FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR                  Nov. 6, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the Pope’s Cathedral. However, it really is a celebration of the whole universal Church. And so, it is quite appropriate that the Lateran Basilica is known as, "the mother and head of all the Churches of the city and the world,”

Pope Benedict beautifully describes the significance of this feast: … this Solemnity recalls an essential truth: the stone temple is the symbol of the living Church, the Christian community, that the Apostles Peter and Paul had, in their Letters, already understood as a "spiritual building", constructed by God with the "living stones" that are the Christians, upon the one foundation that is Jesus Christ, who is in turn compared to the "cornerstone". "Brethren,... you are God's building", St Paul writes, and he adds, "God's temple is holy, and you are that temple" (1 Cor 3: 9c, 17)…Today's feast celebrates an ever current mystery: that God desires to build himself a spiritual temple in the world, a community that adores him in spirit and truth (cf. Jn 4: 23-24). POPE BENEDICT

THIS FEAST AND STEWARDSHIP

It is especially appropriate that this feast comes at a time when we are asking us all to renew our commitment to stewardship, stewardship of our Church.  We are all called to contribute to building up our parish community to be a place of encounter with the Lord Jesus. At the same time, we need the Church building, the parish structure, staff, infrastructure and utilities to provide a place to worship and encounter the Lord.

Stewardship is a response to God’s faithfulness. We share from the generosity of God, a portion of what we have received, trusting in God’s providence. Many thanks to all who have made their stewardship pledge already. I am always amazed at your generosity. Your gift builds up our faith community in a wonderful way. Thank you! If have not made your pledge to stewardship this year, I invite you to do so today.

We face a great stewardship challenge at Holy Innocents. But it is a challenge we can meet if we all work together, sacrifice and stretch as have so many before. It is a twofold challenge. First, we need to fund the ministries of the parish (heat, light, utilities, staff, programs, worship, faith formation outreach—the day-to-day work of the parish).  With inflation, many of our costs have increased substantially just to maintain our ministries. So, we ask that you consider increasing your regular Sunday offering by 5%, or 10% or if God has especially blessed you, by even 15%.  Many of use took this step last year and it helped, but we are again going to need many to take a step this year.

Second, we need pay off the debt on the church building which enables all these ministries to have a place to happen. We owe just under $1.2 million for the church on this loan from the other parishes of the Archdiocese. We make payments of $24,200 each month on the principal and interest. If interest rates remain stable, we will pay off the loan in just over 4 years in 2030. We are at the tail end of our mortgage. And we will need everyone’s help over the 4 years to finish the job and pay off our church debt.  

This year, once again, we are asking every family to renew or make a new pledge to both Stewardship (regular Sunday giving) which funds our parish ministries and in addition, to make a pledge to Living Stones (which pays the monthly mortgage on our beautiful church.) The pledge card includes a place to do both, and we really do need every family’s help to do this!

After you have filled in an amount for stewardship (regular Sunday giving), we ask that you, in addition, fill in the second part and make, renew or increase your pledge to Living Stones to help pay down the debt on the church.  To give you an idea of what need in pledges to pay down the mortgage… if all of our regular givers pledge $1500 a year (or $125/month, or $30/week) we could easily make the payments. Of course, some may not be able to pledge that amount and some can do much more.

To be successful, and get our church paid off, we are all going to need to stretch and give sacrificially. It is that spirit of generosity and sacrifice that got this this beautiful church built 20 some years ago. I know we are up to the challenge, because one thing I have learned over my years at Holy Innocents, is that we have always been a “can do” parish. Please pray over how God is calling you to give and return the enclosed pledge card by mail, collection basket, or to pledge online at: Pledge to 096 - Stewardship of Treasure 2026 and Pledge to 096 - Living Stones 2026. Thank you for your pledge both to Stewardship and Living Stones!

Finally, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to you for all you do for our parish. Your prayers and generosity make a huge difference in our parish, in Duvall and beyond. 



Blessings on your week!

Fr. James Johnson

Pastor