April 21, 2024
Patience
Partners in the Gospel is meant to be a slow process, which requires patience and waiting. After over a year of consultation, our parish family was announced at the beginning of February. The beginning of April saw the announcement of the priests who will serve our parish family. It becomes official on July 1. Then begins a three-year process of forming one parish. This process will include welcoming, restructuring, and envisioning.
There are many unanswered questions; answers will only emerge as you go through this process. We will need to sit with uncertainty for a while. This is not always an easy thing to do. The first phase will simply be getting to know one another: you getting to know the new priests, them getting to know you, the two parishes getting to know one another, staff getting to know one another, and even getting to know ourselves better.
Please refrain from contacting the priests before they officially arrive, so they have time to wrap up their current assignments. We will let you know when the new pastor and parochial vicars will join us in July, and we will all have several opportunities to welcome and meet them. Until then, I remain fully committed to you.
Remember this is a three-year process, and it is going to take time to come together. We do not need to rush it. We are embarking on a great opportunity. Let’s remember the ultimate goal of Partners in the Gospel is to revitalize parish life and to allow us to focus more attention, more energy, and more resources on our mission.
April 14, 2024
Senior Status
Last weekend the archbishop announced the clergy assignments for our new parish family. He also announced my own transition into what is called “senior status.” What is that? The word “retirement” would not fit since priesthood is not a
profession. Priesthood is a vocation and, like marriage, is a permanent vocation (under normal circumstances). Senior status is being an active priest without an assignment. The age for senior status has been tied to the age for social security, though the age for senior status is slowly being raised.
As many of you know, during my three years at St. John the Baptist I commuted from my home in Federal Way. In senior status, I plan to continue residing in Federal Way. It will be a good location from which to help parishes in Pierce and King Counties. I would be available to fill in for other priests while they are on vacation or in times of illness. In addition, I hope to concentrate on the things I really enjoy about ministry.
There will also be more family time. I hope to get down to Florida a bit more often to see my mom who is now 91 years old. being a pastor often takes you away from family gatherings since most weekends and holidays you are working. In senior status, I am also looking forward to spending more time with my siblings and with nieces and nephews.
I won’t be that far away, so I’d imagine you will be seeing me from time to time. I will be following with keen interest and supportive prayer your efforts to become one parish with Holy Spirit Church in Kent. I hope you will rediscover that same energy, enthusiasm, and creativity the founding members of our parish had that gave birth to St. John the Baptist Parish.
April 7, 2024
Reception of Holy Communion
In celebrating the Mass, some things are determined by the Vatican, some by the conference of bishops for each nation, some by the local bishop, and a few by the pastor of a parish. How we receive Holy Communion is determined by each national conference of Catholic bishops. This may make it a bit confusing since our parish is made up of people from around the world. How you receive Communion in the nation of your birth may not be the custom here.
In the United States the posture for receiving Communion is standing. Those who kneel for communion are not to be refused, but they are to be instructed on the proper way to receive Communion. As you come forward for Holy Communion, one is to slightly bow one’s head in reverence to the Eucharist. Note that there is no genuflection, just a bow of one’s head.
Communion may be received either on the hand or on the tongue. If receiving on the tongue, you must do more than just open your mouth. You must stick out your tongue as well as open your mouth. (Yes, there seems to be a growing problem with this.) If receiving on the hand, hold one palm on top of the other. The Eucharist is never taken; it is always received. Therefore, let the Eucharistic Minister place the host on your tongue or on your hand.
Before receiving Communion, the Eucharistic Minister will proclaim, “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ.” The one receiving Communion is to answer, “Amen.” Be sure to answer loud enough for the Minister to hear you. This is your statement of faith that you believe the bread and wine are indeed the full presence of Christ and that you, yourself, are indeed a member of the Body of Christ on earth. As St. Augustine said, “We become what we eat.”
Consume the Eucharist immediately upon receiving it.
The reception of communion is not the moment for personal expressions of piety, which can distract others and draw attention to ourselves. Rather, reverent in our belief in the Lord’s true presence in the Eucharist, this is the time when we should be most unified as a community doing the same gestures. In receiving the Body of Christ, we become one with Christ and through Christ, one with everyone else who receives the same Eucharistic Lord.
March 31, 2024
Welcome Everyone!
What Sunday is to the week, Easter is for the year. It is our most important liturgy, celebrating Jesus’ victory over sin and death. And not only is Jesus now alive, Jesus is life itself, and this life he shares with us.
This is the life that animates St. John the Baptist Catholic Community. We gather to worship in gratitude for all God has done for us and trusting in the promise of eternity. We grow in our discipleship. Each one of us is on a particular journey of faith. Each one of us has another step to take. We accompany each other wherever we may be on this journey. And we go in service. We have Good News to share. We do so with acts of love and compassion, caring for all God’s people, and caring for God’s creation.
Easter Sunday is a day we welcome many people. There are those who are here every Sunday, for whom Mass is the highlight of the week and a source of strength for the coming week. We welcome family members and relatives, who are visiting for the holiday. We welcome those of other faith traditions, who join their family members and friends today. A desire for something more in life may have brought you here today. Easter is also a time for those who have been away from the Church to explore the possibility of coming back. Whatever brought you here today, we are so glad you are here with us today! We hope that whatever has kept you away can be resolved, healed, or forgiven. If you are one of our neighbors without a faith community to call your own, welcome!
Wherever you are at on this journey of faith, the St. John the Baptist Catholic Community is here to walk with you. Together, may we discover the presence of the Risen Lord who has promised to remain with us forever.
You can find more information about our faith community on our web page at sjtbcc.org. You can also call the parish office and chat with myself or any of our staff at 253 630-0701.