Sunday September 15th After the 10am Mass in the Parish Hall Come Join the Knights of Columbus for good food and fellowship after both of the morning masses. We will have ham, sausage, eggs, fruit and of course, Basha's famous pancakes! Support our worthy charities which include improvements to St. Barbara church, Coats for Kids, Sponsoring our Seminarian and our Scholarship Fund. See you there!

Dear Parish Family, St. Francis de Sales is one of my favorite saints. Reading about his life and reading his writings have been a great help to me over the years. Saint Francis de Sales was known for his profound kindness and pastoral wisdom. Born in 1567 in the Savoy region of France, Francis de Sales dedicated his life to guiding souls with gentleness and compassion. As the Bishop of Geneva, he faced significant challenges, yet his unwavering faith and dedication transformed the lives of many. He is often referred to as “The Saint Maker”. Saint Francis de Sales is celebrated for his approachability and his deep understanding of the human heart. His writings, particularly "Introduction to the Devout Life" offer timeless advice on living a holy life amidst the demands of daily existence. His message emphasizes that sanctity is not confined to monks or clergy, but is attainable by everyone in their everyday lives. The day my grandmother passed away at a Catholic nursing home, one of his most famous quotes was posted on the chapel door. It reminds us of the goodness of God in good times and bad, and that we can count on God’s grace to carry us through each moment of life. I’ll post it at the end of this column. I hope that you’re all doing well, and I am looking forward to joining you next Sunday for our Parish Family Picnic. In Christ, Fr. Jim

September 29th, 2024 1:30pm Doors Open 2 to 3 pm Meeting, Parish Hall 3:15 to 4pm Adoration, Main Church  All women of our parish family, whether new or longtime members, are welcome as we begin our Year of Prayer, inspired by Pope Francis. We'll explore the heart of prayer, discuss upcoming opportunities, and each guest will receive a free copy of Bishop Barron's An Introduction to Prayer .  Father Jim will be our guest speaker. Come connect, reflect, and grow in faith with us! Any questions, please contact Emily Simburger, 701-330-5753 or emilysimburger@gmail.com

Dear Parish Family, This month, we honor Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a modern-day saint whose life was a profound testament to the power of compassion and selfless service. Born in 1910 in what is now North Macedonia, she dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor in the streets of Calcutta, India, and became a global symbol of charitable love. Saint Teresa, often known as Mother Teresa, founded the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation committed to caring for "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone" Her mission was grounded in a deep love for Jesus, expressed through her service to the most marginalized. Her approach was simple yet profound: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” This philosophy guided her work and serves as a powerful reminder to us all. It’s not always about grand gestures but about the small, everyday acts of kindness that can transform lives and bring us closer to Christ. As we reflect on her life and legacy, let us be inspired to live out our own call to service with the same spirit of love and dedication. Whether through acts of charity, kindness, or simply being present for those in need, we are invited to follow Saint Teresa’s example and be vessels of God's love in our own communities. In Christ Fr. Jim

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The past several weekends we have been hearing the Bread of Life discourse from the Gospel of St. John. This weekend we end our journey with the sad reality that because this teaching was hard and required faith and patience many of his followers left him. Years ago during a Wednesday audience, Pope Benedict XVI gave a fascinating teaching about what our Mass should be like based on a passage from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. I would like to end this reflection by sharing with you the last part of his message and ask you to join me with his prayer request that our Masses reflect the power of the Eucharist to get to the “heart” of our lives. Have a blessed week! in Christ, Fr. Jim Excerpt from the Wednesday Audience of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI (November 22, 2006) Obviously, underlining the need for unity does not mean that ecclesial life should be standardized or leveled out in accordance with a single way of operating. Elsewhere, Paul taught: “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thes 5:19), that is, make room generously for the unforeseeable dynamism of the charismatic manifestations of the Spirit, who is an ever new source of energy and vitality. But if there is one tenet to which Paul stuck firmly it was mutual edification: “Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor 14:26). Everything contributes to weaving the ecclesial fabric evenly, not only without slack patches but also without holes or tears. Then, there is also a Pauline Letter that presents the Church as Christ’s Bride (cf. Eph 5:21–33). With this, Paul borrowed an ancient prophetic metaphor which made the People of Israel the Bride of the God of the Covenant (cf. Hos 2:4, 21; Is 54:5–8). He did so to express the intimacy of the relationship between Christ and his Church, both in the sense that she is the object of the most tender love on the part of her Lord, and also in the sense that love must be mutual and that we too therefore, as members of the Church, must show him passionate faithfulness. Thus, in short, a relationship of communion is at stake: the so to speak vertical communion between Jesus Christ and all of us, but also the horizontal communion between all who are distinguished in the world by the fact that they “call on the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:2). This is our definition: we belong among those who call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we clearly understand how desirable it is that what Paul himself was hoping for when he wrote to the Corinthians should come to pass: “If an unbeliever or an uninitiated enters while all are uttering prophecy, he will be taken to task by all and called to account by all, and the secret of his heart will be laid bare. Falling prostrate, he will worship God, crying out, ‘God is truly among you’ ” (1 Cor 14:24–25). Our liturgical encounters should be like this. A non-Christian who enters one of our assemblies ought finally to be able to say: “God is truly with you”. Let us pray to the Lord to be like this, in communion with Christ and in communion among ourselves.

September 1&2 St. Barbara Catholic Church is going to have a booth at the Black Diamond Labor Day Fair. We will be handing out balloons and candy! Stop by and say HI!  Want to be part of something special?  Come volunteer 2 hours  at the booth and help hand out smiles, balloons and candy! This is a great way to connect to the community and build relationships.  SIGN UP HERE! Learn More about the Fair Here>>>

Come learn and ask questions about your Catholic faith. Classes Begin September 11th Wednesday - 7:00 to 8:30 p.m . Lower Level of the Church Questions? Contact: Valerie Winston Healy paa@stbarbarbarachruch.org 360-886-2229

Join us for mass and celebrate Our Lady. August 15th 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Main Church See you there!

Foster Champs Sock and Underwear Drive August 10th - 25th St. Barbara Parishioners – Help us ensure every child starts the school year with dignity & comfort! Many children entering foster care come with little to nothing. Your donation of new socks and underwear will make a significant difference in their lives. Please consider purchasing new pairs of socks and underwear (any children’s sizes) and dropping them off at St. Barbara’s. Beginning August 10th there will be a collection box in the narthax. Thank you for your generosity. Questions: Contact Deb Melton (425) 281-1447 email debmelts@gmail.com or Liz Anderson at mewja@comcast.net

July 15th to 19th, 2024 9am to 12pm VBS is for those 3 years old through those who will be entering 5th grade in the Fall. Every day, our kids are bombarded with questions: Did God really create everything? Why do bad things happen? Was Noah’s ark real? Why do I need to be saved? Can I trust the Bible? At this VBS, your kids will explore the biblical answers to these questions as they set off on an epic adventure from Genesis to Revelation. Amid sloths, butterflies, river dolphins, and dart frogs, your children will sail along on a fun jungle cruise, stopping at seven ports of call. These ports are the 7 C’s of History: Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation. Kids will discover how these events shape our world, and they will learn to reconnect the Bible to their everyday life. Prepare to swing into fun as we head out on The Great Jungle Journey !   The registration link can be found below:   2024 VBS Registration - Google Forms   Pay Here Please note that we need a lot of volunteers in order to make VBS a reality, especially as we are wanting to have a special area/program for those in PREK. VBS is for those 3 years old through those who will be entering 5th grade in the Fall.  If you have an older child or teen going into 6th grade and above, please invite them to consider helping this year, especially if they are part of the Confirmation program and looking to fulfill their service project hours.   God bless,   -Allison Ramirez allison@stbarbarachurch.org

July 6th & 7th July 13th & 14th After each Mass in the Narthex/Entry Volunteer Sign Up Sheet Dear Parishioners, We are delighted to announce a special series of welcome events to introduce and get to know our new priests, Father Jim Northrop and Father Steve Woodland!  Join us for a warm reception filled with fellowship and treats over two weekends in July. The first welcome event will take place on the weekend of July 6th/7th , with a reception following the Saturday evening Mass and continuing after each Mass on Sunday. The following weekend, July 13th/14th , we will hold another reception to continue the festivities, giving everyone the opportunity to meet both priests. We will have a delightful assortment of refreshments, including cheese and fruit plates, cupcakes, and donuts. We invite you all to attend these welcoming events, meet our new priests, and share in the joy of our growing parish community. Volunteer Request To ensure the success of these celebrations, we are seeking volunteers to assist with setting up, serving, and breaking down after each event. If you can spare some time to help, please sign up below or contact Emily at 701-330-5753 or emilysimburger@gmail.com . Your support will be greatly appreciated as we come together to welcome our new priests. Thank you for your generosity and enthusiasm in making these events memorable! Sign Up Here to Help Google Sheet

Date: June 30th Time: Following the 10:00 a.m. Mass Join us in celebrating Father Davis and wishing him well as he begins his new assignment at St. Mark and St. Matthew Parishes. The Pastoral Council invites everyone to an Old-Fashioned Church Potluck! What to Bring: - Your favorite potluck dish to share (appetizer/salad, main course, or dessert). - The Parish will provide a cake. Volunteers Needed: We need help with setup, cleanup, and organizing the buffet tables. If you can assist, please contact Janie Edelman at 206-948-6064 or janieedelman@comcast.net. Let's come together to show our gratitude and support for Father Davis!