A Note From the Parochial Vicar: July 27, 2025

At the heart of our Catholic faith is a profound belief in the dignity and sacredness of every human life—from conception to natural death. In a world where the value of life is often overlooked or diminished, we are called to be witnesses of God’s love and truth by defending the most vulnerable among us.

Because of this call, Fr. Todd has commissioned Respect Life Committee. The goal of this ministry is to foster a culture of life within our parish boundaries. While the protection of the unborn is a key factor within this committee, it also seeks to support mothers in crisis pregnancies, promoting the dignity of the elderly and those with disabilities within Des Moines and Tukwila. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it does capture the essence of what this group hopes to accomplish.

As Fr. Todd entrusts me with overseeing this Respect Life Committee, I would like to invite you to consider joining this new ministry. As we are in the building stages of this new ministry, there is a need for creative and compassionate hearts to brainstorm and implement how to support life in all stages within our parish family.

Please take some time to discern if God is inviting you to get involved with the Respect Life Committee. If you are interested or have questions, feel free to email me at fr.ben@st.philomenaparish.com

God bless,

Fr. Ben Bray