ST. PAUL IN HIS LETTER TO THE ROMANS 12:2

Oh, boy. St. Paul is talking about prayer again and here sets out a daunting prayer challenge: first we must figure out how we are conforming to this age and then we must discern what is the will of God.

In 2015 Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home. This is ostensibly about care for the environment but any discussion of the environment quickly devolves to a discussion of materialism. There are just too many people on Earth to bring everyone up to the standard of living of the developed countries without disastrous environmental consequences.

Christian spirituality proposes a growth marked by moderation and the capacity to be happy with little. It is a return to that simplicity which allows us to stop and appreciate the small things, to be grateful for the opportunities which life affords us, to be spiritually detached from what we possess, and not to succumb to sadness for what we lack.                                                    Pope Francis, Laudato Si, p. 108 (USCCB edition)

I personally don’t find this an easy thing to do. One can always find enjoyment in material things, especially when you can share them with others. But, then, discerning the will of God has never been easy. Find a quiet spot, open your heart, and listen.

If you would like to use Sign Up! on your phone to register for mass or for serving at mass, you can find the button way down at the end of the scroll. The website refers to the Sign Up! button being on the right, where it appears on a computer. On a phone, however, the button appears at the bottom of the page. Keep scrolling!

Let us be generous with our financial resources:

• Woohoo! We’re withing $1500 of meeting Our Annual Catholic Appeal goal! Please support the work of the Church of Western Washington by clicking on this link: Annual Catholic Appeal. Much of your contribution comes back to the parish in the form of central office services, such as facilities and personnel consultations, payroll servicing, and management of employee health insurance and retirement funds. If you have questions about the Appeal, please email me at jvrussell85@gmail.com
• Give to the St Vincent de Paul Society by going to our website at st-therese.cc.  Scroll down to the St Vincent de Paul button near the bottom of the home page. If you prefer to write checks, please send them to Sr. Kathleen -SVdP , 3514 E. Marion St. , Seattle, WA 98122. The St. Therese conference has been overwhelmed by requests in the St Edwards area, which our conference is now serving. When the ban on evictions is lifter, the amount of accumulated delinquent rent will be crippling to many families. Please be generous!
• You can make a contribution online at st-therese.org and clicking on the “Donate Now” button or use the Push-Pay app on your phone.

Finally, join the Social Justice Commission! If there was ever a moment that St Therese needs a Social Justice Commission it is now! If you want to work for justice, email Trisha Tinsley at citizencoach@gmail.com.