This Week: First Week of Advent
| Tue: St Francis Xavier |
| Sat: St Ambrose |
We are the Roman Catholic Faith Community of St. Philomena, called to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ through our celebrating and praying together, through our support of the faith development of each member and through our compassionate service and care for one another and the world. We do this because of our commitment to our faith, our hope in the reign of God and our love of God and neighbor.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
This feast day is normally celebrated on December 8, which falls on a Sunday this year. Because of its importance, it has has been moved to Monday December 9. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year, but (as Fr. Steve says) it is a holy day. Please consider joining us for the Holy Mass to honor our Blessed Mother and thank her for her unceasing prayers to her Son on our behalf.
Affordable Care Act Alert
If you are one of the many Washington residents who is considering purchasing health insurance through the exchange, please note that all of the exchange plans subsidize abortion. However the plan with the least coverage for abortion is the Premera Blue Cross Multistate Plan.
Note that another option is to join a Christian healthcare coop. These plans are technically not insurance, but for many people they are cheaper and better, and they do not require us to subsidize abortion, sterilizations, etc. They do fulfill the federal requirement to purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act:
Also please let your elected representatives know that we want insurance options that do not subsidize abortion. If healthcare is provided by your company, please tell your HR department that you want healthcare that does not subsidize abortion. If we do not speak out, they will never know that we do not support what they are doing.
If you have any information on health care options for Washington State residents that do not subsidize abortion, please send an email to the website administrator: media@stphilomenaparish.com.
Visit Our Library
Come and visit us in the parish hall. (At the north end of the hall.) The parish library is open during the Sunday morning coffee hour after all the morning masses. We have books on church history, spiritual reading, the Church Fathers, theology, religious education, back copies of the Lighthouse CDs, and other material. Come and check us out!
Outreach is in need of monetary donations as the Christmas season is fast approaching. The ladies purchase gifts for the shut-ins and people in our local nursing homes who may not have family in the area. Please put your donation in an envelope and mark it “Outreach” and place it in the collection basket.
Join the Legion of Mary. Let the Spirit do great things through you. Contact Delores Rybacki at 206-878-5827 for more information.
EWTN
Check out EWTN this week: Xavier: Missionary and Saint, Saturday at 2:00 pm
“Narrated by actor Liam Neeson, the story of St. Francis Xavier, the founder of the Jesuit order. World renowned scholars share the fascinating details of his missionary work.”
Links
New Parish Forms: Faith Formation Registration, Reception of Sacraments, Profession of Faith Registration
Mass schedule for local cemetaries
Información de las Quinceañeras está aquí.
Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation schedules are on the Sacraments page
Pray the Divine Office to consecrate your day to the Lord: Universalis.com or DivineOffice.org
Traveling for business or pleasure? Don’t forget to make the Holy Mass a part of your plans: call 1-858-207-6277 or go to www.masstimes.org.
Find the readings and Gospel for today here: Daily Mass Readings from the NAB
