You are invited to join us for our All Parish Family Lenten Mission Retreat , a special time set aside for reflection, healing, and renewal during the Lenten season. This year’s retreat will be led by Fr. Jim  and promises to be a meaningful opportunity for our parish community to come together in faith. Dates:  Monday, March 9 – Wednesday, March 11 Time:  6:30 PM – 8:30 PM each evening Location:  Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Enumclaw WA Theme: Light the Fire Each night of the retreat will focus on a unique theme to guide our prayer and reflection: Monday, March 9 Night 1: Ignite Tuesday, March 10 Night 2: Burn Wednesday, March 11 Night 3: Conduct Come for one evening or experience the full retreat as we journey together through this sacred season. All parish families and individuals are encouraged to attend. Frequently Asked Questions Are kids allowed? Yes, children are welcome. However, the event is primarily designed for adults, and teenagers are especially encouraged to attend. No childcare is currently available, but we are working on creating a space for children so parents can still participate while keeping them occupied. Please check back soon for updates. Do we need to attend each night? Each night builds on the previous one, but you are welcome to attend even if you can only come for a single evening. We encourage any level of participation, as we believe the Spirit can work regardless of how many sessions you attend. Can we arrive late or leave early? Come for what you can. If work or other commitments make you late, please still consider joining. If you need to leave early, for example, to get children home for bedtime, we completely understand. Please don’t let scheduling concerns keep you from attending. Will there be food? Light refreshments will be provided, including fruit, snacks, and drinks. Is there a cost to attend? No, there is no cost to attend. Do we need to register or RSVP? No registration or RSVP is required. Just come. Where is it located? The event will be held in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church sanctuary. What should I bring? Nothing, just bring yourself and an open heart. Who is invited? This event is open to everyone. We are especially inviting all parishioners of Parish Family 32. Is childcare available? Childcare is not currently available, but we are working on setting up a children’s space so parents can participate while keeping kids occupied. Schedule Night 1 – Ignite (Encounter) • Welcome & Opening Prayer • Praise and Worship (2–3 songs) • Mission Talk: Encountering Christ Personally • Small Group Share (with one other person) • Short Break • Teaching: Opening Our Hearts to the Fire of the Holy Spirit • Guided Meditation & Prayer Ministry • Homework Invitation • Closing Prayer & Sending Forth Night 2 – Burn (Purify & Belong) • Opening Prayer • Praise and Worship • Teaching: Purification, Healing & Freedom in Christ • Partner Reflection • Short Break • Reconciliation or Healing Prayer • Extended Worship & Intercession • Homework: Deeper Commitment • Closing Prayer Night 3 – Conduct (Share the Good News) • Opening Prayer • Praise and Worship • Mission Talk: Sent Forth to Share the Good News • Witness/Testimony • Short Break • Teaching: Missionary Discipleship • Commissioning Prayer • Next Steps & Quad Continuation • Final Praise Song & Blessing

The Transfiguration: Grace for the Journey This Sunday’s Gospel brings us up the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James, and John to witness the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28–36). In a moment of radiant glory, Jesus’ face and clothing are changed, and Moses and Elijah appear to speak with him. The disciples hear the Father’s voice: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.” The event is a foretaste of Christ’s resurrection and a sign that God’s saving plan is unfolding.   Why does this matter for our Lenten journey? Lent is a time of penance, self-examination, and spiritual struggle. We often find ourselves in wilderness places: suffering, temptation, confusion, or fatigue, where it’s hard to keep our eyes on Christ. The Transfiguration reminds us that God does not leave us alone in those places. He offers the grace we need, and he reveals that the path through suffering leads to new life.   Notice two practical lessons from the story:   God’s light breaks into our ordinary moments. The disciples were doing what Jesus asked; they went up the mountain with him. When we intentionally take time to be with Jesus in prayer, Scripture, Eucharist, or silent adoration, we make space for God’s transforming presence. Grace often comes quietly in those faithful, repeated acts of communion with him. Seeing Jesus’ glory strengthens us for what comes next. The Transfiguration was not an escape from the cross; it was preparation for it. In the same way, the consolation we receive in prayer and the sacraments doesn’t remove trials immediately but empowers us to endure them with hope and fidelity.   The Lord so often uses music to bless me with moments of transfiguration. I remember driving around Tukwila towards the end of my dad’s bout with cancer. I was incredibly sad we had arrived at this moment, wishing we could have a little extra time, and out of nowhere, my iTunes app started playing a song titled “Come And Fill My Heart”. It was just what I needed to hear, and it gave me the grace to press through that difficult moment. This week, consider a small, concrete way to “go up the mountain” with the Lord: add ten minutes of quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, read a short passage of Scripture each morning, or simply invite Jesus into a particular difficulty in your life during your daily prayer. Trust that as you spend time with him, he will give the grace you need to remain focused, faithful, and hopeful. Scripture reminds us to “cast our cares upon him who cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7).   Let us pray that, like the disciples, we may hear the Father’s voice calling us to listen to his Son and be strengthened by the light of his presence on our Lenten path.   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

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 car.   Our spiritual lives are much the same. Small relaxations in discipline, little compromises of truth, or moments of inattentiveness can accumulate until our faith looks bent and uneven. Satan does not always attack with thunder and lightning; often he works subtly, inviting us to daydream, to rationalize, to postpone the hard work of holiness. Lent calls us to notice those moments and to recommit before small faults become large ones.   Spiritual maturity is built day by day: steady prayer, honest confession, regular Scripture, fasting that clears space for God, and generosity that breaks the hold of self-centeredness. None of these are dramatic overnight fixes, they are measured, repeated acts of fidelity that keep our lives aligned with Christ. If you feel your spiritual “fence” tilting, start small: add five more minutes of prayer, speak with a friend or mentor for accountability, choose one habitual excuse to renounce this week. Just as Satan gradually lures us away so to do little acts bring us back to restore the joy of salvation. The main thing is not to get discouraged. After all, Jesus was a carpenter!   This Lent, let us refuse the lazy comforts that make our souls crooked. Let us work with care, humility, and perseverance so that when others look at our lives, they see craftsmanship formed by grace. Join us in a renewed season of disciplined love and let God straighten what needs straightening and, please don’t forget to plan on attending our All Parish Family Mission from March 9-11. The Lord will give you some beautiful tools to straighten your fence!   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

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 intention: to listen, to repent, and to be renewed. Practical ideas: Add 10–20 minutes of Scripture or examen each morning, attend an extra weekday Mass or Stations of the Cross, pray for specific parish intentions, or join a Lenten small group for mutual support.   Fasting is the invitation to simplify our lives to make room for God and neighbor. Reflection: Fasting helps us reject excess, grow in self‑discipline, and stand in solidarity with those who suffer. It frees time, attention, and resources for what truly matters. Practical ideas: Observe Ash Wednesday and Good Friday; give up a habitual comfort (social media, sweets, TV); make one weekday meal simple and use that time for prayer; redirect money saved to charity.   Almsgiving is the invitation to share what we have with mercy. Reflection: Almsgiving makes our love concrete. It reminds us that our gifts are meant to be shared and that generosity heals both giver and receiver. Practical ideas: Give to the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program or a local charity, volunteer at a food pantry or shelter, perform weekly acts of neighborly service, or start a family giving jar to present at Easter. A simple weekly plan: 15 minutes of prayer daily, one day of simplified eating, and one concrete act of charity. May this Lent lead us to greater freedom, deeper communion, and a heart enlarged by mercy as we prepare to celebrate Easter.   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

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 so that all of us can be part of His desire to renew all things in Christ. God is generous and wants to lavish the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit upon us in abundance to help us operate in dynamic power.   I personally want to extend an invitation to you to join us for a great opportunity to experience personal and powerful transformation and renewal so that we can be equipped to take our place in the Church to bring the Good News to those around us. The time has come for us to pray for the fire of the Holy Spirit to i gnite  our lives, burn  away doubt and confusion bringing healing and clarity of mind and heart, and giving us supernatural power to conduct  the mission of the Church to share the Good News with great joy and enthusiasm.   Please mark your calendars for our All Parish Family Lenten Mission from March 9-11 from 6:30PM-8:30PM at Sacred Heart.   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

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 invitations to conversion that shape the Christian’s interior life and public witness.   Poverty of spirit . Cantalamessa reminds us that true freedom begins when we recognize our dependence on God. Poverty of spirit is the soil in which every virtue grows: humility opens us to grace and keeps our eyes fixed on Christ rather than on ourselves. Those who mourn . Sorrow, especially over our sin and the brokenness of the world, becomes a source of compassion when it leads us to God. Mourning softens the heart so we can receive divine consolation and become channels of God’s mercy to others. The meek . Meekness is not weakness but strength rightly ordered. It is Christ’s power lived without domination: patient, gentle, and rooted in trust that God is ultimately Lord. Hunger and thirst for righteousness . Cantalamessa calls us to an interior longing for God’s justice that transforms action. This hunger impels us to seek holiness and to work for a world shaped by truth, charity, and the common good. Mercy . The Beatitude of mercy reflects the heart of the Gospel. Mercy heals, reconciles, and breaks cycles of vengeance, reminding us that we are first recipients of God’s mercy and thus called to extend it generously. Purity of heart . Purity is single-heartedness for God. It clarifies our vision so that we can see God and neighbor without distortion, freeing us for a love that is sincere and whole. Peacemakers . To make peace is to act with the patience and creativity of Christ the Reconciler. Peacemaking requires courage: to listen, to forgive, and to build community even when it costs. Persecuted for righteousness’ sake . Cantalamessa emphasizes the paschal dimension of Christian witness: suffering for Christ’s sake unites us to his cross and opens us to resurrection joy. Faithfulness under trial is itself a powerful testimony.   How to live them? Cantalamessa points to prayer, humility, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. The Beatitudes are practiced in small, daily acts: forgiving an offense, a quiet act of service, a moment of prayerful surrender. They shape interior dispositions that bear fruit in how we treat others and how we face suffering.   As a parish community, let us allow these attitudes to become our recipe for joyful living, not as a program to master, but as an apprenticeship to Christ: to be formed by him through prayer, sacraments, and one another. When we do, the Beatitudes cease to be abstract sayings and become the living presence of Christ among us and ingredients to a happy and abundant life.   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

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 widow was a member of my parish. A few minutes later he pulled in front of the parish offices to pick me up. I remember distinctly having a knot in my stomach as I got into the car and feeling a bit anxious about what was about to happen.  We headed to the Labor and Industries building in Tumwater, where the widow worked. There was a brief conversation with the officer in the car, but in the moments of silence I prayed to the Holy Spirit to give us strength, grace, and direction. When we got to the offices, the officer asked me to remain in the hallway while he went in to direct the widow toward me. As soon as she saw me, her face sank and she burst into tears. I felt so much sorrow for her and learned more details surrounding the suicide as we talked and prayed together. I was then assigned to be the celebrant for the funeral.   This was a really difficult experience, but I remembered the words from St. Jude:      I share this story with you to remind you, as St. Paul reminded St. Timothy, not to neglect the gift of the Holy Spirit that we have all received through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation (c.f. 2 Timothy 1:6-7).   When you find yourself in a difficult situation and are feeling overwhelmed, pray in the Holy Spirit and ask the Lord to strengthen you to face your challenge. We are not helpless in the midst of adversity. It is precisely in these moments that I have felt the greatest gratitude for my faith and life in Christ.   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

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 thank you all for your participation and dedication to the Lord as we move forward as a parish family. We are blessed! In Christ, Fr. Jim

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, Jesus identified with us, taking on our human condition. Despite being sinless, He willingly chose to embrace the role of a servant, demonstrating an incredible model of humility and love. By being baptized, He set the stage for the sacrament that would later be bestowed upon us, inviting all believers to be washed clean and reborn into a new life.   As we celebrate this feast, we are reminded of the transformative power of our own baptisms. In baptism, we enter into a covenant with God, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and being embraced into the family of the Church. This sacrament signifies our rebirth as children of God. This is a beautiful reminder that we are called to live in a way that reflects His love and grace in the world.   The Baptism of the Lord also calls us to action. Jesus’ example teaches us that we are not only recipients of His grace but also missionaries of His message. We are invited to pursue a life of service and compassion, reaching out to those in need and sharing the hope we have found in Him. Just as He entered the waters to show solidarity with humanity, we are encouraged to enter into the lives of others, bringing light and love into their darkness.   As we reflect on the significance of our baptism, let us renew our commitment to live as true disciples of Christ. May we strive to embody His virtues of kindness, humility, and love   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

A New Bible Study Series Begins January 13th! Tuesdays at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Enumclaw Make learning Scripture part of your New Year’s journey. We invite you to a welcoming, beginner-friendly Bible study designed to help you truly understand the story of the Bible, from Genesis to Jesus. In this engaging series, you’ll explore Salvation History, gaining the big-picture framework that will equip you to dive more deeply into Scripture with confidence moving forward. No prior Bible knowledge is needed—just a desire to learn. Where:  CFC Building at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Enumclaw When:  Tuesdays at 10:00 AM   or   6:30 PM Instructor:  Danielle Curl Materials:  Books provided Cost:  In-class donations suggested, never required The study uses Bible Basics for Catholics (Expanded Edition): A New Picture of Salvation History  by John Bergsma. Whether you’re brand new to Bible study or looking for a solid foundation, this class is for you. Join us and start the year grounded in God’s Word. Contact Danielle for questions danielle@sacredheartenumclaw.org

Lectio Divina: Praying with Scripture 10 am Thursdays at Sacred Heart Church, Enumclaw Join us for Lectio Divina, an ancient and beautiful way of praying with Scripture that invites you into a deeper, more personal relationship with God. Lectio Divina - Latin for “Divine Reading” - is a slow, prayerful approach to Scripture traditionally promoted by St. Ignatius, focused not on study, but on spiritual transformation. Together, we move through four gentle stages of prayer: Lectio – reading the Scripture slowly Meditatio – reflecting on a word or phrase that stands out Oratio – responding to God in prayer Contemplatio – resting quietly in God’s presence This gathering is ongoing and continuous, using the upcoming Sunday Gospel each week. No preparation is needed. Scripture readings are provided, and drop-ins are always welcome. Where: CFC Building at Sacred Heart Church, Enumclaw When: Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:00 AM *no meeting on Jan 15th What to bring: Nothing, readings are printed RSVP: Not required Come listen, reflect, and share what God may be speaking to your heart through His Word. Questions? Contact Danielle danielle@sacredheartenumclaw.org

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 story exemplifies the divine guidance that accompanies those who earnestly seek truth. Just as the Magi received direction from the star guiding them to the Christ Child, Cornelius was led by a vision that prompted him to seek out Peter. This intersection of faith and divine action reflects our own journeys toward understanding and embracing the gift of God’s love.   The Epiphany calls us to recognize that God's message is not confined by cultural or ethnic boundaries. Cornelius’s conversion marks a significant moment, showing us that the Good News of Jesus is intended for everyone. His sincere prayers and acts of kindness illustrate the restless heart longing for God, a longing that we all share.   We are all called to give an account for the hope inside us (cf. 1 Peter 3:15). I’ll never forget the intense joy I felt as I began to share my faith with others and realized that I could be used to help others encounter Christ. The first few attempts were a bit awkward because most of us who were raised Catholic were never taught how to share our personal testimonies. God brought the right people and resources into my life to help me. The most important thing is the desire of our hearts to show forth the compassion and love we have found in Jesus Christ.   Epiphany is all about recognizing the hunger for God that exists in every heart and praying in the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim God’s marvelous deeds through our words and actions.   God is going to equip us for the works of ministry (cf. Ephesians 4:11-12) as we move forward as a parish family, and wonderful opportunities await us as we share the hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).   I wish you all a most blessed celebration of the Epiphany.   In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor