At the Chapel of St. Ignatius

Today I made a return to the Chapel of St. Ignatius, where I served as a student sacristan during my years studying at Seattle University. (Since the new Campus Minister for Liturgy begins tomorrow and with many of the current sacristans away for the summer, I was asked to assist for the 11:00am Mass.)

At the Mass, we also celebrated a Rite of Baptism for baby Kennedy. Father Peter Maher, a diocesan priest from Sydney in Australia, was the main celebrant.

Another grace was seeing three fellow alum (George, Nick, and Yuni) who were fellow student sacristans with me...some number of years ago!

The Vision of Forum

I received this email from Jim Schellman of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, which ceases to exist at the end of today. It includes information on the "Friends of Forum" which will continue on the vision of Forum:

"Visit http://friendsofforum.org/ 

-The online presence and legacy site devoted to the vision of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate

-Share what the NA Forum has meant to you

-Access foundational initiation articles

-Find current printed resources

-View the final and past NA Forum newsletters for loads of information and resource reviews

-Utilize discernment charts and overviews of the RCIA

-and more

Friends of Forum is also creating a new Facebook page to continue to support each other in this inspiring and necessary ministry."

Liturgy News

Just sent this email out to some 500+ contacts throughout the Archdiocese who subscribe to receive our office newsletter and liturgical happenings throughout the Archdiocese. Contact me if you haven't receive this email and are interested in receiving future emails.

Archbishop Sartain will celebrate Mass in memory of the deceased bishops of the Archdiocese on Thursday, June 27th at 5:30pm at St. James Cathedral. This Mass is celebrated annually near the anniversary of the death of Archbishop Thomas Murphy (June 26th, 1997). All are welcome.

Priest Days Jubilarians

Honoring the priests celebrating their 25th, 50th, and 60th anniversary of ordination!

Almost time to leave the Ocean...

...almost!

We're well into Priest Days and it's been beautiful weather for most of the time. Since our office is not selling liturgical books this year, in between the liturgical celebrations I've had the opportunity to take time off to go to the beach! After six Priest Days, this is my first time going to the beach. Best part of all: I was able to pick up some shells that make for great worry stones!

I've taken more pictures of the beach and the gorgeous weather than the liturgical celebrations.



(L) At the beach yesterday afternoon.  (R) The view from my hotel room at Ocean Shores for Priest Days!

A glimpse of the liturgical celebrations for Priest Days: Mass is celebrated every morning, except today, plus mid-day prayer and evening prayer. Monday night we remembered the priests who died in the past year during a memorial service, and last night there was an opportunity for the priests to go to Confession.


There was no morning Mass today because later this afternoon there will be a Mass celebrating the Jubilarians who celebrate their 25, 50, and 60 anniversary to the priesthood.Maybe for the Jubilarian Mass, since I'm not altar serving, I'll be able to take some pictures of the liturgical celebrations.

Now, I still have two hours until I need to return to the convention center to begin setting up for Mass. There is a nice ice cream shop next to the convention center I haven't been to yet this year! This is the first year (of six) that I've been able to enjoy my time at Ocean Shores and it feels so relaxing and peaceful. Can someone remind me of the actual reason why I came down here?

Priest Days has begun

All day yesterday was set-up for Priest Days.

Thankfully, our office is only responsible for the chapel and liturgical celebrations. I wouldn't want to have to worry about registration packets, meals, optional sessions, and various arrangements for the speaker, Fr. Tom Rosica, C.S.B.

Back to the chapel, here's a sneak at the before and after:

 

 

 

And the first full day of Priest Days (9:00am Mass, midday and evening prayer, and a memorial service remembering the deceased priests of this past year) has completed.

More to come...

Congratulations class of 2013!

Before the Priest Days blog posts from Ocean Shores begin, I wish to congratulate all the graduates of the class of 2013, especially those from Seattle University as they celebrated their Baccalaureate Mass this afternoon at St. James Cathedral.

Father Mike Bayard, SJ, Director of Campus Ministry at SU asked me a while ago to assist at their Baccalaureate Mass,which I was glad to do. Father Mike was and continues to be an important part of my formation as a lay minister in the Church, that being miter and crosier bearer for the Mass is the least I could do for him. Thanks, Father Mike! Your priestly ministry makes a positive difference in the lives of the students (and alumni!)  

My prayer for him (and for all of us reading this post) is that we all remember the work we do makes a positive difference in someone's life, whether we realize it or not. We plant seeds for the students, and among each other, that will bear great fruit in the future!  

Father Mike with a SU '13 graduate

 

Priest Days preparations

Gathering liturgical furnishings to convert a meeting room at the Ocean Shores Convention Center into a worship space for Priest Days next week is no easy task...but boy is it a lot of fun!

This is the conference room next to our offices, where we gathered all of the vessels, linens, furnishings, and vestments that we'll be bringing to Priest Days next week. Priest Days is the annual meeting and retreat for the priests in the Archdiocese of Seattle, where they will be discussing...wait for it...the new evangelization.

Please pray for all the priests in the Archdiocese as they begin Priest Days soon!

Ordination of Mark Kiszelewski

Last Saturday, Archbishop Sartain ordained Mark Kiszelewski to the Priesthood.
Here's the photo album of the Ordination Mass courtesy of St. James Cathedral's website.

If you prefer less quality pictures from the Ordination Mass, check out my picasa web album, which also includes pictures from Father Mark's Masses of Thanksgiving at St. Therese and Christ Our Hope in Seattle.

Congratulations, Father Mark. Ad multos annos!

Happy Birthday, Archbishop Sartain!

Today is Archbishop Sartain's 61st Birthday!

May the Lord continue to guide him as he shepherds the people entrusted to his care, as a steward of God's mysteries.

God's presence in the world!

Here are a few pictures taken from the Corpus Christi Procession at Holy Rosary Parish in Tacoma.

Was almost brought to tears at being reminded of this reality of God's presence in the world.
     God is still with us,
     God hasn't abandoned us,
     God still loves us and cares for us,
     God wants to bless us and be with us!