November 2nd, 2014 • The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
503 3rd St. SW, Puyallup, WA 98371 • 253-845-7521 •
Yesterday was All Saints’ Day, when we celebrate the saints. Today is All Souls’ Day, the day we hope and pray that everyone who has gone before us is or will be with God. Catholics do a thing that others, including other Christians, find very strange: We talk to “the faithful departed.”
There is a logic behind our practice. When humans are particularly nervous, we ask for help. Sometimes we go directly to the person who can help us, and sometimes we ask others to intercede for us. Most people who believe in God pray, so we might ask, “Mom, I have a test tomorrow, will you pray for me?” (You can bet she is also praying as you drive out of town for spring break.)
Do we know how prayer works? No. Do we know it matters? Yes. Instead of asking our friends to pray for us, could we go directly to God? Of course. No doubt we do that anyway.
So why do we look to other people? Because we are all in this together. We care about each other. Of course, Christ has the central place in our prayer life. He is our intercessor. He is also the one who taught us to pray with and for each other.
When we pray, we have a lot of company. Other types of Christians pray for each other. Folks from a lot of ancient faiths prayed for each other. So what makes Catholics different? We talk to people who are dead.
And here is why. We don’t think they’re dead. They were joined with Christ and with us when they were here. Are they any less concerned for us now? Of course not. So we ask them, saints and nonsaints alike, to intercede on our behalf with God. Christ triumphed over death—his and ours. He is our hope. In the body of Christ, we share hope.†
For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.
1 Cor. 15:21-22
Do I live in the hope of God’s mercy,
salvation, and eternal life?
Do I ask the saints to intercede with God
on my behalf?
eternal life,
All saints events calendar November 3rd to November 9th 2014
November 3 Monday
Grief Support - Parish Office, 2:30pm
Bible Study, Book of Exodus - Parish Center, 10am/6pm/7pm
November 4 Tuesday
Eucharistic Adoration - Church, after 8:30am Mass (Benediction at 10am)
Fellowship of Catholic Christian Women (FCCW) - Parish Center, 10am
Young Adults - Parish Center, 6:30pm
Sacramentors - Parish Center, 7pm
Bible Study, A Quick Journey through the Bible - Parish Center, 7pm
November 5 Wednesday
No Nursing Home Mass
Youth Group - Parish Center, 6pm
November 6 Thursday
Prayer for Life - Puyallup Planned Parenthood, 10:30am
Seekers Group - Parish Center, 6:30pm
November 7 Friday
First Friday Mass - Church, 8:30am, breakfast to follow at Parish Center
Prayer Shawl Ministry - Parish Office, 10am
39ers Quilters - Parish Center, 11am
November 8 Saturday
November 9 Sunday
RCIA Class - dismissal during 9am Mass, followed by meeting in Parish Center
Youth Ministry Running Club - Parish Office, 4pm
Men’s Basketball - Parish Center, 6:30pm
Mass Intentions Mon, November 3, 8:30am:
Margaret Picha Sun, November 9
7:30am: George Bilderback
9:00am: Suzanne Houle
11:00am: Margot Ryder
7:00pm: All Saints Community
Tue, November 4, 8:30am: Martha Noi Nguyen
Wed, November 5, 8:30am: Hieu Francisco Xavier
Sat, November 8, 5:00pm: Alan Doyle
Need prayers? Contact our Prayer Line by calling Florence Guthrie at (253) 845-3109. To book Mass intentions, or to add names to the Prayers of the Faithful or to the Long Term Prayer List, please call the parish office at (253) 845-7521.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the
same God who inspires them all in every one.
1 Corinthians 12:4-5
*NEW OPPORTUNITY* Food Bank Drivers!
Be a bearer of hope for those in need: sign up to be a Food Bank Driver! We need drivers for Mondays and “on-call” drivers for the end of each month. Commitment is two hours once a week. To sign up, contact Aleah at (253) 845-7521 or [email protected].
Baptism Prep Team—Volunteers Still Needed!
If you are parents (or grandparents!), have deep faith and love for children, and are active and practicing members of our community, your parish needs you! Be a part of the Baptism Prep team. To get involved, contact Peggy at (253) 286-0026 or [email protected].
Volunteer opportunities
Altar Society for November
1st week: Marianne & Ron Cech
2nd week: Betty Chipps
3rd week: Bea Doty
4th week: Earl & Bertha Davis
Calendar of upcoming events:
Mon, Nov. 3 – Mass in Fife with Fr. Michael, 2pm; Beginning Band, 3:10pm; Tue, Nov. 4 – 2nd graders sing for St. Martin of Tours altar society, 10:15am; Picture retakes in Fife; Advanced Band, 3:10pm; Wed, Nov. 5 – Mass in Puyallup, 8:30am; 1B visits the Puyallup campus in the morning; Beginning Band, Bell Choir, 3:10pm; Thu, Nov. 6 – 1A/2A prayer service, 8:30am; Advanced Band, 3:10pm
All saints school news
Last year, our parish took on a “mission” to send care packages to our troops heading to Afghanistan. I never dreamed that you would bring so much! Soldiers from our parish have returned home and were happy to inform me that no toothpaste, socks, books, hair ties or Girl Scout cookies were left behind! It was an honor to box and mail your donations to our soldiers. I never expected anything in return, except to have these friends reunited with their families and our community. I was deeply touched to receive a thank you gift last Sunday in appreciation for our efforts. It is an American Flag flown over Kandahar with a photo of the flight and a certificate of thanks. While the certificate is written out to my name, it is my honor to pass on the thanks and the credit to each and every one of you who helped with this “mission” of grace and love. The photo and certificate are currently on display in our trophy case in the parish center. I hope you take the opportunity to stop by and see it, because it belongs to all of us. Thank you, All Saints, for your part in this “mission.”
Peggy Alston, PA for Adult Faith Formation
Youth & Young Adults
Junior and senior high
youth ministry BASE CAMP (Junior High—7th through 9th* grades) is meeting up at 6pm on Wednesday for a hang out night to plan for our Veteran’s Day celebration.
QUEST (Senior High—9th* through 12th grades) is meeting at 7pm on Wednesday for a reflection night on CYC #SaintsAlive and to plan our Veteran’s Day celebration.
CONFIRMATION FOR YOUTH: Our next meeting will be Nov. 9 at 12:15 in the 39ers Room. This is for all candidates, parents, and sponsors.
SACRAMENTAL PREP FOR 7TH-12TH GRADE: Our next meeting is at 9:30 AM on Nov. 9 in the Parish Office.
Coming up—VETERANS’ DAY CELEBRATION! Save the date to honor our veterans on Wed, Nov. 12 at 6pm.
If you are a veteran of one of our military services, please come and share your story of faith and service with our Base Camp and Quest youth groups. Please plan to come at 6:30 pm to our Veterans’ Day Celebration. Dessert is on us!
Community Services
Item of the Week: Canned Pears
Please place your donations in the back of the vestibule or drop them off at the parish office during office hours.
Young Adults 20-Somethings The 20 Somethings will be betting together for a Gospel reflection on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7pm in the 39ers Room. If you can help with our monthly Youth Investment Center dinner on Nov. 10 text Carmen at 253-677-2049.
On the Horizon
Mass of Remembrance Saturday November 22, 2014
10:00am Mass at the Church 11:00am Luncheon in the Parish Center
All are welcome to join us and pray for all their beloved dead. Please RSVP no later than November 14th to help us ensure that all are served well. To RSVP, please call Leona Matz at (253) 845-7712.
Advocacy Updates for All Saints “The Church encourages those in power to be truly at the service of the common good of their peoples.” – Pope Francis
We thank you for your advocacy last year on behalf of those whose voices are quieted by lack of access, representation, and ability. Highlights of the last legislative session include:
Passage of the Real Hope Act (Dream Act), allowing qualified immigrant students, who came to this country with their parents, access to financial aid for college.
The defeat of the abortion mandate bill, which would have required all state health plans to provide abortion coverage.
No cuts to basic needs programs like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Basic Health, etc.
Passage of the Housing Surcharge Bill, which grants funding for housing and homeless programs.
Read more of the 2014 Legislative Summary on the Washington State Catholic Conference website at www.thewscc.org.
Your voice is needed for the upcoming 2015 Washington State Legislative Session! Below are four opportunities to get involved:
Regional Advocacy Convening November 10th—10 am to 12 pm St. Michael Parish in Olympia The convening is an opportunity to be briefed on the next session’s priority issues outlined by the Bishops and Catholic Charities of Washington State. A special presentation called “Building Bridges to Encourage a Cooperative Culture of Life and Justice in your Parish “ will be included. Sign up TODAY by going online to https://tinyurl.com/dialogueforjustice.
In-District Meeting With Our Legislators (Time and date to be decided after this week's election) These meetings provide a wonderful opportunity to share Catholic values and provide a local context for the larger issues we bring to them every year on Catholic Advocacy Day.
Mass for Life and March for Life January 22nd, 2015—Olympia
Catholic Advocacy Day March 26th, 2015—Olympia
If you would like to coordinate a carpool to the Convening on Nov. 10th, please contact the parish office. You can also help organize the advocacy group—your assistance will make this effort lasting and effective. Contact Aleah at (253) 848-2000 or email [email protected].
