April 26, 2024

Dear Friends in Christ,

The Gospel this Sunday begins with Jesus telling us: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit….. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit…”
 

I have always related to this passage. Growing up, I used to watch my Dad prune and tie up his berry vines each winter so that they would bear fruit in the summer.  I have to think, if my own Dad takes such good care of his own vines, with how much more loving care does God tend to us? The call the Lord gives to us is to stay connected to the vine which gives life and fills us with God’s love and grace. It seems to me that we do this through prayer, through contemplating God’s word, through participating in the sacraments and the life of the Church, and most of all, through being nourished by Christ’s Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Through the roots, through the trunk, through the branches, flow the nourishment that we need as extended parts of the vine. If we do not stay connected to the source of goodness, order, and life, close to the source of all life and love, we really cannot live or enjoy the abundant life the Lord desires for us, and certainly we will not bear the good fruit Christ wants us to share.

Next Sunday May 5, both at St. Jude and Holy Innocents, we celebrate the First Holy Communion of many of our young people. The eagerness, wonder, and joy of these children, reminds us to approach Holy Communion with joy and hope. Christ truly comes in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity to fill us with his real presence, with his divine life so that we can remain in him, and bear his presence in to the world.  Congratulations to all of our First Communicants and many thanks to their parents, godparents and catechist who have worked so hard to prepare them!

What we do in celebrating the Eucharist each Sunday, is faithfully offer that sacrifice of praise Christ enjoined us the night before he suffered for us. It is our response to his command and invitation at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me.” This is the way he calls us to be connected to him as the ‘true vine.’ This is the way Christ desires to pour out his love into us in a tangible fashion. 

May our children and youth receiving First Holy Communion remind us of the importance and beauty of this gift of love which the Lord Jesus gave us and of the fact that we are to become what receive.  May they remind us of the importance of being connected to the ‘true vine.”

ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL

We are in the midst of the Annual Catholic Appeal, a campaign which is really important to our Archdiocese and our parish. It is the way that the parishes of the Archdiocese fund those ministries we cannot do on our own but need to do together as a larger Church here in Western Washington. The Annual Catholic Appeal funds ministries such as the recruitment and training of future priests and deacons, hospital ministry at our larger regional hospitals, campus ministry at a number of our universities, CYO camping, as well as day to day essential services that we, as parishes, depend upon.

Your support is crucial to the success of the Archdiocese and its many ministries. This year the  goal is $54,000 for our share of this year's campaign.  Any dollars received over and above that goal will be returned to parish for parish projects.  This year the rebate will go towards replacing the seriously deteriorating asphalt of the east side of the church. This will cost over $40,000.

I invite you to make a pledge today toward the Appeal. How much should you pledge? Obviously, that would depend upon your circumstances, but certainly it should be in proportion to the way God has blessed you. Last year the average gift was wonderfully generous, over $466. Whatever the amount, your gift will make a tremendous difference. Please pray about this request and make a pledge to support these important ministries. We would be grateful if you would return the envelope or make your gift on-line at GiveACA - 2024 - Archdiocese of Seattle (archseattle.org)

May Christ continue to bless you and your families with his presence and his love!

Fr. Johnson