St. Barbara
Catholic Church
Black Diamond, WA

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

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...