Ascension of the Lord May 8, 2016

Ascension of the Lord May 8, 2016 May 9 Monday For the intentions of the Jones family Mass May 10 Tuesday Morning Prayer May 11 Wednesday Morning Prayer 10:15am Class Mass May 12 Thursday For the intentions of James Warren Mass 9am 11am Church Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament May 13 Friday For the repose of the soul of Pedro Gelacio Mass 4pm Funeral for Chris Jarvis Reception in Egan Hall to follow. May 14 Saturday 10:00am-2pm Garden Party!! Bring your favorite garden tools and gloves. Lunch will be served! 3:30pm Reconciliation 5pm Vigil Mass May 15 Sunday 8:30 Mass 10:15am Last day of Sunday pre-school 10:15am nursery 10:30 Mass CLOW Mass Times Saturday, Vigil Mass 5pm Sunday, 8:30 & 10:30 am Monday thru Friday and 1st Saturdays Mass or Morning Prayer Thursday Adoration 9am-11am Sacrament of Reconciliation The Sacrament of Reconciliation is on the 2nd & 4th Saturday s of the Month or by appointment. If you need an appointment for reconciliation, please call the parish office. FAITH FORMATION Infant Baptism Infant Baptisms (up to age 7yrs.) are scheduled 4 times a year at the weekend masses. Sacrament of Matrimony Couples should contact parish office 6-8 months ahead of time. Parish Advocate for Annulments For parishioners seeking a marriage annulment, please contact the parish office or email: annulment@stjohnsea.org annulment@stjohnsea.org Children s Programs* Children s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) Most Sundays; Oct. through May during 10:30 Mass Children First grade through Fifth grade are invited to attend. Preschool Sunday School (new location) October through May during the 10:30 Mass Children age 4 by Sept. 1 st through First grade Classes held in room 29 2nd floor, located in the main school building. 10:30 Mass Nursery Nursery is in new location in XDC located in the main school building. Children ages 8 months--3 yrs. are welcome. Nursery is Free! *NOTE for these programs: Weekends that have a Monday holiday or school break times; No Sessions. For more information or questions contact: parish office. Parish Office 206-782-2810 Office Hours 8am-4pm Closed from noon to one for lunch Monday ~ Friday Pastoral Emergency number 206-794-7487 If you are interested in learning more about any of St John s liturgical ministries, or you would like to volunteer, please contact a ministry lead: Lectors: Tony Perucca - 781-2156 or tonyp2000@yahoo.com Sacristans: Patty Mayhle - mpjmayhle@msn.com Eucharistic Ministers: Joanne Jepson - 782-9329 or josiemj51@yahoo.com Children s Liturgies: Bridget Sevigny - 200-2458 or bridgetnan@gmail.com Altar Servers: Cheri Wolf - cheriawolf@hotmail.com Ushers: Joe Sullivan - joe.sullivan1020@gmail.com Music: Becky Kelly - beckykelly1@yahoo.com Environment/Decorating: Sheila Cloney - stjohndecorating@gmail.com

Liturgy Reflections May 8, 2016 year ABC The Ascension of the Lord Not simply recalling an historical event, the feast of the Ascension celebrates what we are and will be as the Church. Rather than focusing on the departure of Christ, this feast reminds us of his presence manifest in our midst in the Church. As St. Leo preached on this occasion centuries ago, what was previously visible in the Redeemer is now present in the rites. No longer limited by space or time, Christ has gone away only to be available through the Spirit in the sacraments. And because he lives among us, St. Leo says Where the Head has gone, the Body hopes to follow. That the ascension of Christ is a promise of what lies ahead for believers is reflected in the prayers of today s liturgy. In the first preface, we remember that Christ left our sight not to abandon us, but to be our hope, and in the opening prayer we ask, May we follow him into the new creation, for his ascension is our glory and our hope. The first two readings are repeated each year. In the first, we have the beginning of Luke s second volume, the Acts of the Apostles, where Jesus ascension inaugurates the Church s mission of witnessing for Christ, even to the Gentiles. Although the disciples hope for the immediate second coming, Jesus corrects their preoccupation by turning their attention to the Spirit among them: this is the return of Christ for now. In the second reading, the past event of the ascension is discussed in the context of the present reality of the Church. When St. Paul prays for the Ephesians for knowledge, he does not mean conceptual knowledge, but rather the experience of the power of God among believers. Christ is the sign of such strength, whom God raised and seated at his right hand, making him the head of the Church, his fullness. Thus the glory of Christ is our hope; we see our inheritance in him. In Year A, the Gospel is from Matthew. Here Jesus transmits to the apostles the authority he has from God. In sending them out to make disciples by baptizing and teaching, Jesus charges the apostles to continue his ministry. Experiencing Christ s promise fulfilled through the Spirit and the sacraments, the Church witnesses to the resurrection by showing in its life and activity that Jesus lives. In the Gospel of Mark read in Cycle B, Jesus also commissions the apostles to go forth, preaching the good news leading to baptism. In this way, Christ still continues to work after the ascension through the disciples. The various signs performed by the believers are indications that the kingdom of God is being established through the work of the Church. In contrast to his scene in Acts where it marks the beginning of the Church s ministry, Luke s account of the ascension in his Gospel concludes Jesus ministry on earth on Easter Day. With this farewell scene, Luke describes a definite close to the earthly ministry of Jesus, declaring that no longer can Jesus be known as he was on earth. From now on, Christ will be discovered in the Church. Next Week s readings May 15, 2016 year Readings C Pentecost Sunday 1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11 As on Sinai, the Lord descends in fire and wind. Psalm 104 Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. 2nd Reading: Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 The Spirit calls the baptized to ministry for the common good. Gospel: John 20:19-23 On the first day of the week the risen Christ imparts the Holy Spirit. The Gospel proclaimed today was heard earlier this season, on the Second Sunday of Easter. How much has happened since then! We have come full circle, though, and recall that the Church has received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Listening to these sacred scriptures today, let us reflect on how each of us has received that gift, and how we are now called to share it with the world around us. The Funeral Mass for Chris Jarvis will be held May 13 at 4pm. Reception in Egan will follow. St John s will be having Confirmation at the 5pm Vigil Mass May 21. The Most Reverend Eusebio Elizondo will be officiating. During the month of May we will be saying a decade of the Rosary before the Masses on the weekend. Come a little early to join us. The next Devotion of the Stations of the Cross will be May 11 at 7pm in the church. Catholic Cemeteries We remember and give thanks at our regular Eucharistic celebrations for all of those who have died. All are invited. Unless otherwise noted, all Masses are on Saturday mornings at 10:30 am. For additional information please call Faye McClain, 253-838-2240 or fmcclain@mycatholiccemetery.org Holyrood Cemetery: Chapel Mausoleum June 4 10:30 am 205 NE 205th St Shoreline, WA 98155 Misa en Espanol: Holyrood May 21 205 NE 205th St, Shoreline, WA 98155 Calvary Cemetery: Chapel Mausoleum June 11 10:30 am 5041 35th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105 Misa en Espanol: Gethsemane, Junio 4 5041 35th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105

Parish Life (All ministries at St John Parish/School require Safe Environment Training.) PARISH STEWARDSHIP Collection for week of May 1, 2016 Vigil Mass $ 1,725.00 Mass $ 2,280.00 10:30am Mass $ 3.362.00 Mail-in $ 3,177.00 Electronic giving $ 3,338.18 $ 13,882.18 Total Budget for 2015 2016 Sacrificial Giving is $712,194. Divided by 52 weeks = $13,696.04 needs to be collected each week. (This does NOT include restricted donations such as Holy Day Collections, (Christmas and Easter), and donations made to our ministries or coffee & donuts.) ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL Your support is critical to the success of the Annual Catholic Appeal and its many ministries and services! This year s Archdiocesan goal is $11.5 Million. Our parish portion of this goal is $90,692.00. Your gift will make a big impact on many lives! You will also be helping our own parish - once we have achieved our goal, any payments received that exceed our goal will be returned to us to help fund our parish project of Crispin's Kitchen. Gifts of any amount are welcome, although if you are not doing so already, please consider a gift of a dollar a day ($365) or more. Your gift will make everything possible. Please fill out a pledge envelope today or donate online: www.seattlearchdiocese.org/ donate th 10:00AM Garden work party on May 14 Hello from the Maintenance Department. You are cordially invited to take part in the cleanup of God s yard (the church grounds). We have been blessed with good weather lately and the weeds know it. The maintenance department supposes God put weeds on our campus in order to bring people together to remove them. Who are we to question God s plan? Let s do this and have fun at the same time. Please bring your wheel barrows, rakes, shovels, and whatever implements help release the weeds dastardly grip on God s yard. We have so many hard working volunteers; we would like to get to know some new volunteers. We are especially interested in the children in the parish who do not attend school at St Johns. What a great way to get the two groups of kids together. 10am-2pm. Please RSVP to: sdamelio@stjohnsea.org. If we can get a bunch of people we can make a great difference in only 4 hours. AND lunch will be provided! Hi Bill, I read a short reflection called Be Safe, Love Mom written by Elaine Lowry Brye. She has children in the Armed Services. Her faith sustains her with 4 kids in the Armed Services. Here's a quote from the article -"It wasn't until I was in college that I started to have an understanding of a relationship with God beyond a gimme list. Over the next decade, I discovered that developing a faith is like building a muscle, and daily prayer is your training. You have to keep practicing, so that when game day arrives, you're primed and ready. " This is my favorite part - developing a faith is like building a muscle, and daily prayer is your training. Thought you might like this for our Year of Prayer. Marion Johnson (Thanks, Marion :-) If you have a prayer nugget you d like to share with the parish, please email Bill Marty, bill@takenroad.com. Faith Formation News Preschool Sunday School! Register for Preschool Sunday School for ages 4-5; Classes are held during the 10:30 Mass on Sunday. Children must have had their 4th birthday by Sept. 1, 2015. The Preschool classrooms are located in the XDC rooms (Extended daycare room in the school building). Please register by completing a form found in the back of the Church or by contacting the Office. Children's Liturgy of the Word Children Grades 1-5 are invited to participate in the Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) during 10:30 Mass. No registration is required. Parents are welcome to come with their children. 10:30 Nursery 10:30 Nursery is in room 29 on the 2nd floor of the school. Children ages 8 months to 3yrs. are welcome. Ring the doorbell to drop off your child.

Please remember the following people who are ill, homebound or need your prayers this week. Pauline Barrett Sam Braun Flynn family Caroline Gallacci Jarvis family Jackie Bob & Toni Lasser For our Armed Forces personnel throughout the world, that they come home safely to their families. We pray to the Lord. For those who have died, especially Chris Jarvis, that they may rest in the healing embrace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray to the Lord. If you have family or friends in military service and would like us to pray for them, please call the parish office. 782-2810 Stewardship A Disciples Response Jesus ascended into heaven, blessing His disciples and promising that they would soon receive the power of the Holy Spirit. We who have received that promised gift of the Spirit are now empowered to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth to use our time and talents to spread the good news of salvation. Electronic Giving @ St John s! You can donate from your Smart phone. St John the Evangelist has a mobile version of our online giving page to make it easy for you to give anytime from your smart phone. Simply scan the image you see here using your phone s QR code reader or go to : www.stjohnsea.org and locate the online giving page. Or you can enter: bit.ly/donatestjohn on your web browser. Do you have a family member or neighbor in or from our parish who would like to stay in touch with the St. John community? In addition to taking Communion to these people we would like to reach out with a phone call or greeting card to say hello and that we are thinking about them. We will also need volunteers. Please contact Loretta Fletcher 784-3529 or Marion Johnson 782-5084 if you would be interested, or if you know of someone who might enjoy this type of outreach. Stations of the Cross Devotion on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7pm in the church. If you are interested in leading the Stations, please contact Jim Russell. russelljim12@gmail.com St John Parish office publishes a weekly email newsletter on Wednesday afternoons. If you would like to receive the latest parish updates with clickable links to flyers and web pages, right in your inbox, email smarty@stjohnsea.org. SACRED HEART RADIO 1050 KBLE ~ Seattle Sunday Mass - 5:00 am, 9:00 am Daily Mass - 5:00 am, 9:00 am Monday - Saturday Rosary - 1:00 pm, every afternoon 8:30 pm every night Chaplet of Divine Mercy: 1:30pm Sunday & Saturday Sean Mathison Matlock Family Oskar Miranda Cleo Santiago Lil Stevenson Brian &Linda Sullivan Saint of the month: Saint Catherine of Siena, (1247-1380) Feast: April 29 Virtue of the Month: Diligence: Doing your best and working hard until you re finished. To practice the virtue of diligence means not only to finish something that we have begun but also to pay attention to what we re doing so that it s done well. Fidelity to small, everyday tasks prepares us to handle larger responsibilities well. By doing all of our work well, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we are fulfilling God s will for our lives and helping to build up His kingdom. Each time we recite the Morning Offering we give all our works as a gift to God. Let s give Him our best! Saint Catherine of Siena was the 24th child of cloth-dyer Jacopo Benincasa and his wife Lapa, Catherine Benincasa was born in the Italian city-state of Siena during a tumultuous time both in the secular life of the ruling Italian cities and of the Catholic Church. Catherine vowed her life to God as a young child, and as a young woman she felt called to join the Mantellate who were laywomen, mostly widows, associated with the Dominican Order. These women wore the habit but resided in their own homes and cared for the sick and the poor. Her family strongly objected, since they wanted her to marry. Catherine ended the disagreement by cutting off her hair. Her family, furious, punished her by treating her as a servant, forcing her to do the cooking, cleaning, and serving, taunting her all the while. Yet Catherine served them with great love, as if she were serving the Holy Family. After years of this harsh treatment, Saint Catherine s father was moved to repentance when he saw Catherine praying one day, and a dove hovering over her head. He relented in punishing her, and allowed her to once again have her own room where she could spend all the time she desired in prayer. This she did with deep devotion, seeing Christ each day and praying with Him, until He asked her to apply all He had taught her by going out to serve her neighbor. Saint Catherine served the needs of the poor and sick within Siena, and began to act as a peacemaker and reconciler. During this time the once-illiterate Catherine became a prolific writer of letters to bishops, priests, religious, civil rulers, ordinary laymen, and even the pope persistently exhorting them to be faithful to Christ and His Church. During this period, there was a very difficult situation in which a series of popes had chosen to live in Avignon, France, rather than in Rome. Saint Catherine pleaded with Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome, writing him repeatedly with love and reverence, but also candor, reminding him of his duty and his divine calling. Saint Catherine even travelled to Avignon, walking on foot for most of the long journey, to see the Holy Father in person. Despite the respect so many had for the saint, she had difficulty being admitted to see the Holy Father, but she persisted. With the help Catherine s influence and prayers, Pope Gregory XI overcame his fears, recalled his duty, and returned to Rome. Saint Catherine of Siena died in 1380 at the age of 33. She was canonized in 1461, and in 1970 she was declared a Doctor of the Church. She is one of only four women saints to be given this honor.