A Church on Fire: Reigniting Our Zeal for Evangelization This Sunday’s readings offer a sobering and timely challenge for the Church today. Are we truly committed to spreading the Gospel, or have we, like the steward in the parable, become too comfortable managing what does not belong to us? In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a dishonest steward who, realizing his days in power are numbered, quickly acts to secure his future. While the steward’s ethics are questionable, his urgency and cleverness are praised. Jesus uses this parable to highlight a tragic irony: “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light” (Luke 16:8). In other words, why do those chasing worldly gain show more passion than many of us do in serving the Gospel? The first reading from Amos is a prophetic outcry against complacency and injustice, condemning those who exploit the poor for profit. It echoes the need for a Church that does not remain silent or indifferent in the face of suffering, but proclaims the Gospel as both word and witness. And in the letter to Timothy, we are reminded that God “wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Evangelization, then, is not optional. It is central to our identity. But how often do we pray, speak, and live with that divine desire in mind?   Where Is Our Zeal? We live in a world where marketing campaigns and social media influencers spread messages daily with incredible urgency and reach. Yet the greatest message, the Good News of Jesus Christ, often remains quietly confined to church walls or private devotion. We need a renewed zeal, not just emotional enthusiasm, but a passion rooted in love for souls, a desire to bring others into the joy and truth of the Gospel. Evangelization does not always mean preaching on street corners. It can mean: Boldly sharing our faith in daily conversations Inviting someone to Mass Living with such joy, integrity, and compassion that others are drawn to Christ through us What Can We Do? Pray for a missionary heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle in us the fire of the early Church. Look outward. Who in your life needs to hear or see the Gospel? Start with one person. Be intentional. In a world full of distractions, live with eternal purpose. As Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Let us choose God with urgency, clarity, and zeal. The Church does not just need more programs. It needs disciples on fire. In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

You are warmly invited to join us at St. Barbara Catholic Church  for a special Mass for the Unborn  on Saturday, October 4th 2025. Rosary : 10:00 AM Mass : 10:30 AM, celebrated by Fr. Jim Together, we will pray for the protection of unborn children, for expectant mothers, and for a greater respect for all human life. Please come and bring your family and friends to unite in prayer for this important intention. We look forward to seeing you there.

Dear Brothers in Sisters in Christ,   Greetings from the Camino! We are currently in O Porriño, Spain as we continue our journey to Santiago de Compestela. It has been an incredibly blessed journey so far and I thank you all for your prayers and assure you that you are very much in our prayers each day.   Recently, in the Office of Readings, there was a beautiful reflection from St. Leo the Great about our destiny and the fulfillment of our hearts desire to see God face to face. He reminds us that for now we only see partially, because we have not achieved the fullness of our redemption. Still, we are incredibly blessed to know the great hope to which we are called and this particular paragraph stirred an immense sense of gratitude within my heart.   The whole purpose of our spiritual journey is to experience life in abundance and to be free from fear and doubt, trusting in the merciful plan of God to walk with us and bring us safely into His marvelous kingdom. My walking the Camino has been a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness. He never ceases to bring people in and out of my life who inspire and help me.   Our journey is filled with intense moments of joy and pain, but we never walk alone and God will never fail to help us by sending the graces we need to keep moving towards our eternal destination. We just can’t remember where we are going even though life can be filled with a number of detours. We can always find our way back to the path God has traced out for us. And some of those detours are divinely planned to help us grow in wisdom and faith.   The upcoming year will be bring challenges but also unique opportunities to discover the goodness of God in each other. I am excited to join you for another year and am greatly looking forward to our All Parish Picnic next weekend.   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

We’re excited to announce the return of Children’s Liturgy of the Word  at St. Barbara Catholic Church  during the 10:00 AM Mass ! This special 20-minute class is designed for preschoolers and kindergartners ages 3–6  giving our youngest parishioners a chance to encounter God’s Word in a way they can truly understand. Children are called forward at the beginning of Mass and escorted downstairs to a classroom for age-appropriate Scripture readings, reflection, prayer, and a hands-on activity. They return to the church during the Offertory, just before the Liturgy of the Eucharist. First Children's Liturgy is scheduled for September 14th! Please note: This is not  part of first year sacramental preparation for First Communion or Reconciliation. It’s simply an opportunity for little ones to engage with Scripture and deepen their relationship with Christ. ✍️ Register Your Child To help us prepare materials and ensure a safe, welcoming environment, we ask that families register their children  in advance. 🔗 Click here to register your child This program is free this year , but donations are always appreciated to help us cover materials and resources. If you’d like to contribute, you can do so here: 🔗 Faith Formation Giving Link 🙌 We Need Volunteers! This ministry can only happen on the weeks we have enough volunteers available , and we’d love for you to join us! Whether you can serve once a month or more often, your help makes a lasting difference. Volunteer Roles Teacher   (VIRTUS training required) Escort children from the church to the classroom, lead the provided lesson plan, guide reflections, and oversee the activity. All materials and curriculum are fully provided , we just ask teachers to expect to plan for about 60 minutes of preparation  each week. Helper   (VIRTUS training required if assisting regularly) Escort children alongside the teacher, assist with activities, help children stay focused, and ensure safety. We currently average about 17 children each week , so we strive to have at least two VIRTUS-trained adults  present at all times, ideally three. If you’d like to teach or would like to preview the curriculum  to see if it’s a good fit, contact Emily at emilysimburger@gmail.com . 🔗 Click here to sign up as a volunteer Why Volunteer? Being part of Children’s Liturgy of the Word  is more than helping with a class, it’s about shaping the faith of our youngest parishioners and helping them grow in their love for Jesus. When you volunteer, you’re planting seeds of faith that can last a lifetime and making a direct impact on the children, their families, and our parish community. Even serving once a month  can make a huge difference ! “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ ” Matthew 19:14 (RSV-CE) “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Matthew 18:5 (RSV-CE)

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