St. Anne Catholic Church

The Stations of the Cross
We pray the Stations of the Cross every Wednesday at 7:00 pm. If you are not able to join us—or if you’d like to pray the Stations at other times, here’s a resource using the artwork from St. Anne Church.
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Five Tips for helping children participate in Mass
St. Anne is a family-friendly parish that welcomes parishioners of all ages. Our children are gifts from God and signs that our parish is growing! While little ones are often fidgety during Mass, as they grow they can learn about how to act and how to pray. Here are some suggestions on what adults can do to help younger parishioners participate in Mass as part of our community.
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New Wording, The Same Mass
On the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, churches throughout the United States will begin using the New Roman Missal, and Catholics willbegin to notice changes in the wording of the Mass. The Missal is the book of prayers that are used in the Mass. Forty years ago the Second Vatican Council introduced the Mass as we know it today, updating it from the Tridentine Mass used since the 16th century. The New Roman Missal—the Latin edition of which was promulgated by Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee Year 2000—represents the third time the prayers of the Mass have been updated since Vatican II. While it introduces some new wording, it also draws upon many of the ancient hymns and prayers that are part of the Church’s rich tradition.

It has taken the past decade for an English translation of the New Roman Missal to be produced and approved. There are two general methods for translating a text from one language to another: word-for-word and meaning-for-meaning. The translation with which we are familiar (introduced in the 1970s) employed the meaning-for-meaning method. It sought to express more of the content of the Latin phrases rather than a literal, word-for-word meaning. The English translation of the New Roman Missal is the joint product of liturgists, scripture scholars, linguists and theologians who sought to employ rich, dynamic, prayerful wording, while following the wording and style of the original Latin text more closely than the current translation. It incorporates phrases drawn directly from Scripture, as well as from ancient prayers and hymns. As a result, the new translation sounds more formal, more ritualized, than the current one.

There has been some controversy—political and theological—over the new translation. However, regardless of our views regarding how the translation was done, or our preferences for the old or the new, the New Roman Missal will be the one used for Mass beginning on the First Sunday of Advent, November 27th, 2011.

Perhaps what is most important to remember is that the Mass itself is not changing. We will still follow the same order of Mass; only the wording will change. In fact, most of the changes in the wording do not affect the prayers of the assembly. A majority of the changes are in the parts of the Mass prayed by the priest. This will require the presider to rely on the book of the Missal itself until he becomes familiar with the new texts. The assembly, too, will need to pay closer attention to the new wording for the responses to prayers, the Creed and the Gloria.

Most of us don’t like change. The introduction of the New Missal will mean that we will have to learn new wording, and unlearn much of what has become familiar. This may make us uncomfortable, and we may feel that the Mass has lost some of its meaning for us. But it is not just the wording of the prayers that give the Mass meaning; it is also the faith and attitude of those who are praying. We bring meaning to the liturgy by our prayer, our faith, and our participation. As we learn the new prayers, and pray them with our community, the new wording will grow not only in familiarity, but also in meaning and sacredness.

For all of us, the introduction of the New Missal represents an opportunity to take a closer look at the prayers of the Mass, and our presence and actions as a worshipping community.

Stories of Stewardship
A monthly look at stewardship in St. Anne Parish
September 2011: New Orleans Volunteers

Throughout scripture, disciples are called to serve “widows, orphans and strangers.” (Zechariah 7:10) This past July, twenty-six members of the St. Anne Parish community boarded a flight headed for New Orleans, Louisiana to serve widows, orphans and strangers in St. Bernard Parish. The experience expanded the volunteers’ understanding of just what God asks of each of us and helped the volunteers develop a real appreciation for the layers of hardship that exist for the people of New Orleans.

The St. Anne Parish delegation of volunteers was divided into four work groups that were sent to different locations to work each day. Work sites included different displaced clients’ homes, a new school, the St. Bernard Project warehouse, and an oversized warehouse to unload and sort donated furniture.

Several of the volunteers worked alongside Ms. Bonnie, a widow, who had been waiting six years to move back into her 500 square foot trailer that was damaged by flooding and mold during the storm. Until moving home just days after St. Anne Parish volunteers left New Orleans, she had been sleeping on her neighbor’s couch in his small trailer. Monday through Friday, St. Anne volunteers reported to duty at Ms. Bonnie’s jobsite in the early morning to find her waiting outside of her trailer for their arrival. She even bought volunteers special soda pop to thank them for their efforts and repeatedly would say, “I have been waiting six years for all of you. God has answered my prayers.”

Other St. Anne Parish work groups would go to jobsites in which they were truly serving a stranger. They did not have the blessing of meeting the people that were going to directly benefit from their efforts, but they had the satisfaction of working hard and trusting that they were doing God’s work. Volunteers counted and sorted books in new classrooms, painted, built shelving and organized hundreds of building supplies in the
St. Bernard Project warehouses.

After a hard and hot day of work, all of the volunteers would come together for a meal prepared at Camp Hope, a former Catholic school that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Camp Hope now serves as a boarding house for long and short-term volunteers for the St. Bernard Parish community. Volunteers slept in bunk beds and showered in renovated bathrooms. The accommodations were more than adequate and were conducive to bonding and reflection at night.

Several evenings after dinner, the volunteers would gather to hear stories of survival by victims of Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers heard from Dara, a young woman who was entering her senior year of high school the week that Hurricane Katrina hit. Volunteers learned about how she went from being class president, homecoming queen, a cheerleader and an honor roll student with hopes of a college scholarship to having her high school turned into a morgue to house those who died in the hurricane.

After several months of waiting, Dara was finally accepted into a high school several hours away from her home where she explained she, “was a nobody,” and lost all chances of receiving a college scholarship. Her story deeply impacted all of the St. Anne Parish volunteers and reminded us of the many ways that Hurricane Katrina orphaned thousands of people in August of 2005.

All twenty-six volunteers wish to express their sincere gratitude for the support the St. Anne Parish community extended to them throughout their fundraising efforts. The parish community responded by making donations at the Lenten soup night, our pancake breakfast, and by purchasing Brown Bear carwash vouchers. We also had one generous parishioner who anonymously paid the way for one of our student volunteers. These donations not only made it possible for volunteers to make the trip, but it also afforded the delegation the opportunity to donate twenty-six sleeping bags to a local homeless shelter, purchase a washer and dryer for Ms. Bonnie, purchase miscellaneous tools for repairs at Camp Hope and on the job sites, and enjoy the pleasure of having a St. Anne Parish community dinner at a restaurant in New Orleans following Mass at St. Peter Claver Church on their last night. Donations also reduced the cost of the trip for volunteers. It was the prayers and enthusiasm of the larger St. Anne Parish community that sent volunteers to New Orleans with confidence and a real sense of purpose. The entire St. Anne Parish community was at the heart of the response to serve the widows, orphans and strangers of New Orleans. The volunteers who traveled were the arms and legs of that response.

If you are interested in being part of a service trip in the future and/or have questions or ideas, please contact: Paola Womac at pwomac@stanneseattle.org or 282-0223.

Welcome Home, Returning Catholics!
If you are a Catholic who has been away from active participation in the church, welcome! We hope you will feel at home here at St. Anne.

We realize that many returning Catholics have questions about the church, its teaching and its practices. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you, to answer your questions, and to address any concerns. Please contact the parish office at 206-282-0223 or email info@stanneseattle.org. We look forward to helping you reconnect with your church community.

Here are a few of the questions frequently asked by those who are thinking about returning to active participation in the Church.

I am thinking of returning to the Catholic Church. Do I have to go through some kind of program in order to do this?
No, if you are a Catholic who has been baptized and received First Holy Communion, you do not need to go through a program. However, a person returning to active participation may find it helpful to meet one-on-one with one of our staff members to ask questions, address issues, and discuss the person’s specific circumstances. Please feel free to call or email the parish office if you would like to arrange to do this.

Also, we offer a program that many returning Catholics find helpful called What Catholics Believe, and Why It’s So Important. This is a 5-week series that explores Catholic teachings and their meaning for our daily lives. The series is free and you don’t need to register. It begins on April 29th.

If I return to the Church do I need to go to confession? Or can I just come to Mass?
You are always welcome to come to Mass! There are no prerequisites or conditions for attending Mass. However, before receiving Holy Communion you will most likely want to celebrate the sacrament of God’s reconciliation by making a confession. Regular confession times are Saturday at 4:00 pm (3:30 pm during Lent). You may also make an appointment with Father Bowman for other times.

I don’t remember how to go to confession. What do I do?
Knowing the “formula” for confession is not as important as simply availing yourself of the sacrament. If you go to confession and tell the priest that it has been a long time and you don’t remember exactly what to do, he will talk you through it without trouble or embarrassment. A simple guide to the sacrament is available near the Reconciliation Chapel, at the east end of the church.

I am not married in the Catholic Church. Does that affect my return to the Church?
If this is your first marriage, then having your marriage recognized by the Catholic Church should be quite simple. If either you or your spouse has been married before, the process may take more time. Talk to Father Bowman or Ron Ryan, and they can help you with your particular circumstances.

I have been divorced. Does that affect my return? What if I am remarried?
There are many members of our parish who are divorced; being divorced doesn’t mean that you can no longer be an active member of the Catholic Church. Father Bowman or Ron Ryan can talk with you about your individual situation, and how you can participate in the church.

I have unbaptized children. Can they be baptized?
Yes, they certainly may be baptized. Contact Marian Young at the parish office and she can explain the process.

I’m not Catholic, but I am curious about the Catholic Church. What should I do?
The Church offers a wonderful process for people who are considering entering the Catholic Church. The Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) familiarizes participants with the Gospel, Catholic teaching and practice, and the Church community. It provides them with the opportunity to prayerfully discern whether they are being called to the sacraments and to be members of the Catholic Church. It usually begins with a personal interview and a fuller explanation of the process. For more information contact Ron Ryan.

Do you have bible study for adults?
Yes, bible studies—as well as other adult programs—are held throughout the year. Check the church calendar or contact the parish office for information on upcoming studies.

What do you have available for children at your church?
We have programs for children from 3 months through middle school.

Contact the parish office for more information.

How can I get more involved?
There are lots of opportunities to meet other parishioners and get involved.

Do I have to register in order to be a Catholic in good standing?
Once you decide to be a parishioner at St. Anne, we do ask you to consider registering but it is not required. However, registering in the parish makes a statement of your intent, allows the parish to be in touch with you in important ways, and enables us to keep accurate sacramental records. Registration forms are available at all the doors of the church, or through the parish office.