Pastor's Page

                                                                                                                       
 
 
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We are now well into our fourth month of the current coronavirus pandemic, together with all the constraints and limitations it has imposed on us.  Here in Washington State—and in the Catholic Church of Western Washington—we are still in Phase I of Governor Inslee’s four-phase plan to help us safely find our way forward to a reopening of the activities and interactions that have been closed to us since the stay-at-home order and the socialdistancing measures went into more stringent effect.  The key in all this is for us to make clear and significant progress toward eliminating the spread of the coronavirus through a dramatic decrease in the numbers of infections and deaths due to it.  It is more than likely that we will not be reaching Phase II of the governor’s plan until some point in June at the earliest.

As I suspect is the case with many others, I find myself fighting “quarantine fatigue” and all that comes with it.  I miss the personal contact that I so enjoy having with people.  I am saddened by the physical absence of  parishioners at our celebrations of the Mass.  Our live-streaming broadcast of the Mass is a blessing under the circumstances, but even it falls well short of how the Mass is meant to be celebrated, and this also makes me somewhat melancholy from time to time. The circle of my life seems to have diminished a good deal due to not having as many places to go nor people—family, friends, fellow parishioners—with whom I can visit and interact with more directly.

At the same time, while the glass may be half empty, that means that it is also half full.  I am still employed and have a paycheck that I can count on.  Neither I nor anyone personally close to me has (yet) come down with COVID-19.  I have a dwelling place to go home to every night, and I am entrusted with work that is both meaningful and helpful to me.  This work brings me growth and offers me strength in facing the challenges that are confronting me, and it supplies me with parish and archdiocesan faith communities that are supportive, encouraging and helpful to me.  The glass is not just half full, it is nearly over-brimming.

Whenever I find myself giving in to the temptation to indulge in self-pity, I must remember two things at least.  First there are many people who face far greater challenges and burdens that I do—first responders, medical workers on the front lines of the battle, those who have lost jobs, livelihoods, health, loved ones, or even their lives to this scourge.  I, who so far have had it so easy, have to remind myself of those who have so little and who already have been tested so severely.  Second, I have been given so much that enables me to cope and to keep on going, and this reminds me of what I must try and do for those whose struggle is so much greater than mine.  Please know that you all remain in my steadfast prayers, in my fond thoughts and in my fervent hopes.

                                                                          Easter blessings to all,                                                                                                                                                              Fr. Kevin