Yoked with Christ I am writing at the close of a deeply blessed five-day retreat at Franciscan University in Steubenville. The talks, Adoration, and prayer have been consoling and restorative. I leave rejuvenated and eager to share what the Lord has poured into me. On the first night one presenter spoke about acedia, a spiritual weariness that pushes us to substitute activity and busyness for real intimacy with God. The remedy he offered comes straight from Matthew 11:28–30: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” During a guided meditation I was drawn back to a memory of lying on a dock at Lake Crescent with friends, staring up at a spectacular, meteor streaked sky. In that vastness I felt small and insignificant, until the Spirit gently brought me to the truth of the Incarnation. God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to draw us into a new life. Jesus invites us to take His yoke, not as a burden, but as companionship and formation. A yoke pairs two together so the more experienced guides the pace. When we are yoked to Christ, we do not walk alone or have to manufacture our worth by constant doing. We learn to pace our lives by gazing at Him, allowing His meekness and humility to shape our steps and to give rest to our hearts. May we all, especially when weariness tempts us to run ahead or to retreat into busyness, take up His gentle yoke and rest in His presence. In Christ, Fr. James Northrop

Get ready for Cathletics VBS - where kids train to become Champions for Christ! This high-energy, Olympic-themed adventure inspires children to aim high, grow strong in God’s Word, and go for the gold in their Catholic faith. Event Details REGISTRATION CLOSED Dates: July 27 - July 31st, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Friday ends at 1:30 PM) Location: St. Barbara Catholic Church, Black Diamond, WA Ages: Children entering Kindergarten - incoming 5th Graders View example schedule here 📞 Have questions? Contact Zack Midles at 360-789-5589 or zmidles@gmail.com 💲 Cost: See tables below! --> Includes snacks, craft supplies, and take-home items. (Full and Partial Scholarships available!) If you have already registered but are looking for payment instructions, you can go here: https://www.stbarbarachurch.org/vbs-payment-page 🎉 Volunteer Perk: Parents or Guardians who volunteer 3 or more days during VBS receive 25% off registration + early registration access! Registration CLOSED Limited spots available! ✔️ General registration closes June 28th (or when full) Number of Children Price per Child Total Cost 1 Child $85 $85 2 Children $75 Per Child $150 3+ Children $70 Per Child (Family Cap: $210 for 3+ kids) $210 Max Total Full and Partial Scholarships available, we don't want cost to be a reason to not come! ✔️ Volunteer 25% discount registration Number of Children Price per Child Total Cost 1 Child $63 $63 2 Children $56 per child $112 3+ Children $52 Per Child (Family Cap: $123.75 for 3+ kids) $156 ✨ What to Expect Every day is packed with faith-building fun, including: 📖 Bible Stories & Lessons – Making Scripture come to life 🙏 Catholic Prayers & Traditions – Woven into daily activities 🎨 Creative Crafts & Hands-On Projects – Bringing faith into action 🎶 Music, Worship & Movement – Singing and celebrating together 🏃 Outdoor Games & Team Challenges – Building friendships & teamwork 🎉 Friday Family Celebration – Parents are invited to join the joy! This program is designed to help children connect with their faith in a fun, engaging, and memorable way. We Need You! Parent & Guardian Volunteers Get Perks! VBS is only possible with the help of volunteers like you! Whether you can serve for a day or the entire week, your presence makes a difference. ✅ Volunteer Perks: Free childcare – For younger siblings (toddler - pre-K) on volunteer days (limited spots). 25% off your child’s VBS registration – If you volunteer for 3 or more days! Middle schoolers can help – If a parent is also volunteering that day. Ways to Help: Group Leaders & Assistants – Guide small groups Snack & Craft Helpers – Support hands-on activities Game Leaders – Organize outdoor fun Music Leaders – Help kids engage through song and movement Youth Volunteers (High School) – Assist with songs, skits, and small groups Setup & Cleanup Crew – Help create a welcoming space and clean up on Friday Single Day Shifts Available Registration CLOSED 📣 Spread the Word! VBS is more fun with friends! Invite other families to join this unforgettable journey of faith. Have questions? Contact Zack Midles at 360-789-5589 or 📧 zmidles@gmail.com Mark your calendars and register early – spaces fill quickly! We can’t wait to see you at VBS! 🌟

Reparation — Overcoming Evil with Good If you have not read Archbishop Etienne’s pastoral letter on the Sacred Heart, I highly encourage you to do so. It appears in the most recent edition of Northwest Catholic and is also available on the Archdiocesan website. It offers a beautiful exposition of the Sacred Heart devotion and explains why it is so relevant. Reading the section on reparation reminded me of an experience I had while attending the 2005 International Retreat for Priests in Ars, France. One day we were bused to Paray‑le‑Monial, the town where the apparitions were given to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. We were told the day was set aside as a day of reparation for the clergy sexual‑abuse crisis. I entered the day with a partially hardened heart — feeling shame about the whole sad reality but also thinking that I hadn’t done anything wrong. I felt anger toward those bad priests and at the harm they inflicted on innocent children. As the day went on, numerous presentations explained the significance of the Sacred Heart apparitions and devotion. I could feel my heart beginning to soften and realized that we couldn’t run away from the tragedy but had to do what we could to seek forgiveness and healing. Whether we like it or not, our actions affect one another for good or for ill. The theology of reparation is rooted in St. Paul’s words to the Colossians: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24). Seeking reparation for our sins and for those of others helps us avoid a victim spirit. We can offer our sufferings for the good of the Church, and in doing so the Holy Spirit leads us to deep healing and to a sharing in the sufferings of Christ. In this way we are enabled to love with the heart of Jesus for the salvation of the world. Recently a friend who was facing serious medical problems told me she was offering that suffering for the conversion of at least fifty priests. I smiled and thanked her. In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

Learning From The Example of Others My first assignment as a newly ordained priest was with Fr. Jim Lee, who passed away on December 22, 2024. He was a great blessing and mentor to me, and I thank God that I had the opportunity to learn from him. We both stepped into a very difficult environment because past leadership in the parish had greatly compromised and undermined the role of the pastor and, in general, the clergy. A group of people loyal to the previous pastor and determined to resist the new leadership quickly formed, and we had to deal with their complaints. They were not at all orthodox or faithful to Catholic teaching and doctrine. One of these members cornered me after Mass and criticized me for declaring the divinity of Jesus Christ, saying that he clearly didn’t believe in it. He had been helping as a catechist with people interested in coming into the Catholic Church. We had numerous meetings with this group of disgruntled parishioners; it was a very difficult time, especially for Fr. Lee. I was still on my honeymoon as a newly ordained priest. Although I was included in some of their complaints, which they shared with the Archdiocese, they were incredibly unkind and vicious toward Fr. Lee. Eventually, a representative from the Archdiocese was brought into one of these meetings. When I asked her how she thought the meeting had gone (which I thought was awful because of the conduct and disrespect shown), she replied, “It is hard to hold hands with a hissing snake.” Through this tumultuous first year, Fr. Lee demonstrated tremendous charity but ultimately discerned that these people were not going to show respect or, in any way, be team players; they were determined to attack and undermine him. He finally concluded that they were taking his time and pastoral attention away from other people who truly believed in Catholic teaching. He respectfully said that he would celebrate the Sacraments for them but did not wish to dedicate any further time or attention to their concerns. I must admit that my response to them wasn’t quite as charitable. Fr. Lee taught me that the way we conduct ourselves in these situations is of utmost importance. Scripture says to overcome evil with good (cf. Romans 12:21). I am so grateful for the wonderful men and women God has surrounded me with, who teach us by their example to follow the way of Jesus. In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

“Ollie” The Octopus My father had a tremendous love and appreciation for the splendor of God’s creation. When he was eleven, his parents gave him John James Audubon’s book The Birds of America, and he memorized many of the birds by their Latin names. He instilled this love and fascination with God’s creatures in my brother and me. Shortly after my fourth birthday, I remember my encounter with “Ollie” the octopus. My father came home from work and called my brother and me to his side. He said there was a tremendous problem we had to help solve: Ollie the octopus had escaped from the aquarium (of course, there was no aquarium in Pullman, Washington), and we had to find him. We began a thorough search throughout the house, looking in closets, cupboards, and even the refrigerator. Our search finally ended in the bathroom. My father slowly opened the door, and there was a tentacle draped over the top of the bathtub. Our eyes were the size of saucers! We found Ollie! My childhood was filled with adventures in nature, including many fishing and hunting trips, as well as collecting bugs with those little plastic bug containers complete with tweezers. Nowadays, many children sit glued to televisions, computers, and smartphones, failing to recognize the splendor of God’s creation and to see how His glory is reflected in it. As we begin the summer months, I hope we can all find time to break away from our technology, enjoy the works of God’s creation, and be drawn into a spirit of gratitude for everything that reflects His majesty and glory. Have a blessed summer! In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

This June 11, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotion to the Sacred Heart has developed over the centuries following the experiences of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the apparitions she witnessed in the seventeenth century. Popes have lauded the practice of consecration of the self, home, and even whole nations to the Sacred Heart. Why Consecrate our Nation? Archbishop Alexander K. Says that, “by celebrating this important national anniversary with this devotion, we have the opportunity to encourage all Catholics to honor our Lord and to infuse the spirit of the Gospel into various communities and departments of life. As we reflect with gratitude on the blessings God has bestowed on our country, our devotion to the Sacred Heart demands that we consider how we might foster truth, justice, and charity in American life. We are called to bring our faith into the actions we take and the lives we lead in our communities. This anniversary and consecration will be a great opportunity to promote the beautiful devotion to the Sacred Heart and to encourage the laity to offer their lives in service to God and their country. This consecration calls us all to a deeper devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” You can watch the livestream of the consecration of the United States of America on Thursday, June 11, at 1 pm Pacific Time on the USCCB’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/usccb. To learn more and read what Archbishop Etienne just wrote in a new pastoral letter entirely devoted to the Sacred Heart, emphasizing the importance and relevance of this devotion. Please go here. The letter can be read in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. https://archseattle.org/sacredheart/ If you’d like to join in the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Please go here for information. https://www.usccb.org/novena-sacred-heart-jesus Lastly we’d like to invite you to check out these five ways to grow closer to The Sacred Heart of Jesus available here. https://seattlearch.app.box.com/s/id1gkel4d0qb4tqevr9i0ek0d5m72kdg/file/2226485661433 We pray you join us in devotion to The Sacred Heart of Jesus this month of June and celebrate with us here at Parish Family #32. Many blessings.

Corpus Christi & Giving Thanks This weekend we celebrate Corpus Christi, a wonderful opportunity to give thanks for the marvelous gift of the Eucharist. I pray we will all deepen our love and our ability to “become what we receive” (St. Augustine). I also celebrate 29 years of ordination and service as a priest in the Archdiocese of Seattle. It is hard to believe how quickly the years have passed and how many amazing people I have met and accompanied in ministry. I truly feel blessed and grateful to mark this milestone and thank you all for your prayers, love, and support. I thank the Lord for my co-workers in the vineyard, our parish staff and the many volunteers who share their gifts and talents in service to our parish. I am very grateful for each of them. Lastly, I thank the Lord for the families who make up our parish. You have shown tremendous patience through the Partners in the Gospel program. As I’ve told you often, when I hear of the challenges some of my brother priests face, I leave those meetings with a deep sense of gratitude for this community’s love for the Lord and commitment. I pray you will have opportunities to rest and enjoy the summer. My brother and I have long made an annual fishing trip in honor of our father, but this year a family cruise to Alaska will replace that tradition in mid-September. Have a very blessed week. In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

Fanning The Flame Our celebration of Pentecost last weekend gave us a wonderful opportunity to thank the Lord for fulfilling his promise to fill us with power from on high to face the challenges of discipleship. I am well aware, as I have stated in my homilies, that not every Catholic has experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is a tragedy since God wants everyone to have this grace. Trying to live out our vocations without the grace of Pentecost is like trying to play soccer with a half‑inflated ball — a timely image in light of the World Cup being hosted in Seattle in a few weeks! Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a tremendous gift, and I am so grateful that the Lord put people in my life who showed me how to yield to this grace. What drew me to open my heart was the witness of those who had already experienced it: the way they lived, the joy radiating from them, and the affectionate way they spoke of their relationship with God in Jesus Christ. They spoke about the Lord as if he were a real person who had dramatically changed their lives. We need powerful renewal in the Catholic Church so people can experience the reality of discipleship and be able to draw others to Christ. We cannot give what we do not have. Below is part of the Novena for Pentecost I received last October when I attended a powerful conference in Houston, Texas. The full text of the prayer can be found on the Pentecost Today website (www.pentecosttoday.org): Come, Holy Spirit! Fall afresh on us that we might receive an experience of the love of the Father and fully surrender to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Come, Holy Spirit! Fill us with your power and presence. Transform us with your sanctifying gifts to make us holy, and equip us with your charismatic gifts for the building up of the Church and the evangelization of the world. Create in us a new heart, that we may be conformed to your will and be one in Christ. Have a blessed week, and may the Holy Spirit be fanned into flame in our hearts and in our Church. In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor

The Promise of the Father - Pentecost You have heard me speak frequently about the importance of Pentecost and our ability to welcome the gift of the Holy Spirit into our lives to help strengthen and guide us through the joys and challenges of Christian discipleship. There are three things I would like to highlight regarding the grace of Pentecost. Let’s call them the three “P’s” of Pentecost. Power. Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were empowered from on high (cf. Luke 24:49). When the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples, they were immediately sent out with that power to preach the Gospel with boldness. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to overcome obstacles (especially cultural barriers) and to “cut them to the heart” (cf. Acts 2:37). We need this power today to help us be bold and to put into practice the Scripture someone gave me before I went into the seminary: “Not by power nor by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6). The grace of Pentecost moves us out of self-reliance and into reliance on God’s grace and His power working within us. Purpose (Clarity of Mind & Heart). Before enduring his passion, Jesus told us that he would send an Advocate who would lead us into all truth (cf. John 16:13). The Holy Spirit moves us away from superficial and fleeting pleasures and into servants of God who follow His commandments to love one another as He has loved us (cf. John 13:34). The grace of Pentecost helps us focus on the things that really matter. Our purpose is to serve and glorify God and to help usher in the Kingdom of God through forgiveness and reconciliation. Gazing at the news and headlines, we see so much confusion and lack of purpose. The Holy Spirit helps us to feel our dignity as children of God and to live out the grace of our baptism. Proclamation. When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, she said, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46). The grace of Pentecost enables us to give the glory and honor to God where it belongs. We are the creatures and God is the Creator. We honor and reverence that relationship and, unlike Adam and Eve, do not fall for the lie of wanting to compete with God. The grace of Pentecost orders our entire lives — body, mind, and spirit — to the greater glory of God. We desperately need the grace of Pentecost in our Church today. It all starts with each one of us praying for the gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to send us forth with power, purpose, and proclamation. Have a most blessed Pentecost! In Christ, Fr. James Northrop — Pastor

Wisdom from Thomas à Kempis A few weeks ago in my homily, I shared a passage from one of my favorite devotionals, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis. I have been revisiting this well-loved devotional and wanted to share one of my favorite sections on regaining God’s grace. My child, “The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble” (Nahum 1:7). Come to me whenever you need help. The greatest hindrance to receiving consolation is your apparent reluctance to pray. Before you ask me for anything earnestly, you try to find other consolations, delighting yourself in so many external things. When it happens that nothing helps you out, you remember that I am the One who saves those who trust in me. Other than me you will find no power, nor profitable advice, nor lasting remedy. Now that you have survived the storm and recovered your spirit, try to grow strong again in the light of my tender mercy. I am here to lend a healing hand, to offer abundant, overflowing help beyond measure. Is anything difficult to me? Shall I be like one who promises and does not perform? Where is your faith? Stand firm and persevere. Be patient and have courage; consolation will come to you in due time. Wait patiently for me and I will come and cure you. It is temptation that bothers you and a useless fear that strikes you with terror. What do you get from worry about what may come in the future, except a multitude of sorrows? “Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Mt 6:34). It is vain and useless to feel grief or joy for future events that may never take place. Although it is natural for us to be deceived by such worries, it is a sign of a weak soul easily drawn away by the suggestions of the enemy. For he does not care if it is true or not when he tricks and deceives you. It matters little whether he overcomes you with love of things present or fear of things to come. “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (Jn 14:27). Believe in me and confide in my mercy. I am often closest to you when you think that I am far away. When you think that almost all is lost, it is often then that you are about to gain the greatest merit. All is not lost when something happens contrary to what you wanted. You must not judge according to how you feel at present, nor give yourself up easily to any trouble no matter where it comes from, nor imagine that all hope of deliverance is gone. Have a most blessed week! In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor Thomas à Kempis, Solace in Suffering: Wisdom from Thomas À Kempis, ed. Mary Lea Hill, Classic Wisdom Collection (Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media, 2010), 61–64.

A Blessed Weekend - Two Celebrations! This weekend we are privileged to celebrate two occasions. We are joined on Saturday evening by Archbishop Etienne for the celebration of Confirmation at Sacred Heart Parish. This wonderful sacrament is a reminder of the Lord’s promise to send the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in our inner being so we may live out our baptismal calling as followers of Jesus Christ. I remember my own Confirmation in 1987 and the many graces I received with that sacrament. Let us pray for all the young people who have been preparing to receive this sacrament not to receive the grace of God in vain (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:1), but to allow it to transform their lives and make them bold witnesses to Christ. Secondly, our nation has set aside this Sunday to honor our mothers. My mother is still living and has been an integral part of my life and my faith for many years. Even though she is battling dementia, she remains a constant reminder of the goodness of the Lord and the importance of motherhood. As we honor all our mothers, living and deceased, let us thank the Lord for the way the tender goodness of God is shared through their lives. As we move through the month of May, life grows busy with social activities, graduations, and more. I am grateful to celebrate these two events with you as our parish family moves forward with Partners in the Gospel. May the Holy Spirit fan into flame a new awareness in all of us — to welcome the grace of a new Pentecost for our Church, helping us be vibrant, joyful, and eager to share the Good News of our life in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, Fr. Jim Northrop, Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we continue our journey through the Easter season and prepare for the joyful celebration of Pentecost, our first reading shows the origins of the ministry of the diaconate. In response to the growing number of believers and favoritism toward the Hebrew‑speaking converts, the leaders addressed the issue with confidence and prayed for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The criterion for selecting candidates was “reputable men, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” This challenge and the prayerful solution the Lord provided through the diaconate should remind us that God will help us with our own challenges, both in life and as a parish family. We need only pray for wisdom and for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We distributed a resource at the parish mission from the JPII Healing Institute that helps us pray for clarity of mind and heart and against a spirit of confusion. I would like to remind you of this resource and pray that each of us may walk in confidence that the Lord will care for us and give us what we need to continue our journey of faith. Have a most blessed week! In Christ, Fr. James Northrop, Pastor Prayer Against Confusion “In the name of Jesus Christ, I renounce the lie that everything is confusing, that I don’t understand anything, and that it is up to me to figure things out on my own. In Jesus’ name I declare the truth that I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and that the Holy Spirit reveals whatever I need to know when I need to know it (1 Cor. 1:7). I declare the truth that the Lord gives wisdom and understanding to anyone who asks (Jas. 1:5). I declare the truth that God has given His Church to lead me into all truth. I declare the truth that I have understanding and enlightenment from the Lord.”