Sunday, January 19th 2025
Dear faithful Parishioners of PSJXXIII parish Family,
Welcome to the second week of Ordinary Time! As we transition from the Christmas season, which concluded with Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit at His baptism, we are invited to reflect on how Jesus fulfills the will of His Father during this season. Today, we focus on the compassionate heart of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the obedient response of Jesus to His Mother. In the first reading, Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled through Jesus' actions, prompted by Marys gentle encouragement, even before His appointed time. This same loving Mother continues to reach out to us today with her timeless invitation: Do whatever He tells you.
In response to the request of our Blessed Mother, we are overjoyed to see many young families stepping forward to engage with our parish ministries. We warmly invite you to participate in our parish's activities and ministries by ensuring you are registered as a member of our parish family. Registration is essential as it helps us provide the sacraments and services you may need, such as assistance from a priest or the Outreach Ministry. Accurate contact information, including your address and phone number, enables us to serve you effectively.
Being a registered member also ensures you receive updates about parish reports, ministries, and activities, helping you stay connected and involved. When you scan the QR code for online giving, our parish staff will update your contact information and check your profile in the ParishStaq system of the Archdiocese of Seattle. If you are not yet registered with any parish, they will assist you in becoming a member of Pope Saint John XXIII Parish. We kindly ask for your cooperation in helping our staff complete this important task efficiently. Your involvement strengthens our parish community and allows us to serve you better.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support of the Catholic Community Services annual fundraising appeal in December, which helps assist the poor and needy. Your commitment to our parish through the stewardship of your time, talents, and treasure is deeply appreciated.
We are especially thankful for your encouragement of students to serve at the altar and in other church roles, as well as your dedication to providing religious education for your children. Your sacrifices contribute greatly to the spiritual growth of our parish family.
Our parish is always alive with activities and celebrations, and more special events are on the horizon. One such celebration is the upcoming Vietnamese Lunar New Year. I recently met with our core leadership team to plan and organize this meaningful event. Thank you for your participation in the life of our parish and for helping to make these celebrations so vibrant and enriching.
We are deeply grateful for the hard work and sacrifices of our parish staff, especially the religious sisters who serve with unwavering dedication, offering their time and talents tirelessly for the good of our parish. We also extend our appreciation to other staff members who consistently step up to meet the demands of our growing community.
A special thank you goes to Mr. Don McMakin, who recently retired after faithfully serving as Facility Maintenance Manager for Pope Saint John XXIII Parish. Dons years of devoted service, love, and commitment have left a lasting impact on our parish family. We are blessed that he continues to contribute as a volunteer, now wearing a new name tag but maintaining the same spirit of generosity.
Thank you to the volunteers at Visitation who will be hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser for the school on Sunday, January 26, following the 9:30 AM Mass. This event marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week.
We have several meetings with the Parish Staff, Parish Leadership Team, and the Archdiocese of Seattles staff to receive training on Partners in the Gospel. These discussions have allowed us to identify and address important issues as we develop both short-term and long-term plans for our parish. I am collaborating with core team members on these projects and will provide updates as they progress.
If you or a loved one need Holy Communion brought to the sick, please dont hesitate to contact the Parish Outreach Ministry. For any other needs, feel free to call the parish officewe are always happy to assist you in any way we can. Whenever I have time, I make it a priority to visit the homebound and spend time with many of our parishioners in their homes.
Please continue to keep Father Hendry in your prayers as he is currently on vacation and retreat. He will return in the first week of February. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the priests, religious sisters, permanent deacons, parish staff, Parish Leadership Team, Advisory Team, and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to support our parish ministries and activities this year. Your dedication and generosity are deeply appreciated.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our parish. It is truly a joy and an honor to serve you and your families!
Sincerely, Yours in Christ,
Fr. Tuan Nguyen, D. Min