3rd Sunday of Lent

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Lent is a wonderful gift: an opportunity for reflection, contemplation, and conversion. We want to embrace it and grow and mature together – just as spring prepares nature for new life. Let’s become newly aware of the deeper meaning that fills our lives. Together, we may encounter Jesus Christ and feel His presence in our hearts.

As we journey through Lent, we are mindful of our humanity, but we are also filled with hope and trust that help will come to our limitations and weaknesses from heaven. Our loving Father will have mercy on us, heal us, and redeem us through His Son.

Let’s walk this path together with faith and love.

Our Parish Family offers a rich program to support you:

• – Stations of the Cross on Fridays at all three parishes.
• – Lenten activities such as the Dad’s group at St. Anne.
• – Lent Mission guided by Fr. Marcin on 31st March, 1st, 2nd & 3rd April.
• – And don’t forget the Penance Service on April 5th at Our Lady of Fatima.

In Christ,

Barbara Bumbarger

for the Northwest Seattle Catholic

Mass times may change occasionally.

Mass intentions might not be listed if the bulletin is already at the printer when you schedule. Thank you for your understanding.

Sacred Heart of Jesus offers Sunday Mass with an ASL interpreter.

Sunday, March 23rd – 10:00AM (Zoom)

Sunday, March 30th – 10:00AM (Live)

Sunday, April 6th – 10:00AM (Live)

Stations of the Cross & Soup Supper

Fridays, March 7th – April 11th

Sacred Heart of Jesus || Stations 12:30pm || Soup Lunch 1pm

St. Anne || Soup Supper 6pm || Stations 7pm

Our Lady of Fatima || Soup Supper 6pm || Stations 7pm

Please sign-up for the location you want to visit and bring a meatless soup:

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Our Lady of Fatima

St. Anne

Stations of the Cross with Music by J. S. Bach

Friday, March 28th || Soup Supper 6pm || Stations 7pm || Our Lady of Fatima

Friday, April 11th || Soup Supper 6pm || Stations 7pm || St. Anne

Join us for a Stations of the Cross experience, beautifully enhanced by musical compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach, played on the keyboard by Charlie Hiestand.

Part 3 of 5: Jesus, the Divine Physician, and the Healing Power of Confession

We have seen how Jesus calls us to repentance and personally forgives our sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But confession is more than forgiveness—it is healing.

Jesus is the Divine Physician who came to heal the wounds of sin. When He healed the sick, He often linked physical healing with spiritual healing. To the paralytic, He said, “Your sins are forgiven” before telling him to rise and walk (Mark 2:5, 11). This shows that sin weakens us spiritually, just as disease weakens the body.

Every sin, whether large or small, leaves a mark on our soul. It creates habits that make it easier to sin again, clouds our judgment, and distances us from God. Just as a wounded body needs medicine, a wounded soul needs grace—and Jesus offers this healing grace in confession.

Through absolution, Jesus not only forgives but also restores what sin has damaged. He strengthens us to overcome future temptations and grants us inner peace. Many who go to confession experience a sense of relief, joy, and freedom afterward—this is the healing power of Christ at work!

But healing is a process. Just as a patient follows a doctor’s advice after treatment, we must continue growing in holiness after confession.

In the next part of this series, we will explore how the Sacrament of Reconciliation helps us grow in virtue and deepen our relationship with Jesus.

We warmly invite you to our Penance service at Our Lady of Fatima.

Saturday, April 5th, 10:00am – 12:00pm

Penance service

Our Lady of Fatima: Saturday, April 5th 10:00am – 12:00pm

Palm Sunday Vigil

St. Anne: 5:00pm – Fr. Dominic

Our Lady of Fatima: 5:00pm – Fr. Freitag

Palm Sunday Mass

Sacred Heart of Jesus: 10:00am & 5:30pm – Fr. Dominic

St. Anne: 11:00am – Fr. Freitag

Our Lady of Fatima: 9:00am – Fr. Freitag

Holy Thursday

Sacred Heart of Jesus: 7:00pm Mass

Good Friday

St. Anne: 7:00pm Veneration of the Cross with Holy Communion

Easter Vigil

Our Lady of Fatima: 8:30pm

Easter Sunday Mass

Sacred Heart: 10:00am – Fr. Dominic, 12:00pm – Fr. Lyle

Our Lady of Fatima: 9:00am – Fr. Freitag

St. Anne: 8:00am – Fr. Dominic, 11:00am – Fr. Freitag

Dear Parish Family,

As we journey through the holy season of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, I wish to share with you a beautiful opportunity to deepen your spiritual life and draw closer to God’s mercy: the gift of plenary indulgences. The Church, in her maternal care, offers us these special graces to help purify our souls and prepare us to celebrate the joy of Easter with renewed hearts.

So, what is a Plenary Indulgence? A plenary indulgence is the full remission of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. While God’s forgiveness absolves us of the guilt of sin, the effects of sin often remain, requiring purification. A plenary indulgence cleanses our souls, restoring us to the state of grace and helping us grow in holiness. It can be applied to ourselves or offered for the souls in Purgatory.

The Church provides several opportunities to obtain plenary indulgences during Lent. Here are a few ways you can participate:

• – The Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross): By devoutly meditating on the Passion of Christ while praying the Stations of the Cross in a church or oratory, you can obtain a plenary indulgence. If you are unable to attend in person, you may also meditate on the Stations of the Cross using a devotional guide at home, with the intention of fulfilling the usual conditions.
• – Eucharistic Adoration: Spending at least 30 minutes in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament with a heart open to God’s presence can also grant a plenary indulgence.
• – The Sacrament of Reconciliation: While Confession is not itself an indulgence, receiving the sacrament with true contrition during Lent is one of the conditions for obtaining a plenary indulgence.
• – Praying the Rosary in a Church or Family Setting: Reciting the Rosary devoutly in a church, or with your family, in a religious community, or with a pious association, can also be a means to obtain a plenary indulgence.
• – Reading Sacred Scripture: Devoutly reading or listening to Sacred Scripture for at least 30 minutes with a spirit of prayer and reflection can also be a path to a plenary indulgence.

To obtain a plenary indulgence, the following conditions must be met:

• – Sacramental Confession: Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, preferably during Lent, to assure you are in a state of grace. Moral sin not only precludes reception of the indulgence but also erases it if incurred anytime later in life.
• – Holy Communion: Receive the Eucharist, ideally during Mass, with a heart open to God’s grace.
• – Prayer for the Pope’s Intentions: Offer prayers (such as an Our Father, Hail Mary, or other devout prayer) for the intentions of the Holy Father.
• – Detachment from Sin: Have a sincere detachment from all sin, even venial sin. This means striving to turn away from anything that separates us from God’s love.
• – Perform the Prescribed Work: Complete one of the indulgenced works listed above (e.g., Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, etc.) with a spirit of devotion.

Lent is a season of conversion and renewal, and the Church invites us to take full advantage of these spiritual treasures. By seeking plenary indulgences, we not only purify our own souls but also extend God’s mercy to the faithful departed in Purgatory, who rely on our prayers and sacrifices.

Let us embrace this Lenten journey with open hearts, trusting in God’s infinite love and mercy. May this season be a time of profound spiritual growth for each of you, as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Fr. Freitag

Join us for our Parish Family Lent Mission

Experience a Lent mission, a unique and enriching journey of spiritual renewal and reflection during the sacred season of Lent. These missions offer a wonderful opportunity for individuals and communities to come together, deepen their faith, and prepare their hearts for the joyous celebration of Easter. Embrace this time of growth and transformation with us, guided by Fr Marcin Szymanski.

Fr Marcin Szymanski OP

Fr Marcin Szymanski OP – was born in Poland, where he joined the Dominican Order in 2003. After ordination, he served the Polish and Irish community in Dublin, Ireland. Father Marcin came to Seattle in 2013, where he has been working in the Blessed Sacrament parish and Prince of Peace Newman Center since with a two-year break where he served in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah. He enjoys PNW: its history, nature, and diverse geography.

“In the jubilee year of 2025, Pope Francis invites us to focus on the theological virtue of hope. In our retreat, we will explore the meaning and importance of hope, and how it shapes us in our life and in our faith. We will learn how to put hope in the center of our lives together with love and faith.”

God bless!

Fr Marcin Szymanski OP

Location: Our Lady of Fatima

Date and Times: 31st March, 1st, 2nd, 3rd April

6:30pm Mass

7:05pm Mission Talk

7:45pm Exposition and Confession

8:25pm Benediction

Please Note: During this four Day period Daily Mass at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Anne are canceled.

Please consider donating to help us decorate our parishes for the celebration of Easter. The funds, like all our finances, will be kept separate. Thank you!

To make an easter flower donation follow your parishes’ link: 

Sacred Heart Flower Donation

Our Lady of Fatima Flower Donation

St. Anne Flower Donation

Dear Parishioners,

As you know, boiler operation in February was sporadic at best. The boiler’s automatic ignition was failing intermittently, requiring manual override. It was determined that the automated system control unit had failed.

The decision was made to replace it with a state-of-the-art digital control system, which monitors significantly more parameters than the older system. The new system was installed, cycled properly several times, and then the automatic ignition failed again.

The good news is that the control system was able to identify the problem as a faulty gas valve and control unit. The bad news is that we then had to replace those items. Now, the church and parish center heating issues are resolved, and parishioners, as well as musical instruments, are once again comfortable.

In keeping with our unofficial motto, “It’s Always Something!”, as we resolved the boiler issues, a problem cropped up with the church’s sound system in the form of a very annoying and very audible “gallop” coming from the speaker tower array closest to the Tabernacle.

It has been identified as an amplifier/power supply issue in the tower’s middle speaker. Our sound vendor has just received authorization from the manufacturer to send it back for repair. Hopefully, that will happen sometime within the next week or so. The date of its return is not known at this time.

More to follow!

Phil Hasenkamp, PAA

Parish Administrator for Our Lady of Fatima

Dear Parishioners,

As we embrace the sacred season of Lent, our churches have been especially busy with various activities and services. I had the good fortune to meet some of you at the Stations of the Cross, the Soup Supper, or this past Saturday for St. Patrick’s Celebrations. Amidst this bustling period, I am delighted to share that we have successfully made several facility improvements over the past few weeks.

At Sacred Heart of Jesus:

• We are currently soliciting bids to have railings installed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus sanctuary and altar.

At St. Anne:

• We are in the process of changing all light bulb in the church of St. Anne.
• The installation of new church doors and the replacement of the keycard system have been successfully completed. The new system is now active, offering enhanced security and convenience through the use of codes and scheduled unlock times. With the doors now able to remain closed between the office and church, we anticipate noticeable improvements in heating efficiency.
• St. Francis Garden is being seeded with new grass to welcome the arrival of spring and prepare for more activity in the garden.
• Thanks to Bill Trettenero’s hard work, some rooms have received a fresh coat of paint, brightening up our spaces just in time for spring!
• The TV screen in the family room has been fixed and is now live-streaming the Mass again, allowing you to worship comfortably in a separate space with your children as needed. However, all children are always welcome to celebrate in the community.

As we continue to observe Lent, may we draw closer to God and deepen our faith, preparing our hearts for the joyous celebration of Easter.

Thank you to all the volunteers at both Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Anne for all you do during this busy season.

Mark Abadir

Director of Operations for Sacred Heart of Jesus

& St. Anne

We are excited to announce an upcoming training session for both new and returning St. Anne altar servers! This session will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the duties and responsibilities involved in serving at Mass, helping you grow in your role, and deepen both your faith and connection to the liturgy.

Who: Open to all youth in grade 4 or above, who have received First Communion

When: Sunday, March 30th from 1:30 – 3:30pm

Where: St Anne Church

Why: Altar serving is a beautiful way to grow closer to God, develop leadership skills, and be an example of faith and service in the Church!

What You’ll Learn:

• Proper altar serving duties (processionals, preparing the altar, etc.).
• How to support the priest and assist with sacraments.
• The history and significance of being an altar server.

St. Anne Altar Servers Sign-up here!

Want to be an Altar Server at your parish? Please reach out!

Sacred Heart of Jesus: parishoffice@sacredheartseattle.org

Our Lady of Fatima: officemanager@olfseattle.org

During the Triduum our Parish Family will be blessed with the full power of three choirs performing at our shared church locations!

Combined Choir Rehearsals:

Tuesday, March 25th; for Holy Thursday at SHJ, 7:00 – 8:30pm

Tuesday, April 8th; for Good Friday at StA, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Thursday, April 10th; for Easter Vigil at OLF, 6:30 – 8:00pm

Tuesday, April 15th: for a review of everything at StA, 6:30 – 8:30pm

Combined Choir Meet before Mass:

• Holy Thursday, April 17th – 6:15pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Good Friday, April 18th – 6:00pm at St. Anne
• Easter Vigil, April 19th – 6:30pm at Our Lady of Fatima

Your support for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) helps transform lives in developing countries through innovative solutions. To learn more about CRS and how your donations also aid our Brothers and Sisters in the United States, use this link or pick up a flyer at the church entrances.

Looking for a way to reflect and connect with other dads this Lent? Join us on Wednesdays at 7:30PM in the St. Anne Assembly Room (Southeast corner of the church) as we read and discuss the upcoming Sunday Gospel using Lectio Divina—a simple, conversational way to engage with Scripture.

No experience needed, no pressure—just good conversation and a chance to grow in faith together.

Questions? Contact Mike Thacker at mikethacker@ymail.com, or just show up!

At the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Location

At the Our Lady of Fatima Church Location

At the St. Anne Church Location

For information about any of our ministries, please contact the regarding parish office.

If you need to correct any information or want to add a ministry of your parish, please email bbumbarger@stanneseattle.org