I am pleased to share with you the audio of our monthly parish family townhall gathering. As always, you may watch the video here – and I’ve included the timestamps below for reference & easy access – but the best way to navigate the video is to watch it on YouTube and use the timestamps there.

Last month’s townhall meeting went off without a hitch, but it has taken me this long to get the audio processed and bookmarked. Nonetheless, I hope you’ll take a listen (and enjoy) the fruits of our conversations at Saint Anne parish in Forks.

The sixth of our monthly parish family townhall gatherings. Held on the fourth Friday of each month and at a different church within the Catholic communities of the Olympic Peninsula, these gatherings are an opportunity for the pastor to provide updates on the state of the parish family and for parishioners to ask questions, receive answers, and offer feedback as we discern how we will become one parish family as part of Partners in the Gospel.

• 00:00 – recording start
• 00:19 – opening prayer
• 01:26 – updates on the parish family to date
• 0:15:13 – how do we understand the differences between councils and committees?
• 0:19:33 – has all of Saint Anne’s money and power been taken away from the community
• 0:25:59 – clarifications on Saint Anne’s Apostolic Action committee (past history, current disposition, and future plans)
• 0:30:12 – are our parishes going to be sanctuaries for those in fear of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)? What will our involvement be on this issue?
  • USCCB statement – https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/human-dignity-not-dependent-persons-citizenship-or-immigration-status
  • Archbishop Etienne’s letter – https://www.archbishopetienne.com/bishops-of-washington-state-support-refugee-and-immigrant-brothers-sisters
  • 0:36:52 – talking practicalities of what we might do locally
  • 0:49:04 – avoiding the spirit of bitterness & anger
• 1:01:24 – we’re grateful to have Father Ed here for his stability and presence!
• 1:03:31 – when is Father Gali going to be back out in the west region (Saint Anne and Saint Thomas)
• 1:05:44 – sharing a little about the ‘Santo Nino’ devotion and celebration of it at Saint Mary Star of the Sea this year
• 1:08:12 – (from Father Maurer to those present) how are *you* doing?
• 1:17:15 – brief discursis on contingency plans when we’re down one (or more) priests
• 1:19:12 – touching on the desire and need for more homebound ministers from each church
• 1:23:11 – could our faith formation director come out to Saint Thomas the Apostle mission?
• 1:25:33 – what’s up with Jason (our archdiocesan liaison)?
• 1:29:04 – are we still going to have the Parish Council group working in some way at our parish?
• 1:30:43 – closing prayer and thanks