St. Barbara
Catholic Church
Black Diamond, WA

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,

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