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Pastor's Page 2023-01-29

Dear Parishioners:

PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL – A Strategic Pastoral Planning
---If you missed Mass last weekend … On Thursday, January 18, Archbishop Etienne
had summoned over 900 people includes: Priests, representation from each parish Staff,
Pastoral Council members and significant parish leaders for an all-day Convocation to
prepare for the public launch of PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL - A Strategic Pastoral
Planning effort taking place across the Archdiocese of Seattle to re-invigorate and renew
our local Catholic Church.
-You may ask WHY? It is necessary at this time to focused on our mission to more
effectively help all of us encounter Jesus, accompany one another on the journey of faith
and to live the joy of the Gospel.
-You may ask WHY NOW? It is because of the decline of engaged parishioners and
their celebration of the sacraments, fewer resources to carry out our missions, including
fewer priests and lay leaders, as well as our strained financial resources.
Here is a timeline of the key milestones for Partners in the Gospel:
-January 2023 Public launch
-Fall 2023 Invitation to provide feedback on parish families
-Early 2024 Final parish family structures announced
As we continue to support this effort in the weeks ahead, I want to offer you the first part
of Meditating on the Scriptures that we did together at the Convocation for your own
reflection.
“I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,
Praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
Because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you
Will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 1:3-6)
- As you reflect on this short passage, what words in this reading resonate with you,
giving comfort or offering challenge?
- What does it mean to be a partner in the Gospel?
- Who are the “partners” in your life for whom you give thanks to God?
After reflecting on the Scripture passage, please pray the Partners in the Gospel Prayer
that you received your personal card prayer or you can find it on our parish website.
---This coming Thursday, February 2; I want to alert you a unique feast on the calendar,
the Church celebrate the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast is known as
the feast of Encounter in the Eastern Church where it began. In 1997, Pope John Paul
II instituted a world day of prayer for consecrated life attached to this feast. Of course,

in the United States and Canada, when one hears February 2, what comes to mind is
Groundhog Day, the day when a prediction is made about how many more weeks of
winter are left depending on whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not.
But unlike the uncertainty of the weather, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord has
a sense of certainty associated with it. In this feast, we celebrate the certainty of the
fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel that is fulfilled in Jesus but that is extended to the
entire world. And, we celebrate the continuation of God’s love in our own world, of God
continually reaching out towards us and inviting us into a relationship or encounter.
Have a wonderful week in the Joy of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Phuong Hoang

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