Visitation Announcements

Are you new to Visitation?

We want you to know how welcome you are. Won't you please join us and be part of our Catholic community by registering at Visitation Parish. Registration forms are available at the vestibule, left door as you enter the main entrance of the church, also available small white envelope tact at the back of the pews. Fill up the form and place it in the collection basket. You may also call the parish office at 253 473-4960 we are please to help you. Click here for the History of the Church of the Visitation.

Catholics Come Home

All parishes are in need of volunteers to take up the ministry of WELCOMING! If you feel the call to join in this ministry, please contact: Susan Teskey at (253)472-6559

Supper for our Priests

We are looking for cooks to sign up for Wednesdays & Thursdays in January. If you have questions please call Kathy at 253 882-6864.

Admission to Candidacy for the Diaconate

Please come celebrate with 25 men including THEMAN PHAM. In this rite those seeking ordination as deacons show publicly their willingness to offer themselves to God and the Church for service as a deacon. The Church accepts their offering, calls them to a three-year formation program and recognizes them as candidates for the diaconate.

Click here to find out more about the role of Decon

Time: Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 2:00 PM

Place: St. James Cathedral
804 9th Avenue, Seattle

Reception following

Respect Life - New Bill

John Ahern, House rep. from District 6 in Spokane gave out info on HB1321 parental notification for abortions and told the March for Life gathering to contact: Rep. Eileen Cody, Health committee at (360) 786-7978 -- this representative needs a lot of mail and phone calls before she will move the bill out for a vote. If respect life contact can pass this info on to their parish to make some phone calls, then this bill could become a reality to vote on. If it makes it to the floor-then additional phone calls will have to made to our representatives in Olympia.

Wayne Mangan Update

What's been going on with Wayne? As you know or may not know, Wayne Mangan, long time Visitation Parish member, father of two and husband of Kathy, is on a journey, battling cancer. Wayne was diagnosed June of 2005 with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. He has currently been receiving care under the auspices of Dr. Frank Senecal who has prescribed a course of Gleevec. We are currently changing course and waiting the next recommendation from both his local oncologist and the physicians at The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

The family has created a web site to update friends and family on Wayne's progress. Please take time to visit and view photos and see when the next blood/bone marrow drive will be. There is a direct link below. If this doesn't work, please try the second method below that.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/waynemangan

If direct link above fails, please try this:

1. Go to www.caringbridge.org.
2. Click Visit (a CaringBridge site).
3. Type in "waynemangan" (no quotes) where it says, "SITE NAME" under the "CARINGBRIDGE SITE" heading.
4. Enjoy the site.

Name Tags

To make it easier for Father Tuan to become familiar with us, we are asking that all parishioners remember to wear any nametags to Mass each week. Several name tags are available in the back of the church for John Premski and Susie Elmhurst.

New Requirements/Charity for Tax Deductions

If you are in the habit of giving loose change in the collection basket, and you hope to claim a charitable deduction for your giving to our parish you should either start giving by check or start by using the collection envelopes. Part of the recently passed "Pension Protection Act of 2006" requires the donors be able to substantiate their charitable gifts with written proof-either cancelled checks (if under $250) or a statement from the charity listing the date and amount of each donation. The parish office can arrange to have the collection envelopes sent directly to you (at no cost to you). Just contact the Parish office: Sacred Heart, 472-7738/St. Ann, 472-1360/St. John of the Woods, 531-8551 and Visitation, 473-4960.

Remann Hall Ministry

Pierce County Deanery is looking for adult volunteers to provided one-to-one mentoring visits with juveniles in Remann Hall in Tacoma. This is an excellent opportunity for elders of our community, these young people need and want your presence and your wisdom! Ongoing support and training provided. Please contact the deanery office at (253) 383-3496.

Volunteer Chore Services

Make a difference in someone's life. It only takes a few hours a month! Help low-income elders and disabled adults stay in their homes. For more information on how to join our volunteer team, contact Jodi Moody at (253) 502-2741.

Collier Center Library

Recently added VHS/The Amazing Miracles from the Amazing Bible Series (animation) and the National Geographic Kids Video/Really Wild Animals/VHS. Feel free to browse and check out something!

FIRST SATURDAY AND THE TRAVELING MADONNA

For several years the Holy Name Society has sponsored a "Traveling Madonna" for Visitation Parish. Each month on the first Saturday there is a Mass @ 9AM to honor the Blessed Mother. A special statue of our Lady was purchased for this ministry. After each First Saturday Mass, a family takes the Madonna home, and has her displayed for the month. Some families take the statue during a month that is special to them (ie) the month of their wedding anniversary or perhaps a child's birth month. The statue is brought back on the First Saturday Mass the following month and passes to another family. There is a sign-up sheet for this program in the vestibule of the church.The vestibule is at the back entry that leads to the restroom and rectory.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE MATERNITY CENTER

...is greatly in need of volunteer workers to assist needy children and their families. Call Vivian Bell at 566-7021

ASSOCIATED MINISTRIES...

Would like to express their gratitude to you for your support for all that we do together. All too often people do not realize the extent of their financial donations and volunteer time, make such a great difference. Your support made possible the Moment of Blessing at homicide sights, Hilltop Action Coalition, Paint Tacoma/Pierce Beautiful, the Mental Health Chaplaincy, Project Interdependence, CommUniversity, the Channel, Severe Weather Shelter, our Emergency Shelter Assistance Program, Faith Partners Against Family Violence, Open Heart Ministries, the Family Emergency Fund, Pierce County Hunger Walk, advocacy on behalf of lower income persons and many other activities. You help to maintain the table where we come together as people of Faith, the table where we share ideas, pray and plan together. We thank you for your support and encourage your continuing engagement with our work together of stepping out in faith " to build a community that is humane, compassionate and just."

FOOD BANK NEEDS

Right here in Washington state 286,000 children will suffer from hunger and 1 in 7 children lives in poverty. Source: Center on Hunger and Poverty. Thank you for your donations each week to our food bank. Food Bank coordinator Joan Boehm and her devoted volunteers put together 30 bags of groceries each week! These groceries help our parishioners and neighbors in need. Each year at this time our food bank gets very low on supplies and the following items are needed; cereal, peanut butter and jelly. If each of us brought "1" item in each week we could continue to feed the hungry in our area.

Catholic Community Services
Providing Help. Creating Hope

Please give generously to Catholic Community Services and the Archdiocesan Housing Authority this Advent and Christmas Season. Together, we can continue to provide services to the most vulnerable among us.

ALTAR SERVERS NEEDED!!

Servers are needed for mass.

Anyone from Grades 5 to adults are welcome.

THERE'S A CHILD IN NEED OF A MENTOR. WILL YOU RESPOND?

Big Brothers Big Sisters of King & Pierce Counties is looking for caring adults (18+, couples welcome) willing to spend an hour or two a week with a young person. See a move, bake cookies or shoot some hoops. If desired, you can mentor at a school. You'll make all the difference in the world. Please call (206) 763-9060.

Choose life and opportunity for poor children…

Every 43 seconds another child is born into poverty in the U.S. That child's life will be diminished by hunger, poor education and limited health care. Yet for some kids, future risks are quickly extinguished because every 53 minutes, a child in this country dies from the effects of poverty. It doesn't have to be that way. As Catholics, we are compelled to act for justice by promoting life from conception through natural death. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is helping children and families gain better lives by addressing the root causes of poverty. Choose life and opportunity for America'' children --support the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Visit www.usccb.org/cchd to learn more. CCHD receives funding through the Build Hope collection in our parish in September.

F.Y.I. For anyone interested in Legal Services

Please check the Church vestibule bulletin board for information on Prepaid Legal Services. Flyers are available. Please feel free to take one of the ½ sheet flyers home with you. Thank you.

Catholic Community Service

Many parishioners have heard of home care and may even know some basic information about it. But too many parishioners are not taking advantage of this unique long term care option simply because they don't fully understand what home care is or how to pay for it.

Now, those who want help in determining whether home care is right for them can simply call CCS using the toll free number below to ask for a FREE in home assessment! This offer is too good to pass up! If interested, please call 1-877-870-1582

SHARE your time and save on food…

Our staff recently learned about an exciting new community resource to pass along to you called SHARE Northwest. SHARE encourages volunteer service in the community by providing substantial savings on quality food items. Participants may choose a pre-made package, individual choice menu items, a grill pack, or all of the above. Some of our parishioners are already participating in this program and have given it RAVE reviews.

Available for $21 along with two volunteer hours, the regular package for the May menu included: 1 lb. Chicken Breast, 1 lb. Pork Chop, 1 lb. Lean Ground Beef, Chicken Kiev, 6-8 Items of Produce, Convenience Item, Dessert (the menu changes monthly)

SHARE accepts payment by cash, check, credit card, or EBT food stamps. For more information, call the SHARE office at 253-473-7669.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL IS LOOKING FOR "MANY GOOD VOLUNTEERS"

Volunteers are needed to work at all five St. Vincent DePaul stores. Three stores are located in Tacoma and two in Puyallup.

There are many different jobs to choose from, hours are flexible and training will be provided. At this time, cashier trainers are needed. This can be an opportunity to meet others who are also looking for a fulfilling and worthwhile experience while assisting those less fortunate in our community. There are orientation meetings at the 56th Street store at selected times and dates. For further details, call June Lambert at 474-7482.

Reminder about Envelopes

If you are using the white envelopes found in the pews, please be sure to write your full name not just the family name if you want your donation properly recorded. It helps me to better identify who the gift is from, thank you for your assistance with this bookkeeping item.

Drivers Needed

We are still very much in need of people to provide transportation for some of our parishioners who are unable to drive. Would you please consider helping out on a once a month basis? Those you help would be so appreciative. Please call the parish office at 473-4960.

Tune into AM 1050 - Catholic Radio

The Puget sound area has its own Catholic radio station, Sacred Heart Radio AM 1050! Tune in for daily devotionals, news, music, teachings of the Faith, and live call - in programs. For more information, log on to www.sacredheartradio.org. Or call (425)867-2340 or check our bulletin board for more information!

Enrich Your Catholic Faith

Would you like to enrich your Catholic Faith? Tune in to "Exploring Our Catholic Faith" with local priest Fr. Jim Northrop and Dr. Tom Curran on Sacred Heart Radio AM 1050. You can hear them on Sunday @ 2:30 PM, Wednesday @ 8:30 PM & Friday at 4:30 PM.

Support Visitation School with Scrip & eScript!!

If you have yet to use Scrip here's how easy it is. Plan your next week or two on Saturday. Are you going to the movies? Are you renting a movie? What is your weekly spending at the grocery store, the gas station, and local department stores? What about going out o lunch or dinner? No one will do all of these each week, but probably most of you will do some of it each month. After Mass stop by the Scrip table. Pick up gift cards for Safeway, Fred Meyer, Top Foods restaurants and gas stations. Once you try it you will be hooked! Think how nice it is not to have to worry about writing a check, checking ID, etc. Just take out the card and swipe it! Your cash register tape even tells you the balance in the card. The scrip program is an easy way to show support and doesn't cost you a thing! Give it a try!

Introducing eScript. Just register your credit/ATM/Debit cards and purchase goods from participating merchants and a certain percentage goes to Visitation School. Click here for more details and how to sign up.

Would you like to serve @ Our Lord's Table?

Yes you can, by becoming a Eucharistic Minister! The only requirements as specified under the Archdiocese of Seattle are;

1. You must have received the three initiation sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist.
2. You must regularly join the Faith Community for the celebration of the Eucharist and be willing to share your Christian Life with others which includes socializing with our community during the 3 times the Eucharistic Ministers turn to host coffee and doughnuts on Sundays.

Please contact the rectory, 473-4960 or Margaret Mitchell 472-0552, leaving your name & phone #. You'll be contacted to set up a convenient time for a short training session.

Thank you - Margaret Mitchell, Team Coordinator

Rosary for Peace and Justice

Each Sunday, the Holy Name Society is sponsoring a Rosary for Peace and Justice in the World every Sunday 8:30AM Mass. All are invited to stay and Pray the rosary as a group each Sunday. If you are not staying, please leave the church as quietly as you can. The prayer will begin shortly after the Mass.

SPIRITUS MINISTRY NOWTHWEST

Spiritus Ministry NW is non profit organization dedicated to bring Teens into a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ through meaningful experiences of prayer, service, worship and education that moves hearts in new directions as guided by the Holy Spirit. Please come and join us! Registration needs to be in groups. Please register as group as to what parish you belongs. For more information please call: Peggy Martinez or Bob Faulkner @ 360 754-4667 ext. 603.

PROJECT INTERDEPENDCE PROGRAM

…people weaving each other into the community.

Project Interdependence, a program of Associated Ministries, matches teams of trained volunteers from faith communities with families who are making the difficult transition from welfare to work.

Volunteer teams of 2-5 people offer mentoring and friendship along with such practical assistance as employment coaching, budgeting, household management and transportation. The Project Interdependence staff, offer ongoing volunteer training and support.

Your help could make all the difference for a struggling family!

If you have questions or would like to donate, please contact Lorraine at (253) 383-3056 ext. 109. Thank you.

To learn more about Project Interdependence call Valorie Crout @ 383-3056 ext. 108 or see www.associatedministries.org. Thank you.

Down town at Nativity House

Could you and would you spare a thought and prayer for God's creatures on the street. No home, no hygienic necessities, no clean socks, underwear and men's attire. If you can, please help. It may seem like nothing to you, but your donations can make a difference to those who are in desperate need of them. Thank you!

FUNERAL RECEPTION MINISTRY NEEDS YOU!

As we begin a New Year, we are looking for additional new volunteers who would be willing & available to help with our Funeral Reception Ministry of Visitation Parish. Receptions are held Monday through Saturday.

These are the duties:

• Set tables
• Make coffee / tea
• Put food on a large table
• Cut the cake
• Clean table when people are finished
• Conduct general clean up of the premises when events is over
• Be a welcoming representative of the Visitation Parish.

If you are a new volunteer, there will always be an experienced individual that will gladly guide you along. If you feel called to this Ministry, please contact Funeral Reception Coordinator - Jean Mandy @ 473-4960 or 474-4905 or send email to funerals@visitationchurch.org.

RETREATS @ ST. PLACID OF OLYMPIA

St. Placid Priory a community of Benedictine Sisters has offered various retreats scheduled from January up to the Lent season. Lists of available retreats are posted in our church bulletin board. Everyone is encourage to take a peek, see if there's any you would be interested attending.

POST-ABORTION HEALING RETREAT:

For more information, please check the church bulletin board found in the ladies rest room.