A late pastor’s post – quite literally, what with this near-midnight publication – before Sunday starts. The highlight of this week was the Mass on Friday celebrating the election and inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. By happy chance, the Vatican Media released his official portrait – I must admit to being quite taken with this shot of our pontiff, and of His Holiness himself as we continue to get to know him. May the Lord continue to bless him – and us to support him with our prayers!
Over the last two weeks we have celebrated three special Masses for Pope Francis and Pope Leo. This coming week we will have three special Masses, but for more ordinary needs: the celebration of the sacrament of confirmation for youth and adults across our parishes! Bishop Frank Schuster will be celebrating Masse at Saint Anne parish in Forks (Wednesday, May 28), at Saint Joseph parish in Sequim (Thursday, May 29), and at Saint Mary Star of the Sea (Friday, May 30) to confer the last sacrament of initiation. All of the Masses will be at 6 pm – all are welcome, though I strongly encourage coming early to secure a seat! In any case, please pray for our confirmandees – not only for their nerves (meeting a bishop can be intimidating!) but also that their hearts may be open to the Holy Spirit and the gifts the Lord is preparing for them.
Image by Vatican Media (special permissions – institutional use only)
May 18 – Today the Church celebrates Pope John I, both for his papacy and martyrdom. At the time of his election as pope, the Arian heresy – which denied the divinity of Christ – was espoused and enforced by the emperor of the west. Though the emperor had tolerated Catholics and Catholicism, he became suspicious of the pope for his friendship with the eastern emperor (who was not supportive of Arianism). He had Pope John arrest and imprisoned, where he died from his treatment in prison. Read more about Pope John I at uCatholic.
May 19 – Continuing our papal focus this week, today is the memorial of Pope Urban I. Though his feast day follows that of Pope John I, Pope Urban reigned some two hundred years before. Richard Becker of Catholic Exchange has a brief but edifying commentary on the apparent dearth of information about Pope Urban, delightfully titled “When History Shrugs” – definitely worth a read!
May 22 – Today’s saint – Saint Rita of Cascia – has a connection with our newest pope in their shared religious life with the Augustinians. She married quite young to a man whose life was deeply invested in controversy and politics, which resulted in his eventual murder. Her children later died of disease. Rita embraced a life of prayer, but her efforts to join the Augustinians was initially rebuffed – likely due to her late husband’s connections and history. However, she persevered and eventualy was accepted. As she was in married life & motherhood, she proved to be both humble and devote in religious life. Read more about her at the Midwest Augustinians’ website.
May 24 – This week’s final saint – Saint Vincent of Lerins – is revered in both the East and West. A French monk of the 400s, he famously defined the Catholic faith as what has been “believed everywhere, always and by all.” It is of some note that he clashed with Saint Augustine and Pelagius on the subjects of grace, free will, predestination, and original sin. I like to imagine that Saint Vincent & Saint Augustine continue their debates in heaven – albeit with the bond of brotherhood they did and now eternally share in Christ! Read more about him at Loyola Press.
Priests celebrating their anniversaries this week
- Reverend Stephen T. Roman (May 18, 1957)
- Reverend Marlin J. Connole (May 18, 1968)
- Reverend James L. Dalton (May 18, 1968)
- Reverend Timothy J. McKenna (May 18, 1979)
- Reverend Ronald H. Belisle (May 19, 1962)
- Reverend Robert Turner (May 19, 1962)
- Reverend Patrick S. Clark (May 20, 1961)
- Reverend Roger G. O’Brien (May 20, 1961)
- Reverend Richard J. Gallagher (May 21, 1960)
- Reverend J. Patrick McDermott (May 21, 1967)
- Reverend Marcin Szymanski, O.P. (May 21, 2011)
- Reverend Michael G. Angelovic (May 22, 1965)
- Reverend David A. Brant (May 22, 1965)
- Reverend Richard K. Hayatsu (May 22, 1965)
- Reverend Michael J. McDermott (May 22, 1965)
- Reverend Klemens Dabrowski, S.Chr. (May 22, 1987)
- Reverend John Shannon, F.S.S.P. (May 22, 2010)
- Reverend Michael P. O’Neil (May 23, 1959)
- Reverend John J. Bulger (May 23, 1964)
- Reverend James P. Coyne (May 24, 1975)
- Reverend Michael B. Raschko (May 24, 1975)
Remembering our deceased priests
- Bp. Gerald Shaughnessy (May 18, 1950)
- Fr. James Hamilton (May 19, 1998)
- Fr. Michael J. Ryan (May 19, 2014)
- Fr. Hugh Lynch (May 20, 1936)
- Msgr. Joseph Camerman (May 20, 1969)
- Fr. Ibar Lynch (May 20, 2007)
- Fr. Daniel Grace (May 22, 1957)
Congratulations to Fr David Brant on his 60th anniversary! He came to QA for what was to be a short interim assignment in early 1990s. It stretched longer but my memory fails me–a year? 2 years? When he left here, I believe he went to the Cathdral where he continues to reside. You can see him occasionally on live stream daily Mass from the Cathedral.