Meeting {Archbishop J Peter Sartain}

After the Mass of Installation, we were all invited to the gym at O'Dea High School for a reception welcoming our new Archbishop.

December 1, 2010

Archbishop Sartain with our family

Bishop Joseph Tyson with the boys

The gym was transformed into an elegant and festive environment in which we ate, visited with friends and waited in a long line to meet Archbishop Sartain.  

When we were near the front of the line, we decided that we would ask the archbishop to bless our rosaries.  Some were in pockets, but others were in the car. 

Peter asked for the keys to go and retrieve them.

Being in downtown Seattle, Tim required that the boys all go out to the parking lot together, which they did.  We told them to hurry, since we were nearly at the front of the line.

Archbishop Sartain, despite the fact that he had been standing in the same spot greeting the faithful for over two hours, welcomed us and took time to get to know a little bit about our family.

He blessed our rosaries and posed with us for a group photo to mark the special occasion (thanks Father Scott for being our photographer).

As we began to collect our things to head to the car, we couldn't find......

the car keys!

That's right, the keys had gone missing after the boys' trip to the car.

Our departure time was delayed, but our extra hour at the reception was very pleasant.

The caterers and decorators were busy taking down the tables and decorations, while we sat in a circle visiting with Father Qui Thac (who waited, along with Father Scott to be sure we didn't need a ride home to Bellingham to get a spare set of keys), Zac's friend Louis and his friend Jeff (both in Seminary).

Thanks to AAA...

the lock was hacked, and the key was found, in the car, safe and sound.

Of interest:

As we were waiting in a slow-moving line to get into the O'Dea gym for the reception,

 Joseph had asked, "Mom, are we going to be the last people to leave?  Like when they're taking everything down and asking us, 'are you leaving yet?'"

To this I had replied, "Yes, Joseph, we will be the very last people to leave the reception!"

How did I know??

Sanctus {Archbishop J Peter Sartain}

After the homily, the prayers of the faithful (general intercessions) were read (and signed) in seven different languages, representing the variety of cultures in our local Churches.  Then the gifts of bread and wine were brought forward by three of Archbishop Sartain's sisters. 

And then, Archbishop Sartain (together with 24 archbishops and bishops, over 200 priests, and three cardinals) by the power of the Holy Spirit, changed the bread and wine into the bread of life!

Yes, during the consecration on the altar, the bread and wine were transformed into the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!   (No, Archbishop Sartain didn't re-sacrifice Christ as I have heard is sometimes erroneously taught, but rather the sacrifice of Christ was re-presented for us.) This Eucharistic celebration, the source and summit of our lives, and the center of every Mass comes to us from the apostles, given to them by Jesus, as does the succession of bishops as shepherds for His Church.

Reading the writings of the Church Fathers, the first Christians (Catholics) who transmitted the faith, we know that the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was held by the apostles and those who followed them.  We also know that the Eucharist and the Mass were central to their faith:

Ignatius of Antioch:

“I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible” (Letter to the Romans 7:3 [A.D. 110]).

“Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God. . . . They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6:2–7:1 [A.D. 110]). 

Jerome:

“Far be it from me to speak adversely of any of these clergy who, in succession from the apostles, confect by their sacred word the Body of Christ and through whose efforts also it is that we are Christians” (Letters 14:8 [A.D. 396]).

Jesus knew that the truth He revealed about the Eucharist would be unbearable for some. And He knew that his disciples were murmuring about His words: "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink."  ~John 6:55

However, Jesus taught them that no one can come to Him (believe His teaching, eat His flesh, drink His blood in the Eucharist) without being given the gift of faith by God:

"But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.  And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."  As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.    ~John 6:64-66

I am extremely grateful for the gift of faith given to me by God through my parents (grandparents, Godparents, teachers, priests).  I cannot imagine my life without the Eucharist.  Celebrating the Eucharist with over 2,000 Catholics (and especially my husband and children) at St. James Cathedral on the occasion of the Installation of our new Archbishop Sartain was truly a highlight of this year!

I do understand that not all Christians will believe this teaching on the Eucharist. Jesus prepared us for this division, and gives us the grace to love people right where they're at and to accept and respect each person on his own faith journey.  I pray that your faith journey will continue to lead you closer to Christ... and that you will be open to receiving Him in whatever way He wishes to reveal Himself to you!

***

After the Mass of Installation, we were all invited to attend a reception welcoming our new Archbishop!

to be continued!

“The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them. The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. “Do you also wish to leave Me?”: The Lord’s question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only He has ‘the words of Eternal Life’ and that to receive in faith the gift of His Eucharist is to receive the Lord Himself.” (Catechism Catholic Church, #1336)

Teaching {Archbishop J Peter Sartain}

With wisdom, humility and gentleness, as our pastor and teacher, Archbishop Sartain gave the homily at the Mass celebrating his installation yesterday.

Archbishop Sartain began his homily by noting that when he is holding the crosier (the outward sign of his role as our shepherd), he is actually following the crosier, as the crosier always goes before him.  As a bishop shepherds the flock, the crosier (Christ) leads the bishop.  He asserted that he (and we) should always be following Christ, rather than putting himself (ourselves) before Christ.  How can we follow Christ if we put ourselves in front of Him?

He encouraged us as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to heed the call to build up the church, emphasizing our need to work as community toward this end.

Archbishop Sartain offered insights gleaned from Radiation of Fatherhood, by Fr. Karol Wojtyla (who became Pope John Paul II), suggesting that we forget the word "mine" and rather remember that everything is "yours" (everything is from God).  

He encouraged us to pray the name of Jesus at every moment of every day, to let the name of Jesus be always on our lips.  By praying the name of Jesus we bring Christ's recollection and order into our lives. We take our place among the blind and the lame, and all those who cried out to Jesus for healing, asking Him constantly to form us, correct us, and love us.  

Archbishop Sartain inspired us to intensify our hunger for God during this season of Advent, to be captivated like children before the Nativity scene.  God's love took on flesh and blood to redeem humanity, he reminded us, and in the manger the infant Jesus laid down his life for us in a food box, as our food.  Jesus was sent to feed us, to do God's will and build up the Church and proclaim the truth, to lay down His life for us and to lead us to the pasture where we will feed on the bread of life!

After the homily, Archbishop Sartain brought us the bread of life in the Eucharist!

to be continued!

For a detailed report on the Mass of Installation, go here.

Welcome {Archbishop J Peter Sartain}

Today our family traveled to Seattle for the celebration of...

"With faith in our Lord Jesus Christ

and with the love of God in my heart,

I do accept the pastoral care of the people of God 

in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

I resolve to serve faithfully

the spiritual needs of this local Church"

~ Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, December 1, 2010

 Archbishop Sartain, shown here being led to the cathedra, where he was seated for the first time.  Archbishop Brunett (our now-retired Archbishop) 

presented him with the crosier, the sign of the pastoral office of the bishop.

After our new Archbishop was seated, the Mass proceeded with the Liturgy of the Word,

and the First Reading was proclaimed by Sister Marian Sartain, OP, Archbishop Sartain's sister.

God of my fathers, LORD of mercy, you who have made all things by your word

And in your wisdom have established man to rule the creatures produced by you,

To govern the world in holiness and justice, and to render judgment in integrity of heart:

Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne, and reject me not from among your children;

For I am your servant, the son of your handmaid, a man weak and short-lived and lacking in comprehension of judgment and of laws. Indeed, though one be perfect among the sons of men, if Wisdom, who comes from you, be not with him, he shall be held in no esteem. Now with you is Wisdom, who knows your works and was present when you made the world; Who understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what is conformable with your commands. Send her forth from your holy heavens and from your glorious throne dispatch her That she may be with me and work with me, that I may know what is your pleasure. For she knows and understands all things, and will guide me discreetly in my affairs and safeguard me by her glory.

~Wisdom 9:1-6, 9-11

The cathedral choir then led the congregation in the sung Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 40).

The Second Reading was proclaimed by another family member of Archbishop Sartain:

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body's growth and builds itself up in love.

~Ephesians 4: 1-6, 11-13, 15-16

Deacon Juan Lezcano proclaimed the Gospel:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 

He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep." 

~John 21: 15-17

And then Archbishop Sartain gave the homily...

to be continued!