Last week we compared the Holy Spirit to a rhizome: a continuously growing underground stem that sends up shoots at different points. You can see the rhizome at work if you visit Bambooland - between Monroe and Sultan. Those groves of bamboo are not independent plants; rather they together depend on the unseen stem. Likewise as Christians we depend on the Holy Spirit. Our gifts of service, the ministries we exercise and the sacraments that sustain us are like shoots coming from him. Through him we Christians are connected one to another. We have our roots in him.

This Sunday we take the idea of roots a step further. The Bible reveals our roots as the Trinity itself. Moses says that God speaks "from the midst of fire". This refers to the burning bush but it also applies to creation. In the beginning the Spirit broods over the deep and God the Creator speaks a word: Let there be light. This verse has an intriguing parallel in the Big Bang theory that says the universe began with an explosion of energy - fire.*

You may have heard that the father of the Big Bang theory was a Catholic priest - Fr. Georges LeMaitre. He didn't set out with the idea of proving God's existence. Still, before him most scientists - including Albert Einstein - thought the universe existed eternally. LeMaitre's theory indicates that time, space and matter do not eternally exist but had a starting point - about 14 billion years ago. That is a long time, but for God no time at all. For him the big bang is just as much "now" as is today or for that matter tomorrow. For us who live in time our existence connects back to that initial burst of light - and to God himself.

Now I'm not here to promote the Big Bang theory. Yet many aspects do fit with our faith. Fr Robert Spitzer, himself a Jesuit priest like Fr. LeMaitre has some powerful videos on that subject - the relation of faith and physics.

What ultimately matters is not a scientific theory but what the Bible tells us about our origins. We are rooted in the Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father speaks an eternal Word; he begets his only Son Jesus who is God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. The love between Father and Son is a third distinct person: the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and Son. He is the Lord and Giver of Life. From the dynamism of the Holy Trinity comes our existence.

A few years ago my brother did a DNA Ancestry Test. It was interesting to see the batch of different gene pools that we came out of. Those roots go way back and show that we are interconnected even on a genetic level.

Some scientists say you only have to go back a couple thousand years to find a common ancestor for all humans alive today and of course going further we have many common ancestors. We are all mutts. For sure heritage and culture matter but genetically we are mongrels. There is no pure race, only the human race.
The great thing about America is that we do not say blood binds us. What binds us is our creed. We'll hear more about that during Fourth of July week. We want our children to love America with all her faults.**
But even more we want them to understand how our roots go back to Adam and Eve. Through our first parents we receive the image of God - the basis for equality among us. Along with that great good we inherit something bad - a primeval stain that distorts God's image, a shame that separates us from God and each other, an arrogance that make us reject our true roots.

So our task is to rediscover our true roots - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus enables us reconnect to our roots:

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
​
We discover our roots in the Trinity and connect with those glorious persons by baptism, by faith and by following what Jesus teaches. Next Sunday we will see a vital, recurring element in this new life. What the Vatican Council calls "the Source and Summit." Today let's rejoice that we have received through Jesus the Spirit of Adoption who enables us to say, "Abba, Father."

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*Here's an Encyclopedia Britannica article to make your head spin (at least mine)

**"The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults." (Alexis de Tocqueville)

La semana pasada comparamos el Espíritu Santo con un rizoma: un tallo subterráneo que crece continuamente y envía brotes en diferentes puntos. Puedes ver el rizoma trabajando si visitas Bambooland, entre Monroe y Sultan. Esos bambús no son plantas independientes; más bien, juntos dependen del tallo invisible. Asi, como cristianos, dependemos del Espíritu Santo. Nuestros dones de servicio, los ministerios que ejercemos y los sacramentos que nos sostienen son como brotes de él. A través de él, los cristianos estamos conectados unos con otros. Tenemos nuestras raíces en el Espiritu Santo.

Este domingo seguimos con la idea de las raíces. La Biblia revela nuestras raíces como la Trinidad misma. Moisés dice que Dios habla "desde el fuego". Esto refiere a la zarza ardiente, pero también se aplica a la creación. Al principio el Espíritu aleteaba sobre las profundidades y Dios el Creador dice una palabra: Haya luz. Este verso tiene un paralelo interestante con la teoría del Big Bang que dice que el universo comenzó con una explosión de energía - fuego. 

Es posible que hayas escuchado que el padre de la teoría del Big Bang era un sacerdote católico Georges LeMaitre. Él no hizo esta teoria para probar la existencia de Dios. Aún así, antes que él, la mayoría de los científicos, incluido Albert Einstein, creían que el universo existía eternamente. La teoría de LeMaitre indica que el tiempo, el espacio y la materia no existían eternamente, pero tenían un punto de partida, hace unos 14 mil millones de años. Eso es largo tiempo, pero para Dios el Big Bang es tanto "ahora" como lo es hoy o mañana. Para nosotros que vivimos en el tiempo, nuestra existencia se conecta con ese estallido inicial de luz, y con Dios mismo.

Pues no estoy aquí para promover la teoría del Big Bang. Sin embargo, muchos aspectos encajan con nuestra fe. P. Robert Spitzer, él mismo un sacerdote jesuita como el Padre LeMaitre tiene algunos videos poderosos sobre ese tema: la relación de la fe y la física.

Lo que finalmente importa no es una teoría científica, sino lo que la Biblia nos dice sobre nuestros orígenes. Estamos enraizados en la Trinidad: el Padre, el Hijo y el Espíritu Santo. El Padre habla una Palabra eterna; él engendra a su único Hijo Jesús que es Dios de Dios, Luz de Luz, Dios verdadero de Dios verdadero. El amor entre el Padre y el Hijo es una tercera persona distinta: el Espíritu Santo que procede del Padre y del Hijo. Él es el Señor y Dador de la Vida. Del dinamismo de la Santísima Trinidad viene nuestra existencia.

Hace unos años, mi hermano hizo una prueba de ascendencia de ADN. Fue interesante ver los diferentes grupos de genes de lo que salimos. Esas raíces van mucho atrás y demuestran que estamos interconectados incluso a nivel genético.

Algunos científicos dicen que hace unos dos o tres miles de años se puede encontrar un ancestro común para todos los humanos vivos hoy en día y, por supuesto, yendo más lejos, tenemos muchos ancestros comunes. Todos somos perros callejeros. Por supuesto, el patrimonio y la cultura importan, pero genéticamente somos mixtos. No hay raza pura, solo la raza humana.

Lo bueno de Estados Unidos es que no decimos que la sangre nos ata. Lo que nos une es nuestro credo. Escucharemos más sobre eso durante la semana del Cuatro de Julio. Queremos que nuestros hijos amen a Estados Unidos con todas sus fallas.

Pero aún más queremos que comprendan cómo nuestras raíces se remontan a Adán y Eva. A través de nuestros primeros padres, recibimos la imagen de Dios, la base de la igualdad entre nosotros. Junto con ese gran bien, heredamos algo malo, una mancha primigenia que distorsiona la imagen de Dios, una vergüenza que nos separa de Dios y de los demás, una soberbia que nos hace rechazar nuestras verdaderas raíces.
Entonces, nuestra tarea es redescubrir nuestras verdaderas raíces: el Padre, el Hijo y el Espíritu Santo. Jesús nos permite reconectarnos con nuestras raíces:

"Vayan, pues, y enseñen a todas las naciones, bautizándolas en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, y enseñándolas a cumplir todo cuanto yo les he mandado ".
​
Descubrimos nuestras raíces en la Trinidad y nos conectamos con esas personas gloriosas por el bautismo, por la fe y por seguir lo que Jesús enseña. El próximo domingo veremos un elemento vital y recurrente en esta nueva vida. Lo que el Concilio Vaticano llama "la Fuente y la Cumbre". Hoy regocijémonos de haber recibido a través de Jesús el Espíritu de Adopción que nos permite decir: "Abba, Padre".

With Pentecost we bring to a conclusion the 50 days of Easter. During these 7 weeks I have used the daily Mass readings for a study of the Acts of Apostles. Acts begins with Jesus sending the Holy Spirit and then tells about the Spirit's work.

One commentary I used had an intriguing comparison for the work of the Holy Spirit.* It compared him to a rhizome. Gardeners know about rhizomes but it was a new word for me. A rhizome is a continuously growing underground stem that sends up shoots at different points. Bamboo and ginger are rhizomes as are hops. The main part grows below the soil. Above ground we see the sprouts with their fruit.

In preparing this homily I took a trip to Bambooland. Some of you probably have visited it - a couples miles out of Monroe heading to Sultan. Bambooland has groves of the rapidly spreading plant. Try to hold that image of a bamboo grove as we examine the work of the Holy Spirit.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus inaugurates a new age by sending his Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Hearing their testimony people repent of their sins and receive the Holy Spirit by baptism. When the apostles place hands on new disciples the Holy Spirit fill them and impels them to reach out to others. Disciples emerge like sprouts but the reality below is the Holy Spirit - just like single rhizome can produce multiple bamboo trees.

As we hear in the reading from Corinthians the Holy Spirit makes himself known by works of service. In our parish we saw remarkable works of service in the person of Sister Barbara. During her 41 years here she touched the lives of hundreds, really thousands. This summer when we have our parish picnic we will dedicate a memorial to her, inviting the whole community. We want people to remember her service and to thank God for the gifts she shared. And we want our young people to hear that call to service. She was a woman open to the Holy Spirit.

Sister Barbara not only showed works of service; she humbly received help from others. I am thankful for the parishioners who stood by her in good times and bad. We saw that care most intensely during her final year. As that disease took her short term memory, many came forward to assist her. Others help pick up the loose ends - all the gaps left by Sister's failing health. This care showed the Holy Spirit at work.

I am grateful to you for your care - and also to her religious congregation for taking on the financial burden of Sister's time at Brookdale and Regency. As you know, those costs are huge. I think of it when we take up the Annual Catholic Appeal. A significant part of the Appeal goes for ill and retired priests and sisters. It's an indispensable way of caring for those who cared for us. As St. Paul says, by the Spirit "though many we are one body."

Speaking of becoming one body this Sunday our children receive First Holy Communion. Like baptism and confirmation we see this sacrament in the Acts of the Apostle. Luke refers to it as "the breaking of the bread." It's much more than sharing a meal. By the power of the Spirit the bread becomes Jesus' body. Like a rhizome we only see the part above the surface. In the sacraments we see water, oil and bread but with eyes of faith we can see the true reality - the Holy Spirit.
​
The Holy Spirit like a rhizome manifests himself in gifts of service and sacraments. We make today's Psalm our prayer, "Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth." Amen.

​Happy Mother's Day! At the end of Mass we will have blessing of moms - right after blessings of those with anniversary of matrimony during May.

I've been thinking about my own mom in relation to our Scripture readings. This Easter Season I'm doing a Bible study based on the daily reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts picks up where the the Gospel of Luke leaves off, that is, the Ascension of Jesus. The Ascension caps off Jesus' work on earth and begins a new stage. As we see next weekend - the Age of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus prepared his disciples for the Ascension: Grief fills your heart, he says, because I am going where you cannot go now. Separation brings sadness. We've seen it this year with Sr. Barbara's death on February 4, then the April anniversary of Fr. Valencia. And of course the death of others in our parish and our families. Separation causes sadness and makes this life a valley of tears.

Stop me if I seem too melancholy. :) I want to face the bad news before giving you good news. The bad news is separation and the loneliness that follows. I saw this in my mom.

One night we were driving back home, just the two of us in the car. We were kind of quiet then Ma asked, "Do you think we will recognize each other in the next life?"

"Oh, yes," I said. I was about to explain that the recognition would not be easy because no one can take his false self into the heaven (it would wreck the place).

Before I could give my theory, Ma said, "I miss my mother." Grandma Perich had died over 40 years earlier and my mom still ached to see her again. That desire seems to grow over time. I miss my mom and dad and the loneliness increases. Something similar happens with Sister Barbara and Father Valencia.

A distance exists between human beings and death makes that gap seem final, unbridgeable. As much as I loved my parents, there are major parts of their lives I never knew. When I went to Poland for World Youth Day, I thought about my mom and dad - how they were in their 20's when the dramatic events of World War II unfolded. What did those battles and concentration camps mean to them when they were starting a farm and a family? I know little about that part of their lives and they know little about parts of my life. A gap exists between us.

And sometimes a gap exists between us and Jesus. We experience depression, guilt, fear, distance. We sometimes want to hide. That's the bad news.

But this Sunday as we celebrate the Ascension I have some good news. Jesus has bridged the gap. St. Paul says that the Ascension means that Jesus first had to descend - to the lowest parts. He knows our misery and anguish; he also knows our joys and hopes. By his Ascension Jesus bridges the gap. St. Augustine says where the head is there also is the body. We are with Jesus; he is with us. He gives us, as we shall see, a great gift - in fact the greatest gift, the Holy Spirit.

Jesus has bridged the gap not only between us and him but among each other. Only through him can we connect with deceased loved ones. Jesus is the Way, the one Way the only Way. I do want to know, to really know, my mom & dad, Sister Barbara and Fr. Valencia. For sure some of it won't be easy. That's why we have purgatory. But Jesus bridges the gap; he is the way. As a token Jesus gives a lovely gift - he own mother. Behold your mother, he says. With love for our earthly moms and for the Blessed Mother conclude with a poem to Mary. It's by the Filipino patriot Dr. José Rizal:

To The Virgin Mary Mary,

Sweet peace, solace dear
Of pained mortal!
Thou art the fount
Whence emanates the healing stream,
That makes our soil fruitful... Thou art my Mother,

Mary, pure; Thou'll be the fortress of my life;
Thou'll be my guide on this angry sea.
If ferociously vice pursues me,
If in my pains death harasses me,
Help me, and drive away my woes!  Amen

​¡Feliz día de la madre! Al final de la misa tendremos la bendición de las mamás, justo después de las bendiciones de aquellos con el aniversario del matrimonio durante el mes de mayo.

He estado pensando en mi propia mamá en relación con nuestras lecturas de las Escrituras. Esta temporada de Pascua estoy haciendo un estudio bíblico basado en la lecturas diarias de los Hechos de los Apóstoles. Hechos empieza dónde termina el Evangelio de Lucas, es decir, la Ascensión de Jesús. La Ascensión concluye el trabajo de Jesús en la tierra y comienza una nueva etapa. Como vemos el próximo domingo: la Edad del Espíritu Santo.

Jesús preparó a sus discípulos para la Ascensión: tristeza llena tu corazón, dice, porque voy a donde no puedes ir ahora. La separación causa tristeza. Lo hemos visto este año con la muerte de la Hna. Barbara el 4 de febrero - y luego, el aniversario de abril del Padre Valencia. Y, por supuesto, la muerte de otros en nuestra parroquia y familias. La separación causa tristeza y hace de esta vida un valle de lágrimas.

Tal vez parezco un poco melancólico. Pues, quiero enfrentar las malas noticias antes de darte buenas noticias. Las malas noticias son la separación y la soledad que sigue. Vi esto en mi mamá.
Una noche estábamos regresando a casa, solo nosotros dos en el auto. Estábamos un poco callados y mamá preguntó: "¿Crees que nos reconoceremos en la próxima vida?"

"Oh, sí", dije. Iba a explicar que el reconocimiento no sería fácil porque nadie puede llevar su ser falso al cielo (arruinaría el lugar).

Antes de que pudiera dar mi teoría, mi mamá dijo: "Extraño a mi madre". Ella había muerto más de 40 años antes y mi mamá aún ansiaba verla de nuevo. Ese deseo parece crecer con el tiempo. Extraño a mi mamá y a mi papá y la soledad aumenta. Algo similar sucede con la Hermana Bárbara y el Padre Valencia.

Existe una distancia entre los seres humanos y la muerte hace que este abismo parezca final. Por mucho que amo a mis padres, hay partes importantes de sus vidas que nunca supe. Cuando fui a Polonia para la Jornada Mundial de los Jovenes, pensé en mi mamá y mi papá: cómo eran sus 20 años cuando sucedieron los dramáticos acontecimientos de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. ¿Qué significaban esas batallas y campamentos de concentración para ellos cuando estaban comenzando una granja y una familia? Sé poco sobre esa parte de sus vidas y ellos saben poco sobre partes de mi vida. Existe una distancia entre nosotros.

Y a veces existe una abismo entre nosotros y Jesús. Experimentamos depresión, culpabilidad, miedo. A veces queremos escondernos. Esa es la mala noticia.

Pero este domingo cuando celebramos la Ascensión, tengo buenas noticias. Jesús ha salvado la brecha. San Pablo dice que la Ascensión significa que Jesús primero tuvo que descender, a las partes más bajas. Él conoce nuestra miseria y angustia; él también conoce nuestras alegrías y esperanzas. Por su Ascensión Jesús cierra la brecha. San Agustín dice que donde está la cabeza también está el cuerpo. Estamos con Jesús; él está con nosotros Él nos da, como veremos, un gran regalo, de hecho el mayor regalo, el Espíritu Santo.

Jesús ha superado el abismo no solo entre nosotros y él, sino tambien entre nosotros, uno al otro. Solo a través de él podemos conectarnos con seres queridos fallecidos. Jesús es el Camino, el Camino Único es el único. Quiero conocer, realmente conocer, a mi mamá y mi papá, la Hermana Bárbara y el Padre Valencia. Seguro que algo de esto no será fácil. Es por eso que tenemos el purgatorio. Pero Jesús cierra la brecha; él es el camino. Como una señal, Jesús da un hermoso regalo: su propia madre. Contempla a tu madre, dice. Con amor para nuestras mamás terrenales y para la Santísima Madre concluya con un poema a María. Es por el patriota filipino Dr. José Rizal:

¡María, dulce paz, amado Consuelo!
De afligido mortal eres la fuente
Donde mana amparo como fuente,
Que sin cesar fecunda nuestro suelo.
Eres mi Madre, plácida María;
Si la muerte me acosa en la agonía,
¡Socórreme, y disipa mi tristeza! Amen

We just heard Jesus say, "This is my command: love one another." Pope Benedict has an encyclical about love that I find helpful. He makes three surprising moves.
First, he speaks quite favorably about the love called eros. It's a type of love that seems to impose itself. It doesn't require great forethought. It just happens: The love of parent for their child or a young man for his beloved. They make a pledge of fidelity that seems irresistible. Their love will last forever and by comparison all other loves seems pale.
After saying good words about eros, Pope Benedict makes a second move. He observes that as powerful as eros love seems, it has a tendency to wane and even become destructive. Few people fight more fiercely than those who have fallen out of love. Pope Benedict shows that eros love needs purification by a different kind of love: agape. While eros is an ascending love - it rise from within - agape is a descending love. It come from above. As St. John tells us, "In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he has loved us." We cannot love God unless he first loves us. Ultimately we cannot love each other - in a way that lasts - unless we accept God's love. When a couple attends Mass and prays together, their marriage tends to last and flourish. Agape, the descending love, makes possible self-giving and self-sacrifice.
After explaining the two loves - eros and agape - Pope Benedict makes a third surprising move. He insists on "organized love".* I know it sounds jarring to put "love" and "organized" together. We live in a romantic age that values spontaneity. Still organization has its place. It's when individuals and families band together to effectively help others. A few weeks ago we heard how the early Christians voluntarily entrusted part of their earnings to the apostles - so they could help those in need. That tradition continues today in the Annual Catholic Appeal. The Appeal is a form of organized love. This Sunday I have asked a young family to witness to how the Appeal benefits them and how they see our rebate project: a renovated playground for our parish. Please give your full attention to Rasamy & Stanlynne Mixaphone (also see below testimony of David & Kerry Ramseyer)
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*"The Church can never be exempted from practicing charity as an organized activity of believers, and on the other hand, there will never be a situation where the charity of each individual Christian is unnecessary, because in addition to justice man needs, and will always need, love." (Deus Caritas Est #29)

What is the Annual Catholic Appeal?  
 
The Annual Catholic Appeal funds various ministries and services throughout the Archdiocese of Seattle. Through your generous giving, our 172 parishes & missions and 74 schools help to provide A Future Full of Hope for thousands of people throughout Western Washington.
 
The ACA serves over 579,500 Catholics and ALL of our gifts to the ACA helps support more than 60 ministries and services:
 

• Pastoral care and outreach Ministries
• Catholic Faith Formation - Generations of Faith which runs from Sept to April each year which our family attends each year, mainly, for the dinner because I struggle to cook.  My family eats well but the cooking part is...well, that's a different appeal 
• Family and Cultural Activities
• Youth and Young Adults - United Youth Group which Noah participates in and just last Sunday received Confirmation with his peers and the Catholic Youth Convention, Vacation Bible School, and Retreats 
• Catholic Schools - St. Michael's in Snohomish
• Catholic Community Services

 
Parishes are direct recipients of the ministries and services supported by the Annual Catholic Appeal. In addition, any money received and exceeding the parish assigned goal is returned through a rebate to our parish to used for a stated project and or as needed.  Our parish's stated project is the renovation of the parish playground.
 
I'm excited because this renovation would mean new, updated and safer playground equipment which is much needed because two Sunday evenings ago when we were celebrating a few Confirmandi in the parish hall; my husband and I were watching our daughter's and a few of the other parish children playing in the playground, we were rather concerned about the safety of the current equipment in the playground because the current tire swing, actually, swings into the support board that runs, horizontally, across the middle of the side support beams of the regular swings, thankfully, no one was hurt. Also, new bark or other safe playground surface and expanding the current size of the playground.
 
Let's help our parish bring this updated and renovated playground to fruition through the Annual Catholic Appeal, there are a variety of ways to pledge:
 
One time donation, Monthly donations, online donations, Electronic Fund Transfer(EFT) from checking/savings account, debit card or credit card.
 
If you are unable to give in any of the ways, I just mentioned...Please give by PRAYING! I want to mention this because there are those who are just unable to at this time, and that's okay...Prayers are very valuable and much needed through the entire ACA campaign.  Another suggestion is giving during the current campaign when you can, for 2017, our family gave at the end of the campaign. This year, We have pledged to give in November which is the month of Thanksgiving and a few other special celebrations in our family.
 
In closing, Thank you to ALL who have already made a pledge. Thank you, in advance, to ALL those who are still assessing and considering their current giving and to ALL those who are giving to the ACA a gift a prayer.  
 
Fr. Bloom and and the St. Mary of the Valley Ohana welcomes and encourages all young families, just like ours.  Thank you Fr. Bloom for asking us to share and to each of you for your attention.
 
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My name is David Ramseyer.  I've been a parishioner at St Mary of the valley for three years along with my Wife Kerry and my five children.  We have enjoyed the sense of commmunity and belonging provided by the parish and the many opportunities to interact  with fellow parishioners and involve my family in my parish community.
 
I've have also been a teacher for past 12 years and education is very important part of my life. But outside of my career, educating my children in the ways of the faith is also something that is a family value that we share. As part of this value, it is important to my wife and I to let our children see us being active participants and involved in our Catholic faith life. Which means interacting with our local church community, but also participating in the broader mission of the Global Catholic church which, for us, means participating in the Annual Catholic Appeal.
 
The Annual Catholic Appeal does something for our larger Church community that we cannot do ourselves. Provide tangible supports for people in need, services for Catholics and non-catholics alike, and an opportunity for our children to see that they are part of a wider Church community. Locally the annual Catholic appeal also provides our community here at St Mary of the Valley by helping us achieve our own Parish goals which are assisted with the use of rebate funds from the appeal. This year, one thing that our family is excited about is the opportunity for the annual Catholic appeal rebate to renovate our Parish playground and provide us additional opportunities to interact with local families in our Parish Community.
 
The annual Catholic appeal provides a variety of ways to give. We choose to do automatic electronic withdrawals, because in our busy lives, it makes it easy not to accidentally forget a payment because for some reason, five children seem to to make it challenging to remember what we need to do 5 minutes from now let alone at the end of the month. There are many ways to give, such as the electronic fund transfer  through your bank or credit card the  service that our family uses, donating in one time payments or through monthly donations, and the  ability to donate online.
 
For my family the Catholic appeal provides a tangible example of following in Jesus's Ministry of service, and that my duty as a Catholic Christian extends beyond what is immediately around me. The Annual Catholic Appeal allows me to provide service to a much broader Catholic community that I do not have the ability to personally interact with on a direct basis, and provides for  my children a concrete message that being a Catholic is more than going to church once a week; it's being an active involved member in my community, which encompasses the whole body of the church.
 
Thank you and God bless you all.
​

Acabamos de escuchar a Jesús decir: "Este es lo que les mando: que se amen los unos a otros". El Papa Benedicto tiene una encíclica sobre el amor. Él hace tres pasos sorprendentes.
 
Primero, él habla bastante favorablemente sobre el amor llamado eros. Es un tipo de amor que parece imponerse. Simplemente sucede: como el amor de los padres por sus hijos o de un hombre joven por su querida. Hacen una promesa de fidelidad que parece irresistible. Su amor durará para siempre y en comparación, todos los otros amores parecen pálidos.
 
Después de decir buenas palabras sobre eros, el Papa Benedicto hace un segundo paso. Él observa que, por más poderoso que parezca el amor de eros, tiende a disminuir e incluso a volverse destructivo. Pocas personas se pelean más ferozmente que aquellos que se han desanamorado. El Papa Benedicto muestra que eros necesita purificación por un otro tipo de amor: ágape. Si bien el eros es un amor ascendente, el ágape es un amor descendente. Viene de arriba. Como dice San Juan, "En esto consiste el amor, no porque hayamos amado a Dios, sino porque él nos amó". No podemos amar a Dios a menos que él primero nos ame. En última instancia, no podemos amarnos unos a otros, de una manera duradera, a menos que aceptemos el amor de Dios. Cuando una pareja asiste a misa y ora juntos, su matrimonio tiende a durar y florecer. Ágape, el amor descendente, hace posible la entrega y el autosacrificio.
 
Después de explicar los dos amores, eros y ágape, el Papa Benedicto hace un tercer paso sorprendente. Insiste en el "amor organizado" donde las personas y las familias se unen para ayudar eficazmente a los demás.* Hace algunas semanas oímos que los primeros cristianos confiaron voluntariamente parte de sus ganancias a los apóstoles, para que pudieran ayudar a los necesitados. Esa tradición continúa hoy en Annual Catholic Appeal. La Peticion Anual es una forma de amor organizado. Este domingo le he pedido a una familia joven que testifique cómo la Peticion los beneficia y cómo ven nuestro proyecto de reembolso: un patio de recreo renovado para nuestra parroquia. Por favor dar toda su atención a Jorge y Fatima Maldonado.
 
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Petición Católica Anual – Testimonio de Jorge y Fátima 5/6/18
 
Buenos Días, Mi nombre es _________ y mi espos@ __________. Somos miembros de Sta. María Del Valle desde hace muchos años.
(J) En esta comunidad recibí el sacramento de la Confirmación,  aquí nos conocimos, nos casamos, y también bautizamos a nuestra hija.
(F) El Padre Bloom nos invitó este día a compartir un poco de la Petición Católica anual de la Arquidiócesis de Seattle: Un Futuro lleno de Esperanza.
(J)A diferencia de la corresponsabilidad que se lleva a cabo en el otoño, la Petición Católica Anual es directamente para la Arquidiócesis. (Jorge Saca el sobre) Muchos de ustedes quizás recibieron en sus casas un sobre del Arzobispo explicando sobre la Petición Anual.
(F)Muchas Gracias a todos los que han participado en esta petición en años pasados, puesto que gracias a este “amor organizado” como mencionó el Padre Felipe, se administra y apoya a más de 60 Ministerios y servicios dentro de la Arquidiócesis, creando un futuro lleno de esperanza. Hoy Quisiéramos hablar un poco de algunos de estos:
(J) Uno de estos Ministerios que hemos tenido la oportunidad de involucrarnos por varios años y el cual admiro y valoro es de la Oficina para los Jóvenes y Pastoral Juvenil Hispana, que provee recursos, Convenciones Juveniles, High School Rallies, retiros para jóvenes, programas de formación, etc.
(F) (Ministerio para Inmigrantes y Refugiados, Servicios en los Centros de Detención)
… … … … … … … …
 
(J) Algunos otros son los programas de Certificación Catequética, el Ministerio Hispano, Ministerio de Salud Mental, Celebraciones Culturales, Programas de Albergues de Emergencia, Programas de Comidas, y muchos más.
 
(F) Como mencionó Don Lalo la semana pasada, si todos participamos de la Peticion Catolica Anual, y si muchos podemos participar con $1.00 al dia, $30.00 mensuales por un año, podremos fácilmente rebasar la meta asignada a la parroquia, y así poder renovar el playground de la Parroquia para nuestros hijos.
 
(J) Hay varias opciones para hacer tu compromiso, se puede dar una sola donación, o en pagos. Depende de que selecciones en la tarjeta de la petición católica anual, puedes pagar con cash o cheque en sobres mensuales que te lleguen de la arquidiócesis, o lo puedes pagar electrónicamente por medio de tu cuenta de Banco.
En lo personal, nuestra corresponsabilidad con la parroquia la tenemos electrónicamente, y este año, nuestro compromiso con la petición católica anual la hicimos de igual manera. De este modo, nos ahorramos tiempo de sacar efectivo o llenar cheques mensuales, y lo dedicamos a estar más tiempo como Familia.
 
Key Notes:
1. After introducing yourself and saying something about your family, mention work of the archdiocese that you admire and value. 
2. What the rebate project - renovation of parish playground - might mean for your daughter, her cousins and other parish children.
3. Thank those who have already made a pledge and mention that there are a variety of ways to pledge: one-time donation, monthly donations, on-line donation, electronic fund transfer from bank account or credit card, etc.