Though summer is not yet over, I find myself casting my mind forward to September. Parishioners will hear more about it in the coming weekends (likely starting next Sunday!), but it will come as little surprise to know that we are putting the final touches on plans for our faith formation programs. The one thing we yet need are volunteers to join in the work – and joyful work at that! – of sharing the faith with our children preparing for First Holy Communion and our youth anticipating Confirmation. We also welcome Catholics of all stripes to join in our OCIA sessions, sharing their experience & knowledge of the faith with adult inquirers considering joining the Church. As fall approaches, I encourage you to consider how you might contribute to this crucial part of our parish ministry.

At the same time, summer isn’t over yet! And we have a neat opportunity coming up: a parish family pilgrimage in celebration of the jubilee celebration of our archdiocese. Being that 2025 is the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Seattle, Archbishop Etienne has declared several churches across the archdiocese as pilgrimage sites. On Sunday, August 24, we will be making a pilgrimage to Saint Peter mission in Suquamish. We’ve chartered a bus to pick up folks in Port Angeles, Sequim, and just outside of Port Townsend. We will celebrate Mass, pray together, and spend time in reflection at the mission and cemetery where Chief Sealth is buried. Due to space limitations – and in order to plan accordingly for the bus and box lunch accommodations – registration is required even if you’re not taking the bus or purchasing a box lunch. And if you can’t make this trip, there are yet many opportunities – check out the Jubilee Year page at the archdiocesan website.

I hope that you’re still enjoying what’s left of summer, even as we look forward to fall festivities. I know I’ve got a few BBQs yet ahead of me to enjoy (two this week!) – may you also find opportunities to celebrate a bit of fellowship and downtime with family & friends.

August 10 – Though Sundays trump most all other liturgical celebrations, today is nonetheless the memorial of Saint Lawrence (albeit a bit behind the scenes). Saint Lawrence’s martyrdom captures the hearts of Christians for his good cheer even as he was being literally grilled, famously saying “you can turn me over now, I’m done on this side”. It is fitting, as it was arguably his cheekiness that got him there in the first place – bringing the citie’s poor to the prefect when he demanded Lawrence – deacon in Rome and responsible for the treasure of the cathedral Church – turn over the riches of the Church. When he proclaimed the lowest of society as the true treasures of the Church, well, the prefect was not amused! Kerry Trotter over at Word on Fire has a brief reflection on how faith & humor are a match made in heaven.

August 11 – Today is the memorial of memorial of Saint Clare of Assisi. At the age of nineteen on the night of Palm Sunday, she went to Porziuncola where she entered religious life under Saint Francis of Assisi. Despite forceful efforts from her family to try to bring her home, she dedicated herself to a life of prayer & poverty in San Damiano – eventually two of her sisters and her mother even joined her! As other women joined them, they became known as the Poor Sisters (later called ‘Poor Clares’). Just two years after her death (at the age of sixty) she was canonized by Pope Alexander IV. Read more about her at the website of the Basilica National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

August 14 – The life & witness of Saint Maximilian Kolbe holds a special place in the hearts of many Catholics – and indeed, many non-Catholics who nonetheless admire him. Though his sacrificial offering at Auschwitz – taking the place of another man condemned to die – often holds primacy of place in the telling of his story, he led a life of faithfulness long before then. Founder of the Militia Immaculatae and the ‘City of the Immaculata’ near Warsaw, he was dedicated to Christ and His Mother. It so happens that there is a National Shrine of Saint Maximilian Kolbe in Marytown, right next to my alma mater, Mundelein Seminary. Check out their website to learn more about this amazing saint.

August 15 – Happy solemnity of the Assumption! Though this dogma of the faith was only definitively declared recently – November 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII – it was done so after extensive consultation within the Church at all levels. The consensus was near-unanimus that Mary’s assumption was both universally held and had been since the early years of the Church. Indeed, there are texts (particularly homilies) attesting to this tenet of our faith as early as the fifth century! As we celebrate Mary’s entrance into heaven today, may we join our voices to those of so many before us in acclaiming Christ’s coming to us through the motherhood of Mary. Read more about today’s celebration at the Vatican News website.