumption (1).
- Buy organic canned goods (1).
- Buy organic produce if a choice is available (1).
Plastics
- Began reusing Ziploc bags when possible (1).
- Began using washable glass storage containers instead of plastic ones (2).
- Use own cloth grocery bags instead of single-use or multi-use plastic bags (1).
- Use paper bags for trash instead of plastic bags (1).
- Buy milk in cartons instead of plastic containers (1).
Species preservation
- Put up a bird feeder (finally, after years of procrastination) (1).
- Put out a water source for pollinators (1).
- Relocate most spiders that make their way indoors (1).
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For those of you who provide end of the year charitable contributions through work or an IRA disbursement (or have family who do so), please take a look at our Year End Giving page at sjmvc.ejoinme.org/SJV50in2021.
SJV will be closed the last week of December. All monetary donations for 2021 need to be in the parish office or postmarked by December 31 in order to be applied to this calendar year.
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KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Every Third Thursday at 7:00pm via Zoom
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Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to males 18 years of age or older who are practicing Catholics. Our next meeting is Thursday, December 16. For more information contact the Grand Knight, Mike Myette at 206-510-6536.
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MOMS MEETUP
Saturday, December 18 - 10:00am at The Commons, Woodinville
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Calling all moms, especially moms with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school-aged children! Let’s celebrate the season with brunch at The Commons in Woodinville!
The restaurant will be saving a spot for us, so please RSVP on our the SJV Moms Meetup Facebook Group by Wednesday, December 15th if you can make it. We will be eating inside and due to COVID dining guidelines you’ll need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Looking forward to seeing you there and enjoying some time together during this beautiful and busy season!
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SIMBANG GABI MASS
Saturday, December 18 at 5:00pm
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The Filipino tradition of Simbang Gabi is a novena of Masses leading up to Christmas. Please join us for this festive, colorful, and prayerful Advent celebration.
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SJV 50TH ANNIVERSARY BOOKS |
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Looking for a meaningful Christmas gift for a long-time parishioner? A 50th Anniversary Book would make a great gift! A small quantity are available. Pre-ordered books can be picked up after the weekend Masses and in the parish office during open hours. Please contact Susan, sweaver@sjvkirkland.org, for more information.
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The Sonshine Ministry prepares meals on a short-term basis for parishioners who are ill, recovering from surgery, elderly or with new babies. If you need help with meals, please consider a Sonshine ‘no contact’ meal delivered with our love and prayers! Please call the parish office if interested. If you would like to prepare an occasional meal for a fellow parishioner Sonshine welcomes your help! Please call the parish office at 425 823-0787. |
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SERVICE ACADEMY & ROTC INFORMATIONAL FORUM
Tuesday, December 21 from 7:00-8:00pm via Zoom
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Hear from Catholic School alumni that have gone on to attend one of the five US Service Academies (West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy) and ROTC programs throughout the country. Ask questions, learn about the admissions process, and hear all about their experience. |
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