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!

Coming Celebrations

This Sunday, the Church celebrates The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi, Latin for Body of Christ)

My sister and I will be at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Tacoma, where they will hold a Corpus Christi Procession beginning at Holy Rosary to St. Joseph, then back to Holy Rosary.

Here is a video from a Corpus Christi Procession in 2012 when Archbishop Sartain was the presider, and one from 2009 when Father Maurer was the presider. Both at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Bremerton. 2009 was the first year Our Lady Star of the Sea held a Corpus Christi Procession, after the Mass of Thanksgiving for Father Maurer's Ordination to the Priesthood.

And on that note, next Saturday, June 8th is Deacon Mark Kiszelewski's Ordination to the Priesthood. An update to a recent blog post is that Father Mark Kiszelewski will offer a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 16th at 9:00am at St. Luke in Shoreline.  Let us continue to hold Mark and all seminarians in our prayers.

A blessed Memorial Day

Let us take a moment to pause in prayer this Memorial Day, courtesy of A Concord Pastor Comments blog.

Prayer for Oklahoma

"Let us pray for the victims...and the missing, especially the children, struck by the violent tornado that hit Oklahoma City yesterday. Hear us, O Lord."

- Pope Francis, during the Prayers of the Faithful at his morning Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae

For those who are able to attend, St. James Cathedral will hold a special Mass this Friday (May 24th) at 12 Noon for the tornado victims.

Happy Pentecost!

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

 

Habemus Director of Liturgy

Archbishop Sartain has appointed Mr. Andrew Casad as the Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Seattle. He will begin on August 1st. Read more about him on the Pray Tell Blog. (He's pictured without the bill)

Andrew currently serves as the Director of Liturgy and Catechumenate at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and holds a Master of Theological Studies in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame (2003). Andrew is also an online course facilitator for Notre Dame’s Satellite Theological Education Program and gives workshops throughout the Diocese of Raleigh.

Please continue to pray for Andrew, his wife and children during this time of transition for them. I also ask your continued prayers for the Liturgy Office and for the entire liturgical life of the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Thank you for those who continue to provide me with hope, strength, and encouragement, especially during this difficult year of transition. This is only the beginning of this new and exciting chapter. One of my favorite movie quotes profoundly articulates what is in my heart. 

As we approach the celebration of Pentecost, let us pray that the Holy Spirit's love will rest upon us and strengthen us to be loving and wise in furthering the gospel of Christ. 

Come, Holy Spirit!