St. Barbara
Catholic Church
Black Diamond, WA

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

Simple Faith As we prepare to enter Holy Week, we are presented with the beautiful story of the raising of Lazarus. Jesus shows his deep empathy in the shortest sentence in many English Bibles: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). What a powerful reminder that Jesus entered our humanity so that we might share in his divinity. Today’s Gospel invites us to sit beside Martha as she meets Jesus in the shadow of grief. While her brother Lazarus lies dead, Martha speaks with honesty and

Healing Our Blindness On a day when Jesus heals a man born blind, the light of God breaks into darkness in a way that surprises everyone involved. The neighbors and religious leaders want to know how this happened. The man who was healed simply tells the truth: “I was blind, and now I see.” His testimony is both simple and powerful. It invites us to notice how encounters with Christ can change the most ordinary parts of our lives. This story challenges two common assumpti

Christ’s Passion stands at the very center of our faith. As we approach Holy Week, it is a fitting time to slow down and reflect more deeply on the suffering, love, and sacrifice of Jesus. To help us enter into this sacred season, we will be offering a short, three-week series focused on the Passion of Christ. Starting March 17th Every Tuesday, 10am or 6:30pm Sacred Heart Church Classrooms, Enumclaw Beginning March 17, we will gather in the Sacred Heart classrooms to walk thr

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 📞 Have ques

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