7001 South Park Ave., Tacoma, WA 98408
Phone #: (253) 475-6335

Dear Parishioners of Pope St. John XXIII Parish Family,

Welcome to the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Todays readings remind us that our past sins do not define or disqualify us from becoming true disciples of God. In Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, we witness how Gods mercy transforms lives. St. Francis de Sales notes: No doubt, there is a sense of shame when we have been disloyal to God. These feelings of shame are very good when they are used in a constructive way. Shame is only useful if it leads us to rise to an intimate union of our heart with God.

We must never remain ashamed, or with a sad and unquiet heart. As St. Paul teaches, we must discard the old nature and put on the new. We must clothe ourselves with God and lift up our hearts in holy confidence to God. The foundation of our trust is in God and not in ourselves. Our well-being derives from letting ourselves be led and directed absolutely by Gods Spirit, who transforms us through divine love.

We had a blessed weekend together celebrating the Lunar New Year with the Vietnamese Catholic Community at Pope Saint John XXIII Parish. It was a great joy to witness different Ethnic groups within our parish celebrating their cultural events with strong support from our parish family.

Our parish has recently embarked on significant projects to enhance our facilities. The main campus sanctuarys choir side and opposite side have been repainted. From February 7 to 17, liturgical activities and Masses will temporarily move to the Parish Hall to allow for the repainting of the churchs main ceiling. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who generously dedicated their time and talents to these efforts. Please join me in praying for them and asking God to bless their selfless service.

I also invite you to pray for our OCIA class as they prepare for the Rite of Sending on Saturday, February 15th. We are grateful to the core team members who have guided these Catechumens and Candidates on their journey to become members of the Roman Catholic Church.

We will have a Leadership Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Hall Library of Saint John of the Woods. I would like to thank the Parish Staff for sending out tax letters and resolving duplicate profiles for parishioners. They are also working with the new envelope company to ensure that you are added or removed from the Sacrificial Giving list as needed. I am very grateful to our Parish Staff, Parish Leadership Team, and Volunteers for taking the time to familiarize themselves with the guidelines and policies that guide our parishs activities and ministries. We also thank you for updating your familys information in our parish registration records. Your participation is vital to the continued success of our parish community.

Please remember that we have a weekly prayer group at Saint Rita dedicated to offering prayers for our parish and the world. I warmly invite all members of our parish family to join us for the Saturday readings and prayers of supplication at 10 a.m., followed by a time of fellowship during our coffee hour in the hall. Additionally, we offer the Sacrament of the Sick each month. Everyone is welcome to participate in these special moments of prayer and community.

During the winter months, we have faced some challenges with our parish facilities at each location. In response, our Parish Staff and I have made it a priority to walk through our parish buildings daily, as our schedules allow, to check for any issues with the buildings and the Church. A special thank-you goes to Mr. Don McMakin, who recently retired after faithfully serving as the Facility Maintenance Manager for Pope Saint John XXIII Parish. He generously took the time to assist us by troubleshooting the heat in the old Saint Ann school building. He discovered that the boilers flame had gone out, restarted it, and ensured it reached the expected temperature. He was happy to help and would gladly assist in the future. We also thank Thien for coordinating with Hurley to follow up on this matter. May God bless them abundantly!

I congratulate parents of those babies that celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism with their family and Faith Community. We thank Deacon Theman and other members from the Baptism Preparation Group for their support and helping parents prepare themselves for their childrens baptism. We also thank the Catechist and Volunteers within our Faith Formation Program. We are very happy to have you to support our Faith Formation Program.

Our parish is blessed to have a Catholic school, PSJXXIII STEM Academy, which recently hosted a vocation session for the students following the School Mass. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our principal, guest speakers, teachers, students, parents, friends of the school, and parishioners for their enthusiastic participation in this special workshop. Through school events, we invited and introduced others to learn more about our Catholic School, a vital ministry of our parish.

We are incredibly proud of the students at our STEM Academy, where the focus is on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In addition to fostering academic excellence, we have recently made significant upgrades to our Early Learning Center. These improvements include replacing rotting wood in the ramps and stairs, installing new windows, replacing a portion of the roof, adding a rear external exit, constructing an ADA-compliant ramp, repainting, and enhancing exterior lighting. We were fortunate to secure a grant from the State of Washington, enabling us to complete several minor renovations to enhance the safety and well-being of our students. May God bless all who contribute to the growth and success of our parish school.

During this Holy Jubillee Year, Gods Goodness is willing to lead us and carry us. Yet, God always wants us to take our little steps alone. May we trust in Gods goodness to lead us, taking each small step with faith and love.

May you have a blessed week ahead.

Sincerely, Yours in Christ,

Fr. Tuan Nguyen, D. Min

Pastor