Share Your Favorite Recipe for Our Parish Women’s Group Cookbook!  Ladies of our parish, we need YOU!  Our women's group is creating a beautiful, custom cookbook  filled with the cherished recipes of our community. This is your chance to share a piece of your heart and home  while helping us raise funds for our parish. We plan to have this cookbook ready by Fall 2025—just in time for the holiday season!  It will make a perfect gift and a treasured keepsake for years to come. ✨ Why Submit Your Recipe? ✅ Celebrate Your Culinary Traditions  – Share a dish that brings back special memories. ✅ Be Featured in Our Cookbook  – Your name and story will be included with your recipe. ✅ Create a Lasting Legacy  – This cookbook will be a reflection of our parish family. ✅ Support Our Women's Group  – Proceeds will go toward important group initiatives. 📝 Submit Your Recipe: Send an email to Sarah Midles sarahmidles@gmail.com Please include: Ingredients and Cooking Directions, you can type it in the email itself or upload a copy as a scan or photo. Recipe title and Category (dessert, entrée etc.) Your Name Any story or reason for submitting it if applicable Submit Up to 3 Recipes  – Choose the ones that mean the most to you. 📩 How to Submit Your Recipes: 📧 Email them to Sarah Midles  at sarahmidles@gmail.com 📍 Drop them off at the parish office  – Sarah will pick them up later! ✨ Let’s cook up something wonderful together!  ✨

Time to get excited for Oktoberfest 2025, hosted by the Knights of Columbus! Join us on  October 11th at 6:00 PM  for a lively evening of food, fellowship, and fundraising at St. Barbara’s Oktoberfest — where German fare, festive fun, and exciting auction items come together to support and grow our community! Tickets are on sale now! Tickets are $50 each ($45 for ages 65+) Tickets can be purchased by emailing Katie Quinn at quinnkatie88@gmail.com or texting her at 509.270.3867 Tickets will be available to purchase in person after all Mass times at St. Barbara starting August 16th. We will also be at the Parish Picnic on September 21st. In-person selling date at Sacred Heart and St. Aloysius TBD, but please feel welcome to buy virtually, and email Katie for any questions.

Thank You! I would like to thank everyone who participated in our recent Partners in the Gospel survey. I realize the summer months are probably not the best time to ask for participation in this so I am grateful for everyone who took the time to give us your feedback.  I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your kindness in welcoming me and helping me and Fr. Woodland move through our first year. As I told you, after hearing some of the challenges some of my brother priests are having at our annual priest convocation, I left the event feeling really blessed. The Lord has surrounded me with good people who using their gifts and talents for building up the Body of Christ. I am grateful.  I am very excited to welcome John Nieto, our new Pastoral Assistant for Administration. We will have a quite a period of training to go through, but once he is on board I should be more free to teach and lead retreats and other things to help “equip the holy ones” (c.f. Ephesians 4:12).  I leave for the Camino on Tuesday and am greatly looking forward to the journey. You can follow our pilgrimage by going to my website www.thegraceofpentecost.com  and clicking on the “Blog” link. I am inviting other members of the pilgrimage group to share their reflections as well. We will all be praying for everyone in our parish family while we are gone.  Have a blessed week!  In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

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. Tom Curran. We would tape a weekly show and also had a book club to encourage our audience to read some great books. One memorable book that we read and shared on a program was titled From Christendom to Apostolic Mission – Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age  from the University of Mary. I really enjoyed this book. The main focus of the book was how the early Church started off with so few “official” structures and so little organization. This reality allowed her to rely on the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit and to be creative in reaching out to a culture that did not know Christ or the Gospel. The early Church was deeply committed to the message of the Gospel and to being led by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are living in a post-Christian world that no longer believes in or relies on the Gospel and has become increasingly secular. This book reminded me that we must strive to be zealous in finding new ways to reach out to an unbelieving world and show them the power of God’s love in Jesus Christ. Even though the world turns away from God’s plan of salvation, God is still reaching out to us and wants to save us from our rebellion and the reality of sin. Here is one particular paragraph that I highlighted while reading the book, which reminds us that nothing is impossible with God (cf. Luke 1:37):  As we move forward with the Partners in the Gospel program, we will face many challenges. Let us remember that nothing is impossible with God.  In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

Join St. Barbara Catholic Church for Black Diamond Labor Days! Volunteers Needed – Be Part of the Parade & Parish Booth! Or come visit us at the booth! St. Barbara Catholic Church is excited to participate in the Black Diamond Labor Days Parade  on Monday, September 1st . This is our chance to represent our vibrant parish community, share our faith, and connect with the wider Black Diamond community! We are looking for: Parade Participants:  Walk with us in the parade and wave to the crowd. Booth Volunteers:  Help staff our parish booth, greet visitors, and share information about our parish life. This is a wonderful opportunity for families, individuals, and ministry groups to come together in fellowship and outreach. Whether you’re walking in the parade or lending a hand at the booth, your presence will make a difference! Volunteer Contact Information: Parade Participation:  Contact Zack Midles  at zmidles@gmail.com Booth Volunteers:  Contact Juli Goodyear  at juligoodyear@gmail.com Booth Sign up HERE : https://grow.withlome.com/a/503dd4f0-6f5c-46cf-ba7a-006f374fa839 Let’s show the heart of St. Barbara Catholic Church to our neighbors at this year’s Black Diamond Labor Days!

Resolving Conflict the Way Christ Taught Us During my training to become a resident advisor in college, I vividly remember an important presentation about helping people resolve their conflicts. After all, two strangers living in a 230 square-foot space are bound to have disagreements and problems. We were told that if someone came to us to complain about their roommate (unless there was an issue of personal safety) we were to ask whether they had first spoken with their roommate about the concern. If they hadn’t, we told them they needed to do that before we would get involved.  As I grew in my knowledge of the Word of God, I realized this was a teaching Jesus shared with His followers, as seen in Matthew 18:15-17. Yet, this teaching is seldom followed. More often, people bypass their own responsibility to follow it and come directly to me to complain about another member of the church or a staff member.  I now have the responsibility of being the pastor of three parishes, along with the additional task of helping us all become one parish family. My plate is quite full with these responsibilities and others assigned by the Archbishop and the Archdiocese. I simply cannot serve as a mediator for everyone’s problems and will be making a much greater effort to enforce and promote this teaching for my well-being and for the health of our community.  It is hard to confront people because we don’t know how they will respond. Sometimes they may brush us off, get defensive, or even turn our concern back on us. This is exactly why the Lord outlined three steps in this teaching. The first being to go to the person first. Conflicts are a normal and healthy part of life and they provide the opportunity to allow us to invite the Holy Spirit, our interior Teacher, to help us. I shared with you in a homily several months ago about how I foolishly waited nearly three years to resolve a conflict with someone and robbed myself of a lot of peace. Forgiveness is a huge element in following this teaching.  As we move forward as a parish family let’s hold each other accountable to this important teaching knowing that everything Jesus taught us is for our benefit and will lead to a peaceful heart. In Christ,  Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

Email Katie Quinn ( quinnkatie88@gmail.com ) with any questions.

When: Saturday, July 19, 9:00am to 4:30pm Where: Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 1614 Farrelly St.Enumclaw, WA Spend the day on a personal journey with Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through teaching, personal stories, discussion and prayer together, you can experience what life with the Holy Spirit looks like and be better equipped to use the Gifts bestowed on you at your Sacramental Baptism. Details: Register early online or call 206-364-2272 . Suggested donation: $20 No on-site registration. Registration cut-off date is Thursday, July 10th. Bring your lunch. It’s a very full day, so this is a closed retreat and we stay together for lunch. We begin promptly at 9:00am. Doors open at 8:30am for check-in. Retreat ends at 4:30pm and all are welcome to attend the 5:30pm parish Mass. Sponsored by Western Washington Catholic Charismatic RenewalMore Info? Call 206-364-2272 REGISTER HERE

Perseverance Shortly after I arrived in the parish last year, I received a book from Dynamic Catholic called 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory. I shoved it into my bookshelf and recently only picked it up because of a friend who is reading it.  As you are probably well aware, there is a huge disconnect with many Catholics when it comes to the Eucharist. Any resource that strives to draw us into a deeper love, belief, and experience of Jesus in the Eucharist is a huge blessing.  My friend pointed out a beautiful mediation/lesson from Day 7 that I would like to share with you in the hopes that it encourages you to persevere in your faith and to allow the Lord to touch you more deeply at each Mass when you come forward to receive our Lord.  Here is the Lesson and the Virtue of the Day from the book.  Lesson Just keep showing up for prayer and your other spiritual practices. Show up each day regardless of how you feel, or if it is convenient, or whether you or not you think it is bearing any fruit. God’s ways are mysterious. He is at work in your soul like the roots of a mighty tree beneath the surface. Just because you don’t know what God is doing doesn’t mean He isn’t preparing you for whatever is next. Just show up and let Him work on you.  Virtue of the Day Perseverance: The virtue of perseverance is essential for friendship and love. Perseverance teaches us to resolve difficulties. Acquiring this virtue requires both grace and significant personal effort. There is no virtue in beginning. It is easy. Many start, few finish. This is true in almost everything. Don’t look at how far you still have to go, look at how far you have come, and consider how your life would be if you had never found this path at all. (p.47) Have a blessed and beautiful “Eucharistic” week!  in Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

I have frequently shared with you a phrase that surrounded a Christian bookstore in Auburn years ago, when I served my first pastorate at Sacred Heart, Enumclaw, from 2000–2005. The quote ran along the top of the store and said, “ What goes into a mind comes out in a life.” Isn’t that the truth? In this day and age of constant noise and advertisements, Christians must be careful to surround themselves with things that help them put on the mind of Christ  (cf. Philippians 2:5). So many people are anxious and agitated because they take in a steady supply of negative news and spend very little time reading Scripture, devotionals, our other spiritual resource's that help them “ seek that which is above”  (cf. Colossians 3:1). Lately, I’ve been enjoying a number of podcasts (especially while walking or traveling to Eastern Washington) that edify and help build up my faith. Here are just a few of them: Pints with Aquinas  with Matt Fradd: A great show featuring interviews with interesting guests. Matt has a lively faith, a great Australian accent, and a really good sense of humor.  The Lila Rose Show : This is a podcast I recently discovered. It addresses culture, relationships, identity, purpose, faith, and hot-button topics from a Christian, and particularly Catholic, perspective. Lila is a convert to the Catholic faith and is incredibly respectful of her guests. Word on Fire Podcast : If you're looking for a smart, faithful, and inspiring way to engage with Catholicism, check out the Word on Fire  podcast with Bishop Robert Barron. Each episode tackles big questions about faith, culture, Scripture, and the Church’s role in the modern world, all through the lens of Catholic tradition and intellectual depth. Bishop Barron has a gift for explaining complex ideas in a clear and compelling way, whether he's reflecting on the Sunday readings, discussing current events, or exploring the lives of the saints. It’s a great weekly companion for anyone wanting to think more deeply and love more fully as a disciple of Christ. There are many other great resources online to help feed your soul and build up your faith. These are just a few that I’ve really been enjoying. Have a blessed week! In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

A Little Humor Many years ago, someone emailed me a list of bulletin bloopers which I shared during a retreat. One skeptical participant approached me after I shared them saying he didn’t believe such mistakes were possible. After 28 years as a parish priest I disagree with him.  I found the list in an archived article from the National Catholic Register. in Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.. The sermon this morning: Jesus Walks on the Water. The sermon tonight: Searching for Jesus. Ladies, don ’ t forget the rummage sale. It ’ s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say ‘ Hell ’ to someone who doesn ’ t care much about you . Don ’ t let worry kill you off - let the Church help. Miss Charlene Mason sang ‘ I will not pass this way again, ’ giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. For those of you who have children and don ’ t know it, we have a nursery downstairs . Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘ What Is Hell? ’ Come early and listen to our choir practice. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM . Please use the back door. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare ’ s Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance. The Associate Minister unveiled the church ’ s new campaign slogan last Sunday:” I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.”

You Are a Child of God: But What Does That Really Mean? We hear it often: You are a child of God.  But have you ever paused to truly reflect on what that means for your life? Join us for our Annual Summer Faith Workshop  as we dive into this powerful truth and explore what it means to live out our identity as sons and daughters of God. Together, we’ll reflect on: Our baptismal call to be priest, prophet, and king How to “renew our minds,” as St. Paul teaches in Scripture Practical ways to embody our divine identity in everyday life Date:  July 31 Time:  6:30 – 8:00 PM Location:  Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Enumclaw WA Speaker:   Danielle Curl , Director of Faith Formation at Sacred Heart Come ready to be inspired, challenged, and equipped to walk more fully in the truth of who you are in Christ. All are welcome!