News

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.

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.

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.

A big thanks to all who participated in the Rice Bowl program this year! As a community we raised over $5800! Thanks to your kindness we have touched the lives of the people served by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian assistance program of the Catholic Church. Seventy-five percent of donations goes to CRS’s work in 100+ countries while twenty-five percent stays in Western Washington to help fund local hunger-alleviation efforts (OLG received grants for both the Peace Garden and St. Vincent de Paul).

The Institute of Catholic Thought and Culture at Seattle University invites all to their latest Interreligious Dialogue Initiative event on Wednesday, May 19 at 4pm on Zoom. Speakers Darrell Hillaire and Fr. Pat Twohy, SJ will share about Lummi spirituality in dialogue with Jesuit spiritual practice. We will also hear Lummi reflections on ecology and earth care. Click above to learn more and to get registration information.

With the tragic rise in hate crimes in our area and around the country, it is helpful to have resources at your fingertips. If you ever witness an incidence of hate, attempt to record it on your phone and be sure to report it. Click above to learn how and to find resources for victims. If you want to learn more about how to safely intervene in these situations, we have included bystander resources as well.

For over 25 years, Earth Ministry has been a national leader in engaging the faith community in environmental stewardship and advocacy. They provide numerous opportunities to put your faith into action about issues you care about. Click above to see their current action alerts, including campaigns to limit fossil fuels, support rivers, salmon, and orcas, ban toxic chemicals, and work for climate justice.

Thank you to our over 210 volunteers who helped to make the 2021 Day of Service’s 12 projects a success! In just a few hours, you made or assembled 150 meals for the Welcome Table, 18 travel systems (baby car seat and stroller) for WestSide Baby, 22 no-sew hats and 400 pb&j sandwiches for Union Gospel Mission, 4 snuffle mats for Seattle Humane Society, 110+ day-brightening cards for Kidz, 41 rosaries, 20+ prayer cards, and 70+ cards for OLG ministries, and 75+ hygiene kits for our neighbors on the streets. In addition, we helped 3 food banks provide for those in need and helped at 3 area parks and the OLG garden. Folks at home assembled nearly 100 Homebound Kits, Lunches of Love, Mary's Place baskets, and knitted hats for babies joining OLG families. A HUGE THANKS to our planning team and to all our project leads. It is amazing to see what we can do when we all work together!

Following the guilty verdict in the trail of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Chairmen issued a statement. "Let us pray that through the revelation of so much pain and sadness, that God strengthens us to cleanse our land of the evil of racism which manifests in ways that are hardly ever spoken, ways that never reach the headlines." Click above to read the full statement.

The Welcome Table serves lunch to neighbors in need in White Center every Saturday at noon at The Body of Christ Church (1320 SW 102nd St). In addition to the meal, food and supplies are handed out. Support the meal by donating non-perishable food (cereal, shelf-stable milk, etc.), adult coats, men’s clothing, sturdy shoes, blankets, tarps, gloves, and kids’ clothing. Drop off donations between 11-11:30am in the back parking lot before guests arrive. Volunteers will unload it for you!

We prayed, fasted and gave alms—and now we rejoice because Christ is risen! Our Lenten journey with CRS Rice Bowl challenges us as we begin the Easter season to share the joy of having a loving God that is alive and accompanies us always. Let’s do the same by being present to our global family by caring for their material and spiritual needs. Remember to turn in your Rice Bowl donation at Mass or the Pastoral Center. You can also donate online securely by clicking above. Thank you for your generosity!

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. Click above to learn more.

Learn with, and join, Catholics across the country who are working to address the sin of racism and end racial injustice in our communities. Click above for access to videos, books, prayers, practical action steps, and more.

The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC), the public policy voice of the Bishops of Washington State, has been hard at work testifying and advocating during this legislative session. Join them as they advocate for housing, immigration, economic and racial justice, care for creation, life issues and more! Sunday, April 11 is the final day for most bills to be considered and voted on. Click above to see the issues and take action on the things that matter most to you! Together, we can make a difference!