St. Barbara
Catholic Church
Black Diamond, WA

Putting God First Our Scripture readings this weekend speak of the necessity of dying to ourselves and taking up our cross. Without the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, this teaching can seem harsh. For those growing toward spiritual maturity, it is foundational to being a disciple of Jesus Christ. What the Lord is actually teaching us is that God must come first in our lives, not be a secondary consideration. I remember reading a warning years ago about this perennial

Yoked with Christ I am writing at the close of a deeply blessed five-day retreat at Franciscan University in Steubenville. The talks, Adoration, and prayer have been consoling and restorative. I leave rejuvenated and eager to share what the Lord has poured into me. On the first night one presenter spoke about acedia, a spiritual weariness that pushes us to substitute activity and busyness for real intimacy with God. The remedy he offered comes straight from Matthew 11:28–30:

Reparation — Overcoming Evil with Good If you have not read Archbishop Etienne’s pastoral letter on the Sacred Heart, I highly encourage you to do so. It appears in the most recent edition of Northwest Catholic and is also available on the Archdiocesan website. It offers a beautiful exposition of the Sacred Heart devotion and explains why it is so relevant. Reading the section on reparation reminded me of an experience I had while attending the 2005 International

Learning From The Example of Others My first assignment as a newly ordained priest was with Fr. Jim Lee, who passed away on December 22, 2024. He was a great blessing and mentor to me, and I thank God that I had the opportunity to learn from him. We both stepped into a very difficult environment because past leadership in the parish had greatly compromised and undermined the role of the pastor and, in general, the clergy. A group of people loyal to the previous pastor a

“Ollie” The Octopus My father had a tremendous love and appreciation for the splendor of God’s creation. When he was eleven, his parents gave him John James Audubon’s book The Birds of America, and he memorized many of the birds by their Latin names. He instilled this love and fascination with God’s creatures in my brother and me. Shortly after my fourth birthday, I remember my encounter with “Ollie” the octopus. My father came home from work and called my brother and me to

This June 11, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotion to the Sacred Heart has developed over the centuries following the experiences of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the apparitions she witnessed in the seventeenth century. Popes have lauded the practice of consecration of the self, home, and even whole nations to

Corpus Christi & Giving Thanks This weekend we celebrate Corpus Christi, a wonderful opportunity to give thanks for the marvelous gift of the Eucharist. I pray we will all deepen our love and our ability to “become what we receive” (St. Augustine). I also celebrate 29 years of ordination and service as a priest in the Archdiocese of Seattle. It is hard to believe how quickly the years have passed and how many amazing people I have met and accompanied in ministry. I truly

Fanning The Flame Our celebration of Pentecost last weekend gave us a wonderful opportunity to thank the Lord for fulfilling his promise to fill us with power from on high to face the challenges of discipleship. I am well aware, as I have stated in my homilies, that not every Catholic has experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is a tragedy since God wants everyone to have this grace. Trying to live out our vocations without the grace of Pentecost is like trying to pl

The Promise of the Father - Pentecost You have heard me speak frequently about the importance of Pentecost and our ability to welcome the gift of the Holy Spirit into our lives to help strengthen and guide us through the joys and challenges of Christian discipleship. There are three things I would like to highlight regarding the grace of Pentecost. Let’s call them the three “P’s” of Pentecost. Power. Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were empower

Wisdom from Thomas à Kempis A few weeks ago in my homily, I shared a passage from one of my favorite devotionals, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis. I have been revisiting this well-loved devotional and wanted to share one of my favorite sections on regaining God’s grace. My child, “The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble” (Nahum 1:7). Come to me whenever you need help. The greatest hindrance to receiving consolation is your apparent reluctance to

A Blessed Weekend - Two Celebrations! This weekend we are privileged to celebrate two occasions. We are joined on Saturday evening by Archbishop Etienne for the celebration of Confirmation at Sacred Heart Parish. This wonderful sacrament is a reminder of the Lord’s promise to send the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in our inner being so we may live out our baptismal calling as followers of Jesus Christ. I remember my own Confirmation in 1987 and the many graces I received wit

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we continue our journey through the Easter season and prepare for the joyful celebration of Pentecost, our first reading shows the origins of the ministry of the diaconate. In response to the growing number of believers and favoritism toward the Hebrew‑speaking converts, the leaders addressed the issue with confidence and prayed for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The criterion for selecting candidates was “reputable men, full of the S

How to Avoid Rash Judgments In light of the disappointing situation between the President and the Pope that has been in the media the past few weeks, I thought it would be a good idea to create a resource about the dangers of rash judgments drawing upon the wisdom of my favorite saint, Saint Francis de Sales. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged” (Luke 6:37). St. Francis de Sales reminds us that rash judgments offend God because they put us in the place of the Divine Jud

Opportunities and Challenges Presented by Our Parish Family Here are the opportunities and challenges presented by our parish family and summarized by your PFAC. Three themes are identified: proclaiming our faith, reaching out to the wider community, and growing as a parish family. 1. Proclaiming Faith Evangelize our parish communities and the wider community: Provide training, knowledge, and tools to help our parishioners know how to evangelize and witness to their faith Pro

Parish Listening Sessions Announcement Session 3 We invite all members of our parish family to participate in our upcoming Listening Sessions as we continue discerning who God is calling us to become as a community. Session Times & Location English Session: Saturday, April 25th from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Spanish Session: Sunday, April 26th, following the 12:00 PM Mass Location: Sacred Heart Catholic Church Hall If you are unable to attend in person: Online Survey Link:...

The Eucharist & Mission During our parish mission I reflected on a post synodal document by Pope Benedict XVI (The Sacrament of Charity) which reminds us that the Eucharist is not only the source of our worship but the wellspring of our mission. When we truly receive Christ in the Eucharist, when we believe in, celebrate, and allow his presence to shape us, we cannot keep that gift to ourselves. A living encounter with Jesus always overflows into love of God and concrete lo

In the Name of the Father: A Bible Study on God's Names Classes begin Tuesday, April 21st, drop in anytime, with sessions offered at 10:00 AM and 6:30 PM in the Sacred Heart Parish offices. Join us for a meaningful and engaging Bible study series exploring the names of God the Father. Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself through names rich with meaning—Yahweh, Adonai, Jehovah, each offering deeper insight into His character, His promises, and His relationship with us. In

Divine Mercy Sunday — An Experience From A Pilgrimage Easter joy continues on this Second Sunday of Easter, celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday. I want to share a brief memory from a pilgrimage I made to Poland in 2019 that helped me hear this feast more clearly. Our small group of about 14 included my mother. As a longtime devotee of the Divine Mercy message, first introduced to me in seminary and deepened by my reading of St. Faustina’s Diary, I was thoroughly enjoying th

The Joy of the Resurrection Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and now because of this TRUTH we have the power to live our lives free from fear and the slavery of sin. This is such good news that it caused the disciples to run and announce it to others. An encounter with the Risen Lord is life-changing. Even though the disciples were exposed to persecution and the agony of watching Jesus be crucified, He came back, and through the Holy Spirit is now at work in our lives

Prayers for Peace & The San Damiano Crucifix Pope Leo XIV has reminded us that we need to be praying for peace, and in his letter to the Franciscan Family in preparation for the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis later this year he made a special reference to the beloved Crucifix of San Damiano. Below is the closing excerpt from the letter: Dear brothers and sisters, may the example and spiritual legacy of this saint, strong in faith, steadfast in hope, and ardent