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!

Welcome Bishop Burns!

The Most Reverend Edward Burns of Juneau, Alaska arrived in Seattle last week. He will celebrate a small handful of the Confirmations in the Archdiocese.

He is pictured below, anointing a young parishioner at St. Andrew Parish in Sumner.

Ends and Beginnings

An announcement came in my email today from the North American Forum on the Catechumenate announcing their dissolution, effective June 30th. Jerry Galipeau writes his take on the ending of Forum on his blog.

And Archbishop-Emeritus Alex J. Brunett will "end" his time as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Oakland. Pope Francis has appointed Father Michael Barber, SJ (the one who currently serves as the lead spiritual director of Boston's St. John's Seminary...just wanted to clarify that since apparently there are three Michael Barber, SJ's in the US) as Bishop of Oakland. Brunett served as Oakland's Apostolic Administrator since October of last year.

There are also a number of official assignments (just ignore and accept my apologies for the "draft" watermark) that will soon take place around the Archdiocese of Seattle. Let us especially pray for these priests and the parishes and communities that are greatly impacted by the priests who will soon end their time of service at their specific community.

A couple of hours ago, Tony V. called me and we spoke for a good hour and a half about various ends and beginnings in our lives, and leave it to him to tie it into Liturgy somehow by reminding me of what it means to live out the Passion and Resurrection of Christ: life is changed, not ended.

May Day! May Day!

This afternoon, I took a nice long break in the sunny weather (which is suppose to get sunnier as the week continues) and walked around the Chancery campus. As I was doing so, a gentleman was walking around with a big smile on his face greeting everyone he walked by a "Happy May Day!"

Last year's May Day march was anything but "happy" as the windows of stores in downtown Seattle were broken and smashed, and vandalism appeared on every block. This year, people are still being arrested, reporters are being spat on and shoved, and riots are still occurring.

Thought it would be appropriate to remind ourselves of what May Day is truly about, and in the words of Pope Francis.

Prayers for compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform!