Dear Parishioners:
CONGRATULATION – 50TH ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY
Fr. DENNIS C. SEVILLA
We join with you, Fr. Dennis, IN THANKSGIVING TO GOD for the gift of ministry and personal dedication and commitment in the longevity that you have provided to God’s people from the Church of the Philippine to the Church of the Archdiocese of Seattle and most particularly, to the local parishes of Prince of Peace and St. Gabriel from 1986–1999. Your presence still in this area as a hospital chaplain and parish ministry have been a true gift not only to our parish’s communities but also the testimony of your love for all the people of God in North Mason, South Kitsap and Pierce Counties.
ALL parishioners of Prince of Peace Parish congratulate and express our true appreciate to you, Fr. Dennis, as we join you in this Mass of Thanksgiving this weekend. May the Lord Jesus, our High Priest, bless you abundantly with health, happiness and Joy of the Gospel that you continue to share your life and ministry for many more years to come. Happy 50th Ordination Anniversary.
- Last chance for anyone who wish to help this Marian Garden Project by purchasing a brick with someone’s name or significant dates of remembrances to be inscribed on it to put in the walk way. Please check the bulletin, talk with the Marian Garden Committee members after Mass or the Parish Office right away. Thank you, Committee Members and all who have a hand in this Anniversary Project.
- The book of Wisdom, named after the wisest of all the Israelite kings – Solomon, was used as a manual or textbook for young Jews living in a Greek culture from 300 B.C. to 200 A.D. The Jews were awed by the brilliant culture around them, and perhaps feared that their traditional values might be inferior to those of Egyptian society. The authors strove to educate and build up the Jewish faith in a foreign environment.
The final section of the book of Wisdom, from which today’s first reading is drawn (Wisdom 18:6-9) praises God as the liberator of his people. One of the high points of the text glorified God for his great power that destroyed the first born of the Egyptians, yet, at the same time, freed his people. Israel was saved because they listened to God’s word.
Whenever I have moments of frustration, discouragement or sadness about the state of things in the Church today, I go back and read chapter 11 of the Letter to the Hebrews. This chapter draws upon the people and events of the Old Testament to paint an inspiring portrait of religious faith, firm and unyielding in the face of any obstacles that confront it.
Today’s Gospel passage reflects questions that arose from the early Christian belief that Jesus would soon return in his glory and the delay that had already occurred. Written more than half a century after Jesus’ death, this gospel needed to address concerns regarding laxity on the part of the members of the community who had already been waiting for Jesus’ coming and were discouraged at his delay.
- Is it not true that in some of the bleakest, most challenging moments of life, we find tremendous freedom?
- How many times has a painful period led us to joy and consolation far beneath the turbulence of the surface?
- On Thursday, August 15 - The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Body and Soul into Heaven – reminds us of the special privilege and reward of our Blessed Mother of her faithfulness to God in her life. May her son, Jesus’ gift of the “Living Bread”, help us also to be one day with him and our blessed Mother as we also open to receive and remain faithful to Him.
There will be ONLY ONE MASS at 5:00 PM at Prince of Peace Parish.
- Please, mark your calendar and plan to bring your family to our Parish 25th Anniversary Day – Sunday, September 22nd, a combined 10:00 AM Mass ONLY at Prince of Peace Parish; following with a luncheon reception.
Have a wonderful week with Jesus Presence and His abundant Grace.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Phuong Hoang