Dear Friends in Christ, One constant presence at St. Bridget’s in our 54 years as a parish is that of a Catholic School. Although a private school, Villa Academy across the street has educated many of our children over the years. If you look in some of the early parish pictorial directories, you will see photos of the “Cabrini Sisters” as they were fondly known. Their memory reminds us that a saint of the church, Francis Xavier Cabrini who founded the school, once roamed the streets of Laurelhurst.

Dear Friends in Christ, Surveys over the years indicate that one of the main reasons people buy a book is the title on its cover. I remember being drawn to purchase one by former President Barrack Obama, primarily by its name “The Audacity to Hope.” It’s a title that is still compelling to me!

Dear Friends in Christ, As I write this on Tuesday, January 10, we still have our church decorated for Christmas. The decorations will come down later today, which is appropriate as it’s not Christmas anymore. The church returns to the observance of “Ordinary Time” which is the celebration of God’s presence and grace in the everyday, mundane, and oh-so-plain moments of our lives. If you think about it, that’s where we live most of the time, sharing the “Sacrament of the present moment.”

Dear Friends in Christ, On this great feast of Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to the nations, let me say until next year, “Merry Christmas to all!” We were blessed this Christmas at St. Bridget’s with a return of the large crowds for Mass that we have not seen since before the COVID pandemic broke out. Please continue to extend a warm invitation to family and friends who may join us only at Christmas and Easter. Let them know they are always welcome in our parish.

Dear Friends in Christ, This past Wednesday, February 1st was the feast of St. Bridget of Kildare the first Irish-born to be canonized a saint of the church. Born around 450, she felt called to dedicate her life to God as a nun at age 15. She was thought to be an attractive young woman and when her father sought to arrange a comfortable marriage for her, she prayed that her beauty would disappear. Continue reading...

Dear Friends in Christ, The church celebrates the beginning of the 2023 new year with the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. It’s yet another reminder that Jesus in his humanity is also God in his divinity. Bishop Robert Barron in his acclaimed documentary “Catholicism” observes  “The church fathers never tired of repeating this phrase. . . Deus fit homo ut homo fieret Deus (God became human so that humans might become God). . . . We are called not simply to moral perfection or artistic self-expression or economic liberation but to what the Eastern fathers called theosis, transformation into God.”

Dear Friends in Christ, A blessed Christmas! I offer a warm word of welcome to all visitors who have joined us for our Christmas liturgies which continue through January 9th, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Please consider keeping most of your holiday decorations up until then to extend the celebration well into the new calendar year!

Dear Friends in Christ, Something recently occurred at St. Bridget’s for the first time in a while: One of our Bishops, Frank Schuster, came to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for 45 of the youth from Assumption and St. Bridget Parishes. I recall the last time that happened, which was May 10, 2019. It was my third day as your pastor, and everything was brand new to me. The presider then was our former Archbishop Peter Sartain who had asked me to come serve at St. Bridget’s. I’ve thanked him on numerous occasions for this assignment which has been a blessing and joy to me in so many ways.

Dear Friends in Christ, Much civic debate in recent decades revolves around the role of the Supreme Court of the United States as it interprets the meaning of the original constitution that is the foundation of our democracy as a country. It’s not my intention here to comment on that, other than to encourage us to be united in our prayer for unity and respectful cooperation among all who dwell in our land.

Dear Friends in Christ, This weekend's second Sunday of Advent is our opportunity to hear about and support the annual “Appeal for the Poor” through Catholic Community Services in Western Washington. John Hickman, who has been associated with CCS for many years will speak at both of our Masses this weekend. Please consider a generous gift to CCS this Advent, anticipating the words we hope to hear from the Lord Jesus when our human lives end: Whatever you did for the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me! (Matthew 25:40)

Dear Friends in Christ, Happy New Year! Advent is the beginning of the church’s new year which we schedule around the liturgy that gathers us week in and week out. Our new church year begins with a holy time of longing in watchful hope for the savior to come again, at Christmas time and the end of time. That requires of us a sense of waiting patiently for the Lord, which Bishop Robert Barron notes is “very hard for most of us. I suppose we human beings have always been in a hurry, but modern people especially seem to want what they want when they want it.”

Dear Friends in Christ, Most of you are aware that on October 31, Gov. Jay Inslee formally lifted the state of emergency around the COVID pandemic in Washington. While everyone is still encouraged to be vaccinated, the public restrictions that covered much of public life are officially over. As we breathe a sigh of relief, let’s pray for those who died from the COVID-19 virus, and those who grieve their passing.

Dear Friends in Christ, Most of you are aware that on October 31, Gov. Jay Inslee formally lifted the state of emergency around the COVID pandemic in Washington. While everyone is still encouraged to be vaccinated, the public restrictions that covered much of public life are officially over. As we breathe a sigh of relief, let’s pray for those who died from the COVID-19 virus, and those who grieve their passing.

Dear Friends in Christ, According to St. Pope Paul VI, the church does not so much have a mission, as it is a mission. In short, the church exists to evangelize – to proclaim Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit so that people in our times through parish communities like St. Bridget’s, will open their hearts to the Lord and find the path to authentic holiness which reveals the deepest meaning and purpose of life.

Dear Friends in Christ, Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I can see farther it’s because I stand on the shoulders of giants.” What a fitting perspective as the church once again approaches the great celebration of All Saints Day on Tuesday, Nov. 1. These “Friends of God” as St. Thomas Aquinas described them, encourage us to make growth in Christian love our primary goal in life. Our challenge is to remember that in the midst of the many competing needs and values that clamor for our attention, especially as the “Holiday Season” commences earlier each year. All the more reason why the church makes All Saints Day a holy day of obligation. We will gather for Mass this Tuesday, November 1, at 6:30 pm. Please join us!

Dear Friends in Christ, Some stories simply bear repeating, so let me share the story of Elizabeth and Walter again. I met them in 1992 when I was pastor of St. George Parish on Beacon Hill. Elizabeth was raised a Southern Baptist but converted to Catholicism in her late 40s. She carried a couple of traditions from her Baptist past, however. One was wearing her “Sunday best” outfit to church which was usually a dress with flowers on it and a big, brimmed hat that was impossible to miss. She also would offer a verbal affirmation at the end of my homily. If she liked it she would fill the church with a loud and spirited “Amen” for all to hear. If she was not particularly impressed with the homily her amen was barely a whisper. I knew where I stood with Elizabeth.

Dear Friends in Christ, This coming Tuesday, October 18th, is the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. We have been listening primarily to his gospel during this lectionary year cycle “C.” Luke tells the story of Jesus in two books.

Dear Friends in Christ, One of the things that make us Roman Catholic Christians, is our union with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. In the midst of a cacophony of commentaries about many issues, his is a singular voice that we give special attention. During Respect Life month in the U.S. Church, it is important to prayerfully consider these words from the current successor of St. Peter, Pope Francis. In his encyclical, “Gaudete et Exultate” (Rejoice and be Glad) the Holy Father offers these thoughts.

Dear Friends in Christ, One of the key features in our recent parish hall refresh was the return of the placards describing the “Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching” (CST). You’ll find them strategically located just to the right as you enter the hall from our church. That’s not accidental. We are given the real presence of Christ to be carried into all aspects of our lives as individuals and communities. This sacred mission is guided not by personal opinions or preferences, but by principles.

Dear Friends in Christ, One of my favorite hymns is a song by the monks of Weston Priory in Massachusetts titled “Journey’s Ended Journey’s Begun.” The words of the song describe some endings and beginnings taking place here at St. Bridget’s.