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Priests Consulted on Partners Draft

The priests of the archdiocese met May 3rd to review a draft of the proposed families of parishes. This was already the third draft. In June, the priests will meet again to review a 4^th draft. Parish and Catholic school staffs will be consulted in August. All parishioners will be given the opportunity to offer feedback in late September and early October.

In preparation for this consultation, the statistics behind this reorganization will be available the weekend of May 27th and 28th. These numbers will show WHY we need to restructure parish life. This restructuring will include grouping two or more parishes together in what will be called a “Family” of parishes under the leadership of one pastor and possibly assisted by one or more other priests. Over the next three years, each family of parishes will then look at how they best can become one parish. This involves WHAT we should be as a Christian Community.

Here at St. John the Baptist we are having a parish-wide retreat on June 10th (from 9 am to 3 pm—ed.) to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, to look at our unique identity and history, and to review our own parish priorities arising from the synod session we had last year. This will help us discern how we can enter our family of parishes and seek to be the community the Lord desires us to be. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend our parish retreat.

Closed Doors, Open Hearts

One little change you may notice is that we are now keeping the doors from the narthex to the church closed. Please do not prop them open (except as Mass ends). We are keeping the doors closed to be good stewards of God’s creation and reduce energy use. Whether it is heating the building or cooling it with our new air conditioning, keeping the doors closed should lessen the demand on our units.

Another reason to keep the doors closed is the noise factor. Before Mass, some parishioners want to visit, some want to spend a moment in quiet prayer. We would like to accommodate both. The closed doors will make it a little quieter inside the church as others are visiting in the narthex. Parents of little ones sometimes need to take their children to the narthex during Mass. Keeping the doors closed gives these parents a little space to help deal with fussy little ones. We welcome children of all ages, knowing they get upset sometimes. The narthex can be a space to take children when needed. A big thank you to parents who make that effort to bring their children to Mass!

Please be attentive to anyone who may need help opening the door and entering the church, especially those with wheelchairs or walkers. It can be a simple but important act of hospitality to open the door for another. Opening the door for someone might just be that moment of contact when you could welcome a guest or greet a fellow parishioner. One of the things that amazes me is how this parish has maintained a strong sense of welcoming and hospitality. That does not happen on its own, but through a conscious decision on the part of many. May our hearts always be open to one another and especially to our guests and visitors.

Seeking Nominations for Consultative Roles in the Parish

Please consider nominating yourself or a parishioner you know to any of our parish consultative bodies. Nominations will take place in a couple of weeks. Here is a list of our councils and commissions. Whom do you know who’s talent and interest would benefit the community?

The Parish Leadership Team (Pastoral Council) helps develop the priorities and directions for the parish to become the means of achieving greater participation by the whole parish in its mission. Over the next three years, the Parish Leadership Team will play a major role in the formation of our new parish family through PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL. Seeking members with a long history and understanding of the community as wells as expertise guiding groups through change. Meets the first Wednesday of the month.

The Finance Council conducts long-range financial planning with regard to funding operational and capital needs in the parish; develops and overseeing a parish budget process; reviews fiscal status reports; and provides fiscal analysis of proposed goals, strategies, programs, and administrative aspects of parish life. Meets the third Thursday of the month.

The purpose of the Facilities & Grounds Commission is to make short and long-range plans for facility and grounds, and to make sure the parish has well maintained facilities and grounds that meet the needs of the parish community. They meet on the second Thursday of each month.

Our Stewardship and Evangelization Commissions welcomes, engages and equips our community to share God’s gifts of time, talent and treasure. We meet via zoom on the third Wednesday evening of the month. We would especially appreciate having more cultural/ethnic diversity with our group members and invite all those who enjoy hospitality to join our fun ministries!

The Life, Justice, Peace Commission provides assistance for various organizations, through collective collaboration, who help those in need and to promote education and advocacy experiences regarding social justice so that members might be more aware and conversant with the need to live out gospel values in our society. We are looking for representatives of different communities within our parish: youth (high school), young adults (18-40), middle -aged (40-60), Hispanic, Fil-Am, etc. Ultimately, anyone with a heart for social justice and accompanying those on the margins would be welcome. Meets the first Tuesday evening of the month

The Liturgy Commission assists the pastor in achieving the goal of full, conscious, and active participation of the people at the Eucharist and all other liturgies. Its overall purpose is to advise and support the pastor on the spirituality and prayer life of the parish community. The Liturgy Commission also looks at recruiting, training and supporting all our liturgical minsters.

The purpose of the Faith Formation Commission is to ensure that the parish offers quality faith formation, available to all members in the parish. This includes working to provide for all ages, abilities, and diversities. We work at inclusivity as we break open the teachings of Jesus in our Catholic Tradition. We are seeking members who represent the diversity of our parish in age and culture.

To nominate yourself or another parishioner, please use the form at this link (or use the QR code in the bulletin): https:// archseattle.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/192/responses/new

Parish Consultative Bodies

When people tell me that they think being a pastor must be difficult, I like to remind them that the job of the laity is much more challenging. All I have to do is take care of a parish. You, the laity, have to transform the world! Even though I think I have the easier job, I still need a lot of help. Councils and Commissions help me, and the parish staff care for the parish community and live out the mission Christ entrusted to us.

The Archdiocese recommends people serve in councils and commissions for a specific term, usually three years, renewable once. One should only serve on one council or commission at a time. This means there is a constant rotation of new people on the various consultative bodies. Therefore, there is ample opportunity to serve.

The process for selection of new members begins with nominations. Suggestions for candidates are surfaced from existing commission members, from the parish staff and – at times – from the parish at large. Sometimes a commission needs a certain expertise. Sometimes it needs new members to help it better reflect the make-up of the parish.

During April and May, we will have a nomination process. I am asking you to nominate people who think would benefit the various councils and commissions. Maybe your spouse needs an evening away from the house once a month. Maybe one of your parish friends has a particular talent or interest that the parish needs. You could even nominate yourself.

Those who are nominated will be invited to an evening of discernment, to look at the role and purpose of the consultative bodies and to see if their gifts and talents match what the councils and commissions need.

Please be thinking of people you could nominate. If nominated, please consider serving. The consultative bodies of our parish are: The Parish Leadership Team (Pastoral Council), the Finance Council, Life, Justice and Peace Commission, The Faith Formation Commission, the Facility & Grounds Commission, the (new) Liturgy Commission, and the Stewardship and Evangelization Commission.

Welcome To St. John the Baptist!
What Sunday is to the week, Easter is to 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, doing so with acts of love and compassion, caring for all God’s people, 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. 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, 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.