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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.

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.

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.

Procession in Holy Week

 by Paul Turner

You may feel you deserve applause when you get out of bed or off the couch and go to church. After all, many Catholics don’t even do that much. You do. During Holy Week however, going to church is not enough. Just when you think you can settle into your favorite pew, you will be asked to stand up, leave your place, and walk. Many Catholics resist. They become pew potatoes. But those who join the processions of Holy Week will find their faith and charity rewarded.

On Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, for example, the Mass will begin outdoors. Instead of going directly into the church as usual, you may gather in another area – indoors or out. The priest will bless the palm branches; he or the deacon will proclaim the Gospel, and then all process into the church acclaiming Christ. (Of course, those with walking difficulties may be seated in the church beforehand.)

On Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, the evening Mass does not conclude in the usual way. Instead, a procession forms right after communion. The Blessed Sacrament is brought to a special chapel or tabernacle. You will be invited to join this procession, singing hymns of praise and moving to a place where you may pray privately in the course of the night.

During the Good Friday liturgy, you will be invited forward to adore the cross. The Eucharist is the only thing we genuflect before, except on Good Friday when we genuflect before the Cross.

At the Easter Vigil, as on Palm Sunday, you will be invited forward to start Mass outside the church. There, a fire will be burning, signifying the resurrection of Christ, the light that shatters darkness. Carrying candles, you enter the church following a pillar of fire, as our ancestors marched from slavery to freedom.

The processions of Holy Week draw us into the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. It is worthwhile to get up out of the pew.