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Happy Easter, He is risen! The Inland Catholic keeps trucking along. This month’s magazine features some exciting stories from a parish focusing on evangelization for a year, to a school opening a new building. Not to mention we have just marked five years since Pope Francis’ election to the papacy. And a parish celebrating the burning of their mortgage.

This past St. Patrick’s Day saw the celebration of 125 years of parish life at Hillyard’s St. Patrick Parish. Bishop Daly, along with Bishop Emeritus Skylstad and many former pastors, were on hand to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving with the community. The historic church was filled with current and former parishioners celebrating their community and offering their gratitude to God for the work he has done through St. Patrick’s church. At this same Mass, two young people from the parish received the sacrament of Confirmation and their first Communion. At 125 years, the parish is passing on the faith and looking to the future with hope.

I enjoy singing. My modest vocal competence also has been an asset in ministry. While substituting at rural parishes in our diocese and in northern Idaho, I have witnessed the resolute efforts in music ministry where small parishes sing with a big voice. It’s not perfect. Sometimes. it’s a bit awkward when I can’t contribute my voice. I recall a Mass during the Christmas season when the music ministers prepared three Christmas hymns that nobody knew. While I appreciate the attempt to sing something new, three at one Mass?

As a balance to the annual funds, a bequest is a long-term, planned gift, one that gives only after the donor dies.

Marie Kehrli, a parishioner at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, established an endowment dedicated to the education of seminarians eight years ago. Recently, Marie finalized details of a bequest she is gifting to her endowment, managed by the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Washington. Upon her death, the bequest will be added to her endowment, creating a strong and perpetual source of funding for theological education for seminarians.

 In 1917 parishioners of St. Anthony Church in Spokane’s North Central neighborhood began talking about opening a school to educate their children. Unfortunately, World War I and lack of funds prevented the school from opening until 1928. Bishop Charles White donated $10,000 and the parishioners raised the remaining $15,000, so that, on Sept. 4, 1928, St. Anthony School was opened.

St. Peter Parish on the South Hill seeks to shift parish culture from maintenance to mission

En algún momento de nuestra vida, la mayoría de los católicos se encuentran con personas protestantes que les preguntan o que quieren saber si los católicos ya están ‘salvados’ o si ya 'nacieron de nuevo'.

Catholic Charities would like to share some of the recent good works of Nightwalk Ministry and express our gratitude for the wonderful things they do. Co-coordinators Deacon Kelly Stewart and Deacon Chalo Martinez continue to lead a dedicated group of volunteers in a variety of activities that benefit our programs and the greater community.

“Built of Living Stones” was the 2003 building fund campaign theme for St. Mary Presentation’s new church in Deer Park, Wash. As a parish, we recognized that the sacrifices of our community were the “living stones” which made our success possible.

La Pascua es un misterio indescriptible que nos reta a superar cada experiencia de separación y de tristeza, de dolor y de pérdida. Trae nueva esperanza, nueva vida, un nuevo día para todos nosotros. No se robaron el cuerpo de Jesús; la entrada a la tumba no fue forzada. La ropa que se usó para enterrar a Jesús fueron dejados en el orden correcto. ¡Jesús verdaderamente ha resucitado! Nada puede ser lo mismo otra vez. Esto es lo que hace a la Pascua ser la Buena Noticia de todos los tiempos. Todas nuestras esperanzas y toda nuestra felicidad dependen de este evento. La resurrección de Jesús afirma que la muerte no es el fin de nuestra vida. Estamos destinados a tener la vida eterna, que es más que esta vida presente.

Easter is a mystery beyond words which challenges us to transcend every experience of separation and sadness, pain and loss. It brings fresh hope, new life, a new day for all of us. The body of Jesus was not stolen; there was no forcible entry. The burial cloths were left in proper order. Jesus has truly risen. Nothing can be the same again. That is what makes Easter the Good News for all time. All our hopes and happiness stem from that event. The resurrection of Jesus affirms that death is not the end of us. We are meant for more than this present life.

I grew up Catholic without ever hearing about the Divine Mercy devotion, which the Church celebrates annually on the after Easter. Even after I had learned about it, I didn’t understand it. A few Sisters in my community placed great confidence in the Divine Mercy image and chaplet, but it never really appealed to me. “Why focus on the sorrowful passion and wounds of Christ when we should be singing our Easter Alleluias?” I wondered.

Como cristianos católicos, tenemos la bendición de tener el tiempo de la Cuaresma como un tiempo lleno de gracia para reflexionar honesta y humildemente sobre nuestra relación con Jesús, su Iglesia y los que nos rodean. Es una oportunidad que puede ser mejor entendida como un largo retiro.

As Catholic Christians, we are blessed to have the season of Lent as a grace-filled time to honestly and humbly reflect upon our relationship with Jesus, his Church and those around us.  It is an opportunity that might best be viewed as a long retreat.  

Father Michael Maher, SJ, first came to Gonzaga in 2003 from the St. Louis University history department when former GU President Father Robert Spitzer, SJ, asked him to serve as the dean of the Gonzaga-In-Florence program. Father Maher quickly became known for his presence among students. As an educator and administrator, he had always been deeply concerned for student welfare, Catholic identity, and high academic standards. Father Darrin Connall, the vicar general of the Diocese of Spokane, spoke highly of Father Maher, sharing “I’ve witnessed his regular interaction with students at Gonzaga University and parishioners throughout the diocese. Father Maher exemplifies what Pope Francis calls ‘getting the smell of the sheep.’”

SEVENTH ANNUAL LOURDES NOVENA FOR HEALING ATTRACTS HUNDREDS EACH NIGHT

Vatican City, Feb 28, 2018 / 05:36 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Bishop George Leo Thomas, who until now has led the Diocese of Helena, will be taking the reins in Las Vegas, bringing with him broad pastoral experience and expertise in psychology, mental health issues, mission work and prison ministry.

On the morning of Feb. 5, 2018, the students of St. Aloysius gathered for morning prayer in their new gym and welcomed several special guests. As part of morning prayer, Bishop Thomas Daly, and St. Aloysius’ pastor and associate pastor,  Father Paul Cochran, SJ and Father Peter Byrne, SJ blessed the building.

As Catholic Charities Walla Walla prepares to open The Loft, Walla Walla’s new teen shelter, they have hosted a number of events to celebrate the introduction of this needed resource into our community.  Depicted are images from the Grand Opening event and an Open House that included a blessing of the shelter from Father Matthew Nicks of St. Patrick’s Church.