1 st. Sunday of Lent (Year B). (Feb 18, 2024). Gen. 9:8-15; I Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15. “Repent and believe in the Good News of God’s Kingdom.” Introduction: Factory re-setting and software update of Christian life during Lent: Referred to as a factory reset or factory restore, a computer's factory settings are the settings the computer had when it was first purchased. ... A factory reset is often performed before a computer is resold to help resolve any software issues or eliminate the previous user's profile and personal data. Significance: Lent is the time to do the “factory resetting” of our spiritual life and update it by leading a life of repentance and renewal of life. Today’s 1 st . Reading makes a “factory reset” by reminding us of the New Covenant God made to Noah after the deluge, and the 2 nd . Reading “updates” the meaning and significance of our Baptism in the context of Lenten season which invites us to renew our Baptismal promises. Hence, the primary purpose of Lent is spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery recalling Jesus’ death on Good Friday and Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Hence, the Church leads her children to “repentance,” a type of conversion. Life Message: We can then say that “Repentance” is the process by which one reorders one’s priorities, and changes one’s values, ideals, and ambitions, through fasting, prayer, and penitential mortification. Lent, then, is a period of self-examination, prompting us to repent of our sins, and so to effect a real conversion: to turn completely to God and to His teaching, and to do good for others. Lent also challenges us to reform our lives by turning away from self, from evil, and from sin, so as to turn toward God and toward others with renewed Faith and fervor. Lenten observances are also intended to lead us to our annual solemn renewal of Baptismal vows on Holy Saturday. Consequently, through Baptism, we are called to live justly, to love God with all our being, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to build the kingdom of God by our acts of charity. That is why the three readings chosen as today’s Scripture refer to Baptism directly or indirectly, and Jesus put the icing on the cake, with his clarion: “This is the time of Fulfillment. Repent and believe in the Good News of God’s Kingdom.” Conclusion: Let us convert Lent into a time for spiritual growth and Christian maturity by: a) participating in the Mass each day, or at least a few days in the week; and setting aside some part of our day for personal prayer; b) setting aside some money we might spend on ourselves for meals, entertainment, or clothes and giving it to an organization which takes care of the less fortunate in our society; c) abstaining from smoking, alcohol, and other evil addictions; d) receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Lent and participating in the “Stations of the Cross” on Fridays. In a nutshell, let us use Lent to fight daily against the evil within us and around us by practicing self-control, relying on the power of prayer, and seeking the assistance and the daily anointing of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, “This is the time of Fulfillment. Repent and believe in the Good News of God’s Kingdom.”

Continue your Lenten Journey with our Parish Reconciliation Mass. March 7th at 7pm, Main Church

Come enjoy fellowship and a delicious meal provided by the Knights of Columbus. Following the 5 pm mass on January 27th. All are welcome.

Enjoy a night full of music, dancing, burger, dessert, and a 1950's theme. Hosted by the Knights of Columbus February 10th, 6 pm Parish Hall Ticket sales begin before/after 5, mass on Saturday and 8 am and 10 am mass on Sunday.

Starting January 11th Thursday 3 to 4:30 pm Parish Meeting Rooms (Church Basement) 24 Week Study on the story of salvation throughout the scriptures. If you have questions or wish to register please contact Allison Ramirez at allison@stbarbarachurch.org. Hope to see you there!

Sunday, January 7th, 2024 Come join the Knights of Columbus for good food and fellowship after both of the morning masses. We will have ham eggs, fruit and pancakes! See you there.

Bloodwork's Northwest Blood Drive January 4th and 5th. This event will take place in the parish hall. Come and support our community. Sign up for a time here Jan 4th https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/68810 Jan 5th https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/68811

Join Father Davis in a Tour of the Holy Land, March 2024! Don't miss out on this life-changing experience and bring scripture to life. Holy Land Tours, LLC is an expansion of Angels Tours and Travel. Pricing includes round trip airfare and additional surcharges. Accommodation in deluxe hotels plus taxes Meals as per itinerary (breakfast and dinner) Land transportation by deluxe motor coach. Comprehensive sightseeing as per itinerary with licensed Christian Guide. Learn more by downloading the flyer below and Reserve Seats Here. Reserve Seats Here

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY [B] (Dec 31st, 2023) Gen 15: 1-6, 21: 1-3; Heb 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2: 22-40. The Holy Spirit renews our hope in the promise of God. Introduction: On the last Sunday of the year, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, which reminds us that we are part of a human family and at the same time we belong to God’s family, the Church. In both these families, we have privileges and responsibilities, to work out our salvation together — as women, men, and children living and working in love and peace. How do we do that? Let’s imitate the encounter with Simeon and Anna: By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious, Spirit-filled Simeon and the very old widow, Anna, both of whom had been waiting for the revelation of God’s salvation, were present in the Temple the day Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Present Him to the Father. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Lord’s Anointed One, and in his prayer of blessing, he prophesied that Jesus was meant to be the glory of Israel and a Light of revelation to the Gentiles. But while he blessed Mary, Simeon warned that her child would be “set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign of contradiction” and that “a sword will pierce through your own soul. Life Message: However, apart from Simeon, Anna, too, was filled with the Holy Spirit. She was found daily in the temple, attending to the Lord in prayer and speaking prophetically to others about God's promise to send a redeemer. This depicts that supernatural hope grows with prayer and age! Hence Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness to all believers as we advance in age. In other words, advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope rightly placed. Anna's hope in God and his promises grew with age. She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Consequently, her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and service of God's people. Conclusion: What do you hope for? Is there anything holding you back from giving God your unqualified trust and submission to his will for your life? Allow the newborn Baby- the Lord Jesus- to flood your heart with his peace, joy, and love. And offer to God everything you have and desire - your life, family, friends, health, honor, wealth, and future. Let us, therefore, pray for the grace of caring for one another in our own families, for each member of the parish family, and for all families of the universal Church. May God bless all your families, and our Parish family, in the New Year. AMEN!

4th Sunday of ADVENT Dec 24, 2023 2 Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38. “…For nothing is impossible for God…” Today’s readings focus on the circumstances leading up to the first coming of Jesus, which sets the pattern for his coming to us now and at the end of time. The Gospel stresses the key role of Mary in the work of our salvation. The focus of today’s liturgy is the Davidic covenant, the promise of a throne that will last forever, which appears in the 1st reading, in the Resp. Psalm, and in the Gospel, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that “Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call him Jesus…For nothing is impossible for God…” Today’s Gospel surprises us by telling us that this King would be born to an ordinary virgin, not by means of sexual relationship, but through the Holy Spirit, and that the Son of God, Jesus, would become Incarnate as a descendant of David. Life Message: Nothing is Impossible for God! Mrs. Marie Norton of Elmira, New York, died in the fall of 1951, admired and praised by all who had known her. Before she had any children, she was afflicted with cancer, and physicians advised her against becoming pregnant. But Marie decided to ignore advice and leave matters in God’s hands. She went ahead and brought ten children into the world, and they were healthy children. Had Marie’s malady vanished? By no means. For thirty-five years she was under treatment and radiation. Forty-two times she went under the surgeon’s knife. After Marie’s death her son-in-law’s mother wrote a letter to the paper in praise of Mrs. Norton. “As I observed her giving, besides services, joy and sunshine … to us all, it has left me with a new reverence, a feeling that I have witnessed something this sick world needs today… an assurance that God does hear and answer those who love and trust Him. ”Yes, He hears, and He gives us of Himself: the supreme Christmas gift is His beloved Son. “… For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke, 1:37). Conclusion: We need to try to learn God’s plan for our lives: The Good News in today’s Scripture message is not only that God is making provision for the salvation of His people, but also that He has a plan for each individual person. In many cases, our work for God seems rather ordinary, but each ordinary task which we carry out fits into God's plan in ways that we cannot yet understand. God desires not only the skill of our hands and talents but the love of our hearts. The Babe in the Manger reminds us of what God has done and is still doing for us. What are we doing for Him in return? Let us show our gratitude to God by living as true followers of Christ: “Behold, here I am, Lord! I come to do Your will.” Therefore, like Mary, we need to say a courageous and generous “yes” to God, because we are assured that indeed “Nothing is impossible for God.

Advent Wreath Lighting An Advent Wreath Lighting will occur during all masses during the season of Advent. St. Barbara Women's Group Christmas Craft Night December 13th 6 to 8 pm Classroom K We have a delightful Christmas Craft event planned, where we will be creating Nordic Christmas Ornaments. Learn more here. Advent Reconciliation Mass December 14th 7 p.m. Main Church Join us in welcoming guest priests from the archdiocese as we continue our Advent journey and preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with an Advent reconciliation. First Communion candidates are invited for their First Reconciliation. Christmas Preparation December 17th, Following the 10 a.m. mass Please consider staying after mass to decorate the parish sanctuary for the Christmas season. All Parish Christmas Party December 17th 5:30 p.m. Parish Hall Gather to celebrate Christmas at the All Parish Christmas Party. All ages are welcome! Come enjoy an evening of fun with cookie decorating and trivia. Please bring a food item such as a main dish, side dish, or dessert to share. See you there! Parish Office Closed December 22nd-27th In observance of Christmas Christmas Mass Times 4th Sunday of Advent Mass: December 23rd at 5pm & December 24th at 8 am (no 10 am Sunday Mass) Christmas Eve Mass December 24th, 4 p.m. & 7 p.m. Christmas Day Mass December 25th 9 a.m.

Based on the feedback and input from the recent Partners in the Gospel consultation, proposed changes emerged for 25 parish families. After consultation with the Priest Council and the Partners in the Gospel Oversight Committee, our proposed Parish Family has changed. Please see the Recommend Family Parish Document for details regarding the proposed change and why it was made. We will have a second round of listening sessions. Specifically, the Archbishop wants to hear from parishioners in parishes with a recommended change to their parish family configuration. St. Barbara second round of listening sessions are as follows: Sunday December 3rd, 11:30 a.m. (right after Sunday Mass) Thursday December 7th, 1:30 pm Thursday December 7th, 7:00 pm For those who wish to give feedback online, please use the following link provided by the Archdioceses. English Spanish All input is to be submitted by December 15. More information may be found at the following links: Archbishop Etienne's letter: English | Spanish | Vietnamese Parish Family Feedback Report