News

Like many people, Marie Josée Longo, a 62-year-old widow and mother of 6, experienced the hardship of COVID-19 confinement at her home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. CRS provided 3,000+ families like Marie’s with food or financial assistance. Click above for more information and to see how you can help! Thanks for your support!

Thank you for supporting the 8 teens who went on the Youth Migrant Project this year. With your generosity, we were able to donate a carload of food, diapers, hygiene supplies, and games to be shared with the migrant families. We served over 320 households at the Food Bank in Burlington! Your gifts went a long way in nourishing recipients and were also a tangible reminder that others are thinking of them. We also received over $1400 in monetary donations, which will be shared with St. Charles and the Catholic Farmworker Center to support their ongoing ministries. Thank you for helping to bring God’s love and care to those who put food on our tables!

Our parish recently joined St. James Cathedral Seattle, St. Joseph Seattle, and St. Leo the Great Tacoma parishes in signing on to the “God is on your Side” statement. The statement, signed by 14 U.S. Catholic Bishops, stands with at-risk LGBT youth in our country. The letter states, in part, “As we see in the Gospels, Jesus Christ taught love, mercy, and welcome for all people, especially for those who felt persecuted or marginalized in any way…The Catholic Church values the God-given dignity of all human life and we take this opportunity to say to our LGBT friends, especially young people, that we stand with you and oppose any form of violence, bullying or harassment directed at you. Most of all, know that God created you, God loves you and God is on your side.” Click above to read the full statement.

When neighbors in need call, our wonderful Vincentian volunteers are there to respond with caring support and tangible assistance. They help with rent and utilities as well as bring bags of food to those experiencing hunger. Unfortunately, our pantry is very low on food and supplies, limiting their ability to help. Please consider donating non-perishable food, hygiene items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), diapers, and cleaning supplies. We are now able to resume our collection of items at in-person Masses (look for the basket by the baptismal font) and continue to accept donations at the Pastoral Center. Thank you for your ongoing generosity!

With some COVID restrictions still in place, 7 teens will be doing an abbreviated version of the Youth Migrant Project this summer. While much has changed about the trip this year, the need has not. We may not be able to do everything, but we can still collect items to help the migrant workers and families living in the Skagit Valley. We will be collecting non-perishable food items (canned goods, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, etc.), toiletries for arriving migrant families (shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.), diaper wipes, and diapers size 5 and 6. Click above for more information.

Did you know that OLG has a Life, Justice, and Peace Commission? In its 8th year, the LJP Commission aims to integrate Catholic social teaching into the life of the parish and seeks to offer parishioners a way to live out their call to love God and neighbor by providing opportunities for service, advocacy, and education. This year, we will focus on racial justice and the upcoming Seattle City Council elections in addition to other efforts. To learn more about joining our efforts, click above.

As people of faith, we are called to work for justice and change the system that resulted in the death of George Floyd.  Since his death, according to Mapping Police Violence at least 1,068 people have died at the hands of the police in the U.S, with alarming racial disparities.  In March, the U.S. House of Representatives passed The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.  Now we call on the Senate to do the same.  The bill provides more oversight to hold states and city police accountable, restricts the use of force, improves data collection, adds a new lynching offense to the criminal code, and more.  Click above to learn more.

Water is the foundation of human and ecological health and covers 70% of our world.  It is essential for agriculture, sanitation, industry, recreation, energy, and maintaining natural ecosystems.  Currently, the lack of sustainable use planning, combined with population changes and climate change, has led to a lack of sufficient water supply to meet the water usage demands for different areas in the U.S. and across the globe.  Click above to visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s website and learn how to start saving more water in your home.

Through the USAID Gikuriro project, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is working to end malnutrition in Rwanda. Since the program began, children under the age of 2 getting the right amount of nutritious food went from 14.5% to 29% in target districts. Additionally, over the last 5 years in Rwanda, working with USAID Rwanda, CRS has supported Rwanda Health as they help families grow nutritious food and improve hygiene and sanitation to reduce malnutrition and transform lives and the country. So far, we have reached 2.5 million people together! Click above to learn more.

The Welcome Table serves lunch to neighbors in need in White Center every Saturday at noon. In addition to the meal, food and supplies are handed out. Support the meal by donating non-perishable food (cereal, shelf-stable milk, etc.), tp, Depends, dish and laundry soap, reading glasses, shoes, etc. Each week guests say they could not get through the week/month without the many things provided for them. Drop off donations between 11-11:30am in the back parking lot before guests arrive. Volunteers will unload it for you!

Military Caregivers need support now more than ever. Although many faced challenges before the pandemic, the isolation that has come from the health crisis has increased their challenges tenfold. Soldiers’ Angels is seeking female volunteers who are interested in a virtual volunteer opportunity with female caregivers who have asked for support. Be a shoulder for them to lean on and provide them comfort through care packages and letters. Learn more about volunteering on the Women of Valor team at soldiersangels.org/volunteer

Each year, our youth serve in the migrant camps of the Skagit Valley through the Youth Migrant Project (YMP). Due to the lingering effects of COVID, we are not able to run the full program but, we are offering at “mini YMP” for graduating 8th graders (14+) through graduating seniors for three days in late July. Space is very limited. If you are interested in participating, contact Jennifer ASAP for an application at jibach@olgseattle.org Click above for more information.

All Young Adults are invited to Theology on Tap at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Burien on Wednesday, June 23 from 6:30-8:30pm. Enjoy an evening outdoors with food, drink, and meaningful conversation. The Reverend Cristi Chapman from the Seattle Seafarers Center will be a guest speaker, sharing what it is like serving those who labor at sea. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation available. Click above for registration information and more details.

Are you passionate about global solidarity? Do you like to have fun? Do you work well on a team? Do you want to be part of making real change for people around the world? Consider joining a local Catholic Relief Services Chapter. Work with other Catholics, students, and people of good will in the region to advocate together. Click above to learn more.

We recently welcomed a new couple into our Safe Parking lot. We are happy to be up and running again! If you would like to support this effort, we need a few more volunteers to help maintain the Hospitality Hut. You can sign up for the days and/or times that work for you each month. For more information, contact Jennifer at jibach@olgseattle.org

The Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center’s recent journal, A Matter of Spirit (AMOS), focuses on Education Equity, reflecting on how Covid-19 has impacted the education system, especially our educators and students. Hear educators and a student discuss the current reality of education and consider pathways towards a more just and equitable system. Click above to read or listen to the podcast.

CRS has been working with USAID to help our brothers and sisters in Rwanda get access to clean water. In one village, USAID and CRS have dug 61 boreholes in 7 districts that provide water close by. That means children, often responsible for collecting water, are not at risk of missing school or not having enough time for homework. In addition, CRS installed two solar-powered deep wells in the Kayonza and Ngoma Districts, powering the delivery of clean, safe drinking water in those villages. Visit www.crs.org to see how you can help contribute!

All are invited to a Memorial Day Mass with Archbishop Etienne on Monday, May 31 at 8am at St. James Cathedral to remember those who died while in the military serving our country. This year, we will also remember all those who have died from COVID-19. You can join in person (no registration needed) or watch @ArchdioceseofSeattle on Vimeo or Facebook.

Join St. James Cathedral Immigrant GroopIt, an on-line platform to connect with and support immigrants. As a member of their GroopIt, you’ll see requests for specific needs (i.e. a ride to the doctor, furniture, meals, help setting up a TV, etc.) If you are available to help, it is easy to respond to get all the information you need. Click above to learn more.

Black immigrants are often overlooked, undercounted, and sometimes altogether erased in the U.S. debate surrounding immigration and yet are often disproportionately impacted by anti-immigrant policy or failures to act. Examining and addressing issues affecting Black immigrants in the U.S. immigration system is necessary to meaningfully address systemic, anti-Black racism in America, as the Biden administration has pledged to do. Join Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. in endorsing this proposal by clicking above.