Parish News
Flood Impact
Parishioners impacted by the flooding please email [email protected]
Whatcom Catholic Business Directory
This new Directory is for parishioners to connect with other parishioners for their professional skills, talents and businesses countywide. It’s free to sign up. whatcomcatholicbusinesses.com
Join Fr. Tyler for Faith Alive: Theology of the Body
When: Saturday December 27th at 7 pm.
Where: Sacred Heart Church
This is a Whatcom Catholic event, and everyone is welcome
Office Closures and Mass Cancelation due to Inclement weather in Whatcom Catholic:
If a mass is cancelled within Whatcom County due to a weather-related issue, the following communication structure will be implemented:
- Cancellation will be emailed to registered parishioners of the location
- Banner will be posted on the Whatcom Catholic Website
- Mass will be removed from the Whatcom Catholic website
- Individual parish websites will update with the ability of the location manager
Parish offices are relying on more digital communication to communicate with parishioners. If you haven’t received an email from your parish office, please contact them to update your contact information.
Whatcom Catholic does its best to review local, state, and federal guidance along with local reports to make calls on when mass will be cancelled. It is never a call that can be made easily, but we want to ensure the parishioners and the priests’ safety. Parish staff are in close contact with the priests, volunteers, and others to ensure that an appropriate and safe decision is made. Locations that have priests living in residence will not have Mass cancelled, as the priests will be able to walk to Mass.
County-wide office closures will follow that of Assumption catholic school, as the school serves the entire county. However, due to the wide variety of weather conditions across the county, individual offices may close and will communicate this closure on their website and through an email to parishioners. Directors of Faith Formation will contact parents if classes are impacted. Parish staff will also contact those affected by parish- sponsored programmatic activities, sacraments, or celebrations cancellations.
If you have any questions in regard to this policy, feel free to reach out to the Regional Director of Operations, Olivia Phillips, or contact your church’s location manager.
St Nick Hope Chest
When: Saturday December 21,2025 to January 4, 2025
Where: St Joseph Narthex
Please bring gently used toys to the Narthex for the children of Hope House
Parish Office Closure
Parish Office will be closed December 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 2025 and January 1,2,3,4,2026
Happy Holidays to all and we will be back Monday January 5, 2026, to start the New Year.
Tax Planning
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS
If you are planning to make a charitable contribution before the end of the tax year, one option to consider is a distribution from an IRA. Individuals 70 ½ or older can make a contribution directly from an IRA without it being considered a taxable distribution. The donation can meet all or part of the IRA’s required minimum distribution for the year. As with all tax law related items, please consult your tax advisor before making any decisions.
STOCK
If you are considering a gift of stock, please contact the Archdiocesan Parish Financial Services Office at 206-382-7316. Be sure to contact them soon if you want your gift to be recorded for 2025.
End of Year Giving
Thanks to all of our parishioners for their Time in prayer, their Talents serving our parish, and their Treasure shared throughout this year! Any gifts or payments you want credited to the 2025 calendar year for tax purposes need to be received or postmarked by Dec. 31. Please note: The parish office will be closed starting Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. You can place your gift in the collection basket at any of the December masses. If you are mailing your donations, it must be postmarked on or before Dec. 31, 2025, in order to be applied in the 2025 calendar year. Online gifts will be recorded based on the processing date of the transaction.
If you are considering a gift of stock, please contact the Archdiocesan Parish Financial Services Office at 206-382-7316. Be sure to contact them right away if you want your gift to be recorded for 2025.
Year to Date Giving Summary through November
| 2024 YTD | 2025 YTD | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assumption | 414,819.57 | 424,890.71 | 2% |
| Sacred Heart | 255,554.59 | 240,769.39 | -6% |
| St. Joseph – Ferndale | 120,103.30 | 136,628.94 | 14% |
| St. Anne | 61,349.56 | 73,280.71 | 19% |
| St. Joachim | 24,854.33 | 29,075.02 | 17% |
| St. Joseph – Lynden | 128,930.30 | 125,212.98 | -3% |
| St. Peter | 57,663.75 | 47,202.73 | -18% |
Extra Collections Remitted During November
| Church in Central Europe | 1,186.00 |
| Priest Pension | 340.00 |
| World Mission Sunday | 221.00 |
| Black & Indian Missions | 150.00 |
| CCS Appeal for the Poor | 124.00 |
| Peter’s Pence | 40.00 |
| Campaign for Human Development | 30.00 |
| Catholic Home Missions | 20.00 |
| Church in Africa | 20.00 |
| Catholic Relief Services | 10.00 |
2025 Outreach Funds
The following organizations are receiving donations from St Joseph and St Anne Outreach Fund:
| St Joseph | |
|---|---|
| Whatcom Pregnancy Center | $1,000 |
| Ferndale Resource Center | $2,000 |
| PREPARES St. Joseph | $1,000 |
| Ferndale Food Bank | $3,000 |
| Lighthouse Mission | $1,000 |
| Miracle Food Network | $1,000 |
| St Vincent Depaul | $1,000 |
| St Anne | |
|---|---|
| Blaine Food Bank | $4,000 |
| The Bridge | $1,000 |
| CAP | $1,000 |
| Prepares St Joseph | $500 |
| BBBPRD2 Community Meal | $5 |
Wider Community
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Unwrap the gifts in your marriage on the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
It is a weekend for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together.
Sign up today to attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience on February 13-15, 2026, LaQuinta Inn, Tacoma, WA
Early registration is highly recommended. Please contact Jeff and Sandy Corneil 360-903-2321. For more information and other dates please visit our website at: https://wwme.org
St Vincent de Paul VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Looking for volunteers to distribute financial assistance to our neighbors in need at Hope House on Fridays 12- 1:30 beginning in January.
Please call 360-734-2722 and leave a message if you are interested in this ministry
Calendar
December 22, 2025
- Spanish Posada
- St Joseph 7-9 pm
December 23, 2025
- Spanish Posada
- St Joseph 7-9 pm
December 24, 2025, Christmas Eve
- Office Closed
- St Anne 3:00 pm
- St Joseph, Ferndale 3:00 pm
- St Joachim 6:00 pm
- St Joseph Ferndale Spanish 6:00 pm
- Spanish Posada/Reception to Follow
- St Joseph 7-9 pm
December 25, 2025, Christmas Day
- St Joseph, Ferndale 10:00am
- Office Closed
December 26, 2025
- St Joseph Daily Mass 9:00 am
- St Joseph Divine Mercy 9:30 am
December 27, 2025
- St Anne Coptic Mass 8:30 am to 11:30 am,
- St Joseph Confessions 3:00 pm
- St Anne Confessions 4:30 pm
- St Anne Vigil Mass 5:00 pm
December 28, 2025
- St Joachim Confessions 8:00 am
- St Joachim Mass 8:30 am
- St Joseph Mass 10:30 am
December 29, 2025
- Office Closed
December 30, 2025
- Office Closed
December 31, 2025, Mary Mother of God
- Office Closed
January 1, 2026, Mary Mother of God
- Office Closed
- St Joseph 9:00am Mass
- St Anne 12:30 pm Mass
- St Joachim 6:00 pm Mass
January 2, 2026
- Office Closed
- St Joseph Daily Mass 9:00 am
- St Joseph Divine Mercy 9:30 am
January 3, 2026
- St Anne Coptic Mass 8:30 am to 11:30 am,
- St Joseph Confessions 3:00 pm
- St Anne Confessions 4:30 pm
- St Anne Vigil Mass 5:00 pm
January 4, 2026
- St Joachim Confessions 8:00 am
- St Joachim Mass 8:30 am
- St Joseph Mass 10:30 am
In case you Missed it
Assumption School Auction
When: Saturday March 7, 2026
Where: Bellingham Golf & Country Club
Save the Date Growing Great Kids Auction and Gala