Letter from Fr. Tom Kraft, OP

Dear parishioners, family, friends and my Dominican brothers and sisters,

When I was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer early this year, I received overwhelming support from many of you: family, friends, colleagues, and my Dominican brothers and sisters. Thank you for your prayers—they have strengthened me, given me hope, and brought me courage throughout my battle with this illness.

Our collective prayer for a miraculous cure, which I still hope for, has not happened. The chemotherapy I underwent at the beginning of my illness was not intended to be a cure, but a treatment to manage and slow down the cancer to improve my quality of life. Initially, the chemotherapy succeeded. It slowed the spread of the cancer, diminished the tumors in my esophagus and liver, and helped me live a more normal life.

Most recently, within the last month or so, the cancer has become increasingly aggressive. The scans have revealed the spread of the cancer to my lungs. To combat this, I have chosen another round of chemotherapy, which is more potent and, consequently, more difficult to endure. I am more fatigued and less able to function normally. If this round of chemotherapy succeeds, I may be able to extend my life, perhaps for another year or so. If it fails to slow down the cancer, I have just a few months left to live.

The time has come for me to reassess my life and put things in their proper order. I am preparing to face the inevitable reality of death, but at the same time still hopeful for a miraculous cure. I intend to continue to minister to the people of God. I am hopeful that, whatever God has in store for me, I will be able to meet with undaunted courage. Throughout these next months, I ask all of you to support me by continuing to pray for my healing. If I am not healed, please pray that I may be able to do my priestly ministry as my strength allows.

It is becoming clear that the cancer, combined with the most recent chemotherapy, has had its toll on me. I have lost weight and continue to have difficulty eating. I am tired most of the time, but I get a lot of energy through my ministries, whether celebrating Mass, preaching, teaching or hearing confessions. I am, however, finding it necessary to focus my energy and engage in activities that help me to become less fatigued.

I ask for your support and cooperation. Although all of you are important to me, at this time I would ask that you refrain from calling or visiting me at my residence. I am thankful for your emails, cards and gifts. While I cannot respond to each of them, know that I am always grateful for your kindness. I will, of course, continue to be present to minister to each of you as best as I am able. I want you to acknowledge me as fully alive and always willing to serve you as your priest.

I have chosen Fr. Daniel Syverstad, my friend and Dominican brother as my primary healthcare advocate. He has directly supported me from the very beginning and continues to help me navigate the complexities of modern cancer care. As you know, Fr. Daniel is ministering full time to this parish. He would like to commit his time to my care as well, so I ask that you allow him to work with my doctors and not trouble him with unnecessary calls. Pray for him and my brothers in community that they may continue to have the strength and courage to help me throughout the course of my illness.

While the inevitability of death may seem frightening, know that I am very hopeful in God. I continue to pray for a miraculous cure, but if it does not happen, I remain ever so confident that God will give me the grace to prepare myself for eternal life. God bless each of you. May we continue to have hope and never cease to be grateful for the many blessings God has given us. You are all a blessing in my life.

NOTE: This letter was originally published on Fr. Tom's blog. Should you wish, you may offer Fr. Tom a note of love, support, and prayers by leaving a comment on his blog site.

Drinks with the Dominicans -- Fr. Tom Kraft, OP "My Recent Cancer Diagnosis and My Thoughts on I-1000"

Join us this upcoming Wednesday, October 29th at 7:00pm at the Blue Star Pub (4512 Stone Way). Our dear Fr. Tom Kraft, OP will be giving a talk entitled "My Recent Cancer Diagnosis and My Thoughts on I-1000, the Death with Dignity Act". Fr. Tom's words are always guided by the Holy Spirit and this Wednesday will be no exception. Please come join us to hear this important talk. Following the talk there will be discussion and socializing, and of course -- drinks! Come, come!

**For a brief preview, and to learn more of Fr. Tom's story, please click here to link to a previous blog posting.

All Saints & All Souls Celebrations

A week from today is Halloween (aka All Hallows Eve), followed by the much beloved holidays: All Saints Day (1 Nov) and All Souls Day (2 Nov). Blessed Sacrament has some pretty fabulous masses and prayer services lined up for us. The most notable of which is the Veneration of the Relics of Saints (including St. Peregrine, Bl. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. Dominic, among others) at 7:00pm on Friday, October 31st. In addition to Veneration of the Relics, there will also be readings on the lives of these Saints. It should be beautiful! Please join us for any (or all) of these beautiful liturgies. Here's the schedule:

Friday, October 31 All Hallows Eve
5:30 PM All Saints Vigil Mass
(Children can dress up as their favorite saint)
7:00 PM Veneration of the Relics of Saints
8:00 PM All-night Adoration

Saturday, November 1 All Saints
8:00 AM All Saints Mass
12 NOON All Saints Mass
5:00 PM Vigil Mass for All Souls
(Blessing of the Votive Tree for the Dead)**

Sunday, November 2 All Souls
Usual Sunday schedule of Masses.
7:00 PM Solemn Compline and Benediction
(There will be no Compline on October 26)

**COMMEMORATING ALL SOULS
We commemorate all the men and women who have died through the celebration of All Souls. This feast falls on a Sunday this year.
As a Dominican Parish, we pray for the dead every day. The Friars include the prayers for the dead each day by reciting the “de profundis,” which is psalm 130. In addition, we also remember the dead by inscribing their names in the “Book of the Dead.” This book will be located in the north transept chapel, which used to be the adoration chapel. A votive tree with 42 branches for candles will adorn the chapel. There will also be a special book of remembrance with photos of the dead. If you would like your loved one included, please send a photo to the parish care of Jesson Mata

Fr. Tom's on the Radio -- Vote NO on I-1000

Our priest, and dear friend, Fr. Tom Kraft, was on the radio yesterday discussing his diagnosis of Stage IVb esophageal cancer and sharing his thoughts on the I-1000 measure, the so-called "death with dignity" initiative. We are all very hopeful for Fr. Tom. But living with such a diagnosis does give him a unique perspective to discuss this measure. Before going on the radio, he wrote on his blog, "I ask the Lord to bless my words as I will speak against the initiative and for life, mercy and compassion." Those of you who know Fr. Tom can attest that his words are always guided by the Holy Spirit. His time on the radio was no exception -- if anything though, his words were even more filled with grace. If you haven't already heard his 1/2 hour interview on the "Conversations with Fr. Bob" radio show, you can listen to it (or podcast it) here. We encourage you listen; it's truly amazing. And of course, please do keep Fr. Tom in your prayers.

Drinks with the Dominicans - Fr. Tom Kraft

Please join us on Wednesday, Oct 29th at 7:00pm at the Blue Star Cafe (4512 Stone Way N.) This month's speaker will be our very own Fr. Tom Kraft. He will be speaking on: "My Recent Cancer Diagnosis and My Thoughts on I-1000, the Death with Dignity Act". Drinks and socializing will follow.

Saturday Concert

Concert - this Saturday evening, October 18th at 8pm at Blessed Sacrament. It's going to be absolutely beautiful, so come, come!!!
(There is a suggested donation of $20, but no one will be turned away, especially students who can't afford to donate.)

Join Opus 7 in celebrating the centennial of Seattle's Blessed Sacrament Church in the beautifully restored brick and wood interior of this historic landmark. Its founding year was 1908, the same year in which our featured "centennial" composers were born: Hugo Distler, Elliott Carter, and Olivier Messiaen. Distler is represented by his exuberant Lobe den Herrn, his joyful Es ist das Heil uns kommen her, and his monumental Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied. To celebrate the 100^th birthday of esteemed American composer Elliott Carter, Opus 7 performs his vivid setting of Emily Dickinson's poem, Musicians Wrestle Everywhere, while Messiaen's beloved mystical meditation, O Sacrum Convivium, honors his centennial year.

The celebration continues with works written in 1908 by Sibelius and Charles Wood, and we honor Blessed Sacrament itself with works by Rheinberger, Rihards Dubra, and Cesar Franck's beloved Panis Angelicus. Other celebratory works include Laudate Dominum by Danish composer Vagn Holmboe and William Mathias' virtuosic Laetentur Coeli, plus works by Stanford, Rimsky-Korsakov (d. 1908), Peter Hallock, and Alice Parker. Don't miss this evening of uplifting music performed in the beauty of Blessed Sacrament Church.

**SPECIAL** Drinks with the Dominicans

Join us Wednesday evening, 22 October, at 9pm for a special Drinks with Dominicans Happy Hour featuring Br. Christopher Fadock, OP and Fr. Steven Maekawa, OP. We'll be going to Ivar's Salmon House (401 NE Northlake Way) immediately following the Vocations workshop. Even if you can't make it to the workshop, come join us as at Ivar's for some laid-back conversation and drinks.

Mercy Night

Drop by the church on Friday, October 24th, from 8:00pm to 11:00pm for another beautiful candlelit evening of prayer and adoration. Priests will be there to hear confessions, and teams will be available for prayer ministry. Originating from the Emmanuel Community in Europe, Mercy Night offers an extraordinary setting in which to let your heart rest in God's beauty and goodness. Come anytime, and stay for as little or as long as you like. And please bring friends - everyone is welcome.

Janelle, a Blessed Sacrament Young Adult, who is also in charge of Mercy Night writes, "Mercy Night consists of approximately three hours of good old-fashioned Eucharistic adoration, during which much else is happening. The lights are low, there are candles everywhere, and there is beautiful, contemplative music being sung throughout the evening, mostly in the style of contemporary praise & worship. There are readings from scripture, and some spontaneous prayer, and a couple people even get up to give testimonies. In addition, a major aspect of the evening is having confession available. I have been to confession at one of these, and let me tell you, it's a powerful thing to have Jesus right there in front of you while you are confessing. Mercy becomes very real in a moment like that."

Please join us for an amazing evening of mercy.

Understanding Stem Cell Research: Promises, Limitations, and Our Moral Obligations

What are the current capabilities of embryonic stem cell research? Can adult stem cells do the same things? Join us while we explore the promises and limitations of stem cell research and our moral obligations for protecting life: Thursday, October 16th at 7pm at the UW Newman Center. Maria Lancaster will also be joining us and will introduce us to her daughter, Elisha, adopted while yet an embryo.

Theology of the Body Study Group

Are you interested in learning more about the Church's teachings on sex and marriage? Do you want to know what John Paul II has to say about the inherent goodness of human sexuality and its greater role in the divine plan? Come join our Theology of the Body Study group! We meet on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm (contact us for the location).

We're currently discussing "Love and Responsibility" by Pope John Paul II. There's no need to read ahead. It is a long book, so we just read select passages aloud at group meeting and then discuss them. Come for study group and stay for some socializing afterwards!

Prayers for Fr. Tom

Please join the Blessed Sacrament Young Adults in praying this Novena for our beloved priest and friend, Fr. Tom Kraft, OP. Fr. Tom has a special devotion to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. This novena was first started by the Dominicans when Fr. Tom was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer in February. Having been on a 2-moth "chemo-vacation", Fr. Tom will re-commence his chemotherapy treatments this upcoming Monday. The Young Adults, standing in solidarity with Fr. Tom, reinstated this novena Thursday evening and will pray it daily. Please join us in praying for Fr. Tom's miracle.

Life Vocations - Married, Single, or Religious: Discerning God's Call

Come, join us... Fr. Steven and Br. Christopher are dynamic speakers. This workshop comes highly recommended by those young adults who have attended it in the past!