Blessings! Our Church Is Dedicated. Are We Ready to Serve? Sing Joyfully to the Lord, All You Lands; Break into Song; Late Summer, 2012

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1 Blessings! Our Church Is Dedicated. Are We Ready to Serve? The March 25th Dedication Mass of Blessed Teresa Catholic Church was a most inspiring experience for everyone present! Our church overflowed with grace and beauty, with parishioners and visitors alike, with joy-filled liturgical celebration and, most certainly, with God s everlasting love. As our faith community grows by leaps and bounds, allin-all, there is so much about which to be grateful. But with our newness and resulting growth comes significant needs. New ministries are being added and that means volunteers will be invited to step up to offer their time and talent to exciting opportunities to serve. In addition, current ministries will undoubtedly need additional members. So that all may be fully aware of the opportunities to serve our faith community and the regional community-atlarge, upcoming issues of Blessings! will feature information on parish ministries. Included will be descriptions on the mission of the ministry, who each ministry serves, how you can get involved and abridged versions of each ministry s Sing Joyfully to the Lord, All You Lands; Break into Song; By Phil Magellanes In Matthew s Gospel, after the celebration of the Eucharist, there is a verse that reads: Then, after singing songs of praise, they walked out to the Mount of Olives. Can you imagine what it sounded like? Here were all the apostles and Jesus singing together in praise of the Father. Wow! I wish I could have been there. Years later, my brother was celebrating his final vows as a Missionary of Charity, Brother. We were in a very large and old church in Los Angeles. The acoustics were magnificent. The last song of the liturgy was How Can I Keep from Singing. We sang the last verse a cappella. The brothers singing resonated like the sound of a cello through the old church. It was an awesome moment that I will always remember. Back in the 60 s, in the years just after Vatican II, I started to play my guitar at mass. At Loyola University of Los Angeles (later LMU) we had a Saturday night midnight mass that I never missed. After a while it became my job to make the music selections. We had a favorite song that we would sing at the end of every mass. It was called It s a Brand New Day by the Jesuit, Paul Quinlan. For some reason, there were often Late Summer, 2012 annual reports to the Parish Council. Contact information for parish ministry leaders is found on the front page of the weekly bulletin and on the parish website: If you ve an idea for a ministry, please contact Janet O Neil: or by , janet@blessedteresa.org. It can t be done without you! Join your brothers and sisters-in- Christ in sharing your talents and enthusiasms to benefit the richness of our vibrant faith community. Everyone is blessed many times over by your commitment to ministry! many talented singers in attendance. Mass was held in a small chapel. There were probably no more than 12 rows of pews in the worship space. But it seemed like every row sang a different harmony! There was no doubt in my mind that the Spirit was present in that little chapel. For most of my adult life I led a small music group or choir that sang at the Sunday liturgies in our parish. This went on for over 25 years. People often asked me why I kept on doing it. Why did I put in so much time Cont d page 7

2 PAGE 2 B l e s s i n g s! The Rodriguez Family! It s been said there s nothing quite as upbeat and enthusiastic as a convert to Catholicism. This saying is proven true by Roddy Rodriguez, who became a Catholic at BToC s Christmas Vigil Mass in Oh! You don t know Roddy? He s the happy bloke, the tall man at the Sunday 5pm Mass who, along with his lovely family, spreads joy among Blessed Teresa s parishioners. Roddy and charming wife, Jenny, are the parents of teen girls, Victoria, 12, and Rebekah, 16. The family plays an active role in the life of the BTOC parish. Roddy serves as Lector and Usher and is a 4th Degree Knight and Chancellor of the BToC Knights of Columbus. Jenny helps care for liturgical linens, is a member of the new parish Rosary Club and plays a parent leadership role in LifeTeen. Victoria is a big fan of LifeTeen and recently began serving as an usher at Mass. She also collects Rosaries. Like her sister, Rebekah is apart of LifeTeen and serves our faith community as a Eucharistic Minister. In addition, she is part of LifeTeen s student A Prayerful Man is Joy-Filled Forever.. leadership committee. Roddy is a West Point graduate who served in the first Desert Storm. He and Jenny met in 92 on a blind date. Jenny grew up with seven brothers near Fresno in California s Central Valley. Smiling, she says Roddy had ~ Patrick Keoplin There are two men s spirituality groups at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta parish currently meeting every three weeks or so. Both are similarly structured and are comprised to eight men in one group and six in the other. The group of six is currently looking for two new members to round-out the group s size to eight. The first group began in December of 2009, the second in June of Our purpose is to provide mutual support and encouragement in our journey with the Lord as we grow in love, understanding and obedience in His will in our lives. Meetings are held from 7:00pm to 9:00pm every three weeks rotating amongst members homes. The host selects each meeting s topic apprising the rest of the group so that all may ponder the subject in advance. The first 15 minutes are for socializing. The meeting opens with prayer including praying a decade of the Rosary. The host, as leader, facilitates the chosen topic. Members contribute throughout the meeting with their own thoughts and, on occasion, there can be lively give and take. All interactions are characterized by charity and compassion with lots of active listening involved. We try to center the discussion around how Scripture and Church teaching address the specific topic with a generous helping of our own experiences as well. Everything shared is strictly confidential, Past topics have included sin, truth, discerning God s will in our lives, heaven, hell, judgment, our favorite saint and more. Recently, one of the groups spends an hour watching one of the DVD s in Fr. Robert Barron s series Catholicism. Remaining time is spent discussing the DVD and how it applies to our own personal situations. One of the groups has put what they discuss at meetings into action by taking on small projects to help those in need. Actions could include roof and yard cleaning for a parishioner unable to accomplish the tasks on their own or helping move a person in need into a new home. Interested in joining one of BToC s men s spirituality groups? Contact Patrick Koeplin at domenic1@msn.com or call

3 L ATE SUMMER, PAGE 3 Creativity + Knots + Beads = Prayers Ministries start and grow in many different ways. Blessed Teresa s Our Lady of the Rosary Club began in July of 2011 as a mother and daughter, home-based project making rosaries for donation to Catholic organizations and missions. The club meets weekly in the home of BToC parishioners and Rosary Club leaders, Kathy Heidenreich and her daughter, Rachel. The club is affiliated with the Our Lady of Rosary Makers organizations in Louisville, KY. Charter members of the Rosary Club include Jenny Rodriguez, her daughters Victoria and Rebekah and Hilde Webber and her daughter, Arianna. We have made hundreds of rosaries in the last ten months since starting the club, says Kathy. We have distributed 250 rosaries to the UW Newmann Center campus for use by the students. According to Kathy, BToC s faith formation students have also received rosaries made by club members. Kathy says plans are underway to schedule a room at the church and regular time for the club to meet. Kathy, Rachel and club members invite you to join Colorful rosaries made by members of BToC s Our Lady of the Rosary Club. in making rosaries for Catholics in need around the world. For more information and to join in the fun of this spiritually creative group, contact Kathy Heidenreich at The Story of the Tabernacle ~Fr. Frank Schuster As with so many other things in life, there s a lovely backstory on Blessed Teresa s beautiful tabernacle. It was custom made for our church. However, the doors came from a tabernacle over a century-old that was made for another sanctuary in days gone by. When I received the antique tabernacle, it was in pretty bad shape except for the doors. While old and in much need of refurbishing, the doors were an amazing piece of art. The building committee asked Michael Homchick from Homchick Stoneworks (the vendor who provided us the rest of the marble in the church) to construct a new house for the doors. Kevin Broderick and John Faley, our architects, Fr. Jim Johnson and I worked on the designs until we were in agreement of what would be best for our space. The columns on the tabernacle reminded us of the pillars outside the church, the design of our wood beam trusses can be seen above the tabernacle doors. There is a gold cross on top of the tabernacle so to call to mind the cupola on top of our church. There is an old tradition of tabernacles looking like little churches and our tabernacle calls to mind the church we worship in. It is a unique piece of art for our faith community.

4 PAGE 4 B l e ss i n gs! Meet the Rodriguez Family!...from page 2. to prove himself to her father and brothers through every step of the courtship. Roddy, a Protestant when he first met Jenny-thecradle-Catholic, didn t think the difference in denomination was an issue within their relationship. After all, Roddy says, what was important was that we both believed in the same Lord, Jesus Christ. After their marriage, the couple cycled between Roddy s church, Disciples of Christ, and Jenny s Catholic parish. According to Roddy, the rotation process was the beginning of his journey to Catholicism. Roddy was a sales rep for Pfizer for 17 years. In 2009, the company downsized and Roddy was let go. In September 2009, Roddy began his award-winning sales career with Allergan, the pharmaceutical company who produces the popular eye drop Restasis. Allergan assigned Roddy to its new sales territory in the Pacific Northwest Washington State from I-90 to the Canadian border, Northern Idaho and three-quarters of Montana Roddy came to Seattle first, arriving in September of 2009 to take over the new sales territory. In the meantime, Jenny and the girls stayed behind and prepared for family s the relocation. They joined Roddy in Woodinville on New Year s Day of The family says relocating from Sacramento to the Seattle amounted to culture shock. According to Victoria and Rebekah, We went from a very busy urban setting to a much quieter country setting. We were amazed at the difference between life in Sacramento and life in Woodinville...and it took some getting used to. According to the girls, the popular thing for teens to do in Sacramento was shop. In Woodinville, shopping is fine, but teens are involved in sports and loads of outdoor recreation. Obviously, the family transitioned beautifully to Northwest culture. The Rodriguez family was first attracted to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish by the warmth and authenticity of both staff and parishioners. When office staffers, Janet O Neil and Meg Nafziger greeted us and gave us a tour of the church (at the truck school), we immediately felt a part of the parish community. In fact, adds Jenny, Meg later became Rebekah s Confirmation sponsor...and Meg s spiritual guidance was so meaningful! Roddy, Jenny and the girls agree that it was Fr. Frank, his warmth and wit that affirmed their decision to become part of Blessed Teresa. Says Roddy, We searched many Catholic parishes in the area, but I found I was looking for a clone of Fr. Frank. It struck me, Why am I looking for a clone, when I have the priest, the real thing, at Blessed Teresa? Discernment was over. The decision was made. Rebekah and Victoria are amazingly in touch with not only their faith, but the deeper reasons why they are Catholic. Last Easter, I watched the movie, The Passion, for the first time, says Rebekah. For me, this was a real come to Jesus moment in my spiritual life. The movie showed me exactly why I am Catholic. As I learn more about my Catholic faith, I m more willing and able to defend my faith. Says Victoria, Mass is so special. My favorite part is Communion. The Eucharist brings me peace and such a close connection to God. So began Roddy s discernment process of faith. He says his journey toward Confirmation certainly was not a Shazam! kind of epiphany. After many discussions with Fr. Frank and with caution, Roddy began Blessed Teresa s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program in September of Between September and his confirmation at Christmas Vigil Mass, Roddy was known in the RCIA class as a true seeker of Biblical knowledge. A fellow classmate says she was often amazed at the depth of his questions. She says it got to the point that when the class saw furrows in Roddy s forehead, they were about to experience a great question from which all would learn much from class leader, Mary Williams, reply. The Rodriguez family agrees wholeheartedly that Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish is the best parish in the world. The family says, From our dynamic and vital parish priest, Fr. Frank to the growing number of close friends we have made from our first encounter to the present day, we re excited to be part of this new and growing faith community!

5 L ATE SUMMER, PAGE 5 New Parishioners Welcome Dinner: A Sweet (& Savory) Success On the evening of Saturday, June 8th, over 70 new Blessed Teresa parishioners enjoyed dinner and fellowship with Fr. Frank and members of the Parish Growth and Marketing (PGM) Committee. As PGM committee members completed preparation of the meal and set the buffet, guests were greeted by BToC s (unofficial) goodwill ambassador, Pete Zuccaro, and invited to find seating at tables decorated in white and blue linens, the colors of Blessed Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. Parishioner Mark Straley serves as chairman of the Parish Growth and Marketing Committee. He surprised fellow committee members when he showed off his excellent skills as a gourmet chef for the event. Mark and fellow committee members, spent most of that Saturday afternoon together preparing the from scratch meal. Volunteer sous chefs, wine stewards and prep crew included Janet O Neil, Kim and Brett Hansen, Michelle Morris, Jack Morris, Danielle Morris, Katrina Zucarro, Pete Zuccaro, Cyndie and Mike Ulrich, and, of course, Chef Straley. Guests enjoyed a repast of pasta with meatballs and marinara sauce, Caesar salad and garlic bread with wine and punch. The hearty meal was topped off with cheesecake, cookies and coffee for dessert. Everyone claimed the meal a delight. Between dinner and dessert, Fr. Frank and Mark Straley welcomed the guests, applauding their recent church membership. Fr. Frank shared the many opportunities for spiritual growth and service-toothers within the Blessed Teresa parish community. The next dinner for new parishioners registering between early May and this coming September is planned for October. Mother Teresa on the Subject of Human Rights Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government," Mother Teresa said. "They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or sovereign. The Constitutional Court of the Federal Republic of Germany recently ruled: 'The unborn child is entitled to its right to life independently of its acceptance by its mother; this is an elementary and inalienable right which emanates from the dignity of the human being. "Americans may feel justly proud that Germany in 1993 was able to recognize the sanctity of human life. You must weep that your own government, at present, seems blind to this truth."

6 PAGE 6 B l e s s i n gs! Have Questions About Theology? Ask Mary! Relatively speaking, the newest staff member at Blessed Teresa is Mary Williams. Mary joined BToC s staff in August of She is the pastoral assistant for adult faith formation. She runs the RCIA, adult education and adult confirmation programs. She oversees Landings, LifeTeen and Edge and also leads Bible study classes at BToC. Currently, she is working with parishioners to develop several new ministries. Born in San Jose, CA, it was at age six that her dad was transferred to Central Texas. She graduated from the International Baccalaureate Program at Inglemoor High School, then headed off to Seattle University where several years later she graduated with her degree in physics. How then, did a hard science major switch academic gears to study theology? Throughout her scientific studies at SU, Mary says she both enjoyed and excelled in classes in English and Art. She laughs as she adds, That should have been a clue as to the topic of my future studies and career path. It was during her SU experience that Mary, a cradle Catholic, discovered she wanted to pursue her Master s degree in theology. She applied and was accepted into the Masters of Theology school at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and graduated in the spring of Mary feels very blessed and privileged to have studied with professors including Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. Regis Martin, Dr. John Bergsma and Fr. Dominic Scotto. Classes were certainly demanding, she said, but the professors were supportive and offered fascinating curricula. Some of her favorite classes included Scripture Studies, Principles of Biblical Studies I and II (Old and New Testaments), and Biblical Theology. One of the things motivating her to attend Franciscan was her observation that teens and young adults don t have a living example of the Catholic faith. One of the primary reasons she chose the university was that it had an excellent reputation for its orthodox, faithful adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Magisterium. Mary could be sure that what was taught was accordance with the teachings of Church. At one point in her grad program, Mary enthusiastically awaited a semester s study in Rome. Unfortunately, two of her fellow students dropped from the program and because it was group study -oriented, Mary lost the chance to study in Rome. She chose to finish her graduate degree online which afforded her the opportunity to return home to Bothell where she worked in the RCIA program at St. Brendan Parish. Just like she appreciates the spiritual energy of Francisan University, Mary loves Blessed Teresa Parish and the vibrancy of the church s parishioners. The presence of the Holy Trinity is alive and well at Blessed Teresa, says Mary. I love how BToC s parishioners are always seeking ways to enrich our faith community and welcome those wanting to know more about the Catholic faith. Those who know Mary, consider her BToC s walking theological encyclopedia. RCIA students find her weekly presentations during RCIA class illuminating and quite often an amazing, eye-opening experience. David Krogh, a member of Mary s 2010/2011 RCIA class says, was confirmed at Easter, Says David, Mary brought the Church and its teachings alive for me. She could give the background and historical context of a situation that had me thinking, Wow! I never thought of it that way. Mary turned [the classes] from just a teaching exercise to one of learning. Indeed, Blessed Teresa is blessed to have Mary Williams on the parish team. Stop by the office and introduce yourself to Mary. You ll be glad you did! SAVE THE DATE: Our 8th Annual Parish Family Picnic which will be held Sunday, September 9th on our own parish patio. The Picnic starts with lunch following the 11:00am Mass the Parish will be providing hot dogs, brats, fried chicken, chips, watermelon, ice cream cake for dessert and non- alcoholic beverages. The Parish Life & Socials Committee and members of BToC Knights of Columbus are working on a fun-filled day that all will enjoy with a Talent Show, Bouncy House, Volleyball and Music. It s guaranteed to be fun for the whole family. (RSVP s requested. Sign up in narthex after Masses, 8/26 and 9/2. No pets, please.)

7 L ATE SUMMER, PAGE 7 What Seems Lunacy May Be Faith A little girl was shopping with her Mom at our local grocery store. She must have been 6-years old. She was a beautiful red-haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring rain outside. It was the kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the store. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in when s he said, 'Mom let's run through the rain. I don t think so, said Mom. 'Let's run through the rain!' The little girl repeated. 'No, honey. We'll wait until Sing Joyfully... (cont d from pg 1) and effort just to sing and play my guitar Sunday after Sunday? I always had the same answer. I did it for the special moments. I did it because I was transported during those moments to another plane of existence. It was in those moments that I was sure that there was a God, a God that was all-powerful and allloving. The same moments happen to me when I am singing with the 9:00 AM choir here at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. it slows down a bit,' Mom replied. This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain.' 'We'll get soaked if we do,' the mother replied. 'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. 'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?' 'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his illness, you said,' If God can get us through this He can get us through anything! ' The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood still. No one moved. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. 'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. They don t happen all the time. But every now and then they do. The song of praise comes through resonating like a cello. For a moment the multiple counter-melodies actually go together. And when they do, just for a moment, I hear with different ears. Yes, it is fun to sing with the group. We have a phenomenal leader whom we affectionately call The Music Machine. He can sing any part and direct all voices and the piano at the same time. We If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and, yes, through the puddles. They got soaked. They were followed by a few others who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I was one of them. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. And I loved every step, every puddle I purposefully stomped in, every shriek of joy. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, remember to take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven......even a time to run like a lunatic through the rain. "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done." ~ Philippians 4:6 have a bunch of lovable parishioners that love to sing. We have a great piano player. All like to be part of the liturgy and all like to sing songs of praise. If you can carry a tune, consider joining us by contacting the parish office. With your special voice, the people of Blessed Teresa will once again Sing to the Lord a new song.

8 Back Page Smiles (Laughter is Good, Spiritual Medicine!) A Child s Perspective At the local Catholic school, the kindergarten teacher walked along rows of desks observing her students while they drew pictures. As she got to one little girl s desk, the teacher asked of the child, What is it that you re drawing? I m drawing God, the child said. The teacher paused. But no one knows what God looks like, said the teacher. Without missing a beat or looking up from her work, the child responded, They will in a minute. I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act. ~G.K. Chesterton, Generally Speaking, 1929 An 'adult' faith does not follow the waves of fashion and the latest novelties; an adult and mature faith is profoundly rooted in friendship with Christ. ~Cardinal Ratzinger, 2005 Blessings! supports close, faith-filled bonds between all members of our growing spiritual community through stories about parishioners and coverage of Catholic news, BToC news, events and blessings within our parish. Blessings! is delivered quarterly by . A small number of print editions will be available in the church narthex for parishioners who do not have access to delivery. Have a news tip, a question or a suggestion for a story? Send an to: webberulrichmedia@comcast.net or call Include your name and phone number along with details of your story idea. Is communications your gift? Blessings! is looking for writers. Contact the editor at the address above.