May 22, 2026
The Weekly Word is our Friday eNewsletter for the NE Seattle Catholic Community, bringing you the latest news, upcoming events, and ways to stay connected across Assumption, Our Lady of the Lake, St. Bridget, and St. Catherine of Siena. Take a moment to scroll through and see what’s happening in our parish family this week.
In this issue...
A Reflection by Fr. Bill Heric
Weekly Schedule
Question of the Week
Around the Church - Location-specific activities and news
Spiritual Life - Faith formation, Liturgies, and related news
NE Seattle Catholic Community - Parish family events and news
School News
Volunteer Opportunities
Prayer Corner
Sunday Bulletin - Digital
Poll Results from Last Week
Dear Friends in Christ,
This Sunday is Pentecost, which, after Easter and Christmas, is considered the most important feast in the church’s liturgical year. The church of Jesus is not our idea but is born through the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. So let me wish you all a very “Happy Birthday!” The Book of Acts, which we hear in our first reading this Sunday, tells us that the earliest disciples experienced together the fire of the same spirit, but who spoke to them in their own individual languages. St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians that different gifts are given in various forms to individuals in the Christian Community, yet they originate in the one spirit.
What does this great feast remind us of in our life together as a NE Seattle Catholic Community? We are indeed made up of many parts across our four parishes. The buildings, history, cultures, and personalities are each unique and different. I have enjoyed getting to know all four communities. I hope you spend time at all our sister parishes as well. And yet Pentecost reminds us that though many parts, we are all one body in the Lord. That is the vision of the Partners in the Gospel plan for us to become one parish, combining our many gifts to share in NE Seattle. I hope everyone remembers that as we experience the inevitable growing pains of becoming a single parish community. The first Christians went through numerous trials in their growth as a church, yet found their strength in the many gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out on them all. 80 of our youth received those gifts in the sacrament of confirmation this past Thursday. Here’s looking forward to the myriad ways the Holy Spirit will work through them and all of us!
Come, Holy Spirit!
Fr. William Heric, Pastor
This Sunday is Pentecost, which, after Easter and Christmas, is considered the most important feast in the church’s liturgical year. The church of Jesus is not our idea but is born through the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. So let me wish you all a very “Happy Birthday!” The Book of Acts, which we hear in our first reading this Sunday, tells us that the earliest disciples experienced together the fire of the same spirit, but who spoke to them in their own individual languages. St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians that different gifts are given in various forms to individuals in the Christian Community, yet they originate in the one spirit.
What does this great feast remind us of in our life together as a NE Seattle Catholic Community? We are indeed made up of many parts across our four parishes. The buildings, history, cultures, and personalities are each unique and different. I have enjoyed getting to know all four communities. I hope you spend time at all our sister parishes as well. And yet Pentecost reminds us that though many parts, we are all one body in the Lord. That is the vision of the Partners in the Gospel plan for us to become one parish, combining our many gifts to share in NE Seattle. I hope everyone remembers that as we experience the inevitable growing pains of becoming a single parish community. The first Christians went through numerous trials in their growth as a church, yet found their strength in the many gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out on them all. 80 of our youth received those gifts in the sacrament of confirmation this past Thursday. Here’s looking forward to the myriad ways the Holy Spirit will work through them and all of us!
Come, Holy Spirit!
Fr. William Heric, Pastor
Holy Mary, Mother of God…pray for us!
St. Bridget of Kildare…pray for us!
St. Catherine of Siena…pray for us!
Live Jesus in our hearts…forever!
SATURDAY 5/23
Western Washington Catholic Charismatic Pentecost Celebration @STC - 10:00 am
Seminiarian Luncheon and Mass @STB - 10:00 am, Mass at 11:00 am
Reconciliation @OLL - 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Vigil Mass @OLL - 5:00 pm (Fr. Duc)
Holy Rosary @OLL - 6:00 pmSUNDAY 5/24
Sunday Mass @AP - 9:00 am - (Fr. Bob)Sunday Mass with Children's Church @STB - 9:00 am (Fr. Bill)
Bible Study @STC (Benicasa) - 9:30 am
Sunday Mass @OLL - 11:00 am - (Fr. Bill)
Sunday Mass @STC - 11:00 am - (Fr. Duc)
Sunday Evening Mass @AP - 5:00 pm (Fr. Bill)
Please see our attached PDF below for the full schedule.
Presider schedule subject to change.
What kind of adult faith formation topics interest you most?
Scripture Study & Understanding the Bible
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Catholic Teaching & Church Tradition
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Prayer, Spiritual Growth & Daily Faith
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Marriage, Parenting & Living the Faith at Home
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Scroll to the bottom to see the results from last week's question.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Our parishes thrive because of the many hands and hearts that give their time, energy, and care. From liturgical roles to outreach ministries, hospitality to faith formation, there are countless ways to get involved and make a meaningful impact. It takes all of us to keep our churches vibrant and welcoming. Click the links below to learn more.
ST. BRIDGET NURSERY AVAILABLE DURING MASS
Our St. Bridget Nursery provides a safe, welcoming space for children ages 3 months to 4 years old during the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Parents can enjoy Mass knowing their little ones are being lovingly cared for while they play and learn in a nurturing environment. Please check into the nursery near the Fireside Room before Mass.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Over the past two weekends, our parish family joyfully celebrated many of our children receiving their First Holy Communion for the very first time. Last night, we were also blessed to celebrate those who received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Congratulations to all of our First Communicants and newly confirmed! May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you, strengthen your faith, and draw you ever closer to Christ. Please keep all of these young people and their families in your prayers as they continue their faith journey.
PENTECOST
Wear Red on May 24th to celebrate Pentecost
In the Catholic tradition, Pentecost concludes the Easter season and the liturgical color changes from the white of Easter to red. The liturgical significance of the color red is that it symbolizes the spiritual fire and burning charity that filled the Apostles, visually conveys the fire of divine love, and inspires zeal, courage, and unity among believers.
Red is one of the few liturgical colors used for specific occasions. In addition to being worn on Pentecost Sunday and Good Friday. Wearing red serves as a visual expression of unity among the faithful, reflecting the Holy Spirit's shared presence in the Church. The collective display of red during Mass reminds believers of our mission to live out the Gospel and spread God’s love, echoing the ancient prayer, “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.” We are called to live in faith, unity, and missionary fervor.”
CHILDREN'S CHURCH/CLOW THIS WEEKEND
CLOW/Children's Church is available this weekend at St. Bridget Church.
THE ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL DIRECTLY SUPPORTS PARISH STAFF AND OUR PASTOR
If you haven’t yet made your gift, please prayerfully consider a contribution to the 2026 Annual Catholic Appeal.
Your support goes beyond funding ministries that serve those in need—it also directly sustains our NE Seattle Catholic Community's staff, Fr. Bill and Fr. Duc, every day.
Through the Archdiocese of Seattle, parishes benefit from centralized services designed to reduce costs and ease administrative burdens. These services include human resources, communications, property and construction management, liturgical guidance, and more.
With your generosity, we can simplify workloads, strengthen communication, and advance evangelization efforts across Western Washington. Together, we make the mission possible.
Thank you to all who have returned your Annual Catholic Appeal pledges and gifts, as well as those who are recurring monthly donors. All funds received beyond our goal will support facility upgrades for all 4 churches.
It’s easy to give to the 2026 Annual Catholic Appeal. Visit archseattle.org/giveaca.
Assumption
St. Bridget
Our Lady of the Lake
St. Catherine
HE'S ALIVE
Exclusive Screening ENCORE
Saturday, May 23 @ 11 am
The Edmonds Theatre
An original rock opera written by Bruce McKagan (former Assumption parishioner). A two-hour visual media presentation of 26 songs that tell the story of the Resurrection... and its impact on those touched by Jesus after His crucifixion, through His Ascension.
SERRA CLUB MASS & LUNCHEON
Mass at 11:00 AM – May 23, 2026; Reception to follow
St. Bridget Catholic Church 4900 NE 50th St, Seattle, WA 98105
St. Bridget Catholic Church 4900 NE 50th St, Seattle, WA 98105
The Seattle Serra Club is hosting a Mass and luncheon for the seminarians of the Archdiocese. They are also inviting any young men interested in learning more about the vocations of a consecrated life. Any adults wishing to learn more about supporting vocations or the mission of Serra are also invited. Fr. Justin Ryan, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Seattle, will preside at the Mass and will be available to answer questions about the priesthood and seminary life. If you plan to attend, please email Fr. Duc Nguyen at frduc@neseattlecatholic.org or Don Luby at donluby@lubyandthomson.com
MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE MASS
May 23 and May 25
All Catholics across the Archdiocese are invited to attend Memorial Day Remembrance Masses at all four of our Catholic cemeteries to pray for the souls of our fallen veterans and all faithful departed. Gathered on sacred ground where our loved ones rest, we unite as a faith community to honor their lives, entrust them to God’s eternal care, and reaffirm our belief that death is not the end. Through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the cemetery becomes a place of prayer, remembrance, and enduring hope. We will celebrate Masses in English, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Learn more HERE
HEAVENLY HIKERS HIT THE PATHS AND TRAILS!
Whether you are a walker or a hiker, we have some events for you. Our Heavenly Hikers group visited both the Washington Arboretum and the Japanese Garden to stretch our legs and enjoy the spring colors and flowers. This was mostly a slow saunter - stopping to soak in spring sunshine.
We also went to Paradise Valley Conservation Area near Maltby for an up-and-down hike through the forested areas. Trails were populated with trees, ferns, and flowers, too. Half the group went 3 miles, and the other half went 6 miles! We always have a quiet moment and a prayer to recognize God’s creation and natural beauty.
Come join us at our next meetings and hikes as follows: Walks/Hikes Wednesday, June 17, Seward Park- Meet at Assumption 12:30 to car pool; Saturday, July 18, Sky Country Trail- Cougar Mountain area, Meet at Assumption 9 am to car pool; Monday, August 17, Evan’s Creek, meet at Assumption at 9 am. The next planning meeting is on Tuesday, September 15, at 6 pm at the Assumption location.
Come join us, get those steps in, and have some fun, too! Everyone is welcome to attend walks, hikes, and planning meetings.
REGISTRATION FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Vacation Bible School for our parish family will be happening July 6th-10th at St. Bridget. This will be open to all incoming pre-K through 5th-grade students. Please consider registering your student for a week of fellowship and fun!
IRELAND PILGRIMAGE WITH FR. BILL HERIC
Join Fr. Bill Heric for a memorable pilgrimage to Ireland next fall, October 7–16, 2026. Experience Ireland's rich faith, culture, and stunning landscapes. This beautiful journey includes visits to many of Ireland’s most beloved spiritual and historic sites. Highlights include: private Masses celebrated at St. Brigid parish church in Kildare (where her relic is located); The Apparition Chapel at Our Lady of Knock shrine and 5 other churches; relics of St. Victoria and St. Valentine; tours of Dublin Castle, St. Patrick Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Trinity College Book of Kells; St. Brigid Cathedral in Kildare; Kilkenny Castle, St. Patrick Rock in Cashel; Ballintubber Abbey, Kylemore Abbey and Clonmacnoise 6th century Monastic site. See stunning landscapes on Ireland’s west coast on the Dingle Peninsula and the Cliffs of Moher along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Overnights in centrally located 4-star hotels in Dublin, Kilkenny, Dingle, and Galway City, and a 3-star hotel in Knock.
$300 deposit guarantees your spot. Space/price on Aer Lingus Non-stop flights from Seattle to Dublin and return in Economy Class is guaranteed until July 2. After that time, the airfare price will very likely be at least $200 higher.
Knight of Columbus member and lifetime Seattle area resident Paul Parietti will be the Tour Escort. For more information, email info@PariettiTours.com or call 206-414-3144.
For a detailed itinerary including photos, click on the following link: https://www.pariettitours.com/trip/ireland-tour-with-fr-william-heric/
STEWARDSHIP - WEEK ENDING MAY 10
Please note that an error was reported in the St. Catherine stewardship numbers listed in this week's bulletin. The numbers listed here are correct.
To provide greater fiscal transparency across our parish family, we are publishing a weekly stewardship report in the Weekly Word and the bulletin. This brief update will explain how your generous support sustains our ministries, operations, and facilities.
Sunday Mass at St. Bridget - 9:00 AM
Sunday Mass at OLL - 11:00 AM
LIVE STREAM MASS OPPORTUNITIES
Not able to attend Mass in person? Please visit any of our parish family liturgies.
- Sunday Mass at St. Bridget's - 9:00 am
- Sunday Mass at OLL - at 11:00 am
Please note that the Assumption livestream is experiencing technical difficulties and will not be produced for the time being.
OLL PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMP
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School is excited to share with our parish family that we are offering a Preschool and Pre-K Summer Camp—Our Lady of the Lake’s Summer Kids Club!
Each week, children entering preschool through kindergarten will enjoy a fun, camp-style experience filled with hands-on activities, outdoor play, and joyful learning in a nurturing, faith-filled environment. It’s a wonderful way for our youngest learners to stay engaged, make new friends, and continue growing throughout the summer. Please note that children must be fully potty-trained and have turned 3 by August 31, 2025, to participate.
Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cost: $375 per week, per child
Location: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School
Registration Deadline: May 15, 2026
Register here.
We look forward to welcoming your children for a summer of fun, discovery, and community!
Let us pray for our brothers and sisters at Assumption, Our Lady of the Lake, St. Bridget, and St. Catherine as we journey to becoming a family of parishes. May the Lord bless us as we discern how to collaborate as Catholics in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout northeast Seattle.
For this, we pray to the Lord! Lord, hear our prayer!
PRAYERS NEEDED
Please pray for those who are ill:
Ignacio Ayala (STC)
Carmina Bacani (OLL)
Tom Barrett (OLL & STC)
Tom Barrett (OLL & STC)
Mary Ann Derr (OLL)
Michael Derr (OLL)
Nicky Ganje (AP)Kathleen Genis (AP)
Patti Herlihy (AP)
Cass Hillstrand (OLL)
Patrick Mulvihill (OLL)
Ray Pinney (STB)
Gary Raymond (OLL)
Matt Todaro (STB)
Pete Toomey (STB)For those who have died:
Funeral Mass 5.29.26 - 11 am @STB
Colleen Withee (All Parish)(Mother of Mary West) - Funeral Mass on June 11 at 11 am at STB
MASS INTENTIONS NEXT WEEK
May 25 - Pete Toomey, Sick, Sally Smith RIP (STB), 9 am
May 26 - Elizabeth Carter Special Intention, Anne Forbes RIP (STC), 9 am
May 27 - Angela (RIP) & Souls in Purgatory, Margaret Schmitz, Special Intention (OLL),
May 26 - Elizabeth Carter Special Intention, Anne Forbes RIP (STC), 9 am
May 27 - Angela (RIP) & Souls in Purgatory, Margaret Schmitz, Special Intention (OLL),
9 am; Pete Toomey, Sick, Emily Brinkerhoff RIP, (STB), 6:30 pm
May 28 - Anne Robinson, Emma Schmitz, Eleanor Eckenrode, RIP (STC), 9 am
May 28 - Anne Robinson, Emma Schmitz, Eleanor Eckenrode, RIP (STC), 9 am
May 29 - AP Robert Earhart (RIP) death anniversary & Kathleen Genis, Sick (AP), 9 am
Please contact the parish office if you would like a Mass offered for someone.
The correct answer is Ascension. Thanks for participating!