Ordination to the Diaconate

Congratulations to Matthew Pyrc, SJ, who was ordained a deacon last Saturday, on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, at the Chapel of St. Ignatius at Seattle University by Archbishop Sartain.



Mass and March for Life

Yesterday morning, one day before the anniversary of the tragic decision to legalize abortion in Roe v. Wade, thousands of people from the Church of Western Washington came together to give thanks to God for the gift of human life at the annual Mass and March for Life.

There was an official photographer for the Northwest Catholic who took some great pictures of the event. Val took some pretty great pictures as well. She was part of the delegation from the South Seattle cluster parishes.

The March for Life, held throughout the U.S. is an inspiring testimony to the sanctity of life and a powerful statement to our legislators. Please continue to pray for the respect of human life, from conception to natural death.

Anything but Ordinary...

Yesterday, the Church returned to Ordinary Time, but this liturgical season is anything but what we may consider "ordinary."  The recent issue of Liturgy Line, published last week, which includes many resources, liturgical formation opportunities, and information about feasts and rites during this liturgical season, signals toward that reality.  This is a time when we experience order in the liturgical year, a time when we experience Christ walking among us and transforming our lives. Anything but Ordinary.

Prayers

A few prayer requests on this Fourth Sunday of Advent:



Days ago, Deacon Fred Cordova, a leader in the Filipino -American community died. "Uncle Fred" as he is known to many in the Filipino community in Seattle, was an activist for the Fil-Am community since the '50s. Ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Seattle in 2003, Uncle Fred was the founder of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) and the Filipino Youth Association, which is well known for their drill team that performs at the annual Seafair Parade. He always joked with me that I know how to speak more Tagalog than he did...which came as a surprise when I first found out that he didn't know a lot of Tagalog besides "Kumusta" and "Salamat" and maybe a few other words. Uncle Fred's legacy will continue to live on in the many lives he touched. Eternal rest, Uncle Fred. Please pray for Auntie Dorothy, and the entire Cordova family.

Secondly, after about a month of being able to consume a host and with the two bishops and a small number of priests bringing him Holy Communion every day, Archbishop Brunett is gaining more strength from his stroke last September, although he still has a long road of recovery ahead of him. Yesterday he made his first public appearance after the stroke, concelebrating with Archbishop Sartain and Fr. Ryan at a wedding held at St. James Cathedral. Please continue to pray for Archbishop Brunett, for healing and strength as he continues his recovery!

And know of my prayers for you and your family as we soon celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus Christ. May you experience the joy, love, and peace that only He can bring!

Rejoice!

On this Gaudete Sunday, I reflected on a number of events this weekend which we're cause for rejoicing in my heart:

On the feast of St. Lucy, the Chancery employees gathered with the Archbishop for a morning Mass followed by a luncheon. It's always a great opportunity to gather with fellow Chancery employees to rejoice in celebrating a great year of ministry together and for me to wear violet while almost everyone else is decked out in reindeer antlers, santa hats and bells (literally!) I should have worn a crown of candles with my violet blouse.

Also, my friend, George Noel, was ordained to the Priesthood yesterday morning in Crookston, Minnesota, on the feast of St. John of the Cross. As much as I wanted to be in the zero degree Fahrenheit weather, I settled for a number of pictures from his Facebook page:

One of my favorite annual liturgies was also celebrated yesterday, but in much warmer Seattle weather. As always, Maria took great pictures of the Simbang Gabi liturgy, which are up on the Cathedral website. It's also the one day of the year when I wear my Filipino blouse. And when my colleague in the Liturgy Office also wears a barong to the celebration, that in and of itself is a cause for rejoicing:

Lastly, day 1 (or rather night 1) of the Simbang Gabi novena began this evening. When Val and I walked into St. Edward's, we thought we were celebrating the Easter Vigil, as the lights in the entire church were off and people were holding these candles:

Seattle Seminarians

Every year, around this time, many look forward to seeing the annual Seminarian Poster. Myself included. This poster contains a picture of all the current seminarians for the Archdiocese of Seattle, where they are currently studying and their home parish. It hangs in almost all vestibules of parishes in the Archdiocese.

On the Crozier Society's website is the poster for 2014. I didn't notice it at first glance of the poster when we received our copy for the office, but Andrew pointed out the other day that I'm in the poster as well. You can find me pictured just below the two people yawning.

Just in time for their final exams, papers, and travels for the Christmas season, let us continue to hold the seminarians, and all those discerning a call to the priesthood and religious life, in our prayers!

!Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!

Today, people from all over Western Washington gathered at St. James Cathedral to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, Madre de las Américas. Although I was only able to capture this image of the Guadalupe shrine with beautiful roses, the Cathedral website has great pictures of the celebration, as they always do!

The day began with a rosary in the morning at St. Mary's Catholic Church followed by a procession to the Cathedral. Meanwhile, I was at the Cathedral listening to the Coro Madre de las Américas, watching las danzantes process in with their headdresses and colorful banners, and I even was able to answer a few questions, in the minimal Spanish I know. Even at the reception, when I attempted to get a set of plastic flatware for me and my sister, the lady aggressively told me I could only take one set of forks (in Spanish) and I responded, "es para mi hermana." She allowed me to get an additional fork and thus we were able to enjoy our rice, beans, and tamal.

I'm considering participating in Las Mañanitas at St. Edward's Parish next week, since it's only about a 10-minute drive down the street. There will be a rosary at 8:30pm on December 11th, followed by songs and dances for La Virgen.

Next week will also be the Archdiocesan Simbang Gabi celebration, where a highlight for me is seeing the many styles of parols with all sorts of images of Mary, lights, and colored paper. (This means it's time to break out my maria clara blouse from the Philippines!)

This celebration will be followed by me making the full nine-day novena. Although I usually head to St. Edward's since they offer the full nine-day novena, I'll see if I can make the novena by going to a number of other parishes in the Archdiocese, thanks to this handy calendar of all the parishes celebrating a Simbang Gabi celebration.

Happy Advent!

Today the Church celebrates the First Sunday of Advent, thus beginning a new liturgical year. At Mass today, Fr. Felino offered an inspiring homily that invited us to imagine ourselves in God's waiting room. In God's waiting room, many of us are usually doing the following:

1. Questioning
2. Complaining
3. Wishful thinking

During our time in God's waiting room, we are presented with many challenges: death of a loved one, a serious illness, unemployment, a difficult move across country, or the loss of someone who means a great deal to you, moving across country. Instead of turning to God in our faith, we ask the question "why?" I've done it myself: Why did my father unexpectedly die when I was only 14 years old? (and I wasn't looking for the answer of cardiac arrest!) Why was my mother diagnosed with kidney disease? There is also a lot of complaining that goes on in God's waiting room. Simply sitting in traffic can change our attitude or mood, or even waiting in line to buy tickets to see "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" or to see the Gingerbread Village display at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle can get people out of the "holiday spirit." And how many times do we indulge in wishful thinking? We ask ourselves, "If only I had a better house or a new car?" or "I wish I had an Xbox like all my other friends."

We are all challenged to live in a spirit of joyful hope. Whatever we do, we must do in love. There are many opportunities to rejuvenate our spirit in this Advent season so that we may radiate Christ to others, whether it be participating in Las Mananitas to Our Lady of Guadalupe, praying a novena for the Immaculate Conception, helping the parish decorate and prepare for Christmas, giving items to the Church's food bank or baby basinet for pregnancy agencies or right to life groups, or participating in a local Simbang Gabi celebrations. Above all, the most important way we can live in a spirit of peace is to go to Confession! Parishes offer penance services in the first few weeks of Advent that provide an opportunity for us to make a confession in order to prepare for the coming of our Lord.

Advent is a time to reevaluate what we are doing in God's waiting room. Consider it a kind of new liturgical years resolution. How will we continue to strengthen our soul in order to live out Emmanuel, God with us in today's world to others? We are called to shine forth God's love to others.

Typhoon Haiyan

With so many organizations and relief efforts happening to assist those in the Philippines devastatingly affected by the effects of Typhoon Haiyan, all are encouraged to donate through Catholic Relief Services. CRS has also provided some prayer resources that are posted on the Archdiocesan Missions' Office website.

Archbishop Sartain invites everyone to a Mass for the typhoon victims in the Philippines and Vietnam, which will be held at St. James Cathedral at 12:10pm next Friday, November 22nd, the Memorial of Saint Cecilia. This Mass will hit close to home for me because music will be provided by a Filipino Choir, Filipinos of the Chancery and Cathedral communities will be involved as liturgical ministers, and the gospel and part of the Eucharistic Prayer will also be prayed in Tagalog!

And as a side note, many great things were mentioned in the most recent issue of Liturgy Line, including upcoming liturgical courses to deepen our understanding of the Sacred Liturgy, a Liturgy of the Hours retreat with a Benedictine, a number of various resources for the 50th Annversary of the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, and ritual texts for blessing prayers, such as the "Thanksgiving Table Blessing"!

Veterans Day

Veterans Day: a time we remember, thank, and honor those who have served in armed forces. I wish to take this brief opportunity to note the USCCB's publication of prayer resources for troops, which includes a number of prayers of the faithful.

As we approach this national holiday, we give thanks and appreciation to veterans, both living and dead, for the sacrifices they have made to keep our country safe.

Prayer for Veterans Day
   God of peace,
   we pray for those who have served our nation
   and have laid down their lives
   to protect and defend our freedom.

   We pray for those who have fought,
   whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war,
   whose nights are haunted by memories
   too painful for the light of day.

   We pray for those who serve us now,
   especially for those in harm's way.
   Shield them from danger
   and bring them home.

   Turn the hearts and minds
   of our leaders and our enemies
   to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.

   Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor!

   May the peace you left us,
   the peace you gave us,
   be the peace that sustains,
   the peace that saves us.

   Christ Jesus, hear us!
   Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!

   Amen.

                     - from A Concord Pastor

Picture this!

In my previous post, I included a picture of Fr. Bryan taking a picture of the assembly from the weekend's CYC Mass.

Courtesy of the Priesthood and Religious Vocations for the Archdiocese of Seattle's Facebook page, here's the picture that Fr. Bryan took: