Fourth Sunday of Lent
Bulletin for Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Fatima, & St. Anne
Christ’s Cross assures us that God is present even in the darkest moments of human experience.
This weekend’s St. Anne worship aid.
This week’s Mass and Intentions Schedule.
To arrange for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick or a funeral, please call the Parish Offices, SHJ (206) 284-4680, OLF (206) 283-1456 or StA (206) 282-0223.
Finding Meaning in Suffering Through the Cross of Christ
A reflection from Fr. Kitema.
During the season of Lent, the Church invites us to reflect on one of the most difficult questions of human life: why is there suffering? Why did Jesus suffer? Why do people who follow Him suffer? His disciples, the saints, and Christian believers throughout history have often experienced suffering. At first, suffering seems meaningless and unfair. However, the life of Jesus reveals something deeper. The Son of God chose the path of the Cross. He suffered rejection, injustice, humiliation, and physical pain. By doing so, Jesus showed that suffering is not the end of our story. In Christ, suffering became a place where God’s love meets the brokenness of the world.
The Scriptures are filled with people who walked this path of suffering. Job endured the terrible loss of family and property. The prophets were rejected for speaking the truth. The apostles faced persecution for proclaiming the Gospel. Their suffering did not mean that God had abandoned them, rather, it became an opening through which God’s grace worked in powerful ways. For Christians, suffering has meaning when it is united with the suffering of Christ. It can purify our hearts, deepen our compassion for others, and strengthen our trust in God. The Cross teaches us that suffering can be redemptive because God can bring life, hope, and transformation out of the darkest moments of our lives.
Our own world is filled with many forms of suffering. Some people suffer from pain brought about by certain sicknesses; others suffer silently with untreated mental illnesses. A good number of people struggle with addiction. Across the globe, wars and geopolitical conflicts have displaced millions of people and left deep wounds in societies. Lent reminds us that the Christian response to suffering is not indifference. We are called to stand with those who are suffering to give them hope. The Cross assures us that God is present even in the darkest moments of human experience. Human suffering, when embraced with faith and love, can bring us closer to God, allowing our struggles to be united with the saving Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lenten Resources & Activities
Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday: Follows the regular weekend Mass schedule for times and locations.
Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper: 7 PM at Our Lady of Fatima
Good Friday, Veneration of the Cross: 7 PM at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil: 8 PM at St. Anne
Easter Sunday: 9 AM at Our Lady of Fatima; 10 AM at Sacred Heart of Jesus; 11 AM at St. Anne (There will NOT be a 5 PM Mass at Sacred Heart on Easter Sunday.)
Solemnities of Lent
The Solemnity of St. Joseph is on Thursday, March 19th and the Solemnity of the Annunciation is on Wednesday, March 25th. While they are not Holy Days of Obligation, they are important days to enter more fully into the liturgical season of Lent.
Soup Suppers and Stations of the Cross
Come join us for Lenten fellowship and prayer on Friday evenings. Soup is shared at 6 pm, followed by the Stations of the Cross at 7 pm. The location will rotate. We are grateful for the ministry groups or communities who will be helping to lead the evenings.
We invite parishioners to sign-up to bring soup and/or bread to share for 8-10 people. Sign-up online here or physical sign-ups will be available at each church.
March 13 at Our Lady of Fatima, led by Our Lady of Fatima School
March 20 at Sacred Heart, led by the Legion of Mary
March 27 at St. Anne, led by St. Anne School
Pray the Rosary at the House of Prayer
During Lent, join us at the House of Prayer (101 W. Lee Street) on Tuesdays and Fridays at noon to pray the Rosary. See the front page of the bulletin for all rosaries scheduled at the churches.
Support the Catholic Relief Services
Next week (March 14 & 15)our parish will take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection. Funds from this collection provide food to the hungry, support displaced refugees, and bring Christ’s love and mercy to vulnerable people here and abroad. Next week, please give generously to the collection and reveal Christ’s love to those most in need. Learn more about the collection at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief.
First Reconciliation
Next weekend, many children in our parish family will have their First Reconciliation. We pray that they trust in God’s mercy and be filled with His peace.
Good Friday Stations at the Schools
Our Lady of Fatima School and St. Anne School invite parishioners to their traditional Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, led by the eighth graders, and at St. Anne fifth grade as well.
Our Lady of Fatima’s will be at 11:15 am in the gym.
St. Anne’s will be at 2:15 pm in the church, followed by a silent dismissal.
Martha’s Workers
Martha’s Workers gather every Monday morning in the St. Anne Assembly Room at 8:00 am to make 500 sandwiches. There is always peanut butter and jelly and the other variety rotates between egg salad, tuna salad, and salami and cheese. This program has been serving the wider community for 35 years. The sandwiches are delivered to the following places: St. Martin de Porres Shelter, Bitter Lake, Noel House, Queen Anne Foodbank, and Francis House.
More help is always appreciated. Come when you are able. If you would like to learn more, contact Anne at anne.m.mcnamee@gmail.com or Vicki at vickipanko@gmail.com. Supplies cost around $250 each week. If you would like to donate to their ministry, please use this link.
St. Martin’s Meal Program
The St. Martin Meal Program ministry at Our Lady of Fatima has been going strong for more than 20 years! See the news article that appeared in The Progress on December 23, 2010!
We are working on the spring/summer meal schedule which will be from April 14 through September 29. Volunteers are asked to bring 10 hearty sandwiches + extras to the Fatima parking lot between 4:30 & 5:00 pm. Here are the dates (all Tuesdays): 4/14, 4/28, 5/12, 5/26, 6/9, 6/23, 7/7, 7/21, 8/4, 8/18, 9/15 and 9/29. If you are already a volunteer, we will schedule you once a month. Let us know about any vacation or “can’t do” dates!
If you would like to join the team and want more information, please contact srpatneaude@comcast.net (coordinator) and Teresafiorini@comcast.net (scheduler). If you would like to drive the bus to deliver meals to St. Martin’s, contact Jim@pikeplaceflowers.com. To offer a donation to the Meal Program, use this link.
St. Vincent de Paul Parish Conferences
Both Our Lady of Fatima and St. Anne have active St. Vincent de Paul Conferences. The SVdP Helpline connects our parish conferences with neighbors seeking assistance. Through a home visit or phone call, our Vincentians listen with compassion, seek to understand each situation, and discern how best to help. We assist with basic needs such as rent and food, offer referrals to other community resources, and, most importantly, provide a caring and supportive presence. In every encounter, we strive to reflect Christ’s love and bring comfort amid life’s challenges.
The photo here is of Our Lady of Fatima Vincentians distributing supplies at the Interbay Tiny Homes. If you would like to join the OLF conference, please email SVdP@OLFatima.org. Contributions to the OLF Conference can be made here.
“SVdP quietly and compassionately serves the less fortunate neighbors in our community with financial, emotional, and spiritual support. What I like best is developing a relationship with our neighbors – individually, and as a group – and seeing us make a positive difference in their lives.” –Rick D.
This photo is of the St. Anne Conference at their monthly meeting. Among other items, they discussed the increase in requests for rent assistance as well as the expected increase of those needing food assistance once the new legislation with stricter requirements goes into effect. If you are interested in joining the St. Anne Conference, please reach out to the parish office. There is a second collection on the first full weekend of every month; April’s collection will be on 4/11 and 4/12 due to Easter. If you would like to contribute online, use this link.
“Home visits have been the most rewarding part of my experience. Seeing my fellow Vincentians accompany our neighbors with compassion and wisdom deepens my admiration for them. Each visit, I am reminded that we are called to see the face of Christ in those who suffer and in the poor.” —Alice S.
Upcoming Events and Activities
St. Patrick’s Day Social Celebration
An evening filled with food, beverages, spirited Irish music and dancing. All members of the Parish Family are invited–you don’t have to be Irish! 😉
When: Saturday, March 14
Time: 6 to 8 PM, after the 5 PM Mass
Where: Our Lady of Fatima Parish Center
If you can assist with setup or service, please contact Jill at kesja11@gmail.com or Diane at DuSault at DuSaultD@gmail.com. Contributions towards the food and entertainment are appreciated. You can donate through this link.
Young Adults Upcoming Events
Friday, March 20 & 27: 7:30 PM Open Gym at St. Anne’s Banchero Hall
Saturday, March 28: Vigil Mass and Wine Tasting Social
Come to the 5 PM Vigil Mass at St. Anne and after Mass join us in the Narthex for a fun wine social. To participate, please bring one bottle of wine priced under $40 to share with the group. We’ll provide the charcuterie boards and light refreshments to pair with the pours. Please RSVP at this link so we can prepare enough food.
Blessing of the St. Francis Statue
St. Anne’s new statue of St. Francis has been installed in the side garden. We will be blessing the statue, weather permitting, this Thursday, March 19 after the 8:45 AM Mass.
Our Lady of Fatima School to Host Parent Seminar on Bullying Prevention
OLF is excited to welcome Jodee Blanco for a special bullying survival and prevention parent seminar for our parish family.
Blanco will share her personal story of overcoming severe school bullying, along with practical guidance for supporting victims, addressing bullying behavior, and empowering bystanders. She’ll also offer insights for Adult Survivors of Peer Abuse™ and pathways toward healing.
Wednesday, March 25th
Kids Club (free): 6-8pm
Parent Social: 6-6:30pm
Parent Presentation: 6:30-8pm
RSVP requested to ensure we have enough room for all who would like to attend!
Jodee Blanco is the author of several acclaimed books on bullying, including the groundbreaking bestseller Please Stop Laughing at Me…, and has spoken to tens of thousands of students, parents, and educators worldwide.
News & Announcements
Letter from the Archbishop
Archbishop Etienne released this letter following Monday’s ruling by an appellate on the case regarding the state Attorney General’s subpoena of records under the Charitable Trust Act.
St. Martin Meal Program
The next dates for the meal drop-off are Tuesdays March 10th and 24th at 4:30 to 5 PM in the Our Lady of Fatima parking lot.
Help Needed
An elderly St. Anne parishioner needs a ride to Mass. If you are able to help, please call the parish office. We will be happy to put you in touch.
Ave Maria Singles
If you are looking to meet your mate, here is a new resource where devout Catholics meet. Not just a dating site, a marriage site. Learn more here.
Beware of Phishing Emails
We have again received reports from parishioners that they have received suspicious emails from accounts claiming to be Fr. Freitag. If you receive any emails outside of our standard staff addresses, anything requesting assistance or declaring urgency, please delete and certainly do not open any attachments.
Sunday Mass with an ASL interpreter
Sacred Heart of Jesus offers Sunday Mass with an ASL interpreter.
Sunday, March 29th – (Zoom)
We pray for
We pray for all sick and homebound parishioners, especially those on our prayer list for this month.
We offer our heartfelt prayers for those whom the Lord has called home.
The Pope’s Monthly Prayer Intention for March: For disarmament and peace
“Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.”
Parish Office Hours for Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Anne
Monday – Thursday: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Closed for lunch 12:00PM – 1:00PM
To visit the SHJ parish office in person, please schedule an appointment.
General Info: parishoffice@sacredheartseattle.org or info@stanneseattle.org
Phone: SHJ (206) 284-4680 or StA (206) 282-0223
Parish Office Hours for Our Lady of Fatima
Monday – Friday: 9:00AM – 12:00PM and 1:00PM – 3:00PM
General Info: parish@olfatima.org
Phone: (206) 283-1456
The editorial deadline for the church bulletin is Wednesdays at noon.
Images included in the bulletin are not necessarily representative of parishioners or parish locations.