Father's Notes

This past weekend we were blessed to celebrate Catholic Schools week. But also, we had our first Works of Mercy collection (4th weekend of the month) at St. Philomena. Recently, I wrote about this, that at St. Thomas, we already have Works of Mercy initiatives underway (St. Vincent de Paul Society, the public garden). It was important that we got some things started at St. Philomena. I’ve heard from some St. Thomas parishioners, expressing interest in having a similar monthly

One of the key themes during my studies for priesthood was discernment. We learned that the etymology of the word means to sift or separate apart. An image that helps us understand this is to imagine someone searching for gold. Perhaps you have seen in Western movies or tv shows, this process which involves scooping muddy residue and swirling the contents around in a specialized pan. The water eventually separates from the sediment, which can yield precious and hidden gold. B

Soon (January 21st), we will celebrate the memorial of a saint, dear to my heart, St. Agnes (NOTE: my black labrador before Cosmas, was named Agnes). Also known as Agnes of Rome, little is known of her except that she was martyred very young (13 years old, 304 A.D.), during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305). Tradition says she was born into a family of Roman nobility who were Christian. A man named Sempronius, an appointed official in Roman society, wished t

Perhaps I’ve said this to you already, but I believe there are five things a parish and its people should put their energies into doing well: 1) cultivating a prayerful environment and helping parishioners to grow in their life of prayer; 2) fostering community within the parish members; 3) teaching the faith; 4) evangelization of the faith beyond our parish and parishioners; and 5) caring for and supporting those in need. Honestly, we do some of these things in our parishes,

Merry Christmas! I hope this season continues to be alive in your heart. I want to mention four new and upcoming matters for our parishioners. In no particular order… Please save the date for an upcoming Parish Mission. It ’s for both parishes, but will take place at St. Philomena. We have invited Sister Mary Eucharista of the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church . Our plan is to have a workshop for women in the morning of Saturday, February 21. We will then have two nights

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and are recovering from the festivities! This weekend we celebrate the Holy Family and I would like to mention something about St. Joseph. He is a part of every Nativity scene yet remains forgotten by many. However, St. Joseph teaches us something important about silence and action. He is the only major figure in the Gospels to never say a word. This silence isn’t a lack of something; it was a presence of something—attentiveness. Because

As you know, we recently celebrated a holy day of obligation, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. With this in mind, I remind you of something I wrote about to you, back in June. I explained that for our five holy days of obligation throughout the year, we have a responsibility to provide Masses in the evening, so that those who work or go to school have the opportunity to attend. We do this, but honestly, it's astounding how many people see

As I write this, I am at the airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, waiting to board the flight that will bring me back to Seattle. A family I’ve known for years, live part-time in Costa Rica. In recent years, they have invited me to visit. It was back in January that I was again invited, and so I looked at my calendar and determined that I could make it work to come this first week of December. It’s my first visit here, and I can understand why people say such great things about it

As you likely know, we celebrate the memorial of St. Nicholas this past week. Most everyone is aware of a connection between this historical figure (a 4th century bishop from Turkey) and the person we refer to as Santa Claus (or “Ol’ Saint Nick” , married to Mrs. Claus; lives in the North Pole; dressed head-to-toe in red and white, with black leather boots and belt; drives a sleigh, pulled by 8 [or 9] reindeer; drinks Coca-Cola; is watching you at all times to evaluate your b

If I were to ask you what the most important promises are, how would you respond? While most may say wedding vows, there is another kind we all share regardless of vocation. I am speaking about the Baptismal promises we periodically renew at Mass. But have you ever stopped to think about what you are saying “I do” to? I remember listening to a podcast with a former marriage/family therapist named Dr. Bob Schuchts. He encouraged his listeners to pray their baptismal vows daily

You’ve likely heard of the Precepts of the Catholic Church . While we’re called to thrive and be fully alive in our faith, the precepts can perhaps be understood as the minimum requirements of an practicing Catholic. Why does the Church burden us with any rules? It’s for the same reason our parents provided guidelines for us. The Church wants us to flourish as human persons, and thus, as a gesture of love, she (the Church) gives us guidelines to help us flourish. So, what ar

In his November 16 note, our pastor reflects on hope and perseverance in faith, highlights upcoming parish events, and encourages us to embrace service with joy.

In his November 9 note, Father Todd O. Strange shares parish financial insights, reaffirms his commitment to wise stewardship, and explains new safety measures for the St. Philomena parish office.

In his November 2 note, our pastor invites the parish to join the September 2026 pilgrimage, reflecting on how spiritual journeys unite us in faith and deepen our relationship with Christ.

In his October 26 note, our parochial vicar reflects on how scripture calls us to “the one thing necessary” and invites us to sit at the feet of Jesus amid our busy lives.

In his note of October 19, 2025, our pastor shares the call to men in the parish to form a faith-filled men’s group, highlighting the importance of friendships grounded in faith and inviting participation.

In his October 12 note, our pastor explains how the Sunday bulletin has been revamped for both parishes, outlines weekly and year-to-date giving goals, and expresses heartfelt gratitude for your continued support.

In his October 5 note, our pastor thanks volunteers, introduces the parish mobile app, and invites us to stay connected and engaged as a community.

In his September 28 note, our parochial vicar discusses a thoughtful reflection on alcohol as the fall season begins and holidays approach, encouraging responsible choices and spiritual awareness.

In his September 21 note, our pastor looks ahead to the first session of The Search on September 25, inviting members of the St. Philomena community to join and explore faith together.