March 29, 2020

POPE ANNOUNCES EXTRAORDINARY ‘URBI ET ORBI’ BLESSING ON MARCH 27

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032920.cfm Reading 1: 1 Ezekiel, Chapter 37: 12-14 Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 “With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption”

Reading 2: Romans 8:8-11 – In response to the ongoing coronavirus Gospel: John 11:1-45 pandemic, Francis said he will give an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the MASS INTENTIONS Please contact [email protected] world) at 6 p.m. time (10 AM SEATTLE TIME) March 27 (FRIDAY)… EVENTS & LENTEN SEASON With the public joining him only by television, internet or ALL EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS ARE SUSPENDED radio, “we will listen to the word of God, raise our prayer UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. [and] adore the Blessed Sacrament,” he said. “At the end, I will give the benediction ‘urbi et orbi,’ to which will be ONLINE MASS & PRAYER RESOURCES connected the possibility of receiving a plenary Archdiocese of Seattle Live Streaming Mass .” https://vimeo.com/archdioceseofseattle An indulgence is an ancient practice of prayer and Rosary: Sacred Heart Radio: penance for the remission of the temporal punishment a www.sacredheartradio.org person is due for sins that have been forgiven. In Catholic Stations of the Cross: Busted Halo: teaching, a person can draw on the merits of and https://bustedhalo.com/video/virtual-stations-of- the saints to claim the indulgence for themselves or offer the-cross it on behalf of someone who has died. Bishop Mueggenborg’s Sunday Gospel Reflections: In addition to announcing the special blessing, Pope Sacred Heart Radio https://sacredheartradio.org/ Francis said that at a time “when humanity trembles” (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – after the because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was asking 1pm Rosary) Christians of every denomination to join together at Download Weekly Reflections at noon (4 AM SEATTLE TIME) March 25 (WEDNESDAY)to https://seattlearchmedia.weebly.com/ recite the Lord’s Prayer. The and many others mark March 25 as the feast of the Annunciation. Mass readings and prayer resources: http://usccb.org/ By Cindy Wooden, 3-23-20 Catholic News Services EWTN – weekday Mass 9am PDT 1

Dear People of God in Western Washington,

Peace be with you and your families during this unprecedented time.

As your pastor, I want to assure you of my continued prayers for you, for the sick in our community, for their families, for health care workers on the front line, and for leaders who are diligently working to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

It is during difficult times like this that we must turn to God for his comfort and strength. While we cannot physically be together, we are still here for you — and you are still part of the universal family of faith called the Catholic Church. Together, we are praying; we are checking on our neighbors; we are livestreaming Masses; we are supporting our parishes and schools; and we are still living as disciples of Jesus, despite these temporary restrictions.

As many of you know, yesterday Governor Inslee issued a new “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. This ban goes into effect at midnight tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25, and it requires every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity.

I echo the governor’s call for all people, especially those who are vulnerable, to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out. We need to flatten the curve and slow the trajectory of this virus. We do this, not out of fear, but out of love for our neighbors. Because of this, we will be closing our parish offices and asking our parish employees to work remotely.

However, there are essential activities of our parishes that will continue, as long as we are able to meet public health requirements. Many of our parishes will continue to operate food banks to serve those in our local communities who need it most. Our pastors will continue outreach and homebound visits as requested by parishioners. We will continue to livestream Masses so that the faithful can enter into eucharistic spiritual communion while not able to join in public worship. While we cannot have any public celebration of Mass or any gatherings, many of our churches will be open on a regular basis so that our faithful can pray in sacred space.

By following in the footsteps of , who reminds us that “the Church does not close its doors to anyone,” we will continue to feed the spiritual needs of our parishioners.

However, it is up to the pastor’s discretion whether an individual parish is able to meet all necessary requirements to keep the church doors open. For while we want to remain present and available for our parishioners, we do not want to put anyone in a potentially unsafe environment.

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This is a historically significant moment — and an opportu nity for us to truly live out our faith. I pray that we will look back on this time and be delighted by how people witnessed their love of God and neighbor. I pray that we see courage, kindne ss, and selfless acts of love that foster community, help the needy, and encourage everyone to grow stronger in their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what it means to be Catholic .

Continue to pray. Continue to listen to God. Continue to offer your life as an instrument of God’s mercy and love. How is he speaking to you in this mo ment? How can you respond? We are preparing materials to help you continue to grow in fa ith at home and around Holy Week and , so please be on the lookout for those.

Please know that I continue to pray for you and your families. I invite you to join me daily for Mass at 8:30 a.m. on the Archdiocese of Seattle Vimeo Channel or on the Archdiocese’s Facebook page. Additionally, following Mass at 9 am, I invite you pray the rosary with me to help strengthen your faith and communion with the mystical body of Christ, the Church.

In the heart of Christ,

Most Reverend Paul D. Etienne, DD, STL Archbishop of Seattle

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CONTACT INFORMATION Sacrament of the Sick: In cases of illness, impending surgery, or advanced Office Hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or By Appointment. age, contact the Priest. Communal celebrations Please call (206) 322-5970 for: Fr. Maurice Mamba Priest Administrator x604 are held three times a year. [email protected] Funerals: Barbara Connor Pastoral Associate/DRE x607 Contact the Priest for the Funeral Service prior to [email protected] contacting the Funeral Director. Alice Davis Interim Pastoral Assistant for Admin and Catholic Cemeteries serving Immaculate include Facilities x601 [email protected] Calvary (206-522-0996) & Holyrood (206-363-8484) Deacon Joseph Connor [email protected] House/Other Blessings & Mass Intentions: PASTORAL COUNCIL See page 3 for Office Contact Information. Chair Lori Chisholm-Cook [email protected], Vice Chair Denise Pavageau, Maria Batayola, Deacon Joseph Connor, Toni Hall, Beth Miller, Ceaser Patterson, Alex Soto, Fred Verzosa, Nate Weston, Sabine Weston Stewardship & Finance

FINANCE COUNCIL Chair Jane Powers [email protected]

STEWARDSHIP COMMISSION Chair Vera Patterson [email protected]

Submit bulletin items to [email protected]

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Baptism: BY APRIL 9, PLEASE COUNT THE CONTENTS Infant baptisms held in January, April, July, and OF YOUR RICE BOWL AND DONATE IT October. Register at www.icseattle.org ONLINE. Simply go to www.icseattle.org, click:” Reconciliation: Donate Now” and Click on “To make a simple Online Saturdays by appointment. Gift to the parish or make a payment for a wedding or Marriage: other service click here.” A long form will appear. Please Contact the Parish at least six (6) months before complete it, then submit. For step by step assistance, the wedding date. contact the office at 206-322-5970 or email [email protected] Thank you.

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