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Father Bill is taking some time off to visit family in Florida. Let’s hope he brings back some warm weather for us!
In his absence, one of his past articles from January 22, 2023 is reprinted below. As we approach Easter and
welcome returning Catholics or new Catholics, let us be reminded when we should make the sign of the cross
during Mass.

When Do You Make the Sign of the Cross?

A couple of weeks ago, when I was teaching an RCIA Class on the Mass, the question emerged about when we make the Sign of the Cross. The Catholics in the group shared how they were trained to make the Sign of the Cross multiple times. It may surprise you when and when not the rubrics call for the Sign of the Cross. Here is a little quiz. Answer Yes or No to
the following if you should make the sign of the cross during these portions of the Mass. The Answer Key is someplace in the bulletin.

1. Anyone entering the church using holy water makes the sign of the cross on themselves.
2. The priest, putting incense in the thurible, makes the sign of the cross over the incense.
3. Anyone, making a genuflection, makes the sign of the cross on themselves.
4. All, at the beginning of Mass while saying “In the Name of the Father,” makes the sign of the cross on themselves.
5. All, when the priest says, “May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins…” makes the sign of the cross on themselves.
6. When the priest sprinkles with water, all makes the sign of the cross on themselves.
7. Priest or deacon, before adding water to the wine, makes the sign of the cross over the water.
8. Priest, holding a particle of the host just before dropping it into the chalice, makes the sign of the cross over the chalice.
9. Any minister of communion holding the host and saying “The Body of Christ.”
10. Anyone, after receiving Communion, makes the sign of the cross on themselves.
11. The priest, when saying the final blessing, makes the sign of the cross over the people.
12. The people, hearing the final blessing, makes the sign of the cross on themselves.
13. Anyone leaving the church using holy water makes the sign of the cross on themselves.

I must admit – when I took this quiz, I did not score 100%. I share this quiz with you just to acknowledge we so easily add things to the liturgy. It becomes a problem when individual gestures begin to weaken the expression of unity or draws attention to an individual. This quiz comes from Fr. Paul Turner’s book, In these or Similar Words.

When We Are Called Home

Recently, people have been asking about the “Last Rites.” This term has not been used for the past 60 years. The Second Vatican Council, in its reform of the liturgy, restored Extreme Unction (the Last Anointing) to its more ancient practice of being not just for the dying, but for the sick. Now know known as “The Anointing of the Sick”, this sacrament prays for healing of body and soul. It is celebrated with those who are seriously ill, anticipating surgery, or suffering from advancing age.

The Church has a special care for those who are dying. There are two prayers for the dying. The first is called Viaticum, which translates “for the journey.” It is sharing Holy Communion with the dying and focuses on the gift of Eucharist as the promise of eternal life. Jesus said, “The one who eats my body and drinks my blood will live forever.” (John 6:54) Viaticum often includes a renewal of one’s baptismal promises that began the journey of faith, now that the journey is reaching its conclusion.

The other prayer for the dying is called the Commendation of the Dying. It is a beautiful prayer that includes the litany of the saints and entrusts the dying into the gentle embrace of God. In one sense, it is the sending forth of the Christian soul from this life to eternity. Not only a comfort to the person dying, this prayer can have great meaning for family and friends who have gathered.

The Anointing of the Sick is led by a bishop or priest. Viaticum and the Commendation of the Dying can be led by a priest, deacon, or even a layperson. With fewer priests possibly covering larger areas, lay people may be called upon more and more to pray with the dying and accompanying them on this journey of faith. Though often difficult, it is a very holy experience.

Two Parishes Becoming One Family

Partners in the Gospel is a strategic pastoral planning effort taking place across the archdiocese to re-invigorate and renew our local Catholic Church. St. John the Baptist Parish will be partnered with Holy Spirit Parish in Kent. This takes effect July 1 and over the next three years, these two communities will decide how to best become one parish. This does not necessarily mean one campus. The process is meant to be slow, guided by prayer.

Currently, the parish staff is preparing a transition workbook that describes the governance of our parish, our councils, and commissions as well as our programs and procedures. This will be of help to the priest(s) who will be assigned to this parish family. So far, our report is 30 pages long! Next month, there will be workshops on transitions for pastors and up to two staff members from every parish.

By mid-April, priests’ assignments should be finalized. Most priests will be moving, though there will be some exceptions. The experience of other dioceses, who have done this restructuring, indicate that there are struggles if one pastor stays. The other parish(es) in the family feel like the neglected stepchild. When all the priests are new to a parish family, all the communities have a greater feeling of equality as they begin planning on how to become one parish. I am not sure if the fact that both Fr. Carlos at Holy Spirit and I are both relatively new in our assignments will have any bearing in the decision-making or not.

See the Article in Northwest Catholic nwcatholic.org/news/jean-parietti/how-is-your-new-pastorbeing-chosen.

For more information on Partners in the Gospel, go to archseattle.org/partners/.

Going on Vacation

I am leaving next week for a 10-day visit with my mom in Florida. My older sister is my mom’s primary caregiver; and I will be giving her a break, so she can take a little trip. I’d rather not be away from the parish during Lent, but that is when my sister made her travel plans. My sister welcomed our folks into her home when they began to need more assistance during COVID. My other siblings and I try to support her and give her breaks every once in a while.

While I am away, our former pastor, Fr. Jim Coyne, will preside at the Sunday Masses.

I am often touched by the witness of love many of our parishioners, who are caregivers to a spouse or parent, give. It can be a demanding calling but one made possible because of love. If you are a caregiver, I do hope you are able to reach out to family and friends for the support you need. Sometimes it is more difficult to receive care than to give care. If, as a caregiver, you ever feel isolated or alone, do give a parish staff member a call.

What Are You Doing for Lent?

The three traditional practices of Lent are Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Many of us can remember as a child being taught to choose something to “give up” for Lent. What is more important than what we “give up” is why we give something up: why we fast, why we pray, why we give alms. The aim of these practices is our continuing conversion to Christ, our growth in knowledge of Him, and doing His will.

If you would like to do a little more prayer this Lent, consider praying the Liturgy of the Hours, which is done on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:00 am. Weekday Mass is celebrated on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:00 am and on Thursdays at 6:30 pm. Stations of the Cross are prayed on Fridays at 7:00 pm. Get started with Lent at our Parish Retreat on Saturday, February 17 starting at 9:00 am. Fasting can be from certain foods. It can also be from things that inhibit your ongoing conversion to Christ. Maybe you can consider fasting from screen time. Work at overcoming a fault, a bad habit or particular vice with which you struggle. Replace the bad action with its opposite good action.

Almsgiving incudes your charitable giving to the church and to the needy. It could also include an increased generosity of compliments, “thank-yous,” and words of encouragement. Your almsgiving could include a little extra help offered to a friend or family member.

A great opportunity for Lent is to participate in a small Faith Sharing Group. Join members of our parish for a weekly meeting to break open the scriptures, dialogue, and pray together during Lent. This will be a five-week journey with the options of an in-person group on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings or Zoom meetings on Thursday mornings. Sign up at sjtbcc.org/lent-encounter/ or call the parish office.

Let your Lent lead you closer to Christ. Pray, fast, and give alms.

A New Family

This weekend we are finding out who will be in our new Parish Family. This re-organization, taking place across the Archdiocese of Seattle, is meant to re-invigorate and renew our local Catholic Church. Fewer priests and lay ecclesial ministers, rising costs of running a parish, and changing practices among some of our Catholics show us that the status quo is no longer an option.

After significant research and discussion with other dioceses, our Archdiocese selected the parish family model for restructuring, which combines two or more parishes under the leadership of one pastor and one or more parochial vicars (assistant priests). The archdiocese spent most of the last year in consultation with priests, deacons, parish and school staffs, lay leaders and parishioners. This feed back resulted in some changes, including our originally proposed parish family. We held a second round of listening sessions regarding the change that was proposed. I want to thank all our parishioners who shared their insights and concerns.

The parish families will go into effect July 1 of this year. Over the next three years, the parish families discern on the local level how best to become one canonical parish. This does not necessarily mean having only one site or campus. Prayer, creativity, and sensitivity will help us look at ways of being a vibrant faith community, faithful to the command of Christ to bring the Gospel to all people.

For more information, go to archseattle.org/partners/