St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Where Stewardship is a Way of Life

Bob Jensen

December 24, 2023

Pastor's Corner, Uncategorized

A Christmas Invitation

Christmas reveals to us a God who wants to be close to us. The awesome Christmas message is that, out of love for us, God has become one of us so we can become one with God.

This is the faith that animates St. John the Baptist Catholic Community. We gather to worship in gratitude for all that 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, doing so with acts of love and compassion, caring for all God’s people, and caring for God’s creation.

Christmas is a day we welcome many people. There are those who are now 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. COVID has kept many people away from in-person gatherings. We welcome those who are now are transitioning back to in-person worship. There may be other things that have kept folks away. If you are one of those joining us 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, 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.

December 17, 2023

Pastor's Corner, Uncategorized

A Christmas Invitation

Christmas on a Monday makes for a very short Fourth Week of Advent. It is less than 24 hours long! To accommodate the Christmas Eve Masses on Sunday, December 24, there will only be two Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: the 5:30 pm Vigil Mass on December 23 and a 10:00 am Mass on Sunday December 24. There is no 9:00 am, 11:30 am, or 5:30 pm Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Christmas Masses are at 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and 10:00 pm on Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24. Fr. Dave Rogerson will be the presider and homilist at the 10:00 pm Mass. Mass on Christmas day will be at 10:00 am.

Christmas 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. We also welcome those who are searching for a faith or who only have a tenuous connection with the faith community. Let’s be sure to offer these folks a warm welcome and a vibrant liturgy that just might draw them closer to the Lord and back to His people.

Celebrate your Christmas Mass with joy. It’s contagious.

December 10, 2023

Pastor's Corner

Reconciliation

Advent is a season of preparation. We are preparing both for the celebration of the Lord’s birthday and for His return in glory. In between this first and final coming of the Lord is the preparation for meeting Him each and every day in prayer and good works.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also referred to as Penance or Confession) is a way of meeting the Lord now and preparing for the celebration of Christmas as we await His return in glory. At the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the church revised the way we celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In 1973, a new ritual was promulgated that not only revised the rite for individual confession but also added a rite for reconciliation of several penitents with individual confession. This emphasized the relation of the sacrament to the community.

With a communal celebration of Reconciliation, with private confession and absolution, the Assembly is nourished by the proclamation of the Word and spiritual song. People receive the support and prayer of the community as they confess their sins to one of several priests present. Communal reconciliation reminds us that our sin affects others and that others will forgive the wrong we’ve done.

Our parish Advent Communal Reconciliation Service will be Saturday, December 16 at 10:00 AM. If you cannot make that, St. Barbara’s in Black Diamond is having the communal service on Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 PM. St. Theresa’s in Federal Way has theirs on Friday, December 15 at 7:00 PM.