From the Pastor’s Corner: Rev. Justus Alaeto

Synod on Synodality's participation for Star of the Sea Brookings and St. Charles Borroemeo Gold Beach

May the Blessings of Christ for the New Year of 2022 continue to be with us and guide us!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, as we all know and as a follow up to the article put out previously about the upcoming “Synod on Synodality” called by the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Recently, we had priests meeting with the Archbishop and part of our discussion was centered on the upcoming “Synod on Synodality.” As a follow up, the Archbishop has encouraged that we as a church and body of Christ take the advantage of participating at the upcoming “Synod on Synodality” convoked by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, focusing more on the theme of evangelization/discerning the movement of the Holy Spirit. We are taking the time to reflect more on how we spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the larger world of today. It was encouraged by the Archbishop that such discernment first be integrated in deeper prayer so that we are fully guided by the Spirit of God, in a manner that the thoughts for participation flows from God and not from us. It is not going to be something from our personal ideas or suggestions, but something more about how the Spirit of God directs and guides us as a church. That is why it is important that prayer precedes participation. It is going to be something that all of us are going to participate in and not limited to the listening section. And because we all are going to participate, we need to be carefully guided by the Holy Spirit through prayer. More about what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do right now. He is calling us to be witnesses in our faith.

The parish participation for all parishes in the archdiocese is scheduled between February and March. I will be consulting with the pastoral council in our next pastoral council meeting in February to discuss with the council how we are to proceed with the synod, and when to start our own synod on synodality on a parish level. Also, I will be appointing a coordinator for this Synod for the parish after the next pastoral council meeting. Prior to that, one or two staff from the parish office, the pastoral council chair, and I, will be participating for the upcoming workshop on the archdiocesan level. 

On the same note, an initiative from the Knight of Columbus, Oregon State Council, to foster a Holy Hour in preparation for the Synod and for respect for life, for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and Diocese of Baker is scheduled on or around 29^th of January 2022. Archbishop Sample will be leading a Holy Hour/Adoration prayer at the Cathedral on January 29^th at 11:00am. I have met with our parish Grand Knights and discussed what our Knights are planning with their pastor to participate as a church. We scheduled our own parish Adoration February 4^th (Friday) for all parishioners, all Knights of Columbus members, and their families, to participate. That would be part of our first synod’s start as a parish. Please, I prayerfully encourage all parishioners to attend the Adoration and Prayer. It would be a modified Adoration program different from our regular Adoration program. The program will be as follows:

Holy Rosary at 4:00pm

Exposition of the Blessed Sacraments and Adoration at 4:30pm – 5:30pm

Blessing and Sprinkling of Holy Water and Petitions at 5:30pm and possible Blessing of the big Image of Jesus Christ our Savior (If arrived then) and Sprinkling of Holy Water and Benediction.

Votive Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at 6:00pm.

Please, call the parish office if you have questions and more updates will be coming up!

God’s Blessings upon each of you!