January 18, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ,

The church this week returns to the liturgical season of “Ordinary Time,” which invites us to recognize God’s presence in the mundane, day-to-day moments and activities of our lives. As he does in the story of the birth of Jesus, St. Joseph serves as an excellent role model for our daily lives as Christians. As I often mention, we never hear Joseph say anything in the gospels. He just listens and then does whatever God is calling him to do, which always centers on caring for Mary and Jesus. This is the work of daily Christian living for us all.

As a family of Catholic Communities in NE Seattle, our first work is serving our liturgical life, which centers on weekly Mass. The word “Liturgy” actually means “The work of the people.” So, the basic job we all have as Catholics is to participate in Sunday Mass. Within that, however, is the invitation to serve the community in various liturgical ministries, such as lector, eucharistic minister, server, choir member, usher, or hospitality minister. One thing our four parishes share in common is that our liturgical life is served by the same generous 10% of our parishioners, many of whom have been serving for years. I am deeply grateful for their faithful service, while also hoping to see new volunteers offer their gifts in these important roles. That includes our youth!

In the coming weeks, we will hold “Ministry Fairs” at our parishes, inviting volunteers to offer their time and talent in service of our faith community. Please consider signing up for a ministry. St Joseph will bless you for your work!

Blessings of peace,

Fr. William Heric, Pastor