Durante estos tiempos sin precedentes e inciertos, estaré usando este espacio para comunicarme con ustedes. Por favor revísenlo regularmente y asegúrense de hacer click en "Like" en nuestra página de Facebook @christthekingseattle o en español @cristoreyseattle.
Hello my dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
With good news of a COVID vaccine on the way, I thought it would be a good idea to inform you all about the Church’s teaching on vaccines. This has been a tough year for all of us and I’m sure that many of us have been eagerly awaiting this exciting news. That being said, I felt it was important to review what the Church has to say about vaccines so that we can make ethical and moral decisions when it comes to our health.
Many questions arise about the method of producing vaccines. The most contentious issue stems from the fact that some vaccines use aborted fetal cells in the production of the vaccine. This is the issue I will address here.
There are some vaccines that the Church says we can use “on a temporary basis”. This is only because we have no other alternatives for protecting the population against certain viruses. There are some viruses where there is no other option to protect society from certain diseases. In the United States, these vaccines are MMR, hepatitis A, and varicella. The Church teaches that we can use these vaccines because there is no other alternative. That being said, we use them only “on a temporary basis” until a more ethically produced vaccine becomes available.
It looks like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines do not use aborted fetal cells in the production of their vaccines. Because of this, these vaccines are not participating in the use of aborted fetal cells.
I know that this can be a contentious issue. This is why I need to give you what the Church teaches on this subject. I know that there are varying opinions about this issue and when we are talking about possible participation in evil it is important to distinguish what Christ has revealed to us through His Church. He established it to lead us into all Truth and to aid us in discerning the issues of our time. It is important to understand that the Church has discerned this issue and has considered all the ramifications of this topic. This is the conclusion that the Church has come to. It is important for us to trust that even if we do not fully understand or agree with what she has said. I am including a link to an article that I found helpful when discerning this issue.
So, in a nutshell, the use of vaccines with aborted fetal cells is temporarily considered morally acceptable because we have no other option right now. The good news is that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines do not use aborted fetal cells in the production and manufacture of the vaccine.
I hope this information is helpful in determining best practices to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Please pray that this pandemic comes to an end soon. We have missed so much in this past year and it has been especially challenging for all of us.
Have a blessed Advent and a very Merry Christmas
Blessings
Fr. Chris Hoiland
https://mycatholicdoctor.com/our-services/vaccines/
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ,
I have some good news. It is with great joy that I announce to you that Archbishop Etienne has announced that a limited opening of public masses may begin in our Archdiocese. It has been a long time since we have been able to gather publically and I am excited to announce that we can begin the process of returning to normal.
There are a couple of very important things to remember.
While we will have safety procedures in place and are doing everything that we can to mitigate exposure, we can never fully guarantee that there is no chance of transmission of this disease. You come to Mass at your own risk. If you are over the age of 65 or have a pre-existing condition, we do not recommend that you come to Mass. If you are exhibiting any symptoms of this disease, fever, cough, etc. please stay home.
The dispensation for attending Mass is still in effect. It is not sinful to miss Mass during this time.
Also, while we are beginning to resume the public celebration of the Mass, during this time, our celebration will look different than in normal times.
There are some restrictions that will be in place when we begin resuming the public celebration of Mass. Some of these restrictions will include, limited attendance, all attendees wearing masks, a sign in procedure, and limited singing. Communion will occur after Mass.
While this is indeed exciting news, it is important to remember that there are guidelines and safety practices that need to be met in order for us to begin the public celebration of Mass here at Christ the King. During these coming days, our parish staff and I will be working on these safety procedures and guidelines. When we have these procedures in place, we will begin to celebrate Mass publically.
We are planning on offering a public Mass on Saturday June, 13th at 5PM. This will be an outdoor Mass in the pavilion. All attendees will enter through the northeast gate (by the Fitzgerald room). Mass attendance will be limited to no more than 100 people. There will be a sign up procedure in place in the coming days. As soon as we get this in place, I will let you all know. Our regular Sunday masses (9AM English and 11AM Spanish) will continue to be livestreamed for the time being.
Also, starting Saturday June 13, I will be available for confession in the front of the church from 3:30-4PM. I will be wearing a face covering and I ask that if you would like to come to confession that you wear a face covering as well.
Also, on Sunday June 14th, at 2PM I will do a Eucharistic procession around our neighborhood. This will be livestreamed. I am requesting that we do not have attendance at this procession due to our current limitations.
I am excited to bring this news to you all. I look forward to seeing you at Mass in the coming weeks. I know it will look very different from what we are used to, but I am excited that I get to offer the Mass publicly once again. I greatly look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks.
God bless you all
Fr. Chris Hoiland
Saludos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo,
Tengo buenas noticias. Con gran alegría les anuncio que el Arzobispo Etienne ha anunciado que una apertura limitada de las Misas públicas pueden comenzar en nuestra Arquidiócesis. Ha pasado mucho tiempo desde que no nos hemos podido reunir públicamente y me complace anunciar que ya podemos comenzar el proceso de volver a la normalidad.
Hay un par de cosas muy importantes que tenemos que recordar.
Si bien tendremos procedimientos de seguridad y haremos todo lo posible para mitigar la exposición, nunca podemos garantizar por completo que no haya posibilidad de transmisión de esta enfermedad. Ustedes vendrán a misa bajo su propio riesgo. Si tiene más de 65 años o tiene una afección pre-existente, no le recomendamos que asista a misa. Si presenta algún síntoma de esta enfermedad, fiebre, tos, etc., quédese en casa.
La dispensa para asistir a misa todavía está vigente. No es pecado no asistir a misa durante este tiempo.
Además, mientras comenzamos a reanudar la celebración pública de la Misa, durante este tiempo, nuestra celebración será diferente a la de tiempos normales.
Existen algunas restricciones que se aplicarán cuando comencemos a reanudar la celebración pública de la misa. Algunas de estas restricciones incluirán, asistencia limitada, todos los asistentes deberán usar máscaras, un procedimiento al inicio de la celebración y el cantar será limitado. La comunión se distribuirá al final de la misa.
Si bien esta es una noticia realmente emocionante, es importante recordar que hay pautas y prácticas de seguridad que deben cumplirse para que podamos comenzar la celebración pública de la Misa aquí en Cristo Rey. Durante los próximos días, nuestro personal de la parroquia y yo estaremos trabajando en estos procedimientos y pautas de seguridad. Cuando tengamos estos procedimientos, comenzaremos a celebrar la misa públicamente.
Estamos planeando ofrecer una misa pública el sábado 13 de junio a las 5PM. Esta será una misa al aire libre en el patio de la escuela. Todos los asistentes ingresarán por la puerta noreste (junto al salón de convivencias Fitzgerald). La asistencia a misa se limitará a no más de 100 personas. Habrá un procedimiento de registro en los próximos días. Tan pronto como tengamos esto listo, les haré saber a todos. Nuestras misas regulares los domingos (9AM en inglés y 11AM en español) continuarán siendo transmitidas en vivo por el momento.
Además, a partir del sábado 13 de junio, estaré disponible para confesiones en la entrada de la iglesia de 3:30-4PM. Llevaré un cubrebocas y les pido que si desea confesarse, también usen uno ustedes.
También, el domingo 14 de junio, a las 2 de la tarde, haré una procesión eucarística en nuestro vecindario. Esto se transmitirá en vivo. Solicito por favor que no asistan a esta procesión debido a nuestras limitaciones actuales.
Estoy emocionado de darles esta noticia a todos ustedes. Espero verlos en misa en las próximas semanas. Sé que se verá muy diferente de lo que estamos acostumbrados, pero estoy emocionado de poder ofrecer la misa públicamente una vez más.
Dios los bendiga a todos
Padre Chris Hoiland
Your prayers and support during this unprecedented time were much needed and felt on a daily basis. Thank you.
We will continue to live-stream mass on Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00. Thank you for joining us.
Bulletins are available on our web site https://parish.ckseattle.org/
Now that Holy Week and Easter have passed, we are faced with a reality.
Today, we are requesting that you discern two things.
The Annual Catholic Appeal will start mid-May. Mailings will be coming. Information and links will be posted on our web site.
Each year the Annual Catholic Appeal designates a specific goal for our parish. If you go beyond our specific goal, the parish receives a rebate.
This year of all years, Christ the King needs to have a successful campaign.
Your prayers and your financial support are so heavily needed and deeply appreciated.
We miss being able to gather as a community, but the power of your prayer continues to uplift our spirits.
Community from a distance but faith always in our hearts.
Fr. Chris Hoiland
and
Marga McChesney