FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR
From the Desk of the Pastor August 21, 2026
Dear friends in Christ,
LET US SHARE THE FAITH!
Faith is a great gift. We know how our relationship with the Lord, our Catholic faith, our Church, and our parish have nourished and enriched our lives and helped amid joys and sorrows. Faith in Jesus Christ sustains us in so many ways. Our faith, and our relationship with Jesus, who has so convincingly demonstrated the Love of God, shouldn’t be hidden! Our faith is meant to be shared. It is good news! The best news!
Jesus never ceased to invite others to follow him. Sometimes his invitations were ignored, sometimes accepted, and sometimes, even many times, vehemently rejected. But Jesus never stopped proposing the Gospel and inviting people to follow him. Jesus, entrusted this same mission, that of announcing the Good News of the kingdom, to the Apostles and to all of us, his disciples. We ought not to expect any better treatment than he got, but ought to have the same persistence and zeal to share what we have received.
WHO DO WE KNOW THAT MIGHT WANT TO BECOME CATHOLIC?
I want to encourage each of us to think of the circles we run in, the people we encounter, our family, our friends, acquaintances, coworkers, associates. Who is in need of Jesus? Who is in need of this new way of living, this new way of seeing the world, a relationship with the Lord, Christ’s presence, mercy, grace in their lives? Then pray specifically for those persons. Ask God’s help to be a witness, an instrument of God’s grace, a proclaimer of God’s word in their lives. Finally ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, to place his word in your mouth to show you the way to approach and invite them. The Holy Spirit might encourage you to share a word of encouragement, to share a word of scriptures, to share about what happens at our parish, to share a story of your life of faith, to share an article on Catholicism, or invite you to deeper prayer or conversion yourself. Then act on those promptings of the Holy Spirit.
BECOMING CATHOLIC SESSIONS ARE BEGINNING
Very soon, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults-, the process by which adults are formed to become Catholic, to receive the sacraments and become full members of the Catholic Church is beginning soon. It starts with a period of inquiry and exploration of the faith, of each person’s faith journey, and the questions people have. If you know of someone who has been thinking about becoming Catholic and or simply might like to learn more, let them know about OCIA and invite then to contact DEACON REUBEN D’SA at St. Jude (reuben@stjude-redmond.org), or for Holy Innocents and St Anthony contact Leticia Alexander, through the parish office. Consider offering to be their sponsor or to come with them to OCIA.
LET US PASS ON THE FAITH—TO THE NEXT GENERATIONS
Just as important is passing on the faith to the next generations. Starting up soon in September are our Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation programs for children and youth. At the heart of all of these efforts is facilitating an encounter with Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord, the wellspring of love, joy and hope.
All of our programs are aimed at supporting parents as the first and best teachers of the faith.
Be sure to sign up your second graders for preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. If you have a 7th grader, this is the age for Confirmation. Please be sure to register 7th Graders, 8th Graders and any High School to prepare this wonderful sacrament of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
There are faith formation programs for children and wonderful teen groups forming to help our youth grow in their faith.
Please be sure to sign up your children on-line.
Those at Holy Innocents and St. Anthony, you can register here for faith formation: Holy Innocents Catholic Church in Duvall, Washington, USA .
And of course, we always need more folks to serve as volunteers and catechists. If you are interested, please contact Leticia Alexander in the Church office.
Please pray that many more may come to know Christ and his saving love. May God make us all joyful evangelist of Christ and his Good News!
Fr. Johnson
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Mt 28:19-20)
