Bob Jensen

Pope Francis has called for a two-year process of preparation for the Synod of 2023, which will focus on synodality in the Church. The word “synod” means “gathering.” It is from the Greek, and literally means “together on the way.” In the Church, this word has been used to refer to a significant gathering, whether at the diocesan, national, or international level. “The objective of this Synodal Process is not to provide a temporary or one-time experience of synodality, but rather to provide an opportunity for the entire People of God to discern together how to move forward on the path towards being a more synodal Church in the long-term.”1 In our local Church, this will be a time of listening and dialogue, as we reflect on how we “journey together” as a Church, and discern how the Spirit is calling us. “Synodality is not a corporate strategic exercise. Rather it is a spiritual process that is led by the Holy Spirit.”2 In the coming weeks, parishes will receive guidance on how to participate fruitfully in this important world-wide time of prayer, dialogue, and discernment.

Reconciliation

The parish will soon begin preparing children to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.  It is a good opportunity to look at how this sacrament is lived out in your own life.  Too often, a child’s first Reconciliation is their last celebration of this sacrament or at least for a long time.   It is difficult articulating our sins and faults to another person, but it can be healing.   That is the purpose of this sacrament, to experience the Lord’s forgiveness and healing of our sins.    The Gospels show us how extravagant the Lord was in forgiving sin and showing mercy.  He continues to be so today.   As the pray of absolution states, the purpose of this sacrament is to “bring pardon and peace.”

I am glad to see a good number of parishioners do make Individual Reconciliation a regular part of their spiritual journey.  I am never lonely during the Saturday afternoon confession period.  If it has been a while since you prayed this sacrament, I invite you to consider experience the Lord’s love and forgiveness through this ritual prayer so that you too may hear those powerful word: “Go in peace, your sins are forgiven.”

Every Fall, we ask every parish household to recommit to a life of stewardship and to take a small step towards that goal of a biblical tithe: ten percent of one’s income for the support of the parish and other charities. At whatever percentage you are, we ask that half be donated to the parish and the other half to other charities. Those other charities could include your support of the Annual Catholic Appeal to aid our Archdiocese, other national Catholic appeals, or your favorite global, national or local charities. Two of my favorite global charities are the Maryknoll Missionaries and Catholic Relief Services. In my travels in South America and Africa, I have seen the great work these two groups do. My favorite local charity is the St. Vincent de Paul Society. What are your favorite charities?  It would be difficult to support every charitable request that comes in the mail.  That is why it is important to sit down as a family and discuss which charities your feel called to support. Whatever charities you do support, you should always review their annual report to insure that overhead costs are reasonable and that the bulk of donations are indeed going to aid their stated cause.

The foundation for a life of stewardship is gratitude, fostering a sense that everything is a gift from God given for our good and the common good. As we prepare for this annual renewal of stewardship of treasure, let us focus on gratitude. My grandmother was fond of saying: “count your blessings.”  It continues to be good advice to grow in a life of stewardship that keeps God, the source of all blessings, at the center of our lives.

The Latin Tridentine Mass

Following the Second Vatican Council’s reform of the Mass and the use of the vernacular language, the Church allowed restricted use of the former Tridentine ritual for those who found it painfully difficult to accept the new ritual. That use was expanded by Pope John Paul II and even further by Pope Benedict XVI who allowed any priest to celebrate the Tridentine Mass. The intent was to bring back into unity those who left the Church following the Council.   Pope Francis has recently restricted the use of the Tridentine ritual. He states: “In defense of the unity of the Body of Christ, I am constrained to revoke the faculty granted by my Predecessors. The distorted use that has been made of this faculty is contrary to the intentions that led to granting the freedom to celebrate the Mass with the Missale Romanum of 1962.”  Pope Francis indicates his vision that people presently celebrating Mass with the Roman Missal of 1962 need to return in due time to the Roman Rite promulgated by Saints Paul VI and John Paul II.

Now, only the diocesan bishop may grant permission to use the Tridentine Mass in certain conditions. Archbishop Etienne is allowing two places to continue using this Latin Mass: the North American Martyrs parish in Edmonds, and Saint Joseph Parish in Tacoma. Only the priests of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter are entrusted with these celebrations. “Priests living and/or ministering in the Archdiocese of Seattle are not authorized either to begin or to continue enjoying the faculty to celebrate Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962. “

I never knew enough Latin even to attempt such a celebration.  Nor could I embrace the ecclesiology behind the Tridentine ritual.  I was around six years old when the liturgy was reformed and have only vague memories of the Tridentine ritual. I grew up with the new liturgy and its emphasis on full, conscious and active participation of all the faithful.

The Archbishop’s goal is that “the People of God of the Archdiocese of Seattle will diligently strive for the unity expressed in the Eucharistic celebration by continuing to give proper attention to the faithful and dignified celebration of the Mass according to the Roman Rite promulgated by Saints Paul VI and John Paul II.”

St. John the Baptist Parish has made its own sacrifice for this unity. You had a history of standing for the Eucharistic Prayer and for the Communion Procession (as did my former parish for the Communion Procession). I know it has been difficult for some to get use to the posture of kneeling at various times in the liturgy. Yet, we do it for the sake of unity throughout the archdiocese. Of course, those who are not physically able to kneel should remain seated. It’s a joy to celebrate Mass with you and I look forward to the time we emerge from Covid and can sing and even more  ”give proper attention to the faithful and dignified celebration of the Mass according to the Roman Rite promulgated by Saints Paul VI and John Paul II.” 

 

Life Teen Mass Returns  September 19^th

Next weekend the Sunday evening Life Teen Mass returns to its normal spot at 5:30 PM.  I believe this Mass had been suspended since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.   While part of our High School ministry, this Mass is open to all.  Adding a Mass is no small endeavor.  It takes many lay ministers, spread out now through four weekend Masses.   In adding a Sunday evening Mass we will need additional liturgical ministers at all our Masses: Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, servers, greeters/ushers, music ministers, soundboard & videographers, point persons.   (It would be nice to have an extra Presider, but the training program is a little more intense – if any single males are interested…)  This weekend at our Health & Ministry Fair, you can find more information about these ministries and sign up.

The return of our Life Teen Mass opens up more space to attend Mass in person.  We are still currently at 50 percent of building capacity per Covid restrictions.   If you have not yet returned to in person participation at Mass, we do have room for you if you are ready to return.   Masks are still required.  In addition, we continue to have sections in the church for social distancing.

Catholics tend to sit in the same spot at church.  You may be a former Life Ten Mass goer who found a new spot at one of the other Masses.  If you are returning to Life Teen, bid your new pew mates a good bye this weekend and let them know they can find you at Life Teen.    Spread the word about the return of the Life Teen Mass so we can reach out to those who attended this Mass in the past.

Welcome back Life Teen Mass!   I know you have been missed.

Labor Day

As we celebrate Labor Day it is good to remind ourselves that work is a fundamental right and good for the human person.  Work is an appropriate way for one to give expression to and enhance his or her human dignity. The Church teaches the value of work comes from its nature as something necessary. Work is needed to form and maintain a family, to have a right to property, and to contribute to the common good of the human family.

The economic well-being of a country is not measured exclusively by the quantity of goods it produces but also by taking into account the manner in which they are produced and the level of equity in the distribution of income, which should allow everyone access to what is necessary for their personal development and growth.

Based on principles of solidarity and subsidiarity this best takes place by people working together on the local level. The Church’s consistent teaching, since Rerum Novarum in 1891 supports the rights of workers to choose whether to organize, join unions and bargain collectively and to exercise these rights without reprisal. Workers, owners, employers and unions should work together to create decent jobs, build a more just economy and advance the common good.  At their best, labor unions embody solidarity and subsidiarity while advancing the common good. They help workers "not only have more, but above all be more... [and] realize their humanity more fully in every respect."

Covid has certainly been a challenge for many workers and employers. Many have lost jobs, many have had to work from home, many struggle to balance the needs of family with the demands of work. While unemployment benefits have been a lifeline for many, they have discouraged some from returning to work.   Difficulty in filling positions have resulted in a more just wage for many service providers. As we make our way through Covid, let us strive to hold up the value of work and find ways to ensure work always adds to the dignity of the human person.