Blessed Sacrament Young Adults

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE!

2012-01-12T14:40:00.001-08:00

The blog has been migrated to a website:

https://sites.google.com/site/blessedsacramentyoungadults/home

Visit us there!

Holy Hour

2011-11-08T21:52:00.000-08:00

This Friday, 11/11/11

Eucharistic Adoration at Blessed Sacrament

8-9pm

At 9pm we will meet at the entrance and go out for food/drinks!

Events THIS Week

2011-10-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Young Adults,

Missed us last week? Never fear! We have two more events this week:

Tuesday 10/25
Drinks with the Dominicans at Blue Star Cafe
7:30pm
Our own Dominican Brother Simon Kim will be speaking, and there will be plenty of time to eat, drink and socialize. It will be fantastic.

Thursday 10/27

Veritas in the Priory (the small building just south of the church)

7:30pm

We will resume our discussion of excerpts from Cardinal George's book The Difference God Makes. No need to have even heard of the book before. After discussion wraps up around 9pm, we like to socialize and eventually head to a pub nearby.

Events This Week

2011-10-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Thursday 10/20
7:30 at the UW Newman Center (in lieu of Veritas this week)

Come hear "The Problem (or Problems?) of Faith and Science" by Fr. Raphael Mary at this month's Chesterton Society Event

Friday 10/21
7:30-10:30p at Blessed Sacrament

Mercy Night is a parish penance service with Confession, Adoration, and prayerful music.

FALL EVENTS

2011-09-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

Young Adults, the fall is upon us, and that means lots of upcoming YA events!

Tuesday September 27th
Drinks with the Dominicans at Blue Star Cafe
7:30pm
Come meet our newest Dominican, Father Boniface!

Thursday September 29th
Potluck in the Parish Hall
7:00pm
Meet your fellow Blessed Sacrament young adults over a casual meal. Please bring something delicious to share!

Thursday October 6th
Veritas in the Blessed Sacrament Priory (Margaret of Savoy Room)
7:30pm
Join us as we kick off the first of six discussions on "The Difference God Makes" by Cardinal Francis George. We will be reading excerpts, so no need to buy/read the book ahead.

Saturday October 8th
Oktoberfest! in the Parish Hall
6:00pm
Join the Knights of Columbus in fundraising for our Dominican seminarians with brats and beer!

Puyallup Fair!

2011-09-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late post, but hopefully you've seen on FB and/or your email already:

WHAT: Come to the Puyallup Fair this Saturday September 10!

WHEN: We'll meet at 3pm at the University Playground on the corner of 50th and 9th (one block south of Blessed Sacrament) to carpool. Please park on the street. We'll plan to return by 10pm. *Note the change of location*

COST: Tickets cost $11/person at the door, or you can buy ahead at Safeway or Walgreens (or online) for $9. Parking will be about $3/person in a carpool. Budget additional for rides and food. Make sure to bring cash!

Dominican Rite Mass

2011-08-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

THIS COMING MONDAY 8/8 @ 7pm:

In honor of the Feast of St. Dominic, Archbishop Sartain will be celebrating a Solemn Dominican Rite Mass.

The Tudor Choir, Blessed Sacrament's resident professional ensemble, will sing John Taverner's Mass setting Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas for the occasion. If you haven't been to a Tudor Choir Mass yet, you are in for an extremely beautiful treat!

A reception will follow the Mass in the Priory Backyard. Hope to see you there!

July Young Adult BBQ

2011-06-12T22:20:00.000-07:00

WHEN: Saturday, July 2, 5-11:30pm

WHERE: 1310 NE 52nd Street Seattle, WA

Join the Blessed Sacrament Young Adults for some grilling, dancing, and general merriment at our summer BBQ at Casey's house. He and his housemates will provide chips, condiments, and non-alcoholic beverages, so bring your own meat for the grill, drinks, side dish, or dessert to share.

This is a great chance for Catholics throughout the area to get to know each other, so invite your friends!

St. Lawrence, pray for us!

Spring Picnic!

2011-05-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

WHEN: Sat June 4, 2-5pm
WHERE: Green Lake, north end
WHAT: Picnic! Bring snacks! Bring drinks! Bring a frisbee! Bring delicious cookies! (The Seattle Parks Dept. thanks you for keeping the beverages non-alcoholic.)

The Blog is Back! Add our calendar to yours!

2011-05-14T17:12:00.000-07:00

Dear all, after a long hiatus, the YA blog will now be updated regularly!

Our NEXT EVENT:

VERITAS, the YA study group, will be discussing Pope Benedict XVI's Light of the World on Thursdays at 7:30pm, 5/19-6/23, at 4418 Meridian Ave N Unit B (Wallingford). Don't worry, you don't need to buy and/or read the book to participate!

The Google calendar is also up to date now, and you can add it to your calendar!

Type "blesssac@gmail.com" into the "Other Calendars" field on your Google Calendar to add the Young Adult event calendar.

Holy Week

2010-03-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Easter Triduum

Holy Thursday, April 1
Tenebrae, 8:00 AM
Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:30 PM, followed by adoration until midnight.

Good Friday, April 2
Tenebrae, 8:00 AM
Tre Ore: Meditations on the Last Words of Christ, Noon - 3:00 PM
Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 7:30 PM

Holy Saturday, April 3
Tenebrae, 8:00 AM
Blessing of Easter Food, 1:00 PM
Easter Vigil Mass of the Resurrection, 8:30 PM

Easter Sunday, April 4
Masses of the Lord’s Resurrection, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, Noon, and 5:45 PM

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Thursdays after the 8:00 AM Mass, Saturdays 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM, or by appointment
~ There are no confessions during Holy Week ~

Mercy Night

2010-03-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

This Lenten season our Blessed Sacrament's penance service is being combined with Mercy Night and will take place on Friday, March 19th, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Our Dominican priests will be hearing confessions throughout the evening.

Originating from the Emmanuel Community in Europe, Mercy Night is a beautiful candlelit evening of prayer and adoration, with contemplative music. Come anytime, and stay for as little or as long as you like.

Newman Center: Living Faith Night

2010-03-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

The Newman Grad/Young Adult Group invites the community to

LIVING FAITH NIGHT

March 10, 2010

6-8pm – Siena Room, Newman Center

Everyone has their own unique faith journey and a story to share. Join Newman Center Grad/YA group as they share a meal (this time they will have Breakfast for Dinner i.e. Pancakes, Eggs, Sausages, Veggie Patties,etc..), get to know each other a little bit better, and hear about one of our community’s faith journey. During this Living Faith Night, Jesson Mata, the liturgical director for Blessed Sacrament, is sharing his faith story.

A sign up sheet will be posted this week. Please let the Newman Center know if you will be joining them and what you can bring to share for the meal. If you prefer, you can bring an item for the Compassion Kits or Hygiene drive in lieu of bring-ing food or drink to share.

Holy Hour Reflection

2010-03-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

Lk 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them—
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,
and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,
he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree
but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’”

****************************************************

Many of us here can relate to gardner in this parable, as I'm sure that we've all planted something that has failed to thrive. I, for one, certainly do not have a green thumb. Try as I might, I can’t get my plants to grow healthy and strong. Last year, I had the idea of planting a garden on my porch. I was tempting fate, some might say, but I had faith that it would work. Despite my uniform efforts and attention to all of my plants, my tomatoes and lettuce grew and thrived, and the tomatoes produced fruit, while my carrots and sugar-snap peas withered away. It took me a while to realize that it neither the success nor the failure was through my own doing. Rather, it was a combination of factors, the interplay of me, the weather conditions, and the plants themselves.

Much in the same way, Jesus' parable of the fig tree shows us the interrelatedness of the fig tree, the gardner, and the owner. The gardner must properly tend to the fig tree in order for it to grow and thrive. The gardener also trusts that by properly tending to the fig tree that it will blossom and grow, lest he be given no choice but to cut that tree down. And in a sense, both the fig tree and the gardner look to the mercy of the owner not to cut down the tree and to give them each more time. The mercy and grace shown by the owner, first, by allowing the unfruitful tree to remain for three years and then by giving the gardener one additional year, sheds light on just how important that little fig tree is to the owner.

We too, like the fig tree, are dependent on God's mercy through Jesus Christ. Just as the gardner appealed to the owner, so Christ laid down His life for us. We depend on God to give us what we need each day and to have mercy on us for our imperfect ways, so much so that we pray it in words that Jesus himself gave to us: "Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses". And He does -- He gives us so much (so much more than what we ever deign to ask for ourselves) and forgives us when we fail.

St. Dominic taught that we are to place ourselves like a cup under the flowing spring of Christ and let Jesus fill us up not only to the brim, but also to overflowing with His grace and mercy. He taught that we should share the overflow, but always remember to keep our own cup filled to the brim through prayer and contemplation. All theology, all love, all life begins at the foot of the cross. Just as water flowed from Jesus' precious side when it was pierced, so too Jesus flows with love, mercy, and compassion from the cross. We must receive in order to give; we need time to pray and be filled.

As small and insignificant we are in comparison to God, we are nonetheless important to Him. Why else would he shower us with His mercy and grace? And why else would He send us His only begotten Son to shed His Blood for us? All He asks in return is that we are fruitful, that we use the gifts that He has given to each and every one of us.

Merciful God,

As we walk the path of Lent

And progress through the labyrinth of our journey

We discover weakness upon weakness

Compromise upon compromise

A culture that clutters our path with digressions

A sense of self that interferes with our vision.

As we catch our reflection in the light of Christ,

We know how far from Him we are.

Do not let our sins impede our progress

In your mercy, forgive us and send us on our pilgrimage again.

Almighty God, grant us pardon and remission of our sins

And give us the time to bear fruit for You.

Amen.

Holy Hour

2010-03-04T01:18:00.000-08:00

"It was love that motivated His self-emptying, that led Him to become a little lower than angels, to be subject to parents, to bow His head beneath the Baptist's hands, to endure the weakness of the flesh, and to submit to death even upon the cross." - St. Bernard

Join us on this upcoming Friday, March 5th from 7:30pm - 8:30pm** at the Newman Center. Spend some quiet time in prayer before the Eucharist during this Lenten season. This month's Holy Hour will offer time for silent reflection while incorporating rosary recitation and scripture. Fr. Raphael Mary will be present for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

**Please note that we have changed the time of Holy Hour to 7:30 p.m.

Interreligious Panel Discussion: Catholic/Muslim/Jewish

2010-03-03T19:34:00.000-08:00

Come support Father Raphael Mary Salzillo, OP he as dialogs with a Muslim imam and a Jewish rabbi.

The Muslim student club at Everett Community College will be hosting a panel discussion on religious tolerance this coming Tuesday, March 9th from noon to 1:00pm at Everett Community College. Fr. Raphael Mary will sit on the panel along with a Muslim imam and a Jewish rabbi. All are welcome!

The address of the campus is 2000 Powers St. Everett, WA 98201. When you get to campus, just ask for the the multi-purpose room at Parks Student Union and anyone will be able to direct you.

True Compassion = No Assisted Suicide!

2010-02-23T01:01:00.000-08:00

You are all invited to join the True Compassion Advocates on Friday, March 5th, 2010 (the one year anniversary of legalized assisted suicide) from noon - 1pm for a protest against Assisted Suicide at the University of Washington Medical Center (one of the few hospitals in our area to "opt in" to offering assisted suicide). Please consider coming out as a witness of love to show our community that is precious in all of its forms. (For more information, please read the letter below.)

Dear True Compassion Advocates,

It’s hard to believe that we’re more than two months into the New Year. Now, with February passing quickly and March only a few weeks away, the one year anniversary of legalized assisted suicide in Washington State is just around the corner.

No doubt this date will be celebrated by suicide promoters like Compassion and Choices, but compassion advocates will commemorate this tragic anniversary by joining together to demonstrate on behalf of those victimized by suicide and assisted suicide. We’ll meet at UW Medical Center in Seattle—one of the few hospitals which decided to opt in to offering lethal drug overdoses to suicidal ill people under the Act. Please join us March 5th, on the sidewalk near the front of the UW hospital at 1959 NE Pacific St. from Noon-1 PM. Mark your calendars and make demonstrating compassion on March 5th a priority. With lives at risk, what could be more important?

One year later, it’s clear that “choice” is a lie. Washington’s voters mistakenly thought they voted for a law full of safeguards from abuse. Instead, the so-called Death with Dignity Act has become a recipe for elder abuse and an occasion for encouraging “well seniors” to commit suicide. In the last few months alone, True Compassion Advocates has fielded phone calls

about senior citizens feeling pressured to commit suicide, assisted suicide, or euthanasia because “my children told me the cost of my assisted living is eating into their inheritance,”
from upset family members, frightened a loved one is planning “choose” assisted suicide because of economic pressures or inadequate health or home care coverage,
from devastated health care professionals, anguished at feeling forced to assist suicidal patients in killing themselves,
about an unsavory suicide promotion group hosting a ‘how to commit suicide’ workshop for “well elders” and making plans to open an office to facilitate suicide-related tourism.

Clearly, sitting at home and hoping the abuse of assisted suicide will go away is not an option. So what can we do?

Join us on March 5th. Save lives and influence people. Help us get the message out: "We're here for you. We care for you. Suicide and assisted suicide are not the answer." Help TCA create safe harbor communities in your area—places where vulnerable ill people can go to receive health care they can trust with their lives—care which includes true compassion, rather than the false choices like assisted suicide.

Join thousands across Washington and even more around the world who are receiving regularly-updated resources, information, and support from the True Compassion Advocates web site. Support family members, friends, and members of your community with TCA’s resources on health care choices, aging with courage, serious illness support, caregiver resources, and suicide prevention. Look for us on Facebook. You can either search for True Compassion Advocates, or click the link on the bottom of our homepage. Become a fan, invite your friends to do the same, and share our updates.

Answering the daily calls from those in need and from media, creating these extensive resources, and continuing our vital work takes both time and money—both of which are in short supply. There is so much more we can do, but we need your help. Please consider making a life-saving donation to the essential work of True Compassion Advocates.

Thank you for all you are doing to advocate for quality, compassionate care and to offer positive choices and alternatives to suicide and assisted suicide. It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside you. As always, please contact us if you have questions or need resources to support your role as a True Compassion Advocate. See you on the 5th! We’ll even bring the signs!

Sincerely,

Eileen Geller
Carrie Herring
Marie Harkins
True Compassion Advocates

Veritas

2010-02-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that Veritas is canceled both today and next week. We hope you will join us again on Thursday, March 4th at 7:30pm in the Siena Room of the Newman Center for a discussion of Humanae Vitae.

Ash Wednesday (and Lenten Schedule)

2010-02-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

Ash Wednesday, February 17

8:00 AM (Mass), 12:10 PM Liturgy of the Word with distribution of ashes, 5:30 PM(Mass), and 7:00 PM (Mass)

Fridays during Lent, February 19 - March 26

Soup Supper, 6:00 PM in the Parish Hall
Stations of the Cross, 7:00 PM in the church

Parish Penance Service and Mercy Night

Friday, March 19, 7:00 PM in the church

Lenten Series on the Sacrament of Reconciliation

Tuesdays, March 2, 9, 16 and 23, 7:30 PM in the Parish Hall

DEUS PROVIDEBIT

2010-02-12T17:16:00.000-08:00

The West Coast Dominican Brothers of St. Albert's Priory have a new blog called Deus Providebit. It's pretty fabulous - check it out!!!

Here's a bit about the Brothers in their own words...

"For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the Dominican Order, the purpose of the Order is to pass on to others the fruits of our contemplation. This 'passing on' of our contemplation we call preaching, a word that may conjure up for our readers a dry Sunday homily or the diatribe of a sidewalk evangelist. Preaching, for us, does not carry such negative connotations. Rather, it is the outward expression of an inward encounter with the Living God. Such expressions have taken shape in many ways over the 800 year history of our Order: the itinerant evangelism of our founder- St. Dominic, the passionate love for truth and the intellectual clarity of Sts. Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas, St. Martin de Porres' evangelical love for the poor, St. Catherine of Siena's ministry of reconciliation and reform. The Studentate of the Western Province aspire to these models of holy preaching and we hope that this blog, in its better moments, helps further the Dominican mission: Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare- To Praise, To Preach, To Bless."

West Coast Walk for Life Video

2010-02-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

West Coast Walk for Life was an amazing success! Check out this new video (featuring a couple of our parishioners) made by Br. Michael James Rivera, OP, of St. Albert's Priory in Oakland, CA. For amazing writing from the Dominican Brothers, check out their new blog, Deus Providebit.

Holy Hour

2010-02-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

"What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation."

- St. Francis of Assisi

Join us this upcoming Friday, February 5th from 7-8pm at Blessed Sacrament Church* for a quiet evening of rosary recitation, Eucharastic adoration, and contemplative music.

*Please note the change of venue for this month's Holy Hour.

Protect The Unborn

2010-01-26T13:53:00.000-08:00

Senate Bill 6452 and House Bill 2837 target Pregnancy Centers with excessive regulation, unless they provide abortions and/or abortion referrals. SB 6452 and HB 2837 are part of a nationwide campaign by abortion advocacy groups to steer women to abortion providers instead of pregnancy centers for assistance with an unwanted pregnancy. These bills threaten the Pregnancy Centers ability to stay open.

The lives of thousands of unborn children are at stake!

Click here for more information, or you may receive updates via Twitter. The legislature is meeting TOMORROW, Wednesday, January 27th at 8am. There is still time to email your legislators. You may click here to find out who your legislators are and to get their contact information.

And above all else, please pray that ALL HUMAN LIFE will one day (soon!) be seen for the true gift from God that it is.

We love AJ (and Sarah, too)!

2010-01-25T19:53:00.000-08:00

We invite you all to support our friends and fellow parishioners, AJ and Sarah Steinbrecher. Please pray for them as they walk together on AJ's cancer journey. AJ was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma on Halloween of 2009 and is now half-way through chemo treatment. You can read more about AJ and Sarah's journey on their blog, West Coast Steins, and you may become a fan of AJ's support group, "We Love AJ" on Facebook, too! We also invite you to support AJ's efforts for the Livestrong Challenge as part of Team Livestrong.

Please keep AJ and Sarah in your daily prayers!

Veritas

2010-01-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder, all are welcome to join us for Veritas - a study group focusing on encyclicals and writings of the Church. We are currently reading and discussing "Gaudium et Spes", the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World from the Second Vatican Council. Join us Thursdays from 7:30pm - 9:00pm in the Siena Room at the UW Newman Center.

** Please note, unlike previously announced Veritas WILL BE meeting this week! Come check it out!

Drinks with the Dominicans - The Centrality of Jesus Christ

2010-01-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

The Centrality of Jesus Christ

Why are there so many religions in the world and what are we to make of them? As we look at the sheer diversity of religious belief all around us, we can be tempted to throw up our hands and simply try to find a lowest common denominator. "Well, maybe it doesn't matter so much which religion you belong to as long as you try to be a good person and live a good life." Many people want to believe that the different religions out there are just different paths to God. As Catholics, what are we to make of these ideas that are so present all around us? Should we just say that everyone who isn't Catholic is going to hell? Should we agree that Catholicism is just "our truth"?

Join Father Raphael Mary Salzillo, OP, and your fellow Blessed Sacrament Young Adults as we chat about this important topic - Wednesday, January 28th at 7pm at the Blue Star Cafe and Pub.

Memorial Mass for Father Tom

2010-01-15T12:32:00.000-08:00

Friday, Jan 22nd is the Anniversary of Fr. Tom's death (and birth to eternal life). Please join the Blessed Sacrament Parish community for a rosary at 6:30pm and a candlelight Mass at 7pm at the Prince of Peace Newman Center. Reception to Follow.

In honor of Fr. Tom and his passion to help the poor, we are asking people to bring a can of food for Northwest Harvest.

Haiti Earthquake Support

2010-01-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

Seattle IPA would like to encourage all of you to pray for the victims and their families of the Haiti earthquake and make a donation if possible at www.crs.org.

A Place of Prayer for the victims of the earthquake has been established in St. James Cathedral’s Chapel at the image of Mary known as Our Lady of Seattle. This 19th century statue was shipped from Italy around the horn of South America to Seattle via the Caribbean.

A special ecumenical prayer service will be held in St. James Cathedral TODAY Friday, January 15th at 6:30 pm. This service of songs from Taize will include prayers and readings.

You can read the full letter from CRS in response to the Haiti earthquake at the Seattle IPA blog.

Dinner with the Dominicans

2010-01-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

Join us this upcoming Sunday, January 17th 5:45pm Mass and then meet us in the back of the church. We will be carpooling to Tutta Bella for Dinner with the Dominicans. Father Raphael Mary, OP will be our guest-Dominican this month.

Young Adult Women's Retreat - Spa for the Soul!

2010-01-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

Spa for the Soul

Weekend for Women January 15-17, 2010

Retreat Guide: Fr. Raymond Cleaveland.

This “Spa for the Soul” weekend, held at the Brannan House, Christ the King, is geared toward women who would not consider themselves to be “retreat going types.” The casual atmosphere & lively presentations will provide a renewed excitement about the Faith as well as an increased appreciation for our Christian Spirituality. Suggested donation: $50 for room & board.

This retreat will challenge you to reflect & pray about the most important things in life: God, your relationship with God, family, friends, & eternity.

Starts at 6 pm (show up anytime after 5), and ends at 10:30 am on Sunday.

For more information or to register, please email Lauren White at Christ the King Parish.

New Year - New Testament

2010-01-06T16:21:00.000-08:00

Fellow YAYA, Kevin Birnbaum just started a new project and blog for the New Year. His plan is to read one chapter of the New Testament every weekday through out the year. He will blog about it. His hope is to get people to follow along, to comment, and to discuss the readings.

Here's Kevin's first post: My New Testament Reading Plan

From time to time I'll develop an ambition to read through the entire Bible in a year. But it never lasts long. At least for me, that's just way too much daily reading. I need a more modest goal.

Then I realized that the New Testament is only 260 chapters long, which means that if I start today (Jan. 4) and read just one chapter each weekday, I'll finish the last chapter on Dec. 31. Very tidy. Very manageable.

So I'm going to do it. And I'm going to blog about it, writing a very brief reflection on each chapter as I read it. I'm neither a Scripture expert nor a saint, so I'll try to avoid pontificating and stick, rather, to viewing this as an opportunity for intellectual and (especially) spiritual growth.

A couple of procedural notes: 1) I plan to read the English Standard Version of the Bible, a revision of the Revised Standard Version that is both (as I understand) fairly literal and quite beautiful. 2) I'll be reading the books of the New Testament in their normal order, with the exception that the four Gospels will be interspersed throughout the year; I'm starting with the Gospel of Luke because Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are two volumes of the same extended work, and they stay together this way.

Below is my reading schedule, with the name of each book, the number of chapters it has, and the date it should be finished. I invite anyone who's interested to read along with me and leave your own comments.

UPDATE: The question was asked whether commenters should stick to discussing whatever theme I point out in a given chapter. The answer is no: Feel free to bring up any aspect of a chapter that you find worthy of comment.

Luke - 24 chapters - Feb. 4
Acts - 28 chapters - March 16
Romans - 16 chapters - April 7
Mark - 16 chapters - April 29
1 Corinthians - 16 chapters - May 21
2 Corinthians - 13 chapters - June 9
Galatians - 6 chapters - June 17
Ephesians - 6 chapters - June 25
Philippians - 4 chapters - July 1
Colossians - 4 chapters - July 7
1 Thessalonians - 5 chapters - July 14
2 Thessalonians - 3 chapters - July 19
1 Timothy - 6 chapters - July 27
2 Timothy - 4 chapters - Aug. 2
Titus - 3 chapters - Aug. 5
Philemon - 1 chapter - Aug. 6
Matthew - 28 chapters - Sept. 15
Hebrews - 13 chapters - Oct. 4
James - 5 chapters - Oct. 11
1 Peter - 5 chapters - Oct. 18
2 Peter - 3 chapters - Oct. 21
1 John - 5 chapters - Oct. 28
2 John - 1 chapter - Oct. 29
3 John - 1 chapter - Nov. 1
Jude - 1 chapter - Nov. 2
Revelation - 22 chapters - Dec. 2
John - 21 chapters - Dec. 31

Holy Hour

2010-01-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

Come, start off the New Year with some quiet time in front of our Lord... THIS FRIDAY, January 8th at 7pm at the Newman Center. Join your fellow Young Adults for adoration, rosary recitation, and some quiet, contemplative music.

Meditation of St. Francis of Assisi

Let everyone be struck with fear,

the whole world tremble,

and the heavens exult

when Christ, the Son of the living God,

is present on the altar in the hands of a priest!

O wonderful loftiness

and stupendous dignity!

O sublime humility!

O humble sublimity!

The Lord of the universe,

God and the Son of God,

so humbles Himself

that He hides Himself

for our salvation

under and ordinary piece of bread!

See the humility of God, brothers,

and pour out your hearts before Him!

Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by Him!

Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves,

that He Who gives Himself totally to you

may receive you totally!

ADVENT REFLECTIONS: JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

2009-12-15T00:07:00.000-08:00

Fr. Michael Fones OP, Co-Director of the Siena Institute, gave a beautiful refection on Advent entitled, "Journey to Bethlehem" last year. He kindly shared the write-up of his talk with us last year. It is so good that it certainly warrants re-posting this year.

Happy Advent, Everyone! Please consider taking a few minutes to read this beautiful reflection; it certainly is a great way to prepare for the upcoming celebration of our Christ's birth!

ADVENT REFLECTIONS: JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM
(Fr. Micheal Fones, OP)

In this Advent evening I’ll be

* presenting some material,
* giving you some time for personal reflection,

What is needed before you begin a journey to a place you want to go?

* A destination
* A map if you’re driving, going on foot
* Supplies appropriate to the journey
* The right attitude: excitement, anticipation, hope, attentiveness so that the journey is more than a means to an end.

We are on a journey this Advent – a journey towards a spiritual Bethlehem – a journey to Christmas – when we celebrate the miraculous mystery of God among us

As we make our way towards the celebration of that event, let’s look at some others who journeyed to Bethlehem so long ago:

What might have been the attitudes of these individuals or groups, and can we be – or not be – like them as we journey to Bethlehem and Christmas this last week of Advent?

The Crowds

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. Luke 2:1-3

While you fight the often increasingly surly crowds in the malls this next week, consider the mood of the inhabitants of Palestine. People moving to and fro across the crowded roads; camping out in fields, commerce disrupted, weddings, funerals interfered with. It was bad enough that people would be on the move for Passover, but that was a joyful experience. In this case, everyone knew the purpose was for accurate collection of taxes.

Roman census edict from 104 A.D in Egypt.

"Gaius Vibius Maximus, prefect of Egypt, says: The house-to-house census having been started, it is essential that all persons who for any reason whatsoever are absent from their homes be summoned to return to their own hearths, in order that they may perform the customary business of registration..."

A.H.M. Jones, ed., "A History of Rome Through the Fifth Century", New York: Harper and Row, 1970, II, pp. 256 f.

Yet did anyone guess that this huge inconvenience played into God’s hands? That because of a decree issued 1500 miles away, by an emperor who had no knowledge of or interest in Jewish prophecy, a great prophecy would be fulfilled?

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,  though you are small among the clans of Judah,  out of you will come for me  one who will be ruler over Israel,  whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2

How often do we complain about inconveniences that later on turn out to be the means by which God does something good for us? We can never know in this life that the red light we get stopped at means we don’t hit a little boy who runs out into the street after a ball without looking three blocks ahead.

When I first spent some serious time in Colorado Springs at the home of the Catherine of Siena Institute, I needed to first arrange for a place to stay. I called the Dominicans in Castle Rock, CO, about 40 miles north of the Springs. They didn’t answer my calls, or my e-mails. “Well, they’re Dominicans from the Central Province, not my own,” I reasoned, “and their place is forty miles away and I don’t have a car. I’m not sure what I’d have done if they opened their community to me, anyway.”

So I called the Franciscan friars who have a community in Colorado Springs. No answer from them, either. Time was slipping by and I still had no place to stay when I went to work in Colorado Springs.

Eventually, Sherry Weddell, my co-director, asked her pastor if I could stay with him. “Sure,” he responded. He didn’t know (nor did I) that I would become his “roomie” for the better part of three months each of the last four years!

In the meanwhile, once I settled in, he mentioned that he’d just started a 6:30 a.m. Mass, and would I mind helping out with it from time to time. (He already had an 8 a.m. Mass each day). “No problem,” I said, “I get up early anyway.”

It was at the 6:30 a.m. Mass that I met Daniel, a now 36-year old former drug addict who has become a very, very good friend, and whose story of conversion has challenged my own response to Jesus’ invitation to discipleship, and whose story has become part of many of my parish missions. God has worked quite powerfully in my life through Daniel, and I’d likely not have met him had either the Dominicans or the Franciscans answered their phone.

Sometimes the frustrating things that happen to us are actually part of a bigger picture that we can’t possibly be aware of; a bigger picture that has some great good in store for us if we trust God is constantly acting in our lives on our behalf.

What’s happening in the society around you that is frustrating you or getting on your nerves during this Advent season? Can you imagine any way God might be able to work in your life through it?

Joseph and Mary

And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7

You know how Mary stepped out in faith, acquiescing to God’s invitation to be the mother of His son – and an unwed mother at that. Imagine how hard it must have been for her to tell Joseph, a good man, that she was pregnant, knowing full well that he could have her stoned to death for adultery! Imagine how much trust Joseph had to have in his own dream, in which God told him to have no fear regarding taking Mary into his home.

I don’t know about you, but after all that they’d had to accept on faith, I’d expect things to get easier, not harder. I’d expect a better entrance into the world for the Messiah. It would be hard enough to believe that the Son of God would be born to a poor couple, but born away from home, away from immediate family? No room in the inn, even. I often wonder if Joseph felt any guilt that he couldn’t provide a better place for Mary; or resentment that she had said, “yes” to this preposterous invitation.

It’s situations like the predicament Joseph and Mary found themselves in that night that make it hard for me to say “yes” to God. I have a comfortable life. I don’t have to worry about food, shelter, clothing, or work. I have health care, good health, a great education. I have a level of physical comfort that would be the envy of 99.9% of all the people who have ever lived.

Would following Jesus more closely as a disciple mean embracing some discomfort? After all, he tells his disciples, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:22-23

Jesus says that being a disciple is a daily act of self-denial – a daily decision to be obedient to our Father in heaven, as Jesus is obedient to his Father. That is the cross. The cross is not inflicting pain on ourselves, nor is it the misfortunes of life that are thrust upon us – like sickness or injury, or a drug addicted son, or an unfaithful spouse. The cross is found in responding to those situations, as well as pleasant situations, by discerning, “what would God have me do here and now?” The discomfort is often two-fold: it’s found in people’s responses to our decision to follow God, and in the doubts that can plague us, “Am I really doing the right thing?”

Mary and Joseph are doing the Father’s will as they make the journey towards Bethlehem – most likely unconscious of the fact that in doing so they are fulfilling Micah’s prophecy. They may have well wondered, “Are we doing the right thing? Is this what God wants?” They may have been afraid of what else might happen to them.

I would be afraid – in fact, I am afraid. But I’m not alone in my fear. Listen to this quote, and see if you can guess who said it.

“If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom?”
Benedict XVI’s inaugural homily.

This is a definite attitude of mine. I’ve read too many old “lives of the saints,” stories that emphasized the horrible suffering undergone by the saint for the love of God.

* Will God ask of me something I don’t want to do? Or can’t do?

It’s a fairly common Catholic attitude. If God really loves you, you’re gonna suffer. Being a disciple is like eating your vegetables as a child. It’s really unpleasant, but good for you, and will make you grow stronger…if it doesn’t kill you first.

But we must not forget the blessings that come from being an instrument of God – even in this life. After all, Mary and Joseph experienced some pretty wondrous things: visits by shepherds and magi – and living with God made flesh.

Do you fear what might happen if you entrusted your life completely to God? What are you afraid of?

Angels

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. Luke 2:8-12

If there’s a common refrain in the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke, it is “don’t be afraid!” The angel Gabriel tells Mary and Zechariah, her cousin Elizabeth’s husband, “do not be afraid.” Joseph is told in a dream not fear taking Mary into his home. Now the shepherds are told not to fear.

And in every case the reason for not fearing is because God is present and at work.

Why do we become afraid?

We’re confronted with the Unknown, with something beyond our experience. And because it’s unknown or beyond our experience, we don’t trust it. The more we’ve been mistreated, the more fearful we’re going to be when we face a strange, new situation.

Fear is about self-preservation – it triggers a primal fight or flight response in us.

Fear is connected to the story of the Fall. In the garden, when the man and woman have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they hide themselves from God when he comes walking in the garden in the breezy time of the day. They had sinned and feared punishment – a punishment deserved for their disobedience.

The angels say, “Do not be afraid” and give a reason: they have a message of good news and great joy. The message is God has sent a savior to us; the Messiah long-awaited by the Jews. Of course, the shepherds, the magi, even Mary and Joseph had no idea what kind of Messiah Jesus would be. Not an earthly king, but a suffering servant. Not a warrior who would triumph with the sword, but one who would conquer death by giving his life in love. A Messiah who would undo Adam’s disobedience and remove our fear.

Listen to what the apostle, John, has to say in his first letter:

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:16-19

If our intention is to become more like Jesus in this world; if we are willing to carry the cross that comes from setting aside our own will and doing Our Father’s will – we will be as he is in this world. If our desire for the good of others overcomes our desire to judge whether they’re worthy of that good, then our love is being perfected. And we will have no reason to fear punishment from God – or even think about it. We will be living as His sons and daughters.

Shepherds

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:15-18

On a beautiful early summer day between my junior and senior years in high school I received a letter from the McDonald’s corporation. Immediately, I knew what it was about. I remembered my band director had nominated me for the McDonald’s All-American Marching Band the previous November. I had even made a tape of my playing as part of the nomination process. This was my rejection letter, at long last.

Except it began with the single-word sentence, “Congratulations!” Much to my astonishment and joy, I had been selected as one of two representatives from the state of Illinois. Immediately I wanted to tell my parents, but dad was at work and mom was out on errands. So I called some of my friends – not a single one answered. I went out into the neighborhood. I had to tell someone my good news!

When we experience something good, we naturally want to tell others. When I was in campus ministry, I often was among the first to know that someone was engaged.

As we approach Christmas, we need to return to the story of the Word made flesh and reflect on the enormity of God sharing our human condition. In a world that celebrates fame, fortune, success, and victory as sources of joy, we have to recall that God comes to ordinary people – especially the forgotten, the poor, the lowly, the simple, those the world considers to be losers. The shepherds were nothing special, and yet the angels were sent to them. Perhaps because they lived in poverty, they could look upon a newborn babe born into poverty, lying in the feedbed of animals, and believe, “Here is my Messiah and Lord.”

Here’s something to reflect upon. According to the Pew Foundation study titled, “Religion in America,” based on interviews with 35,000 Americans, Catholics are less likely than atheists to talk about God.

If good news is something we can’t keep our mouths shut about, perhaps we aren’t experiencing the gospel as good news. Perhaps we haven’t experienced Jesus’ love and life-changing grace.

I invite you to spend a few moments offering a simple prayer – it is a prayer that a friend of mine, a sexually promiscuous former meth addict prayed for five years before he was ready to accept an answer. He prayed, “Lord, help me love you with the same love you have for me.”

And pray that we’re willing to embrace the answer to that prayer – and the change to our life that will happen as a consequence.

Magi

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." … After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. Matthew 2:1-12

[The following description of the star the magi followed is lifted shamelessly from this website: http://www.bethlehemstar.net/

For a less far-reaching hypothesis that ties in with the known chronology of Herod’s death in 4 BC (two years before the Magi would come to Judea in the following scenario) go to: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/decemberweb-only/151-51.0.html]

The Bible is filled with references to astrology. This is because astrology was widely accepted as truth in Biblical times. Christians who believe that astrology is Satanic would be surprised to learn that the Bible is filled with astrology and even Jesus himself made numerous references to astrology. Certainly astrology is condemned in terms of foretelling the future – but it is used in Scripture to help interpret current events.

Thanks to the science of astronomy, we can calculate the position of stars in the night sky in the past, as well as predict the position of stars in the future – and anyone who’s ever gone to a planetarium has seen.

One of the great astrological stories in the Bible is the story of the star of Bethlehem. In ancient times, planets like Jupiter were considered "wandering stars." Jupiter itself, named after the king of the Roman Gods, has long been known as the “king planet.”

It's not enough to have a kingly name and reputation, of course. To be Matthew's Star, Jupiter as viewed from Earth would have to do peculiar things. More precisely, as considered by a magus viewing from the Middle East during the years 3 and 2 BC, Jupiter's movements would have to satisfy all the identifying characteristics of the Star mentioned in Matthew’s gospel. In September of 3 BC at the time of the Jewish New Year, Rosh ha-Shanah, Jupiter began to do just that.

A magus watching Jupiter that September saw two objects moving so close that they appeared to touch. This close approach of celestial bodies is sometimes called a 'conjunction.' Our Middle Eastern viewer saw Jupiter coming into a close conjunction with the star, Regulus. Regulus takes its name from the word root which yields our word 'regal.' The Babylonians called Regulus Sharu, which means 'king.' The Romans called Regulus Rex, which means 'king.' So to start things, at the beginning of the new Jewish year, the Planet of Kings met the Star of Kings. This conjunction may have indicated kingship in a forceful way to a Babylonian magus (satisfying one qualification for the Star), but it might not have startled him, since such a conjunction happens every 12 years. He might have been merely interested, but more happened.

The planets move against the field of fixed stars. From Earth, they appear to be "active." For example, were you to watch Jupiter each night for several weeks, you would see that it moves eastward through the starry field. Each night Jupiter rises in the east (satisfying a second Star qualification). Each night it appears to be slightly farther east in the field of fixed stars. All of the planets move like this.

But the wandering stars exhibit another, stranger motion. Periodically, they appear to reverse course and move backward through the other stars. This may seem odd, but the reason is simple enough: we watch the planets from a moving platform—Earth—hurtling around the Sun in its own orbit. When you pass a car on the freeway, it appears to go backward as it drops behind. For similar reasons, when the Earth in its orbit swings past another planet, that planet appears to move backward against the starry field. Astronomers call this optical effect retrograde motion.

In 3/2 BC, Jupiter's retrograde wandering would have called for our magus' full attention. After Jupiter and Regulus had their kingly encounter, Jupiter continued on its path through the star field. But then it entered retrograde. It "changed its mind" and headed back to Regulus for a second conjunction. After this second pass it reversed course again for yet a third rendezvous with Regulus, a triple conjunction. A triple pass like this is more rare. Over a period of months, our watching magus would have seen the Planet of Kings dance out a halo above the Star of Kings. A coronation.

Jupiter's interesting behavior may explain the kingly aspect of the Star. But there are other aspects of the Star of Bethlehem Matthew mentions. How did Jupiter's movement relate to the Jewish nation? Is its association with the Jewish New Year enough? Where is an indication of a birth? Some might say that the triple conjunction by itself would indicate to a magus that a new king was on the scene. Maybe. But there is more.

The Jewish nation is composed of twelve ancient tribes. Jewish prophecy states that a particular tribe will bring forth the Messiah: the tribe of Judah. The symbol of Judah's tribe is the lion. You can see these connections in an ancient prediction of Messiah's coming found in the first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, Chapter 49, which we hear during Advent.

9 You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness-- who dares to rouse him? 10 The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.

This association of Messiah with the tribe of Judah and with the lion is a productive clue. It clarifies the connection between Jupiter's behavior and the Jewish nation, because the starry coronation—the triple conjunction—occurred within the constellation of Leo, The Lion. Ancient stargazers, particularly if they were interested in things Jewish, may well have concluded they were seeing signs of a Jewish king. But there is more.

The last book of the New Testament is, in part, a prophetic enigma. But a portion of the Book of Revelation provides clear and compelling guidance for our astronomical investigation. The apostle John wrote the book as an old man while in exile on the island of Patmos. Perhaps the austerity of this exile or a lack of companionship left him time to ponder the night sky. Whatever the reason, Revelation is full of star imagery. In Chapter 12, John describes a life and death drama played out in the sky: the birth of a king.

1 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. … The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre...

A woman in labor, a dragon bent on infanticide and a ruler of the nations. We have already seen this ruler in the Book of Genesis, above. This would be the Messiah, in his role as King of Kings. If that interpretation is correct, then according to the gospel story the woman would be Mary, the mother of Jesus. The dragon which waits to kill the child at birth would be Herod, who did that very thing. John says the woman he saw was clothed in the Sun. She had the moon at her feet. Is he describing something that actually happened in the sky?

In September of 3 BC, at the beginning of the Jewish New Year, as Jupiter was beginning the coronation of Regulus, another startling symbol rose in the sky. The constellation which rises in the east, clothed with the sun, behind Leo is Virgo, The Virgin. And as John said, the moon was at her feet. It was a new moon, symbolically birthed at the feet of The Virgin.

The sheer concentration of symbolism in the stars at this moment is remarkable. These things could certainly lead our magus to conclude that a Jewish king had been born. But even this is not the whole story. These symbols could indicate a birth, but if they were interpreted to indicate the time of conception, the beginning of a human life, might there be something interesting in the sky nine months later?

In June of 2 BC, Jupiter continued the pageantry. The Planet of Kings traveled on through the starry sky toward another spectacular rendezvous, this time with Venus, the Mother Planet. This conjunction was so close and so bright that it is today displayed in hundreds of planetaria around the world by scientists who may know nothing of Matthew c. 2. They do it because what Jupiter did makes such a great planetarium show. Jupiter appeared to join Venus. The planets could not be distinguished with the naked eye. Each contributed its full brightness to what became the most brilliant star our man had ever seen. Jupiter completed this step of the starry dance as it was setting in the west. That evening, our Babylonian magus would have seen the spectacle of his career while facing toward Judea.

No one alive had ever seen such a conjunction. If the Magi only began their travel plans in September, when they saw this sight nine months later, someone may have shouted "What are we waiting for? Mount up!" At the end of their travel, which may have taken weeks or months, these experts arrived in Jerusalem. They told their tale, and "all Jerusalem was disturbed." Herod wanted to know two things: when the Star had appeared, and where this baby was.

To qualify as the Star, Jupiter would have to have been ahead of the Magi as they trekked South from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Sure enough, in December of 2 BC if the Magi looked south in the wee hours, there hung the Planet of Kings over Bethlehem.

But Matthew says the star stopped over Bethlehem. How could a planet do that? And did Jupiter do it?

The problem with a planet stopping is not what you might think. The problem is not that planets can't stop. Just the opposite. The problem is that all planets are always stopped to the eye of a human observer. The movement of the stars and planets are imperceptible to the naked eye. So, if all stars are always stopped, what can Matthew have meant?

An astronomer tracking the movement of planets through the star field watches not so much on the scale of minutes, but on the longer scale of days, weeks and months. On this scale of time, Jupiter did stop, just as it entered retrograde motion in winter of 2 BC - on December 25. Magi viewing from Jerusalem would have seen it stopped in the sky above the little town of Bethlehem.

The magi read of a great occurrence in Judea, and with the help of Jewish prophecy went to Bethlehem. The conjunction of planets and stars, their location in the sky – all were set in motion by God from the very beginning of creation. Three pagan astrologers saw enough to know that something a remarkable and unique king was being born, and they made the dangerous journey to offer him homage.

As you exchange gifts with family and friends this Christmas, what gift will you give to the Master of the Cosmos, Your Savior, Your King? What gift is most appropriate to give our creator except our very selves?

Soldiers

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: "A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more." Matthew 2:16-18

The soldiers journey to Bethlehem, too. Our way to the Lord is never without opposition. The soldiers of Herod are long dead and turned to dust, but the soldiers of the Evil One still hunt us, the children of God.

We must never be dismayed that evil still works its way in the world. Wars, scandals, oppression, political dishonesty, lying, addiction – these are a part of the environment in which the Christian journeys, just as they were part of the environment in which Christ walked.

Christ has overcome the Evil One and his minions; their power is broken, but we must neither fear, nor deny, the existence of the darkness. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” We must be children of the light.

The Son of God: God With Us

though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped*. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8

In the garden, the Tempter suggested that if Adam and Eve were to eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, they would become “like gods.” This is the fundamental human sin; to desire to be what we are not; to grasp beyond our creatureliness to become God. To be like God: self-sufficient and all-knowing. Our redemption begins not on Calvary, but in Bethlehem – or better, in Mary’s womb, as the Word becomes flesh and makes his dwelling among us. Not grasping after divinity, the Son freely giving up aspects of his divinity in order to be a servant: a servant not just of his Father, but of his Father’s creatures – us!

Nothing in Jesus’ life was about himself. He was a man always for others, just as God is always for us. If this is true of God, it must also be true of His creatures. Your life is not about you, but, as St. Paul told the Corinthians, Your life is hidden with Christ in God. He is your life, and when he is revealed, you will be revealed in all your glory with him. Col 3:4

One of the things I’ve discovered in listening to people describe the charisms God has given them is a sense of radical humility. They know that they are drawing from another source, that Someone is working through them, and that much of their work is to get out of the way. They can take risks, come up with creative responses to situations, people, and problems that they encounter, because ultimately the gift they have – and the effect they have on others – is not their own. Instead, they realize that they have been given a gift, a responsibility, a call that is theirs alone because Someone has taken them seriously.

Your life is not about you, and the charisms are tremendous reminders of that fact. They are reminders of how much God has invested in you, just as he invested in his Son, Jesus.

Your job is not to concoct an image for yourself, but to gradually allow grace to reveal who you truly are, in all your uniqueness, and flawed giftedness. Conversion leads to that uncovering of your true self. You are not called to be another shepherd, or a St. Joseph or the Blessed Virgin, or a magus, or anyone. Just as God became flesh in a particular person – what a scandal! – He wishes to take flesh today through you. And rather than destroying who you are, in Christ, Paul says, “you will be revealed in all your glory with him.” Your true self is more glorious, grounded, original, and free than any self-made image you try to project.

And this true self can be discovered only on the journey to Bethlehem, and only if you imitate those who’ve made the journey before you: the shepherds, magi, Mary, Joseph, and, of course, Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us.

December Holy Hour Reflection

2009-12-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

Lk 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Lineage, more specifically paternal lineage, was so important in Jesus’ time and is still so important in the Middle East. We now think of John as Jesus’ cousin, but here he is identified as “John, son of Zechariah”. This description tells that John was just an average man. If he were someone “special” by secular standards, someone famous, his name would have stood alone. There would have been no need to identify him by his paternal lineage – just look at some of the others named in this reading – Herod, Philip, Lysanias, and Caiaphus. By all accounts, they were the important people. Yet, with the advantage of hindsight and faith, we know the truth… John, son of Zechariah, cousin of Jesus, a virtual unknown and a nobody, an average man was the most important person in this story – he is the one who was called to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: “A voice crying out in the wilderness.”

Luke tells us, though, that John didn’t just go to the desert to preach, rather the “word of God came to [him] in the desert”. What was it that first caused John to go out into the desert? I certainly don’t know… Most of you have probably never been to Palestine, but I can assure you that desert there is not a fun place. It is HOT, dry, dusty and sandy and brown, disgustingly brown. We complain here in Seattle about gray skies. There, you can go for miles and miles and see nothing but various shades of brown – brown sand, brown rock, brown “mountains” that are way too short to be snow-capped, and yes even brown shrubs. It is a harsh and unforgiving environment. And yet, John willfully chose to go out into the desert wilderness. Was he crazy as some thought? Or, could it be he felt a tugging in his heart? Could it be that God spoke to him? Certainly, something miraculous must have happened for him to go out into the wilderness.

In fact, something miraculous did happen – John heard God’s call and answered it. And the miracle didn’t just stop there… once John answered the call, he heard the word of God and began “to preach a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” to all the people he encountered. This baptism that John speaks of is a prelude and an epilogue to our own baptism through Christ. John baptized with water, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. - Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the honour of holding my Godson while he was baptized. Here was this tiny baby who in an instant became a member of the Body of Christ. As I watched the priest pour a bit of Holy Water on his head, I couldn’t help but think of the amazing gift that I was holding in my arms, the miracle of the gift that this little baby was receiving, and the awesome responsibility that had just been handed to him at 8 weeks old. – We, too, have this same responsibility inherent in our own baptism, the responsibility that calls us to the repentance about which John preached. As members of the Body of Christ, Jesus has washed away all of our sins with His Blood, but we are not blameless. We cannot run free, caving in to secular pressures and crazy whims. Rather, we must strive to live our lives for Christ, yearning for Him, seeking Him, despite our imperfections. And yes, we must repent – the responsibility of our baptism calls us to examine our lives, to repent, and to turn away from that which separates us from our Lord and Saviour.

This evening, we’re coming to the end of the first week of Advent. For the next three weeks, we, like John, are called to live in the wilderness, in the desert of introspection and repentance, as we prepare for the coming of our Lord. This is no easy task. It’s Advent and yet everywhere we look we see Christmas lights and decorations. Christmas music is on the radio and in the stores. We’ve already had Black Friday and Cyber Monday – the message that we’re surrounded by is one of consumerism and tangible gifts. But let us not fooled, the real gift at Christmas the one about whom John preached: the tiny babe swaddled and lying in a manger. So, let us all move away from distraction and enter into the desert of repentance as we pray:

Living God,

Help us as we remember Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection,to be ready to receive Him not just when He comes again but each and every day of our lives.

Help us to confess our mistakes. Forgive us for all the wrongs we have done; may we read your Word with new insight as we offer you our living worship, and turn from all that is wrong and faithless in our lives.

Help us to focus on what is central to this season and not just on the trappings with which we surround it.

Help us to open our hearts and minds to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and respond to His prompting.

Help us to follow in the way of Christ, loving Him as he has loved us.

You have promised that Christ will come again: so prepare our hearts for His coming.

In His name we pray, Amen.

Holy Hour

2009-12-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

"Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come."

Join us this upcoming Friday, December 4th at 7:00pm at Blessed Sacrament** to spend some quiet time in prayer before the Eucharist this Advent season to prepare for the coming of our Savior. The holy hour will offer time for silent reflection while incorporating rosary recitation, scripture and meditative music.

**Please note that this month's holy hour will take place at Blessed Sacrament Church.

St. Nicholas Cookie Delivery

2009-12-02T17:38:00.000-08:00

Come, help us spread the cheer of St. Nicholas!

Meet us on Saturday, December 5th, at 10:00am in the Parish Hall of Blessed Sacrament Church. We will put together plates of Christmas cookies and then will go out in teams of 2 or 3 to deliver the cookies to people in our parish community who could use a holiday visit.

Please bring a batch or two of cookies to share for delivery.

Sundays at Seven

2009-11-30T16:14:00.000-08:00

Sundays at Seven are a music ministry serving the 7pm Mass at the UW Newman Center. Check out their blog for their latest information, inspirational writings, and videos of their music.

Happy Thankgsiving!

2009-11-25T19:19:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

For those of you still in town, there will be Mass at Blessed Sacrament at 10:00am on Thanksgiving -- a great opportunity to give thanks to God for all that He has done!

Drinks with the Dominicans -POSTPONED

2009-11-16T20:43:00.000-08:00

**PLEASE NOTE THAT DRINKS WITH THE DOMINICANS HAS BEEN POSTPONED**

(We will reschedule this important discussion for a later date.)

Everywhere we turn, we hear something about the health care debate. How do we sort out what it means for us and our neighbours? Please come join Father Jordan Bradshaw, OP as he explores the U.S Bishop's response to the current discussion on health care.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
7:00-9:00pm
Blue Star Cafe and Pub

November 9th, 2009 Statement from Cardinal Francis George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Over the weekend, the US House of Representatives advanced major legislation to provide adequate and affordable health care to all. The Catholic Bishops of the United States have long advocated that adequate health care be made available to everyone. In an essential step, the House voted overwhelmingly to reaffirm the longstanding and widely supported precedent that no federal funds will be used to pay for elective abortions. In doing so, the Representatives honored President Obama’s commitment to the Congress and the nation that health care reform would not become a vehicle for expanding abortion funding or mandates. The Conference will remain vigilant and involved throughout this entire process to assure that these essential provisions are maintained and included in the final legislation. We will work to persuade the Senate to follow the example of the House and include these critical safeguards in their version of health care reform legislation. We also thank the members of the House who took this courageous and principled step to oppose measures that would force Americans to pay for the destruction of unborn children, and the Democratic leadership for allowing the Representatives to vote on this amendment that protects the common good.

In the national discussion on how to provide the best kind of health care, we bishops do not claim or present ourselves as experts on health care policy. We are not prepared to assess every provision of legislation as complex as this proposal. However, health care legislation, with all its political, technical and economic aspects, is about human beings and hence has serious moral dimensions. Our focus is the concrete realities of families with children and their access to doctors, the poor and the elderly, those with limited means and those with few or even no means, such as the mother carrying a child in her womb. Our Catholic commitment to health care picks up the pieces of our failing system in our emergency rooms, clinics, parishes and communities. This is why we believe our nation’s health care system needs reform which protects human life and dignity and serves the poor and vulnerable as a moral imperative and an urgent national priority.

We remain deeply concerned about the debate that now moves to the Senate, especially as it will affect the poor and vulnerable, and those at the beginning and end of life. We will continue to insist that health care reform legislation must protect conscience rights. We support measures to make health care more affordable for low-income people and the uninsured. We remain deeply concerned that immigrants be treated fairly and not lose the health care coverage that they now have. We will continue to raise our voices in public and in prayer; we ask our people to join us in making the moral case for genuine health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.

Veritas

2009-11-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's that time again... ToB is back! Well, sort of! After much discussion, we feel that the topic of "human sexuality" has become rather saturated. So, we're switching topics for this next phase of our study group and will now be discussing various encyclicals (and other Church documents) and how they relate to the world we currently live in. As such, we have renamed our group, "Veritas".

Veritas will begin meeting on Thursday, November 12th from 7:30 - 9:00pm in the Siena Room at the Newman Center! (A huge "thanks" to Father Jordan and Father Raphael Mary for giving us that space!) The first encyclical that we'll be reading and discussing is "Caritas in Veritate" (led by Kevin Birnbaum and Amy Tribble). That discussion will continue through the end of 2009 - (two weeks in November and three weeks in December). At the start of the New Year, we'll pick up with another encyclical and new discussion leaders.

Mercy Night

2009-11-08T17:49:00.000-08:00

Drop by our grand century-old brick church in the U-district on Friday, November 13th, from 7:30pm to 10:30pm for another beautiful candlelit evening of prayer and adoration. Priests will be available to hear confessions all evening, and prayer teams will be available to pray with you for your intentions.

Originating from the Emmanuel Community in Europe, Mercy Night offers an extraordinary setting in which to reconnect with God and experience His beauty and goodness. Come anytime, and stay for as little or as long as you like. Anyone and everyone is welcome!

Also, please invite a friend, it is a great way for someone who has not been to church for a while (or ever) to experience God's love for them.

Lunch with the Dominicans

2009-11-03T16:05:00.001-08:00

This upcoming Sunday, November 8th, please join the YAYAs and Father Raphael Mary, OP for an afternoon of good food and fellowship. We will meet in the back of Blessed Sacrament Church after the Noon Mass and then carpool over to Eastlake Bar and Grill for our monthly "Lunch with the Dominicans".

Holy Hour

2009-11-03T15:58:00.001-08:00

"O Trinity, eternal Trinity! Fire, abyss of love . . .
Was it necessary that you should give
Even the Holy Trinity as food for souls? . . .
You gave us not only your Word
Through the Redemption and in the Eucharist,
But you also gave yourself
In the fullness of love for your creature."
-St. Catherine of Siena

Join us for our monthly YAYA Holy Hour, this Friday, November 6th from 7:00-8:00pm at the Newman Center. It's a lovely way to end the week with a bit of reflection, rosary recitation, music, and prayer all in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Blessed Sacrament Young Adult Town Hall Meeting

2009-11-03T15:58:00.000-08:00

Are you a young adult with a desire to grow in faith and community with your peers? Do you have feedback on our past events or ideas for future ones? We are calling all young adults to join us on Wednesday, November 4th at 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall for a discussion of where we have been and where we are headed as a ministry. The evening will include a structured discussion, as well as an open forum for you to contribute your ideas. Pizza and refreshments will be served! For more information contact Teresa Dion or Lara Shamieh.

Seattle 40 Days for Life Finale Rally

2009-11-03T15:57:00.000-08:00

All YAYAs are invited for a potluck and fellowship as we celebrate the work that God has accomplished during the fall Seattle 40 Days for Life campaign.

Thursday, November 5th
7:00-9:00pm
St. Marks Catholic Church

In traditional potluck tradition, people with last names A-L please bring appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks, and M-Z bring desserts.

We will have announcements, prayer, and stories from vigil participants of experiences that touched them at the site this year. If you would like to share such a story, please email it to Monica and we will add you to the program.

We will also be talking about a follow-up group that will continue to meet in between campaigns. The reality is that the unborn are killed throughout the year and we cannot afford to lessen or cease our efforts as long as abortion is legal in this country. You will have the opportunity to sign-up to receive additional information at the rally, but if you are interested and cannot make it, please let us know!

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support during this fall season!

Newman Center Grad/YA Retreat

2009-11-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

The Grad/YA Group at the Newman Center is inviting all YAYAs to their Fall Retreat:

2009 Newman Center Fall Grad/Young Adult Retreat
November 14-15, 2009
Catholic Identity Crisis

Sex, Media and Culture. How do we define ourselves as Catholics in the 21st century when society imposes a different set of standards and beliefs? How do we deal with moral issues that not all Catholics believe in? What are the defining qualities that bring us together in our faith and our journey?

Come join the Newman Center/Grad YA group for a weekend of reflection and fellowship in our quest to experience and discover the mysteries of our faith and our relation to the world. Fr. Raphael Mary will be available all weekend for discussion, mass and confessions.

When: November 14th-15th (planning to be back around 4pm Sun)
Where: Skibac Lodge at Crystal Mountain

Cost: $45 Make check to “Newman Center”. (Scholarships available) (You may download the restration form and pay online.) Registration forms are due to Judy by Wednesday, November 11th. For more information or questions, contact: Alex.

Solemn High Mass according to the Dominican Rite - TONIGHT!!!!!

2009-11-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

Requiem Mass for All Souls, Solemn High Mass according to the Dominican Rite. Music by 16th century Spanish composer Tomas Luis de Victoria sung by the Tudor Choir under the direction of Doug Fullington.

Fr. Daniel Syverstad, OP, Celebrant
Fr. Augustine Thompson, OP, Deacon
Jesson Mata, Subdeacon

This is going to be BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Please come! Tonight, 7pm at Blessed Sacrament!

Drinks with the Dominicans

2009-10-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

Join Father Raphael Mary Salzillo, OP and the YAYAs for an important and timely discussion focusing on Referendum 71, Wednesday, October 21st from 7-9pm at the Blue Star Cafe and Pub in Wallingford.

What's Wrong With Referendum 71? A Catholic Perspective.

If Referendum 71 is accepted by Washington voters on November 3rd, it will ratify a legislative decision to give marriage-like benefits to same-sex couples. The Washington Bishops have released a brief statement about Referendum 71. This statement will be the starting point for our discussion about how our Catholic Faith should guide our thinking (and our voting) on this subject.

Pumpkin Patch!

2009-10-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

It's Autumn and Halloween is right around the corner... what better time to go to a pumpkin patch, get lost in a corn maze, and then pick out that *perfect* pumpkin?! Come, join the YAYAs for fun-filled afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch!

When: Saturday, October 24th from 11am - 3pm
Where: Enciso Family Farms (19417 196th Avenue SE, Renton, WA)

Enciso Family Farms feature a beautiful barn from the 1800's; tractors from past to present; beautiful scenery for amazing picture opportunities and an Old Country Store with an espresso stand, snacks, a cozy fireplace in addition to the pumpkin patch, farm animals (yes! farm animals!), and corn maze!

Entrance to the farm is free, but there is a small fee associated with buying pumpkins or going through the corn maze. THEY ONLY ACCEPT CASH, so be sure to bring some with ya!

Meet in the Blessed Sacrament parking lot and we'll carpool from there.

40 Days for Life MidWay Rally

2009-10-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

40 Days for Life incorporates the power of prayer and fasting along with a physical presence in the community to raise public awareness, and ultimately, to end abortion in America. Throughout this 40 Day period, pro-lifers of all faiths organize groups across the nation to pray peacefully in 12 or 24-hour shifts outside local abortion facilities. So far, the number of babies saved by their presence is 174 in this campaign, over 1,561 total and those are just the ones we know about. You can read more about the campaign here.

Your participation in this campaign is vital to its success. That's why we'd like to invite you out to a special prayer gathering on Saturday, October 17th from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the vigil site by the north entrance to Planned Parenthood at: 2001 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98122. There will be prayer, song, reflections, and a chance for you to make a peaceful, public stand against abortion in the community. "Living the truth in love, we will grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ." (Eph 4:15)

Lunch with the Dominicans! - TOMORROW

2009-10-10T01:33:00.000-07:00

Lunch with Dominicans--Sunday, October 11th after noon Mass

Gather in the back of Blessed Sacrament Church after the noon Mass for lunch at the Rusty Pelican in nearby Wallingford. Father Jordan and Jesson Mata will be joining us so it will surely be entertaining:)

Holy Hour

2009-10-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

“Our lives must be woven around the Eucharist...fix your eyes on Him Who is the light; bring your hearts close to His Divine Heart; ask Him to grant you the grace of knowing Him, the love of loving Him, the courage to serve Him. Seek Him fervently.”

- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

It's time for our monthly Young Adult Holy Hour. Join us, Friday, October 9th from 7-8pm at the Newman Center for an hour of reflection, rosary recitation, music, and prayer all in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Praise & Worship with Adoration

2009-09-30T17:08:00.001-07:00

Please join the Newman Center's very own, Sundays@7 music group for a spirit-filled evening of Praise and Worship music and Eucharastic adoration - Thursday (tomorrow!) October 1st from 7:00 to 8:30pm in the Newman Center Chapel.

Welcome Week!

2009-09-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

This week, Monday, September 28th - Sunday, October 4th, is welcome week at the Newman Center. The Newmanites have planned loads of great activities to welcome the new and returning UW students. Check out this list of activities and go to a few (all) of them... sounds like fun!

Monday 8:00pm - Monday Night Football Game
From Newman we'll head over to Denny Field to play an impromptu game.

Tuesday 8:30pm - Movie on the Roof
Popcorn, friends, and Superstar! Bring Your Own Blankets.

Wednesday 9:00pm - Candlelight Mass
10:00pm - Ice Cream Social

Thursday 7:00pm - Praise and Worship Night
Our 7pm Choir has put together a night of beautiful worship music for us to celebrate our love for our God. Enjoy a prayerful evening with us!

Friday 8:00pm - Jazz Cafe
The foyer will transform into a classy coffeehouse complete with espresso, delightful treats, relaxed ambiance, and all usual bells and whistles for an awesome social hour.

Saturday 1:00pm - Pike Place Market Trip
We're hopping on the bus downtown to check out one of the most famous traditions of Seattle city life.

Sunday 4:00pm - Newman BBQ
Free Food! Can't say no to that...

LUNCH with the Dominicans!

2009-09-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

Join us TOMORROW, Sunday September 27th after the Noon Mass for Lunch with the Dominicans. Father Jordan Bradshaw, OP (who just this week celebrated 26 years as an OP) will be our guest Dominican this month. So, congratulate Father Jordan when you see him, and come have lunch with him as well. :) We'll be meeting in the back of the church and will then head over to Hi-Life in Ballard.

40 Days for Life Kick-Off Rally

2009-09-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Join us TOMORROW (Tuesday, September 22nd, at 7pm at the UW Newman Center) for an evening of fellowship and prayer, featuring local pro-life speakers. 40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America. This fall, over 200 cities throughout the world will be joining in the 40 days campaign from September 23rd to November 1st. Let's begin the 40 Days for Life season in a positive, unified way by joining together and encouraging one another to take a stand for life!

The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God's favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.

For more information about the 40 days campaign or to sign up for vigil hours on-line, go to the 40 Days Seattle website or email.

Drinks with the Dominicans - THIS Wednesday

2009-09-20T00:45:00.000-07:00

Join us this upcoming Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00pm at The Blue Star Cafe and Pub for Drinks with the Dominicans. We're particularly blessed this month to have our YAther, Fr. Jordan Bradshaw OP, teaching us a bit about the rich history, traditions, and spirituality of the Dominican Order. So, come join us for drinks, discussion, and fellowship as we all learn more about these OPs whom we so dearly love.

We heart our Dominicans!

Cornerstone Mexico Mission Trip - August 2010

2009-09-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

Come join Young Adults, ages 18-35, from the parishes of Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Mary Magdalen and more, to answer the call to serve others during a week of prayer, service and fun in Tijuana, Mexico. We will be working alongside a family to help build their new home and learn about their culture in a very personal way. Esperanza International is an organization dedicated to working in partnership with communities in the Tijuana region seeking long-term solutions to the needs present in their families. Find out more about the organization at www.esperanzainternational.org.

Space is limited! Turn in applications with $125 deposit as soon as possible. Contact Ed DeBroeck or Nicole Lusier for more information via cornerstone.esperanza@gmail.com Or find our facebook group “Cornerstone Esperanza Mission Trip.”

Total estimated cost of the trip per person is $750-$850. You will be responsible for the initial deposit of $125. There will be many group fundraisers to help you raise the remainder of the funds. A payment schedule will be followed, the payments will either be funded from our fundraising efforts or individually as you see fit, since God’s wealth is distributed in different ways.

There is an informational meeting scheduled for Monday, September 21st, 2009 from 7:00 - 8:15pm in St. Ann's Hall (under Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Everett).

September Holy Hour Reflection

2009-09-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?”
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.”
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.”
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.”

***************************************************************

Reflection by Kevin Birnbaum

When I showed this Sunday’s Gospel reading to my wife, Jeanette, and told her I’d been asked to offer a reflection on it, her first reaction was, “There’s so much in this! Why did they give you so much?” It is, indeed, a staggeringly rich passage — there’s no way I could ever hope to do justice to all the riches it contains — but as I reflected on it, I began to see a deeper significance in my wife’s remark.

“Why did they give you so much?” The overwhelming richness of this Gospel reading seems to me to be emblematic of God’s whole relationship with us. God, in his grace, continually showers us with an abundance of spiritual and material blessings. And maybe it’s just me, but sometimes it can feel like a little too much to deal with — we know that we’re not doing justice to all the gifts with which we’ve been blessed. Sometimes, we wish God were just a little less generous towards us, because, as our Lord once said, “From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required.” And that’s intimidating, because we have been given a lot.

“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks. Most Catholics are more familiar with Matthew’s account of this exchange, with Peter’s full response that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” and Jesus’ declaration that Peter is the rock upon which he will build his church. We also know, from Matthew, that Peter’s profession of faith was not a product of his own cleverness or insight, but was revealed to him by God the Father. It was a gift.

And what a gift — a gift freighted with responsibility and consequences. Peter could not have known at that moment all that was entailed in the truth he had just uttered. But Jesus soon made it clear. Peter’s friend, his master, the man for whom he had left behind everything — was going to suffer and be killed. Peter can’t bear to hear it. He rebukes Jesus: “No, it can’t be! Not you, Lord! It doesn’t have to be that way!” And Jesus responds, “Get behind me, Satan!” For it is the same temptation he faced in the wilderness, when the devil promised him earthly comfort, power and glory, if only he would abandon his saving mission, the ultimate gift of himself for the redemption of the world.

“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks. It is an urgent question — one that Jesus continues to pose to the world. I’ve heard some people speculate that when we die and go before the throne of God to be judged, that is the question we will be asked, the question on which our eternal destiny hangs. But there’s no need to speculate — Jesus has already told us how we will be judged:

“I was hungry; did you feed me? I was thirsty; did you give me drink? I was a stranger; did you welcome me? I was naked; did you clothe me? I was ill; did you care for me? I was in prison; did you visit me?

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks. Peter’s answer was quite literally a revelation. For most of us, it is not a difficult question. We know who Jesus is. We have been blessed with the gift of faith. We proclaim his identity every Sunday in the Nicene Creed. It’s practically rote. The question Jesus ultimately asks us is this: “Who does your life say that I am?”

We have been so abundantly blessed — not only with faith, but with plenty of food to eat, with a roof over our heads, with good friends, with grace through the sacraments, and with the opportunity to bask in the presence of our Lord and Savior in the Blessed Sacrament.

God gives us these blessings, these gifts, not just for ourselves, but so that we may make a gift of ourselves to others. Do we answer the call? Our lips proclaim that Jesus is Lord, but what do our lives say? Who do our lives say that he is? Will the people we meet on Saturday morning be able to tell that we spent Friday evening hanging out with Jesus?

Peter was blessed with the gift of faith nearly 2,000 years ago. He responded by giving his life in service to Christ and his church, and finally he followed our Lord to his own crucifixion. The witness of his life, and the lives of the other eleven apostles, changed the world forever.

We too have been blessed with the gift of faith. Are we willing to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Christ? What will our witness be?

Holy Hour

2009-09-05T09:50:00.001-07:00

"Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has His hands full of graces, and He is ready to bestow them on anyone who asks for them."

- St. Peter of Alcantara

Join us this upcoming Friday, September 11 from 7-8pm at the Newman Center for Holy Hour. We will spend an hour with the Lord including time for quiet reflection, song, scripture, and Rosary recitation.

Fr. Tom Memories Website

2009-09-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Fr. Tom Memories website is now up! Check it out for fun videos, great pictures, and nice memories. If you have any photos and/or stories that you'd like to add to the website, please contact Joseph Cyr.

Critical Mass CD

2009-09-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

From our friend, Lawrence Lam:

Hey all, some of you might know that I was working with my band back in Canada on a CD based on the Theology of the Body. I just got a box of freshly printed shrinkwrapped CD's come in today which I'm selling for $10 each (they're going for $15 online). I wrote two of the songs on the album. You can check out samples in the attached link. If you're interested, or know anyone who might be benefitted by this CD, let me know and I'll get some CD's over to you! Contact Lawrence at lawrence@catholicrock.com

Here's the official press release:

Catholic Christian rock band, Critical Mass, has just officially released their new album entitled "Body Language" in CD and download format. Winners of two previous Canadian Gospel Music Association Awards for Best Rock Album and three-time winners of UCMVA Unity Awards for their previous albums, Critical Mass is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of spiritual music, both stylistically and lyrically. On this, their 5th album, the band, along with the production efforts of Juno-nominated Andrew Horrocks, have created an edgy modern rock tapestry for a concept album based entirely on the topics of sex, love and communion. "This is a first for the Christian music scene", states lead singer and lyricist, David Wang. "For too long, society has portrayed Christians as looking at sexuality as something negative. We want to change this perception and show that sexuality is a gift from God and needs to be treasured." Over the course of a year, Wang researched Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body for inspiration, resulting in one of the most adventurous Christian rock albums in recent years. The song, "No Consequences", challenges conventional wisdom that chastity is not possible for the youth, "Devotion" is a song about the sacrament of marriage and "Alone" celebrates celibacy. "Friend" tackles homosexuality, sung from the perspective of a man with AIDS who is begging the Church to demonstrate Christ's love to him. There are remakes of two songs on the album, "Body and Blood" and "Walk You Home", introducing a new generation to these classics with a fresh and modern arrangement. The CD is now available through their website at www.CatholicRock.com but the band anticipates large sales through downloads at iTunes and Amazon.com.

Critical Mass is made up of band members Luke Kupczyk on guitars, Dave Flitton on guitars and keyboards, Lawrence Lam on keyboards, Scott McKendrick on bass, Tracey Doyle on percussion and Paul Kieffer on drums. The band is one of Canada's most successful independent bands, with their songs appearing on over 55,000 CDs. They played for a million youth at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto. Their performances during the Papal Vigil and Papal Welcoming Ceremony were seen around the world by millions of viewers.

David Wang is the driving force behind Critical Mass. He is a father of 9. He has been involved in the Christian music industry for over a decade as a music columnist, concert promoter and songwriter.

"I believe that [Body Language] is the best that [Critical Mass] ever sounded. There is clarity and musicality in its guitar riffs, accompanied by solid production chops that are equal to what I hear on secular radio. The style veers from hard-rock ("Body is a Language," "No Consequence"), to joyous pop-rock ("Alone," "Walk You Home") to rock balladry ("Devotion") to praise and worship ("Body and Blood (Adoremus version)"). Regarding this last song, it stands head and shoulders above the praise and worship musical landscape... I really appreciate it when Critical Mass lets it all out, taking musical chances and coming up golden Lyrically, David Wang and company have stretched their craft and raised the bar. You may be hard-pressed to find a musical project that works this hard to shine the light of God's grace with this much minute detail in the darkened corners of our sexually saturated society." - Nick Alexander (Grapevine Magazine)

Listen to samples of the music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Nttat0i9Y

August Holy Hour Reflection

2009-09-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

Jn 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said,
“I am the bread that came down from heaven, ”
and they said,
“Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?
Do we not know his father and mother?
Then how can he say,
‘I have come down from heaven’?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Stop murmuring among yourselves.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

********************************************

Reflection by Amy Tribble:

I am left in awe by these words of Jesus; words that describe the most profound mystery of our faith. “I am the bread of life.” “…the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Both the gift that we are offered, and the humility with which our Lord offers it, are staggering.

I am reminded of my first encounter with Jesus in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It was about a year and a half before my return to the church, and I went to the chapel just looking for a quiet place, where I would not be noticed, to say a quick prayer. I came with absolutely nothing – I hadn’t even thought about God for years, I was not in a state of grace, and my life was falling apart. But what I left with was, in a word – everything. That moment in the presence of God radically changed my life. It was only a year later that I finally understood that Christ is really, substantially present in the host. If I had known at the time that he was there, I doubt that I would have dared to walk into that room!

This is what God does for us – he makes himself so tiny, so unassuming and humble that even at our worst we will not hesitate to come to him. We come to Jesus with nothing, we come only because the Father has called, and He offers us his very flesh as the food that we may eat to live forever. “Whoever believes has eternal life.”

And what is more, he does this for each of us personally. When the Jews murmur against Jesus, they say “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother?” It is hard to believe, even when the reward is so great. But we take comfort in their very objection. Yes we do know him – and he knows us. St. Therese of Lisieux asks, “Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you – for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart…go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love…”

And when we come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are able to act as the mystical body of Christ, sharing God’s love with others. Pope John Paul II said that, “Through adoration, the Christian mysteriously contributes to the radical transformation of the world and to the sowing of the Gospel. Anyone who prays to the Savior draws the whole world with him, and raises it to God. Those who stand before the Lord…are presenting to Christ all those who do not know him or are far from Him.” How amazing, that, just by being here tonight, we are given the opportunity to bring Christ into the world!

Mercy Night

2009-08-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Come experience Mercy Night... on Friday, August 21st, from 8:00pm to 11:00pm, Blessed Sacrament Parish will be hosting a special evening of prayer and Adoration, with worship music and testimonies. The sacrament of confession and prayer teams will be available throughout the evening. Come for as little or as long as you like. Bring a friend with you who hasn't been to church in awhile! Questions? Contact Janelle.

Evangelization team meeting/training

2009-08-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

TODAY, August 13th, at 7:30pm in the Church

Our parish, Blessed Sacrament, describes itself as a Center of Evangelization. Mercy Night is coming up next week, an evening of prayer/adoration and music, and a big aspect of this prayer event is just that, evangelization. Although we haven't been able to do this much in the past, we are now starting to develop this by bringing together an "Evangelization Team". The role of this group will be to stay outside of the church during Mercy Night, in pairs, on the steps or on the sidewalk (or going even further afield if you wish) and invite people - anyone! - to go inside BSC and pray. This is not about apologetics or defending the Church, but about giving an invitation to spend time with the Lord. Mercy Night is for everyone, not just Catholics, and it is a particularly safe, welcoming, no-pressure environment for non-Catholics to enter into. And especially since Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is there on the altar, whether people know it explicitly or not when they come in, He is present and can touch their hearts powerfully.

We are meeting this Thursday, August 13th at 7:30pm, in the Church to the right of the sanctuary. We'll be discussing the what and how of this and then will have a short prayer time at the end. Sorry for the conflict with TOB, we'll try to avoid that next time.

We want our city to come to know the Lord, do we not?? Join us!

Questions? Email Janelle at bighinatti@gmail.com

LUNCH with the Dominicans!

2009-08-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

(Yes, that's right... we said LUNCH!!!)

Mark your calendars for August 16th for another monthly gathering with friends and Father Jordan, too! We'll head out to Tutta Bella after the noon Mass so meet in the back of the church or catch up with us at the restaurant. A great way to connect with the young adult community in a casual setting:)

St. Dominic Cookie Delivery

2009-08-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

Join us for some fellowship in the Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall at 10am this upcoming Saturday, August 8th. We will be preparing plates of cookies in honour of the Feast of St. Dominic, the founder of the Order of the Preachers -- the greatest Saint ever**. :) We will then go out in teams of 2 or 3 to deliver the cookies to homebound members of our parish community.

Please bring a batch or two of cookies to contribute to the plates. (If you're feeling especially creative, star*-shaped/themed cookies would be most appropriate and fun!) Thank you. :)

For questions or to RSVP, contact Lara at laraserene@gmail.com

* As seen in this image, St. Dominic is usually depicted with a star upon his forehead.

**Definition of "the greatest Saint ever" by YA-ther Jordan. But, hey, we love our Dominicans, so why would we argue?!

Holy Hour

2009-08-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

"The hidden treasure… is Jesus himself, the Kingdom in person. In the Sacred Host, he is present, the true treasure, always waiting for us. Only by adoring this presence do we learn how to receive him properly-we learn the reality of communion"

- Pope Benedict XVI

Join us this upcoming Friday, August 8th from 7-8pm at the Newman Center for Holy Hour and spend an hour with the Lord including time for quiet reflection, song, Scripture and a rosary recitation.

There will be no social event organized after this month's Holy Hour. If anyone would like to take charge of organizing a post-Holy Hour outing, then please feel free to do so. :)

Drinks with the Dominicans

2009-07-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

Join us this upcoming Wednesday, July 29th at the Blue Star Cafe & Pub in Wallingford (4512 Stone Way N) for Drinks with the Dominicans. We're particularly blessed this month as there'll likely be not one, not two, not three, but even more Dominicans**! So come on out for drinks and good conversation and hang out with your favorite OPs.

**In no way does this advertisement imply that our very own Fr. Daniel Syverstad, OP will be joining us.

YAYA Camping Trip!

2009-07-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

Save the date for the *YAYA Camping Trip. We’re heading out to the ocean (Twin Harbor State Park) on Saturday morning (September 5th) of Labor Day weekend for a two-night stay. Fr. Jordan (aka the YA-ther) will be saying Mas at the campsite. We’ll also be sure to incorporate all good camping traditions--Maybe you can introduce us to some new ones since neither of us claim to be experienced campers ;) More details including cost coming soon….

*YAYA —A member of the Blessed Sacrament Young Adults. A derivative of the acronym “YA” (young adult). The term was developed by Father Jordan Bradshaw, OP, the self-proclaimed “YA-ther.”

July Holy Hour Reflection

2009-07-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Mk 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick—
no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

*************************************************
Reflection by Teresa Dion:

Several years ago, I once heard it said that “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.” The saying struck a chord with me at the time and I have continue to bring this bit of wisdom to mind quite often in my own life when I feel that I lack the resources, energy, know-how, charisma or virtue to deal with a particular challenge. It always brings me confidence—the kind of confidence that can only be born out of faith since it acknowledges my own human insufficiency. I find myself comforted in knowing that God will account for whatever it is I seem to be lacking at the time.
Perhaps it is odd then that in this Gospel, Jesus asks the twelve “to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts,” just some sandals for the road and the tunic on their back. After all, this doesn’t seem like the packing list for a successful journey—Maybe the apostles don’t have their own supplies, but isn’t Jesus going to help them plan out their expedition? Isn’t he going to offer them a road map of sorts? Don’t his directions for this mission seem inadequate?

He says, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” The apostles might well have asked: “When do you wish us to return?” “Who do you wish us to visit?” “Why me?”

Yet, contrary to what we might expect, the apostles respond with unquestioning obedience. The Gospel simply states, “They went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”

Reflecting on this story, how can one not be inspired by the deep faith demonstrated by Jesus’ apostles? They express no worries about the lack of supplies for the journey or the question of where their journey will end. Equipped only with the authority given to them by Jesus, they set out to cure the sick and drive out demons—a mission that surely seems daunting even to those of extraordinary faith. Yet rather than shrinking in fear, the apostles recognize the power of Christ’s call and they respond by wholeheartedly embracing that call, setting aside any worries, distractions, questions, or excuses that may easily have held them back.

Today, I think about all the times in life that I am tempted to respond with “Why me, Lord?” “Don’t you want to ask someone more qualified?” or even “I’m just so busy. Maybe next year I’ll get around to that.” But today we all are challenged by the example of the Twelve not to question the mission that lies before us, but to respond with heroic faith and simple obedience. It is only in doing so that we will open ourselves up to the grace of God so that he may work in us and through us, just like he did with the Apostles. We may not set out on our journey with the supplies we expect and we may worry that we are ill-equipped, but if we listen to the Lord's call and trust in His voice, we will accomplish great deeds for the glory of God.

June Holy Hour Reflection

2009-07-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

Mt 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

********************************
Reflection by Thuc Vu:

In these four lines, we have so many themes and lessons. We have

· An example of steadfast adherence to the command of Jesus even though there is doubt present

· His acceptance of our worship, our faith, even with our doubts for Jesus did not admonished them in their doubtful worship of him.

· Our commission, our last command given to us by the risen Christ to “make disciples of all nations”

· The Trinity

· And his promise to be with us “until the end of the age.”

What does all this tell me? What does it mean for me? It gives me hope. I have absolute hope that through baptism, I will be able to enter into eternal beatitude. “God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments” (CCC1257). That, even with all my doubts, all my questions and my unsteady footsteps towards God, He will still love and accept me into his folds. As many of you know, I am not baptized. I was raised a Buddhist/Atheist. I am apart of this “all nations.” When he tells the disciples to make disciples of all nations, he is talking about me. Not just me, thought, but you also. For, you are apart of “all nations” too. Without this last command and this example of doubt, consider where you would be now. I personally would be in utter chaos, and I’m not just being overly dramatic.

What can I do with his hope, this hope in his power through my baptism? Well, that is simple enough. I go make disciples of all nations. He told me so right there. But how can I do this? How can I, little doubtful me, make disciples of others, for this was his last command of me? I teach. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” I live according to his word, and I show others, as Christ has shown me, that it is possible. Through my way of life, I teach others what Christ has taught me. I, then, become a witness as Christ is a witness to me.

He is with me always. The one true God, the Father, Son and the holy Spirit, is with me always. We must never forget his last words to us, his last, comforting word. With my hope in Christ, I am certain that God is “with [me] always, until the end of the age.”

Practice Makes Perfect: Virtue Ethics Yesterday and Today

2009-07-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

July 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th

Do you have questions about how you make choices? Do you wonder how Catholics have thought about ethics for centuries? Many of us are unaware of the patterns of thought, feeling, and acion that shape our moral lives and help determine our ethical choices. Please join us for a lively lecture and discussion with Conrad Cahill and Br. Christopher Fadok, OP, Thursdays in July at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall.

Talking about Virtue: How Do You Say It? (July 9th)
Rules, Laws, and Action: How Do You Think It? (July 16th)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: How Do You Do It? (July 23rd)
Friendship: How Do You Live It? (July 30th)

For more information, contact Tara Simons at 206.732.7345 or tsimons@bspwa.org.

God, Sex, & the Meaning of Life

2009-07-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Christopher West

Blessed Sacrament Church

Tuesday, July 7th

7:00pm - 9:30pm

Christopher West is a research fellow and faculty member of the Theology of the Body Institute. He is also one of the most sought-after speakers in the Church today, having delivered more than 1,000 public lectures on four continents.

(For more information, contact Janet Heva, Campus Minister at the Newman Center, 206.527.5072 or janet@uwnewman.org)

Knights of Columbus All-Parish Barbeque

2009-07-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 5th

Priory Backyard

11:00am - 3:00pm

Join the Knights of Columbus for a fun-filled, old-fashioned, summer-time barbeque! Great food with all the fixings will be provided by the Knights. Visit the backyard of the Priory after the 9:00 am and 10:30 am Masses for Coffee and Conversation. Then, the grill fires up at 11:00 am for the barbeque!

Drinks with the Dominicans!

2009-06-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

Come join us TOMORROW (Wednesday, 17 June) at 7pm at Tangletown Eylsian Brewing Company for this month's Drinks with the Dominicans! Our special guest Dominican this month is our friend and newly-ordained Deacon, Rev. Brother Christopher Fadok, OP. Some of you may remember Br. Christopher from his time at Blessed Sacrament - so stop on by to say Hello. And if you don't know Br. Christopher this is your chance to meet one of our favorite Dominicans!

Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Steubenville Northwest - Volunteers Needed

2009-06-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

A request from our friend, Erin:

"I can personally vouch for this conference. It is SUPER solid and many teens have a completely new experience with their faith than they’ve ever been exposed to before. This conference presents our faith in all its beauty and tradition – no apologies – and sets a high standard which teens always meet! Not all teen faith conferences are like this. Have you heard of many conferences that do a 3 hour Adoration for teenagers as their front and center highlight of the weekend on Saturday night? Didn’t think so. But it’s amazing to see teens reach out for Christ and experience Him in a whole new way that most of the time, they are judged too immature to be exposed to. I volunteered for the first Steubenville NW a few years ago and let me tell you – as a volunteer, you get so much out of the conference too! GREAT speakers and music and just a God-filled weekend. As young adults, let’s give back to the next generation and help make this conference a success!"

Hello all, As the summer fast approaches us, Jamie and I are preparing for Steubenville Northwest (Friday, July 31st - Sunday, August 2nd). For those of you who do not know what Steubenville Northwest is, let me tell you a little about it. It is a youth conference put on by Steubenville University and hosted by Spiritus Ministries (which is a group from St. Michael's in Olympia). The conference is located in Spokane at Gonzaga University. The conference is centered around the Eucharist, and focused on vocations, and is hosted by nationally recognized speakers and musicians. It brings thousands of teens from MT, OR, WA, ID, and WY. It is an amazing weekend for teens and all those who volunteer.

Jamie and I are in charge of finding volunteers for the weekend and it takes a lot of people. That is where you come in. We would love for all of you to be able to be present and help with the weekend. We need people To help with crowd controll, Mass, Adoration, the store, setting up for workshops, AV, and much more all sorts of stuff needs to get done. It cost $18 per night per double room so if you share the room it is $18 for the weekend. It is $45 for 6 meals over the weekend or you can bring your own food and stay with someone you know in the area. If the cost is to much there are people who are willing to be a host family for the weekend.

We know that many of us have growing families and little ones, and are unable to commit to weekends away, but what I ask from all of you is to pass this on to other Catholics who would like to spend a weekend serving the youth of the Northwest. Many of my E-Mails are not current. We also need all the prayers we could get, so if you are unable to attend please pray for the weekend. If you would like to come for the weekend or know someone that does please contact us.

Jessi Oakland 360-438-6507

jessib1145@yahoo.com

God bless all of you and thank you for your support.

Jessi and Jamie Oakland

BBQ at the Priory -- Feast of Corpus Christi

2009-06-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

The Blessed Sacrament Young Adults are having a BBQ at the Dominican Priory in early celebration of Corpus Christi, the feast of Blessed Sacrament Parish. Please bring a side-dish or dessert to share. A $5 donation is requested to help defray the cost of food. Please RSVP to BlessSac@gmail.com.

Dating Secrets from Theology of the Body

2009-06-01T15:36:00.001-07:00

Join Dr. Tom Curran for an exploration of Pope John Paul II's revolutionary Theology of the Body, Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:00pm at the Prince of Peace Chapel in the Newman Center.

Theology of the Body has reinvented our understanding of sexuality and the human body, and is one of the fastest growing movements in the Church today.

Dr. Tom Curran holds a Ph.D. in Systemic Theology. He is host of the popular radio show, "Sound Insight" and is one of the most popular Catholic speakers in North America and has given over 1,000 speeches to over 20,000 Catholics.

Join us Wednesday for this amazing talk. 9:00pm Mass** will immediately for those who wish to stay.

** Due to the small nature of the Newman Center parking lot, people often double and triple park. Please plan accordingly if you do not plan on staying for Mass.

Holy Hour

2009-06-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Each time we look upon Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, He raises us up into deeper union with Himself, opens up the floodgates of His merciful love to the whole world, and brings us closer to the day of His final victory "where every knee will bend and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord". "The reign of God is already in your midst." The coming of Jesus to us in the Eucharist is assurance of His promise of final victory: "BEHOLD, I COME TO MAKE ALL THINGS NEW." - Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

It's time for our monthly young adult holy hour once again! Come to Blessed Sacrament on Friday evening (June 5th at 8pm)* and spend an hour with the Lord including time for quiet reflection, song, Scripture and a rosary recitation.

Meet us in the back of the church afterwards - we'll be going out for some socializing at a bar or restaurant TBD (we'll post the location before Friday). See you then!

*Please note change in venue and time.

Support Life -- Comment on New NIH Embroyinc Stem Cell Guidelines

2009-05-22T00:15:00.000-07:00

Please help support LIFE. Your action is needed by May 26!!!

On March 9, President Obama issued an Executive Order overturning the limits President Bush had placed on government funding of destructive embryonic stem cell research. The Bush policy limited funding to embryonic stem cells existing as of August 9, 2001.

On April 23, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published draft guidelines to implement the Obama directive. See the formal notice in the Federal Register at: www.nchla.org/docdisplay.asp?ID=245.

If these guidelines are approved, federal taxpayer funds will support research on human embryonic stem cells derived by killing human embryos created in fertility clinics through in vitro fertilization. Parents will be able to donate their embryonic children for such research when they feel they no longer need them for reproduction. The guidelines currently do not allow federal funding for research on human embryonic stem cells derived from cloning or parthenogenesis, or from IVF embryos specially created for research purposes.

Since 1996 the Dickey-Wicker Amendment forbids federal funding of research in which embryos are harmed or destroyed. The guidelines follow the interpretation that federal funds cannot be used to derive stem cells from human embryos but could be used for research on the embryonic stem cells so derived with private funds.

The public has until May 26 to submit comments.

Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the Catholic bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called the draft guidelines “a new chapter in divorcing biomedical research from its necessary ethical foundation.” Without unconditional respect for human life, he said, experiments on human subjects become “another way for some human beings to use and mistreat others for their own goals.” The Cardinal called for “increased support for promising and ethically sound stem cell research and treatments that harm no one.” He expressed concern that some in Congress and the Administration want to go beyond the draft guidelines and use embryos specially created for research by in vitro fertilization or cloning. For the Cardinal’s full statement, see: www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-087.shtml.

Calling the guidelines “the first step,” Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Michael Castle (R-DE) intend to move forward with broader legislation to “promote all forms of ethical stem cell research,” which in their view includes cloning and the creation of embryos solely to destroy them.

Through the NCHLA Grassroots Action Center, you can send messages (1) to your two U.S. Senators and Representative opposing the DeGette/Castle legislation, and (2) to the NIH opposing its draft guidelines. See: www.nchla.org/stemcell. For the full NCHLA Action Alert, see: www.nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=272.

** Information taken from: http://www.nchla.org/legissectiondisplay.asp?ID=710

Angels in the Vatican and Drinks with the Dominicans!

2009-05-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Angels in the Vatican and Drinks with the Dominicans -- What could be a better way to spend a Wednesday evening?!

Don't miss Father Allen Duston OP's presentation (Part II) on Angels in the Vatican! Father Allen was Patron of the Arts for the Vatican Museums before coming to Seattle where he is currently working as a cannon lawyer for the Archdiocese and serving as Prior for our Dominican community.

Father Allen's presentation will take place in the parish hall. Afterwards, we'll head out for some drinks and socializing around 9:00pm to Ivars Salmon House.

Volunteers Needed This Weekend!

2009-05-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

The University District is having their annual U-District StreetFair this upcoming Saturday (May 16th) and Sunday (May 17th). Blessed Sacrament will have a booth there, which is a fabulously wonderful way for us all to witness to our community! Tara Simons and Fr. Jordan need four people to help with setting up the tent (8:00am) and taking down the tent (4:00pm) each day. If you can help, please contact Tara Simons at tsimons@bspwa.org

Support Life!

2009-05-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Gov. Chris Gregoire will be addressing NARAL (Washington's ProChoice Group) at a luncheon on Monday, May 18th from 12:00pm till 1:30pm at the Seattle Sheraton. A PRO-LIFE protest (led by Fr. Bloom) is being planned for the same time outside the hotel. Please attend if you can and please wear RED.

Relay for Life -- THANK YOU!!

2009-05-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Relay for Life last weekend and supported Team Veritas! The Relay was a HUGE success -- we raised nearly $4,000 for the American Cancer Society. The weekend also provided us all with time for special time for reflective prayer (Thank you, Fr. Jordan for saying Mass at the campsite!) and the opportunity to strengthen existing friendships and to forge new ones! Hooray for Team Veritas!

(Our prayer table at the Relay campsite.)

Discerning a Vocation to the Priesthood?

2009-05-13T23:55:00.000-07:00

Dinner with the Dominicans

2009-05-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

Dinner with the Dominicans will be this upcoming Sunday, May 17th. (We will meet in the back of the church after the 5:45pm Mass.) Father Jordan Bradshaw, OP, known to many of you at the YAther himself, will be our guest Dominican this month!

Gather at the back of the church after Mass and we'll carpool over to Tutta Bella in Wallingford for a relaxed dinner and drinks in the best of company. This is a great way to meet other Young Adults in our parish and to spend some time with one of our Dominican friars.

Take Action for the Dinner Program

2009-05-13T23:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Parishioners of Blessed Sacrament,

We have reached the final step toward receiving a grant from Washington State toward costs of the recent renovation of our Dinner Program facilities. All that remains for us to do is to urge the governor to keep the Local Community Projects portion of the Capital Budget, which includes the item Blessed Sacrament Food and Emergency Aid Facilities Renovation. The governor takes action on this Friday May 15th at 1:30 pm, so the next 24 hours are our last chance to let her know how valuable the Dinner Program and St. Vincent de Paul aid at Blessed Sacrament are to the homeless and hungry we serve. As you know, Blessed Sacrament has completely renovated its serving facility after forty years of service.

The Renovation grant is one among many other worthy capital projects, including construction costs for YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, emergency centers, and hospices, in which the state invests to help take care of its citizens. Please take action on this and contact the governor right away by phone or email and ask her to support the Local Community Project portion of the Capital Budget including the Blessed Sacrament Food and Emergency Aid Facilities Renovation- we are but a signature away from the successful completion of a project several years in the making. I am convinced that hearing from you will make the difference.

- Christopher Murray, Development Director

Governor Chris Gregoire

Office of the Governor

PO Box 40002

Olympia, WA 98504

360-902-4111

http://www.governor.wa.gov/ (use this link for her email form)

Relay for Life

2009-05-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Relay for Life is TODAY (from 2pm till 8am tomorrow morning). Even if you're not on the team, stop on by to visit us, walk a lap, and honor Fr. Tom! We'll be camping in Husky Stadium on the SW side of the track. Fr. Jordan has also graciously offered to have a Mass for us at our campsite. Come join us for this special Mass at 9:45pm tonight! Hope to see you all there!

GO TEAM VERITAS!!!!

ROOTED 2009: Saints in the Making

2009-05-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

A special reminder to all Blessed Sacrament young adults that the Seattle Archdiocese Young Adult Conference 2009 is just one week away! Join us for ROOTED 2009: Saints in the Making at the University of Washington campus. This is a rare opportunity to gather with Catholic young adults from throughout the archdiocese and hear some amazing speakers including Tony Melendez, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, and Dr. Tom Curran. Additionally, there will be time for reflection, prayer and celebration as we grow together in faith and strengthen our desire to share that faith with the world. We are very excited that the event is being hosted in our own neighborhood this year and want to be sure that we have a good showing from Blessed Sacrament!

For more information and to download the registration form, visit http://seattleoyyam.org/. Click on "Young Adult Ministry" in the bar on the left and then "YA Conference" on the right. Send in your registration forms early to assure your workshop selections. Registration forms should be mailed to:

Debbie Fisher - ROOTED

OYYAM

710 - Ninth Ave

Seattle, WA 98104

This event is priced using a 3 tier pricing structure. Participants are asked to prayerfully consider what tier they can pay:

* Tier One $65: This is a subsidized fee. It does not reflect the actual cost of the Conference

* Tier Two $90: This is a slightly higher, partially subsidized fee. This is for those young adults who can afford to pay a little more, but cannot afford the actual cost of the Conference.

* Tier Three $115: This is the highest fee and more accurately reflects the actual cost of the Conference per participant.

Hope to see you there! If you have questions, contact Frances Farrell, Director of Young Adult ministry at frances.farrell@seattlearch.org.

Relay for Life Team Veritas Shirts - UPDATE

2009-05-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

The design for our t-shirts are here. A huge thank you to Corina Jones for designing the logo, and another huge thank you to Ed DeB for coordinating the t-shirts.

The t-shirts will be periwinkle (light blue) in color - the ribbon color for esophageal cancer - and are $15. You can order a shirt even if you're not on the team. We still have a few shirts available, so let us know if you'd like one (email: laraserene@gmail.com)

Also, if you would like to sign up for the team (we'd love to have ya!) or would like to donate, you may do so here.

Swing Dancing

2009-05-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Join us for Swing Dancing this Wednesday (May 6) at the Century Ballroom, 9:00 p.m.

You may not realize it, but partner dancing is a great way to experience the principles taught by Pope John Paul II in Theology of the Body and Love and Responsibility. It gives men and women a chance to complement each other in a beautiful way, in a fun setting. So come out and join us, even if you haven't done it before--there is a beginner lesson from 9:00-9:30 that will give you a few basic steps and moves, enough to have a good time on the dance floor. (Note: Wed. night at the Century is for age 21 and over, so if you're under 21 and interested, let us know and we can go to a different venue next time. I think they do this because the all ages dance gets filled with high school students).

A note to the gentlemen: Come and try this! There are usually more ladies than gentleman at dance events, perhaps because men feel they don't know how to do it or how to lead. Be Not Afraid! The beginner lesson will give you enough basics to get started, and most of the time ladies are very happy when a man asks them to dance, and they cut him a lot of slack if he's a beginner. And if you come a few times, you won't be a beginner for long. And, it's remarkably painless to ask a woman to dance at a place like this--much easier than trying to strike up a convesation in other settings. So come out and give it a try!

Meet at 8:30 sharp in the Blessed Sacrament parking lot to carpool to the Century Ballroom on Capitol Hill (parking is often scarce around the Century, and if you meet us there you may need to park a block or two away). We will leave on time.

Beginner lesson from 9:00-9:30 at the Century (get there early, because you need to get the basic steps that they teach first).

Dance: 9:30-12

Century Ballroom

915 E Pine

2nd floor

Seattle WA 98122

http://www.centuryballroom.com/

Any questions, call or email John Lindblom: 206-697-7855 or lindblom07@gmail.com

Angelorum Auction

2009-05-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

Angelorum Pregnancy Services is seeking young adult volunteers to assist at the annual "Auction of the Angels" on June 13th at St. Matthew's in Shoreline. Angelorum (being newly named "Next Step Pregnancy Services") is a crisis pregnancy center whose mission is to support women during their pregnancy in any way needed. For 11 years now, Angelorum has been committed to assisting low income families and single mothers with basic needs for their babies such as diapers, blankets, and clothing. Angelorum's goal is to help families and individuals transition through difficult times by providing support, community referrals, friendship, and an environment fill with hope and love. All services provided are free of charge and no one is ever turned away.

Angelorum is undergoing some major changes in the near future. The center is not only receiving a new name, but is also moving to a larger facility to accomodate growth and conversion to a medical center. Converting to a medical center means that Angelorum will be able to perform ultrasounds on women and be more involved with their needed pregnancy care. A nurse and doctor will be added to the mostly volunteer staff, along with an ultrasound technician. Studies have shown that 97% women considering their options, in regards to their pregnancy, who see an ultrasound picture of their baby typically choose life. Angelorum is a center dedicated to providing an environment of full disclosure education, options, testimonies, and other needed support to ensure that the mother makes the most informed decision possible. Often outside factors and burdens play into a mother's choice to continue her pregnancy- Angelorum strives to take those outside influences out of the equation and allow for her heart to truly make her decision. No matter the decision made, Angelorum will continue to provide a loving environment to the mother and families.

The "Angelorum Auction of the Angels" is the primary fundraising event for the pregnancy center. We are in need of volunteers for the event in various capacities. This is a great way to support Angelorum's mission in lieu of a financial contribution to the organization. If you are interested in helping out at the event and/or with the procurement of auction items, please contact Melissa Marszalek (melissann77@hotmail.com). Please commit as soon as possible- as our planning committee is in desperate need to secure persons for needed positions during the auction itself.

For those interested in attending the auction, you may find more information about ticket sales at: www.angelorum.org (click on the "2009 auction" link).

Thank you for any support you may be able to provide.

Genocide Awareness Project (GAP)

2009-05-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

The members of the newly formed UW student group, Students for Bio-Ethical Reform (SBR), would like to invite you, and any friends who might be interested, to hear a presentation about abortion in the United States, genocide around the world, past and present, and about a controversial anti-abortion exhibit that is scheduled to come to our campus next month.

The presentation will be on UW's campus next Tuesday, May 5th at 6pm in the HUB Room 200 B. Our group, SBR, is sponsoring the arrival of the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP), a public education outreach project by the national Center for Bio-Ethical Reform.

When you think of the word "abortion", what comes to mind? For most Americans, things like "freedom of choice", "my body", "right to privacy", "roe vs. wade", "fetus", and "unintended pregnancy" are very common. The purpose of GAP is to re-direct the conversation and debate surrounding abortion towards the children that are killed by it.

GAP is a traveling exhibit that has been to more than 100 college campuses around the country that displays uncensored large-scale graphic photographs of the bodies of children who were "terminated" in their mother's womb and then thrown into a bio-hazard waste bin.

The first question everyone asks is WHY? Why do we show these grotesque images to the public?

The answer? Until America sees abortion, it will continue to tolerate abortion.

1,200,000 children are aborted in this country every year. More than 3,500 every day.

Abortion is the leading cause of death in the United States of America.

THIS EXHIBIT IS ALREADY SCHEDULED TO BE DISPLAYED ON THE UW CAMPUS THIS QUARTER.

We are inviting you, once again, and anyone you know who cares for the lives of the unborn and for their mothers who are in desperate need of immediate advocacy, to come to this presentation to learn about the exhibit, to ask all manner of questions regarding abortion, to get a preview of what it will be like when it finally arrives, and most important, to discern if you are called to play a role by joining our efforts to spread awareness of the terrible violent reality of legalized abortion.

Please forward this invitation to any fellow students you may know who are as concerned about abortion violence as you.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at snyds12@gmail.com, and please also RSVP me if you are considering attending. To see GAP for yourself, you can visit http://www.abortionno.org/gap.html.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. God bless.

Marc Snyder

President, SBR

Fiesta! Cinco (eh, DOS) de Mayo!

2009-04-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Come join Pan de Vida on Saturday 2 May, at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall for an evening filled with good music, great food, beer, and some dancing! (This is a potluck, so please bring a dish to share.)

Rumor has it that Father Jordan (affectionately known as The YAther) will be leading the way on to the dance floor! His dance moves are sadly, likely to be coming from another era... so, let's help im out by showing him what real dancing is! Come on, you know you like to dance...

Holy Hour

2009-04-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

"Love cannot triumph unless it becomes the one passion of our life. Without such passion we may produce isolated acts of love; but our life is not really won over or consecrated to an ideal. Until we have a passionate love for our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament we shall accomplish nothing." —Saint Peter Julian Eymard

It's time for our monthly young adult holy hour once again! Come to the Newman Center on Friday evening (May 1st at 7pm) and spend an hour with the Lord including time for quiet reflection, song, Scripture and a rosary recitation. Confession will also be available during the holy hour.

Afterwards, join us for some socializing at a local bar or restaurant TBD (we'll post the location before Friday). See you then!

Mozart's "Great" Mass

2009-04-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

This message was passed along by one of the Blessed Sacrament Young Adults. She writes, "This beautiful work is one of my favorite, and you do not have to be a musician to abide in, and appreciate, it's depth. Done well, it encourages the heart and mind to a transcendent contemplation and experience, and leaves an indelible impression. And while I am not familiar with the SCCO, I am very familiar with the work, and understand it will be the first time being performed in Seattle. I want to encourage you to attend and support the arts. I believe tickets are still available."

Divine Office Class

2009-04-19T23:21:00.000-07:00

(Please note, the following post was written by Fr. Jordan, aka "The YA-ther". All claims for refunds must be taken up directly with him. )

Do you ever lose sleep, find yourself tossing and turning all night in bed, then feel tired and grumpy the next day because you didn't know anything about the Liturgy of the Hours?* We may have discovered the solution to this dreadful dilemma. On Thursdays, April 23rd & 30th, and May 7th, all Blessed Sacrament Young Adults are invited to spend three incredible and delightful evenings to learn about the official prayer of the Church with Fr. Jordan Bradshaw, O.P. Drawing upon his experience of 26 years of prayer (when not sleeping or watching TV), Fr. Jordan will guide us through a discussion about the history, liturgy, and structure of the Divine Office. The class will begin at 7:30pm in the Margaret of Savoy conference room at Blessed Sacrament Priory. We will conclude with Compline (Compline? What in the world is that? Well, come and find out you slackers!) at a very reasonable time (you will be out by 9:00pm or your ticket will be completely refunded by either Teresa or Lara) for you to get home early and get the rest you have always desired.** Please bring a Breviary. If you don't have one or know what this is, then you really need to take this class. Refreshments will provided only for those who come to the class.

*Of course, you may lose even more sleep because of the frustration and anger you feel after you realize you wasted three Thursday evenings missing "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Office".
**Please note: Fr. Jordan's discussions are succinct and intelligent (well, at least this is what his mother thinks), so the talk could be shorter than planned.

Compline and Other Night Music: A Tudor Choir Concert

2009-04-16T12:05:00.001-07:00

Come hear the Tudor Choir perform "Compline and Other Night Music" at Blessed Sacrament Church on Saturday, 18 April at 7:30pm.

(Click on image for full-size)

Drinks with the Dominicans: Come meet the YA-ther

2009-04-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

It's time for Drinks with the Dominicans yet again. Join us as we welcome Fr. Jordan Bradshaw, OP aka the "YA-ther" (a self-proclaimed title). There's no talk this week, but Fr. Jordan has agreed to answer our questions about taxes, Catholicism, whatever... so bring your toughest questions and come on out to St. Andrew's Bar and Grill on Wednesday, April 15th at 7:30pm. The YA-ther expects to see all you YA-YAs* there!

*NB: The Blessed Sacrament Young Adults (YAs) were recently christened the YA-YAs by the "YA-ther" himself. ;)