St. Barbara
Catholic Church
Black Diamond, WA

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

The Wisdom of Waiting: Building on God's Divine Timeline I recently read some comments by Pope Leo XIV during his homily for the dedication of St. John Lateran. He said: "Brothers and sisters, as we diligently labor in the service of God’s Kingdom, let us be neither hasty nor superficial. Let us dig deep, unhindered by worldly criteria, which too often demand immediate results and disregard the wisdom of waiting.” These words call us to reflect on how we approach our faith an

The Power of Gratitude The Power of Gratitude Gratitude is a powerful gift that transforms our hearts and opens our eyes to the many blessings around us. As we go through our busy lives, it is easy to focus on what we lack or what still needs to be done. But today, I invite you to pause and reflect on the importance of being grateful and giving thanks. The Bible teaches us that gratitude is a vital way to grow closer to God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are reminded to give th

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   Our parish will soon host Partners in the Gospel listening sessions, and I warmly invite you to participate. These sessions are opportunities for our community to share what nourishes our faith, what challenges our parish, and how we can better serve families, form disciples, and reach those who have drifted away. Your experience, concerns, and hopes are vital to shaping how we move forward together.   Why attend? •         Your voice he

Dear Parish Family, In our journey as disciples of Christ, we are called not only to care for the physical needs of others but also to tend to the needs of the soul. This is where the Spiritual Works of Mercy come into focus: seven beautiful and challenging ways we are invited to love others as Christ loves us. While the Corporal Works of Mercy address tangible, bodily needs (feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, etc.), the Spiritual Works of Mercy remind us that the s

The Need For Pentecost   I have just finished the 2025 Pentecost Today National Leaders Meeting & Conference in Houston, Texas. What an amazing experience and blessing to meet people from all over the country who are praying for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit to move in our Church.   There is a special grace whenever we are open and docile to the activity of the Holy Spirit. St. Bonaventure once said, “The Holy Spirit comes where He is loved, where He is invited, where H

An Introduction to the Works of Michael O’Brien This week, I’d like to highlight the work of a modern Catholic voice who continues to inspire readers around the world: Michael O’Brien. He is one of my favorite authors, and his books have been a tremendous blessing to me over the years. A Canadian author, painter, and speaker, Michael O’Brien is perhaps best known for his acclaimed novel Father Elijah: An Apocalypse, published by Ignatius Press in 1996. This powerful work blen

Fall, the Rosary, & Safety Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I have such cherished memories from childhood, whether it was hunting for mushrooms, deer hunting, or learning to grow in the art of photography. Fall also reminds us of our vulnerability. As the weather turns colder and more unpredictable, we are reminded how fragile we are, and how quickly our routines and sense of security can be disrupted. Yesterday, I was deeply

Prayer Meeting Starts Again Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It’s great to be back with you after our Camino journey. Thanks again for all of your prayers while we were away.  I first want to thank everyone who worked so hard to help with the planning and follow through of our All Parish Family Picnic last Sunday. It was an incredible blessing to see everyone come together for such our second celebration of this annual event.  Secondly, I want to use this Pastor’s Column

A Church on Fire: Reigniting Our Zeal for Evangelization This Sunday’s readings offer a sobering and timely challenge for the Church...

Dear Brothers in Sisters in Christ,   Greetings from the Camino! We are currently in O Porriño, Spain as we continue our journey to...

Nothing Is impossible with God For many years, I was privileged to be part of the Sacred Heart Radio  program with Fr. Kurt Nagel and Dr....

I have frequently shared with you a phrase that surrounded a Christian bookstore in Auburn years ago, when I served my first pastorate at...

A Little Humor Many years ago, someone emailed me a list of bulletin bloopers which I shared during a retreat. One skeptical participant...

Benedict XVI On Leisure & Reading The Bible Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Last weekend I spoke on the need for our busy culture to...

Perseverance Shortly after I arrived in the parish last year, I received a book from Dynamic Catholic called 33 Days to Eucharistic...

Resolving Conflict the Way Christ Taught Us During my training to become a resident advisor in college, I vividly remember an important...

Faith and Freedom: A Catholic Reflection for the Fourth of July As we gather this week to celebrate the Fourth of July, we give thanks to...

United in Mission, Bold in Faith: The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Each year on June 29, the Church celebrates the great Solemnity...