Father Maurer's blog

A photo of the Our Father in Latin from the Church of the Pater Noster in Jerusalem.

Why Latin? Exploring the language of the Church at Mass in Parish Family 49

Dec 1, 2025 | 4 Comments

The last weekend - the first Sunday of Advent - we began something new (to us) in the central region of our parish family: the singing of the 'Our Father' in Latin. While we will be doing this throughout Advent and concluding at Christmas, the use of Latin in the Mass is something that we have been working into all of our communities across Parish Family 49. During Lent of last year, many of our parishes used the Latin for the parts of the Ordinary of the Mass. At all of our parishes, myself, Father Gali, and Father Ed have been working to introduce - or reintroduce - Latin as a regular part of our liturgical practice, especially during the holy seasons of the liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter). It is probably fair to...

A photo of coffee in a glass mug on a rustic wooden table in Copenhagen, Denmark

Weekly pastor’s post (November 23 – 29)

Nov 25, 2025 | 2 Comments

For the first time in my priesthood, I was not at my assignment for the celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe (aka Christ the King). Instead, I was at the Newman Center chapel at UW in Seattle, celebrating the nuptials of Gina & Clayton. I have been looking forward to this celebration for the better part of the year - it was a privilege and an honor to be the priest who led them in their exchange of consent at their wedding Mass (presided over and preached by the former Newman center chaplain, Father Chrysostom Mijinke, OP). Adding to the joy of the day was the fact that it was the memorial of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians (Gina has been a longtime choir member at her parish). Especially...

‘Under One Roof’ capital campaign – supporting each other across Parish Family 49

Nov 18, 2025 | 0 Comments

This last Sunday parishioners from Saint Mary Star of the Sea joined Courtney Gunn, our PAA, to share information about our capital campaign with interested parishioners in the central region. Saint Joseph parish hosted the gathering. I am very grateful to all those who travelled from Port Townsend (and beyond) to make this possible. I am including below our capital campaign brochure, which we put together with the help of Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), who have guided us in managing our campaign. As of the writing of this post, our campaign is closing in on $350,000 in pledges and donations - not only from Saint Mary Star of the Sea but also parishioners from across our parish family. If you are interested in joining this effort, simply click...

A photo of the gift baskets put together for the staff of the Office of the Vicar for Clergy. Eleven baskets with soda, soap, bath bombs, and thank-you cards - each wrapped, with a nametag on the outside

Gratitude within and beyond the bounds of Parish Family 49

Nov 8, 2025 | 3 Comments

As most Catholics in the Archdiocese of Seattle know, there is an annual conference for priests of the archdiocese. Typically held during the week of Father's Day, priests gather together with the archbishop and his auxiliaries in Ocean Shores for about three days. Although there is always a theme for the week, complete with a speaker and discussion questions, the real point - at least in my mind - is the fellowship. The majority of us never see each other outside of the Chrism Mass and priestly ordinations. This is our annual opportunity to get to know each other, catch up, and otherwise enjoy each other's presence in a non-ministerial and responsibility-free environment. This event is a massive undertaking. Each day has multiple events,...

Weekly pastor’s post (October 19 – 25)

Oct 25, 2025 | 4 Comments

As I settled into the Archbishop Brunett Retreat at the Palisades for the archdiocesan 'Betrothed' retreat, it hit me that most of the month of October has involved celebrations of and preparations for marriage. On October 11, I was privileged to celebrate the nuptials of Bill Tocco & Heidi Durall. Last Sunday (October 19), I was invited to attend the wedding of Elijah Bufford & Galia Roman at Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (thanks to the gracious work of Archbishop Etienne and Father Josef Calendario of the Orthodox Church). In addition to being a beautiful celebration of the sacrament of matrimony, it was a welcome reminder of the rich liturgical traditions of our Eastern brethren - all-round a wonderful day. And this...

Weekly pastor’s post (October 5 – 11)

Oct 11, 2025 | 1 Comment

This last week has been a rather extraordinary mix of sorrow and joys. As most everyone has heard by now, Father Dennis Robb died sometime this last Sunday. Over the summertime and at his request, he and I had recently made arrangements for him to take the 1 pm Mass at Saint Joseph on the first Sunday of the month. Thanks to his new home dialysis setup, he had found a second wind to his day-to-day life and was delighted at being able to do more than in the past. Just this last Saturday evening, he was sharing with the parishioners who were to pick him up how glad he was to be able to celebrate Mass with the parish. It is no small consolation to consider that he went to bed on Saturday excited to serve and undoubtedly woke up to the...

A photo of the propers for the Masses for the Dead, for a priest

Father Dennis Robb, requiescat in pace (July 7, 1948 – October 5, 2025)

Oct 6, 2025 | 3 Comments

July 7, 1948 - October 5, 2025 As some of you heard at the 1 pm Mass at Saint Joseph yesterday, Father Dennis Robb was found in his home early Sunday afternoon - he died sometime overnight. His family arrived shortly after he was found - we prayed together over and blessed his body. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they are made. As parishioners of Saint Joseph & Queen of Angels know well, Father Dennis loved being a priest - and he loved our parishes. He will be greatly missed. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him.

Weekly pastor’s post (September 28 – October 4)

Oct 4, 2025 | 1 Comment

(Yet a)nother eleventh hour pastor's post. No doubt about it, I'm late on the ball this week! But what a week it has been. As I type this, I am in Port Townsend for weekend Masses - and this weekend is the third time I've driven out here this week! As our parishioners here in Saint Mary Star of the Sea are hearing, this week marks the public launch of our capital campaign - "Under One Roof". Last winter we replaced not only our roof but four rotted beams. Throughout that process, I would vacillate between enjoying the rain (as I very much do!) and worrying whether this was going to be the storm that penetrated into our church. A year later, I find myself once again peacefully enjoying the pitter-patter of morning raindrops on my roof as I...

Weekly pastor’s post (September 21 – 27)

Sep 23, 2025 | 3 Comments

The Lord works, as they say, in mysterious ways and I find myself up just after midnight contemplating how wonderful that is. Especially after a particularly emotional few weeks, I find myself with several reasons to rejoice - ostensibly after coming home this evening from an emergency call where I was privileged to offer a Catholic the last rites with her husband & loved ones at her side. God only knows what the next hours will hold for her, but thanks to the care of her family and Divine Providence, she has all that needs in preparation for His call to His side. The late night always offers a sort of melancholic mysteriousness, but especially so while driving home on an empty highway after having celebrated the sacraments in such...

Weekly pastor’s post (September 14 – 20)

Sep 16, 2025 | 1 Comment

The one-two punch of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows always hits home for me. This year is the twentieth anniversary of the death of my classmates Matty Molnar and Jared Cheek - every year me and my classmates remember them in a particular way. I offered Mass for them this morning, as well as for their families & loved ones. There has been a great many things to grieve recently. These last several weeks I've spent a lot of time at Olympic Medical Center - our local hospital - ministering to folks facing the end of their lives, or the end of the life of someone dear to them. The stories are legion and heartbreaking, but suffice to say that there are a lot of folks needing prayers right here in our backyard....