St. Barbara
Catholic Church
Black Diamond, WA

From Thirst to Joy: An Encounter with Christ             This Sunday we have the beautiful story of the woman at the well. This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible because it shows how Jesus came to break down the walls of sin and misery and lead us into a whole new way of life filled with meaning and purpose.      In John’s vivid encounter at Jacob’s well, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman exactly where she is, at midday, alone, burdened by a complicated past. Rather than

The Transfiguration: Grace for the Journey This Sunday’s Gospel brings us up the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James, and John to witness the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28–36). In a moment of radiant glory, Jesus’ face and clothing are changed, and Moses and Elijah appear to speak with him. The disciples hear the Father’s voice: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.” The event is a foretaste of Christ’s resurrection and a sign that God’s saving plan is unfolding.   Why does t

Get ready for Cathletics VBS - where kids train to become Champions for Christ! This high-energy, Olympic-themed adventure inspires children to aim high, grow strong in God’s Word, and go for the gold in their Catholic faith. Event Details Dates:  July 27 - July 31st, 2025 Time:  9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Friday ends at 1:30 PM) Location:  St. Barbara Catholic Church, Black Diamond, WA Ages:  Children entering Kindergarten - incoming 5th Graders View example schedule here 📞 Hav

You are invited to join us for our All Parish Family Lenten Mission Retreat , a special time set aside for reflection, healing, and renewal during the Lenten season. This year’s retreat will be led by Fr. Jim  and promises to be a meaningful opportunity for our parish community to come together in faith. Dates:  Monday, March 9 – Wednesday, March 11 Time:  6:30 PM – 8:30 PM each evening Location:  Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Enumclaw WA Theme: Light the Fire Each night of

Fence Building & The Spiritual Life   When I was in college I took a landscaping job one summer. Early in the day I measured and cut each board carefully as I began building a fence. But as the heat rose and my focus drifted toward escaping to air-conditioning, my standards slipped. By the time I finished, the fence was jagged and crooked, a visible reminder that carelessness yields poor work. When I took my parents to see the fence, they nearly laughed themselves out of the

Prepare for Lent   As we prepare for Lent, the Lord invites us to release what robs us of true happiness and to turn our gaze more fully to the abundant life he offers. The Church gives us three simple pillars to shape that journey: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Below are brief reflections and practical ways to live each one this season.   Prayer is the invitation to deepen our relationship with God. Reflection: Prayer opens our hearts to God’s grace. In Lent, we pray with

An Invitation To Find More Joy & Purpose in Life   Dear Parish Family,   Our Lord came to set us free from oppression and works of the devil and to help us live life more abundantly (c.f. John 10:10).   As we reflect on our contemporary culture, we see that many people are being misled and are not living abundantly. Too often people are lied to about God and His saving plan of redemption for all humanity.   The Lord wants to begin a powerful movement of renewal in His Church

The Beatitudes - Ingredients for Happiness   I am a huge fan of Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, who served as the Preacher of the Papal Household from 1980–2024. I have read most of his books and in particular enjoyed his book on the Beatitudes titled Beatitudes — 8 Steps to Happiness.   The Beatitudes are more than moral ideals; they are a way of participating in the life of Christ. Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa invites us to hear them not as distant poetry but as practical i

Do Not Neglect The Gift   The other day I was watching a TV series that dealt with law enforcement and the tragic reality of suicide. All of a sudden, as I was watching it, I had a flashback to a very difficult situation I encountered during my second year of priestly ministry.   I was in my office when I received a call from an officer with the Washington State Patrol. He asked if I would go with him to make a death notification. He explained what had happened and that the w

Thank You For Your Prayers I am so grateful to report to you that I had a very successful surgery on Monday and am recovering with the help of all kinds of wonderful people from all three parishes. I truly feel surrounded by the love of God and the care and concern of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you so much. I am so grateful we have access to such great healthcare in our local community. I would like to share a passage of Scripture from St. Paul and just t

The Baptism of the Lord   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   As we gather this weekend to celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, we find ourselves reflecting on a profound mystery, the moment when Jesus, the Son of God, chose to step into the waters of the Jordan River. This significant event marks not only the conclusion of the Christmas season but also the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, inviting us to consider our own journey of faith.   In His humble act of baptism,

Lectio Divina: Praying with Scripture 10 am Thursdays at Sacred Heart Church, Enumclaw Join us for Lectio Divina , an ancient and beautiful way of praying with Scripture that invites you into a deeper, more personal relationship with God. Lectio Divina - Latin for “Divine Reading” - is a slow, prayerful approach to Scripture traditionally promoted by St. Ignatius, focused not on study, but on spiritual transformation. Together, we move through four gentle stages of prayer: Le

A New Bible Study Series Begins January 13th! Tuesdays at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Enumclaw Make learning Scripture part of your New Year’s journey. We invite you to a welcoming, beginner-friendly Bible study designed to help you truly understand the story of the Bible, from Genesis to Jesus. In this engaging series, you’ll explore Salvation History, gaining the big-picture framework that will equip you to dive more deeply into Scripture with confidence moving forward. N

The Epiphany - Our Search For God   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   As we gather to celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany, we are reminded of the profound truth that God’s light shines for all nations. The visit of the Magi serves as a powerful symbol of this universal revelation, and it echoes beautifully in the story of Cornelius from the Acts of the Apostles.   In Acts 10, we encounter Cornelius, a Gentile centurion whose heart was already attuned to God. His stor

The True Essence of Christmas   When I was a child, Christmas was one of my favorite times of the year. We spent Christmas with my grandparents in Tacoma, and I have many happy memories of the time we spent with them and other family members.   In 2001, while I was serving as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Enumclaw, I had a very unique Christmas. In some ways, it was a very difficult Christmas, as my grandmother was in the nursing home, and I had been trying to help my gran

"Hymns of Hope: Embracing the Spirit of Christmas"   One of my favorite things about Advent and Christmas is the traditional hymns that we sing and hear.   My favorite Christmas song is “O Holy Night,” and I actually composed a homily entirely based on and inspired by this song. It is so packed with theology and meaning.   Recently, I was scrolling through YouTube and found a performance of “In the Bleak Midwinter.” I looked up the lyrics and found them to be incredibly power

I Learned The Truth at Seventeen   Shortly before my seventeenth birthday, I had major surgery to try and correct a serious problem that was wreaking havoc in my life. This surgery would be the first of many others to attempt to correct this issue.   In 1975, singer/songwriter Janis Ian wrote a very popular song titled “At Seventeen.” The song reveals the torment of a teenager trying to find acceptance and love through human affirmation.   While the conclusion of the song (in

Waiting in Hope: The Heart of Advent   As we step deeper into the season of Advent, the Church invites us to rediscover one of its most essential themes: waiting. But this waiting is not passive or empty; it is an act of hope. Advent teaches us how Christians are meant to live in time: alert, expectant, and confident that God is at work, even when His presence remains hidden. Jesus uses many parables to show us what this hopeful waiting looks like: servants watching for the m

Partners in the Gospel Listening Sessions   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the parish family listening sessions, with a special word of thanks to those who facilitated and took notes. I was able to attend most of the listening sessions and found the process to be helpful in discerning our future as a parish family.   We will have additional listening sessions as we move forward, and I would li

The True Face of Holiness: Grace Purifying Our Human Nature In our pursuit of a perfect world, we sometimes cling to an ideal of holiness free from sin and fault. We envision holiness as untouchable, pure, and unblemished. This view can lead to harsh judgments and rejection of people. Yet, Scripture and the life of Christ reveal a different truth: true holiness is not about separation, but union; not about judgment, but love that seeks to redeem. St. Augustine taught that gra