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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)
This coming Wednesday, Dec. 7th at 6:30 pm, we welcome our newest auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster who will minister the Sacrament of Confirmation to 45 young people from our combined St. Bridget-Assumption Parishes. This is the first time we have welcomed one of our bishops for confirmation since May 10, 2019, which happened to be my third day as your pastor. After that COVID hit, parish priests were given the faculties to confirm what I’ve had the privilege to do for many of our young Catholics. The presence of Bishop Schuster will make this a special moment as our candidates receive the sacrament of the Holy Spirit. All are welcome to join in this celebration.
A prominent character in the Advent season, and really every season is Mary the mother of God. Thursday, Dec. 8th we celebrate the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was prepared from the moment of her conception to center her life completely on the divine person she would birth and give witness to by her amazing faith and trust in God’s purposes and plans. Mary was given the unique freedom to be without sin in her life. Another way of putting that is she was never self-centered but always Christ-centered. Mary’s life was never about her, but always about magnifying the greatness of the Lord. We will celebrate her marvelous example with two Masses on Thursday: 9:00 am and 6:30 pm. Please plan on attending this great Advent opportunity.
Holy Mary Mother of God…pray for us! Live Jesus in our hearts…forever!
Fr. William Heric, Pastor