Dear friends,

As I begin this letter, I am on my way to Phoenix. Amy signed me up for a music conference so that I might learn how to better chant the Mass. I agreed to attend as the prospect of the desert in the middle of winter was attractive and I have a good friend who is a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix. I will get to spend some time with him, enjoy some nice weather (God willing), and learn something while enjoying beautiful music. As I looked at the weather on Saturday, it was in the 30’s in Phoenix, but it is supposed to warm up. At the end of the week I will get to go up to visit Fr. Kilian in his parish in Williams, AZ which is not far from Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. It could be a bit cold up there, but I am excited to see that part of the state.

As with any vocation, the priesthood is one of constant growth and learning. In order to foster this, the Archdiocese has a policy that we need a certain number of continuing education credits each year. If I am not looking for opportunities for these credits I could end up falling short of my responsibility. There is always enough work to do in the parish to work on. At times I wish I could just focus on the parish and not worry about other responsibilities, yet then I would be doing myself and you a disservice. Although it is a temptation to stay close to the parish and focus all my energy here, when I attend meetings, classes, and other events away from the parish I usually find that I am enriched by the experience, if not by the content of the meeting then by the contact with others.

During the last year I was persuaded to join a few boards up at the chancery in Seattle. With Fr. Joseph here and the need for someone to serve, I agreed to help where I can. I am currently on an advisory and the admissions board for the office of vocations and I am about to begin serving on the PRF (Parish Revolving Fund) board as well. These shouldn’t take me away from my duties or my care for you in the parish, but will enrich my experience and help where it is needed in the Archdiocese, while I serve as your pastor. I am especially glad to help our director of vocations, Fr. Dolejsi in his work to promote vocations and to encourage potential prospects for the priesthood on their journey.

As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this weekend, we remember that immediately after His baptism in the Jordan, our Lord was sent into the desert by the Holy Spirit for forty days and forty nights to fast and be tempted by the devil. As we continue to grow in our vocation, we will be tested. Each of us received our calling on the day of our baptism when we became beloved adopted children of God. Everything flows from this wonderful truth of who we are. “Beloved, we are God’s children now, what we shall be has not yet been revealed…” says St. John. As we realize this more and more the world begins to open up to us more and more, even if we don’t get too far from Sumner. We begin to see things with new eyes informed by the relationship we have with our heavenly Father through His only begotten son, Jesus. With only about a month before Lent, we ponder the mystery of Christ’s baptism and like Him, we are sent out into the desert to do battle, to fast, to pray, to learn, to serve, to love, to give, and to grow in our vocation as children of God.

In His most Sacred Heart,

Fr. Jack Shrum