3rd Sunday of Advent

Dear Readers, Parishioners from Sacred Heart of Jesus & St. Anne,

The Advent season is a time of expectation and hope. Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we want to pause and focus on what is essential. Let us be touched by the message of Advent and open our hearts to the light that comes into the world.

Barbara Bumbarger for the Parish Family Team

Our Lady of Fatima 

*This mass will be American Sign Language supported.

CCS is our Catholic Charity at work, serving over 100,000 vulnerable individuals and families seeking a path out of the shadows of poverty, homelessness, hunger, mental illness, and injustice across 19 counties in western Washington. Every day, they serve our community by arranging home care for housebound seniors and others with disabilities, providing behavioral counseling and recovery services for children and adults, coordinating shelter and permanent homes for the unhoused; and conducting outreach to those still on the margins of our society, isolated and unseen. We encourage you to join us in “sharing the light of hope” through the Appeal for the Poor. Your gift, no matter the amount, will show love, kindness, and care towards our western Washington neighbors.

You can give online today at ccsww.org/donatenow or make a gift during Mass this weekend using the appeal envelope in our pews.

At the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Location

At the St. Anne Church Location

Simbang Gabi, literally translated as “evening mass”, is the Filipino spiritual tradition of a

novena (nine days) of masses before Christmas. Since the 1600’s, the Filipinos have spent these final days of Advent in the company of Mary to prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Simbang Gabi expresses our love for God. The readings, prayers, and songs remind us to reflect on our personal and communal relationships with our Lord at this special time of the year.

Filipino Americans brought Simbang Gabi to the United States and found it an effective way to build a community of faith, to express who they are as a people and to share their religious tradition and culture with fellow parishioners. Simbang Gabi transcends cultural boundaries and helps us focus on the meaning of the season amidst the flurry of holiday activities.

Our parish Our Lady of Fatima will host one of the Simbang Gabi masses in the Archdiocese on

Saturday, December 21st at the 5:00 PM mass.

Come and join us for this celebration that will feature the Filipino Choir. Following the mass will be a feast of traditional Filipino food. See you there!

Maligayang Pasko!

(Merry Christmas!)

The Gift Giving Tree tradition is a cherished holiday custom within our community, grounded in the spirit of charity and compassion. Together, we are answering Christ’s call to serve those in need. Our tree, located in the church entrance hall, is adorned with ornaments representing the wishes of those in our parish ministries. Each tag corresponds to a gift request. Donors are invited to choose a tag, purchase the requested item, and return it, sharing in the joy of giving this Christmas season. Please note that the Giving Tree will be taken down on December 22nd, allowing us time to deliver your generous gifts by Christmas.

• money can be donated via envelope in the collection basket
• cold cut meats for sandwiches should be handed to Rose or Elizabeth in the sacristy after mass
• toiletries, socks and other non-perishable items can be left under the tree

Let us unite in faith and love to make this holiday season brighter for all.

All proceeds will be used to procure potted poinsettia plants and accompanying greenery for the Sacred Heart of Jesus church Christmas decoration.

Donate Poinsettias

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Your Sacred Heart of Jesus parish team

Dear Parishioners,

As we approach the end of the year, I want to wish you all a very wonderful holiday season! There are a lot of updates this month, but I wanted to make sure to take a moment to say Merry Christmas and to once again express my gratitude for all of you. Thank you for being a part of this community and showing up through your mass attendance, your volunteering, your giving and/or your ministry.

God bless,

Brigid

#iGiveCatholic Update

Pledges vs. Recurring Giving

I have had some folks ask what the difference is in submitting a pledge vs. setting up regular online giving. A pledge is a commitment to give a set amount over the next year, helping the parish plan its budget. A recurring gift is an automatic, ongoing donation at regular intervals, providing steady, predictable support.

Both are valuable, but pledges emphasize commitment over a specific term, while recurring gifts focus on convenience and sustaining regular support.

Stewardship of Treasure Campaign Updates

Last year in our campaign, we had 33 families pledge to give to the parish. This year we have had 83! This jump in participation is absolutely incredible!

Some of these 83 families overlap with the 175 families that have recurring giving set up. Thank you so much for everyone who participated in the annual renewal campaign!

Also, a special shoutout to the volunteers who helped us stuff and prepare the stewardship mailings – we are so grateful for your time!

End of Year Giving

As 2024 comes to a close, I invite you to consider making an end-of-year gift to support our parish community. This could be done in several ways including:

• Look into whether your employer will match your donation through Benevity or other platforms.
• Lower your Required Mandatory Distribution! If you are 73+ you can reduce your taxable income by donating directly to St. Anne’s via a Qualified Charitable Distribution.

Whether it’s a one-time donation or fulfilling your annual pledge, your gift makes a meaningful impact. Contributions made by December 31 may also be tax-deductible for 2024. Thank you for your support and blessings to you and your family in the new year!

Other financial news

• In January or February, I plan to publish a mid-year check-in around our donations received and our expenses so far, so please be on the look out for that.
• The doors are close to being repaired and we will see that invoice come through in the next couple of weeks. The quote for the new door system was around $25,000.

The Gift Giving Tree tradition is a cherished holiday custom within our St. Anne community, grounded in the spirit of charity and compassion. Together, we are answering Christ’s call to serve those in need. Our tree, located in the Narthex, is adorned with ornaments representing the wishes of those in our parish ministries. Each tag corresponds to a gift request from individuals in need within our community. Donors are invited to choose a tag, purchase the requested item, and return it, sharing in the joy of giving this Christmas season. Please note that the Giving Tree will be taken down on December 15th, allowing us time to deliver your generous gifts by Christmas. Let us unite in faith and love to make this holiday season brighter for all.

All proceeds will be used to procure potted poinsettia plants and accompanying greenery for the St. Anne Church Christmas decoration.

https://tinyurl.com/2s3r6e3r

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Your St. Anne parish Team

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