Bloodwork's Northwest Blood Drive January 4th and 5th. This event will take place in the parish hall. Come and support our community. Sign up for a time here Jan 4th https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/68810 Jan 5th https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/68811

Join Father Davis in a Tour of the Holy Land, March 2024! Don't miss out on this life-changing experience and bring scripture to life. Holy Land Tours, LLC is an expansion of Angels Tours and Travel. Pricing includes round trip airfare and additional surcharges. Accommodation in deluxe hotels plus taxes Meals as per itinerary (breakfast and dinner) Land transportation by deluxe motor coach. Comprehensive sightseeing as per itinerary with licensed Christian Guide. Learn more by downloading the flyer below and Reserve Seats Here. Reserve Seats Here

THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY [B] (Dec 31st, 2023) Gen 15: 1-6, 21: 1-3; Heb 11: 8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2: 22-40. The Holy Spirit renews our hope in the promise of God. Introduction: On the last Sunday of the year, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, which reminds us that we are part of a human family and at the same time we belong to God’s family, the Church. In both these families, we have privileges and responsibilities, to work out our salvation together — as women, men, and children living and working in love and peace. How do we do that? Let’s imitate the encounter with Simeon and Anna: By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious, Spirit-filled Simeon and the very old widow, Anna, both of whom had been waiting for the revelation of God’s salvation, were present in the Temple the day Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to Present Him to the Father. Simeon recognized Jesus as the Lord’s Anointed One, and in his prayer of blessing, he prophesied that Jesus was meant to be the glory of Israel and a Light of revelation to the Gentiles. But while he blessed Mary, Simeon warned that her child would be “set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign of contradiction” and that “a sword will pierce through your own soul. Life Message: However, apart from Simeon, Anna, too, was filled with the Holy Spirit. She was found daily in the temple, attending to the Lord in prayer and speaking prophetically to others about God's promise to send a redeemer. This depicts that supernatural hope grows with prayer and age! Hence Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness to all believers as we advance in age. In other words, advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope rightly placed. Anna's hope in God and his promises grew with age. She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope. Consequently, her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and service of God's people. Conclusion: What do you hope for? Is there anything holding you back from giving God your unqualified trust and submission to his will for your life? Allow the newborn Baby- the Lord Jesus- to flood your heart with his peace, joy, and love. And offer to God everything you have and desire - your life, family, friends, health, honor, wealth, and future. Let us, therefore, pray for the grace of caring for one another in our own families, for each member of the parish family, and for all families of the universal Church. May God bless all your families, and our Parish family, in the New Year. AMEN!

4th Sunday of ADVENT Dec 24, 2023 2 Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38. “…For nothing is impossible for God…” Today’s readings focus on the circumstances leading up to the first coming of Jesus, which sets the pattern for his coming to us now and at the end of time. The Gospel stresses the key role of Mary in the work of our salvation. The focus of today’s liturgy is the Davidic covenant, the promise of a throne that will last forever, which appears in the 1st reading, in the Resp. Psalm, and in the Gospel, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that “Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call him Jesus…For nothing is impossible for God…” Today’s Gospel surprises us by telling us that this King would be born to an ordinary virgin, not by means of sexual relationship, but through the Holy Spirit, and that the Son of God, Jesus, would become Incarnate as a descendant of David. Life Message: Nothing is Impossible for God! Mrs. Marie Norton of Elmira, New York, died in the fall of 1951, admired and praised by all who had known her. Before she had any children, she was afflicted with cancer, and physicians advised her against becoming pregnant. But Marie decided to ignore advice and leave matters in God’s hands. She went ahead and brought ten children into the world, and they were healthy children. Had Marie’s malady vanished? By no means. For thirty-five years she was under treatment and radiation. Forty-two times she went under the surgeon’s knife. After Marie’s death her son-in-law’s mother wrote a letter to the paper in praise of Mrs. Norton. “As I observed her giving, besides services, joy and sunshine … to us all, it has left me with a new reverence, a feeling that I have witnessed something this sick world needs today… an assurance that God does hear and answer those who love and trust Him. ”Yes, He hears, and He gives us of Himself: the supreme Christmas gift is His beloved Son. “… For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke, 1:37). Conclusion: We need to try to learn God’s plan for our lives: The Good News in today’s Scripture message is not only that God is making provision for the salvation of His people, but also that He has a plan for each individual person. In many cases, our work for God seems rather ordinary, but each ordinary task which we carry out fits into God's plan in ways that we cannot yet understand. God desires not only the skill of our hands and talents but the love of our hearts. The Babe in the Manger reminds us of what God has done and is still doing for us. What are we doing for Him in return? Let us show our gratitude to God by living as true followers of Christ: “Behold, here I am, Lord! I come to do Your will.” Therefore, like Mary, we need to say a courageous and generous “yes” to God, because we are assured that indeed “Nothing is impossible for God.

Advent Wreath Lighting An Advent Wreath Lighting will occur during all masses during the season of Advent. St. Barbara Women's Group Christmas Craft Night December 13th 6 to 8 pm Classroom K We have a delightful Christmas Craft event planned, where we will be creating Nordic Christmas Ornaments. Learn more here. Advent Reconciliation Mass December 14th 7 p.m. Main Church Join us in welcoming guest priests from the archdiocese as we continue our Advent journey and preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with an Advent reconciliation. First Communion candidates are invited for their First Reconciliation. Christmas Preparation December 17th, Following the 10 a.m. mass Please consider staying after mass to decorate the parish sanctuary for the Christmas season. All Parish Christmas Party December 17th 5:30 p.m. Parish Hall Gather to celebrate Christmas at the All Parish Christmas Party. All ages are welcome! Come enjoy an evening of fun with cookie decorating and trivia. Please bring a food item such as a main dish, side dish, or dessert to share. See you there! Parish Office Closed December 22nd-27th In observance of Christmas Christmas Mass Times 4th Sunday of Advent Mass: December 23rd at 5pm & December 24th at 8 am (no 10 am Sunday Mass) Christmas Eve Mass December 24th, 4 p.m. & 7 p.m. Christmas Day Mass December 25th 9 a.m.

Based on the feedback and input from the recent Partners in the Gospel consultation, proposed changes emerged for 25 parish families. After consultation with the Priest Council and the Partners in the Gospel Oversight Committee, our proposed Parish Family has changed. Please see the Recommend Family Parish Document for details regarding the proposed change and why it was made. We will have a second round of listening sessions. Specifically, the Archbishop wants to hear from parishioners in parishes with a recommended change to their parish family configuration. St. Barbara second round of listening sessions are as follows: Sunday December 3rd, 11:30 a.m. (right after Sunday Mass) Thursday December 7th, 1:30 pm Thursday December 7th, 7:00 pm For those who wish to give feedback online, please use the following link provided by the Archdioceses. English Spanish All input is to be submitted by December 15. More information may be found at the following links: Archbishop Etienne's letter: English | Spanish | Vietnamese Parish Family Feedback Report

Decoration Donations In the spirit of the holidays, we're also accepting donation envelopes for holiday church decorations. These envelopes can be found conveniently in your pews, offering you the opportunity to make a donation in honor or in memory of your loved ones. All honored loved ones will be acknowledged in the Parish Christmas Bulletin. Donations for holiday church decorations will be accepted until December 17th. Your generosity truly makes a difference, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for your support. Thank you for spreading joy and making a positive impact in our community.

2nd.Sunday of Advent Dec.10, 2023. Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; 2Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight his paths…”.                                                                                                                                                          A A Tale of Repentance. Not too many years ago, newspapers carried the story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man who repented of his sins and chose Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Remarkably, his newfound faith in Jesus Christ was so strong that, he confessed to a bank robbery he had participated in when he was nineteen years old. Because of the statute of limitations, Johnson could not be prosecuted for the offense. But because of his complete and total change of heart, he not only confessed his crime but voluntarily repaid his share of the stolen money! -- That’s repentance – metanoia -- the radical change of heart demanded by John the Baptist in today’s Gospel as he cries out: “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his path. Every valley must be filled in, every mountain made low, and rough road made plain.” Life Message: Who then, is John the Baptist and what is the significance of his message for our lives? His life was fueled by one burning passion - to point others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of his kingdom. Hence, John’s ministry must be our task of being trailblazers, and through Christ, bring others closer to God, by “…creating the new heaven and new earth, in which righteousness dwells…” (2nd.reading). Parents, serve a very significant role as trailblazers, by setting an example for their children and serving as their first teachers in all things. Teachers, coaches, and those in positions of Authority like the government and the Church, play an important role, as youth look up to them as advisers and guides. Conclusion: Let us use these days of preparation for Christmas to ready ourselves for Christ’s daily coming and Second Coming, remembering that the Second Coming will occur for each one of us on the day of our death, or on the Day of the Lord, whichever comes first. Let’s therefore, step up to the plate, be accountable, and, like John the Baptist, blaze paths that will truly make our families, neighborhoods, nations, and churches better and more holy. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight his paths…”. Because of the statute of limitations, Johnson could not be prosecuted for the offense. But because of his complete and total change of heart, he not only confessed his crime but voluntarily repaid his share of the stolen money! -- That’s repentance – metanoia -- the radical change of heart demanded by John the Baptist in today’s Gospel as he cries out: “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his path. Every valley must be filled in, every mountain made low, and rough road made plain.” Life Message: Who then, is John the Baptist and what is the significance of his message for our lives? His life was fueled by one burning passion - to point others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of his kingdom. Hence, John’s ministry must be our task of being trailblazers, and through Christ, bring others closer to God, by “…creating the new heaven and new earth, in which righteousness dwells…” (2nd.reading). Parents serve a very significant role as trailblazers, by setting an example for their children and serving as their first teachers in all things. Teachers, coaches, and those in positions of Authority like the government and the Church, play an important role, as youth look up to them as advisers and guides. Conclusion: Let us use these days of preparation for Christmas to ready ourselves for Christ’s daily coming and Second Coming, remembering that the Second Coming will occur for each one of us on the day of our death, or on the Day of the Lord, whichever comes first. Let’s therefore, step up to the plate, be accountable, and, like John the Baptist, blaze paths that will truly make our families, neighborhoods, nations, and churches better and more holy. A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight his paths…”.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION December 8, 2023. Gen 3:9-15; Eph.1:3-6, Luke1:26-38 Hail Mary, full of Grace… For with God Nothing Will Be Impossible Do you want to live a grace-filled life? The angel Gabriel salutes Mary as "full of grace". To become the mother of the Savior, Mary was enriched by God with gifts to enable her to assume this awesome role. In other words, "Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race… Thus, Eve's knot of disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience. This means, what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith" (By Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, 130-200 AD). Significance: What is the key that can unlock the power and grace of God's kingdom in our personal lives? Faith and obedience for sure! When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they immediately experienced the consequence of their action - separation from the God who loved them. God in his mercy promised them a Redeemer who would pay the price for their sin and the sin of the world. We see the marvelous unfolding of God's plan of redemption in the events leading up to the Incarnation, the birth of the Messiah. Life Message: Mary's prompt response of "yes" to the divine message is a model of faith for all believers. That is to say, Mary believed God's promises even when they seemed impossible. She was full of grace because she trusted that what God said was true and would be fulfilled. She was willing and eager to do God's will, even if it seemed difficult or costly. Conclusion: Therefore, God gives us the grace to say "yes" to his will and to his transforming work in our lives. Moreover, God gives us grace and he expects us to respond with the same willingness, obedience, and heart-felt trust as Mary did. When God commands, he also gives the grace, strength, and means to respond. We can either yield to his grace or resist and go our own way. Do you believe in God's promises, and do you yield to his grace? Prayer: Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by giving you my unqualified "yes" to your will and to your plan for my life.

Mark your calendars! It's time to celebrate the holiday season together at the All Parish Potluck Christmas Party. Join us on December 17th at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall for an evening filled with festive cheer. Everyone, regardless of age, is invited to partake in the merriment! Get ready for an enjoyable time with activities like cookie decorating and trivia. To make the gathering even more delightful, we encourage you to contribute by bringing a food item, whether it's a main dish, side dish, or dessert, to share with the community. We look forward to seeing you there as we come together to create lasting memories and spread the joy of the season!

December 3, 2023 1st. Sunday of Advent: Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37. Introduction: The common theme of today’s readings is that vigilant service prepares us for the coming of Christ as our Savior at Christmas and as our Judge and Lord at the end of the world. The reason the liturgical year ends and begins with the same theme is clear: if we have already embraced Jesus in his first coming, we will have no fear of his second coming. Thus, Advent is the season of special preparation for, and expectation of, the coming of Christ. It encourages us to examine our lives, to reflect on our need for God to enter our lives, and to prepare earnestly for, and eagerly await, the coming of Christ. He will come to us in the celebration of the Incarnation, in His continual coming in our daily living, and in His final coming as our Lord to judge us all and to renew the Father’s creation. Life Message: “Ready or not, here I come.” When you were a child, did you play the game, “Hide and Seek”? If you did, you would remember that the person who was "it" closed his eyes while the rest went to hide. To give them time to hide, the child started counting: 5, 10, 15, 20 and up to 100. Then he would say, "Ready or not, here I come!" The point of the game was to hide oneself so well that the leader could not find you, for if he found you, and beat you back to the goal, you had to be "it" the next go-around. The secret of the game was preparing oneself against being found and caught. With excitement we heard the words, "Ready or not -- here I come!" -- In today's Gospel lesson Jesus is saying to the world, "Ready or not -- here I come." In chapter 13 of Mark, Jesus tells us that he will be returning to the earth "with great power and glory." As in the game, this is not a game, there is counting and an accounting going on right now. It is a countdown before the blast of his appearance on earth again, this time to judge the world and to gather his faithful to himself. Conclusion: Therefore, using apocalyptic images, the Gospel urges the elect to be alert for the return of Christ because no one except the Father knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return. Consequently, Jesus summarizes the complexities of Christian living in two imperatives: "Take heed!" (Be on guard) and "Watch!" (Be alert, stay awake, and don’t grow careless). In short, our life on earth is to be one of productive service, uninfluenced by a supervisor's presence or seeming absence. That’s why in the 2nd. reading, St. Paul fervently prays for the reconversion of Christians in Corinth, and indeed all Christians, who have misused our gifts and charisms and remain ill-prepared for Christ’s Second Coming. For, as the gatekeepers and the household servants we are expected to be ever vigilant, because our master is sure to return, but though the time is uncertain, the reward or punishment is sure and certain.

Solemnity of CHRIST THE KING Nov.26, 2023. Ezek. 34:11-12, 15-17; I Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46. “Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! Christ conquers! Christ rules! Christ reigns!” Introduction: Today’s Scripture Readings revolve around the Last Judgment scene coming in glory and power. It was Pope Pius XI who brought the Feast of Jesus Christ the King into the liturgy in 1925 to bring Christ as Ruler, and Christian values, back into lives of Christians, into society, and into politics. In short, this feast challenges us to see Christ the King in everyone, especially those whom our society considers the least important, and to treat each person with the same love, mercy, and compassion Jesus showed. Lesson: Today’s Gospel describes Christ the King coming in Heavenly glory to judge us, based on how we have shared our love and blessings with others through genuine acts of charity in our lives. Jesus is present to us now, not only as our Good Shepherd leading, feeding, and healing his sheep, but also as dwelling in those for whom we care. By analogy, in the parable of the separation of the sheep from the goats at the Last Judgment, every person to whom we give ourselves, "whether hungry, thirsty or a stranger, naked, sick or in prison," is revealed to us as having been the risen Jesus. Ultimately, our reward or punishment depends on how we have recognized and treated this risen Jesus in the needy. Conclusion: We need to fight against the enemies of Christ’s Kingdom: Terrorism has affected the entire world, including Christ’s Kingdom on earth. These terrorists are people who slaughter the unborn; engage in a frontal attack on the modern family through provocative television shows, movies, music, and pornography; eradicate any recognition of God from public display and public schools. The battlefield is the heart, the home, the school, the place of employment, the neighborhood, and the parish. Consequently, to ensure that Jesus is always the King of our hearts, we need to make a permanent, total commitment to Him and to live out that commitment with the necessary sacrifices, conviction, hard work, and daily, serious prayer. Let’s prayer, therefore, that we the faithful would gain strength and courage from the celebration of the feast, so that Christ will continue to reign in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies, as our King. "To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His Blood and made us a Kingdom, priests for His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Rev. 1:5b-6). Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! Christ conquers! Christ rules! Christ reigns!