Good morning, and welcome to the third pastor’s post! Still searching for a geeky Catholic title for this thing, but I’ve been enjoying putting them up so far – I’ve been delighted to hear from folks now saying they are too. If you’re among that crowd, please take a moment to share this with other parishioners. My hope is that this is a(nother!) opportunity for us to connect with each other as we start each week.

Speaking of hopes, I want to take a moment to talk about dreams for parish life. As a priest and a pastor, there are loads of dreams I carry with me – but at the root of them all is a sense of community, of belonging, of looking forward to seeing friends old & new at Mass, in prayer, in learning together, and at social events. For myself, Sundays are at the heart of my own sense of parish community: greeting parishioners before Mass, praying together in our joint offering of the Mass, catching up afterwards, and enjoying coffee & a snack before going our separate ways. Truly, it is the high point of each week.

By the way, thanks to the work of our maintenance facility manager we have new coffee machines in our school cafeteria where we have our Sunday socials. Come for the fresh coffee, stay for the company!

There was an article from The Pillar last week that caught my eye, featuring the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul Basilica in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They have built a creative example of fellowship & community support, playing out in an edifying and (at least to me) new way. Pope John Paul II was fond of the phrase “legitimate diversity”, perhaps most famously used in his 1995 encyclical on ecumenism, Ut Unum Sint. I find this inspiring not only for ecumenical efforts (ad extra) but for parochial life (ad intra). Though there is a standard definition of what makes a parish (all the Christian faithful of a particular territory), there is no limit to how it might explore how it expresses that community life! What might the Lord empower us to create & build, if we but opened ourselves to His inspiration?

On a different note, I found myself talking music with one of the attendees at our AMA (‘Ask Me Anything’) session last night. We were geeking out about – of all things – video game music and how triple-A games (Skyrim, Halo, Breath of the Wild, et cetera) have amazing music composed by professionals, performed by talented artists, and thoughtfully placed within the story & play so as to immerse players in fully conscious, and active participation in the game.

If that phrasing sounds familiar, it should! “Fully conscious, and active participation” is one of the rallying cries of Sancrosanctum Concilium – the first document of the Second Vatican Council. I’m not saying we should shoot for music that energizes congregations for battle with aliens on a ring world against galactic danger – but this level of effort & energy should not be reserved to games; it should be reflected in our prayer, worship, and the general life faith!

For now, I hope this week is full of many blessings, creativity, and perhaps a little excitement (of both the earthly and heavenly variety). As always, know of my prayers for you – especially as we gather an extra time this Tuesday for the solemnity of Mary. May God bless you and your loved ones throughout this week.

Yours in Christ,
Father Maurer

---

Monday, August 14 – World War II brought with it both great suffering & sorrows as well as inspiring extraordinary virtue in those who were caught in so many impossible situations. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, whose memorial is celebrated today (the day of his execution) – and one day before solemnity of Mary, to whom he had great devotion. Read more about him at Loyola Press.

Tuesday, August 15 – We celebrate today’s solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of such significance in the life of the Church that it is a holy day of obligation. Be sure to plan to attend Mass today (we’re offering Masses at 9:30 am and at 6:30 pm)! And consider checking out Bishop Barron’s homily ‘God’s Warrior Queen’ on the occasion of this feast in 2021. Let us together honor the Blessed Virgin, our queen mother!

Wednesday, August 16 – In our second AMA (‘Ask Me Anything’) session a few weeks ago, we had some enthusiastic conversation around the societal responsibilities (and culpability) of those who are wealthy. Today’s memorial honoring Saint Stephen of Hungary points us toward a man who took such responsibilities seriously. Whatever our place in our community, may we also seek to use our gifts for the betterment of ourselves and those around us.

Saturday, August 19 – Saint John Eudes, though appearing on the liturgical calendar in the form of an optional memorial today, is perhaps not as well-known as other saints. I must admit that this is certainly true for me, as I had not taken the time to look into his life & ministry. It turns out he was a French missionary who started two different religious communities and was also a member of a third! His particular devotion, it seems, was to the sacred hearts of Mary & Jesus. You can read a little more about his life & piety at Aleteia.

Hello and welcome to the second of the new weekly pastor’s posts. I’m still looking for inspiration for a geeky title for this thing, so if you’ve got a neat name idea to share, please let me know!

For the second time in two weeks, I have had the delight of spending time with parishioners at their home – we had dinner, swapped stories, and generally had a blast late into the evening talking & laughing. When talking with folks, I’m always surprised at what new facets there are for us to discover about each – hobbies, history, thoughts, and so on. This gathering was no different, and not least for a story that involved a hike up a mysterious mountain, a secret door only found through friendship with mysterious strangers, a trek to dangerous heights, and finally a return to home & safety. I’m not saying I’m pastor of famous hobbits…..but I’m not not saying I’m pastor of famous hobbits either!

It occurs to me that perhaps I don’t make the offer often or publicly enough, so I want to be sure to say that if you’d like to have your own dinner hangout with the pastor, I’d be happy to get to know you a little better, share a meal together, and enjoy each other’s company. It may take a little scheduling, but give me a call if you’re interested!

You all know I’m a Star Trek fan, but I’m also a fan of good music of both the secular and sacred variety. Among my favorites are chant, folk music, and poignant soundtracks from television, movies, and video games (among so much more out there!). The gift of music & song is a source of great joy. When this last week’s musical episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (‘Subspace Rhapsody’) dropped, I was prepared to be disappointed even while holding out hope that it would be good. I’m happy to report that was an absolute banger of a good time – excellent Star Trek storytelling, a smattering of musical styles (sung well, no less!), and clever lyrics that developed the characters and showcased some real talent among the actors. The whole series is worth watching, but if you enjoy even a bit of Star Trek and appreciate music of various types, this is an episode you should watch!

Back here in regular – or at least, differently geeky – space, we’ve got a few neat things coming up at the parish. I’m especially anticipating our penultimate ‘Ask Me Anything’ sessions this Thursday. There will be a brief presentation (“Marriage in society and in the Church”) followed by an open period for questions asked in-person or anonymously. I hope you’ll come enjoy food, fellowship, and an opportunity to learn more about the faith together.

Be sure to also mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 15th – the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a holy day of obligation for all Catholics and we’ll be offering two Masses here at Saint Mark parish – one at 9:30 am and the other at 6:30 pm. If you’d like to prepare a little in advance, Pope Francis’ angelus address from 2022 on this mystery of our faith is a brief but lovely reflection that you may enjoy.

This last week also marked the memorial of Saint John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. One of my brother priests pointed out that he is the sole saint canonized from among that demographic. A humbling reminder of our need for holy parish priests, both those already in ministry and those yet to hear & respond to God’s call. Please join me in prayer for our current clergy and those whom God is inviting to serve as priests in our archdiocese.

May your week be a blessed one. Know of my prayers for you all.

Yours in Christ,
Father Maurer

---

Some neat Catholic tidbits from the week ahead:

Sunday, August 6 – Yesterday we celebrated the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. I had the privilege of visiting here in 2006 while on a study abroad pilgrimage at seminary. Of all the places we visited, this was perhaps the most impactful to me personally – something about both the church and grounds filled me with a sense of peace. I could understand why Saint Peter wanted to pitch tents and stay there forever! But the Transfiguration serves not only a place to visit, but a foretaste of the transformation the Lord desires for us. Check out Bishop Barron’s 2017 homily on this very idea and how it is meant to spur us closer to Christ.

Tuesday, August 8 – I sometimes joke that the Dominicans here in Seattle are just the worst – they’re intellectually rigorous while also being down-to earth, have their own special liturgical rite, dedicate themselves to ministry across the world, wear awesome habits, and otherwise make the rest of us look bad!

But serious, the Dominicans – particularly the men serving at Blessed Sacrament parish and the UW Newman Center – are an extraordinary blessing to the Church at large and in our archdiocese. If you are ever in the area, their parish church is worth a visit to both see and pray in. If you know one, be sure wish them a happy feast day and to pray for them & their ministry this week.

Thursday, August 10 – ‘Turn me over, I’m done on this side’ is perhaps Saint Lawrence’s most famous quip. This was offered as he was roasted to death for defying the prefect of Rome. The prefect had previously demanded that Saint Lawrence – deacon of Rome and steward of the material goods of the Church & responsible for giving collected alms to the poor – turn over the treasures of the Church. When the deadline came, Saint Lawrence showed up with the poor of the city, proclaiming that they were true riches of the Church.

We, too, ought to take care to attend to the needs of the poor in our midst. I suspect I am not alone in often overthinking my response to those who ask for my help – potentially to the point of avoiding the poor altogether. May we take the time to not only respond, but to meet, care for, and unite ourselves with the poor in our midst.

Saint Lawrence is also the patron saint of deacons. Let us be sure to pray for our own deacon, Deacon Kirk, and for all those who serve as deacons across the archdiocese and throughout the Church.

Friday, August 11 – Speaking of the poor, we are reminded this week of the ‘Poor Clares’, founded by Saint Clare, whose memorial is today. Inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, she voluntarily embraced poverty and a life of radical dependence on the Lord, focused on meditation & prayer. A community of women – many of whom were also former noblewomen – sprang up in her stead and so was founded the Order of Saint Clare. Read about her life & work at Loyola Press.

Welcome to the first of what I hope to be a weekly post here on Saint Mark’s parish website. I’m still workshopping the name, so if you think of something catchy – bonus points if it is geeky too! – please feel free to let me know.

The purpose of this post is to be an informal way to connect as pastor and parishioner. Unlike the pastor’s notes in the bulletin or a formal letter, these will be more lighthearted, less prepared, and will include more off-the-cuff thoughts, observations, and reflections. My intention is to have these go up on the website at the start of each week (Monday mornings), so feel free to stop by then or use the RSS feed to get alerts via your preferred feed reader.

Speaking of off-the-cuff thoughts, I want to share how much I enjoyed last week’s AMA (‘Ask Me Anything’) session, led by Deacon Kirk and attended by many of our parishioners. The topic was ‘Catholic Social Teaching’ – both the presentation & handout from Deacon Kirk were super impressive (and set the bar high for any of us who will follow him in coming sessions 😬).

Perhaps the greatest highlight were the conversations that kicked off after the presentation. Those included questions about property and labor, the differences between the Apostle’s & Nicene Creed (and when we might use them), and a deep dive into the theology of the Eucharist (if you – like me – are unsure of how to explain ‘transignification’ and ‘transfinalization’, this EWTN article might help!). Whether it was a fervent sharing of a person’s perspective on faith or a piercing question that weighed heavily on their heart, it was a blast to be part of such a fun back-and-forth. Our next one is in a couple of weeks (August 10 at 6pm in Sullivan Hall on marriage in society & the Church) – come join in the fun!

Finally, I want to offer a word of encouragement around prayer. In talking with some parishioners after Masses or at various social events, the topic of discouragement around both the world and the Church comes up frequently – perhaps more frequently than in the past. I myself often struggle with cynicism or despair when reflecting the brokenness of the world and/or the shortcomings of the Church & Her members. As I put it recently to one parishioner, ‘I know that I’ll feel worse afterwards, but sometimes I want to take a couple laps in the pool of bitterness!’ It’s a dangerous temptation and one with which I daresay we are all familiar.

In addition to regular confession – and you know I love promoting the sacrament! – I want to heartily recommend the Liturgy of the Hours as a way of opening ourselves to God’s love and His gift of hope. As a cleric, I promised to pray the Hours each day, but I’ve come to love the ebb & flow of each of the Offices, whether it be in the morning to start my day or after nightfall before I go to sleep. We’ve been praying Night Prayer after our movie nights (by the way, we should have a monthly movie night – who’s with me!?!), and parishioners have reported how nice it is to have these simple prayers as a way to cap the day.

If you’re struggling to pray – or just looking for a way to renew and re-invigorate your prayer life – consider exploring the Liturgy of the Hours. For those so inclined, there’s an app (available for Android and iOS), as well as a website where you can begin praying right away. Whether you do one, some, or all of the Hours, I think you’ll find great consolation in joining so many others in this wonderful prayer of the Church.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Let us continue to lift each other up to the Lord in prayer – rest assured that you in my prayers, daily.

Yours in Christ,

Father Maurer

---

Some neat Catholic tidbits from the week ahead:

Monday, July 31st – Today is the memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. An enthusiastic soldier, Ignatius was wounded by a cannonball and knocked out of combat status. While he was recuperated – disappointed that he couldn’t pursue his own goals & ambitions – Ignatius realized that he felt more fulfilled reading holy things than when he read worldly things. This simple observation kicked off a life-long effort to pursue God’s will and help others do the same. Founder of the Society of Jesus (also called the Jesuits) and author of the book The Spiritual Exercises, his impact on the Church continues to be felt today. Read more about him at The Pillar Catholic.

Tuesday, August 1 – Some time ago, Saint Mark parish was blessed to have one of the Redemptorist priests serving the archdiocese here for a weekend. You may have noticed that the priest’s name was followed by the initials ‘CSSR’, which stand for Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, or simply, the Redemptorists). Today is the memorial of their founder, Saint Alphonsus Ligouri! Let us pray for all the Redemptorists, serving in our archdiocese and beyond, as we thank God for their presence & ministry. Check out the Redemptorists’ blog at CSSR.news.

Friday, August 4 – You’ll find many parish priests who profess an affection for Saint John Vianney, whose memorial is today. I count myself among them, not least for his great devotion to the sacrament of Reconciliation. But my favorite story is of how a neighboring priest, jealous of the Curé d’Ars, started a petition to have him removed. Catching wind of the petition, Saint John Vianney signed it himself before having it sent to the bishop! May we all have such devotion and humility!

Saturday, August 5 – In Rome, there are four major basilicas, the memorial of one (its dedication) we celebrate today: the basilica of Saint Mary Major (as in Mary, Mother of God). All of the basilicas are amazing, but this one took my breath away when I first saw it while on pilgrimage to Rome.

Of the many photos I took while I was visiting, these are two of my favorites (please pardon the poor resolution & flawed angles). And if you’re interested in seeing it in person, I highly recommend making plans to make your own pilgrimage to the Eternal City to see this and many other extraordinary places of prayer and homage to the Lord and His saints!