Archdiocesan News
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Yesterday, an appellate court issued its ruling on the case regarding the state Attorney General’s subpoena of records under the Charitable Trust Act. I want to take this opportunity to reiterate our original statements about this subpoena and make clear to everyone our position.
We share the same goals as the Attorney General: to prevent abuse and pursue healing for victims. As a way to continue healing for our Church and for victim survivors, we want to give a transparent accounting of the history without jeopardizing the privacy of victim survivors.
We are pleased to see that the court agrees that the subpoena from the Attorney General is indeed overly broad. For context, the original subpoena requested every receipt from all our parishes and schools from January 1, 1940, to the present. We believe this broad request would take months of effort to produce irrelevant documents and waste millions of dollars for us and for taxpayers. The court also appropriately recognized that the Attorney General’s subpoena as written “would unconstitutionally infringe the Archdiocese’s religious protections.”
We remain, as we have from the beginning, open to working with the Attorney General’s team to find a more balanced set of records to share — along with a guarantee for the privacy of victim survivors as we do not want the state’s investigation to re-traumatize them in any way.
As I did with the former Attorney General, I invite our new Attorney General to meet and discuss how we can best partner to achieve our shared goals. As always, I remain,
In the Heart of Christ,
Most Rev. Paul D. Etienne, DD, STL
Archbishop of Seattle
Parish News
Partners in the Gospel
Evangelization Metric
The Evangelization Metric indicates what is being done to grow the church at each location in our parish family. Prior to the Listening Sessions in April this information will be shared with you. The Evangelization metrics data points are:
Total confirmations and first communions: This captures the total number of people confirmed or who received first communion each year across the parish family. These sacraments reflect the rate that parishioners “continue through” the faith journey beyond their baptism. Total faith formation participants: This is a count of participants in faith formation as reported in the Parish Annual Report. Faith formation is the building block for evangelization. Total participants in OCIA/OCIA adapted for children (previously RCIA): This is a count of participants in OCIA programs across the parish family as reported in the Parish Annual Report. OCIA participation reflects a commitment to the Church through sacraments of initiation.
School enrollment: This identifies the school’s ability to gain and retain students. The general goal is for Catholic K-8 schools to have enrollment of 200 students or more.
Staff Viability Metrics
While the parish maintains some full-time positions, most of the staff are on a part-time schedule. The Staff metrics data points are:
Staff count: This is total payroll staff across the parish family. While some of this work can be accomplished by volunteers, key roles are best accomplished by paid staff to sustain viability. Reviewing current staff can determine whether the staff structure needs revision.
Administrative staff: Parish families require significant administrative work, finance, facilities, HR and compliance. These roles enable pastors to focus on pastoral needs.
Faith formation staff: Evangelization is dependent on good formation of the faithful. Formation needs strong leadership to be effective, and parish families should invest in staff to support this work and all the volunteers involved in making these programs happen.
Facilities staff: One of the pressing issues for the Catholic Church in Western Washington is significant deferred maintenance. Hiring qualified staff to perform and oversee maintenance of facilities is imperative.
Church Events
Lent Food Drive
40 Day Food Drive for the Ferndale Foodbank and Blaine Foodbank St. Joseph, Ferndale and St Anne, will be running a 40-day drive for the foodbank. Parishioners are encouraged to either give $40 to the foodbank or bring 40 cans of food. Donated food expiration date must be no more than 2 years old. St Joseph Ferndale has so far donated 114lbs of food.
Information can be found at the St. Joseph, Ferndale Parish office.
Knights of Columbus Lent Fish Fry
When: Friday, March 12, 5:30pm (and every following Friday of Lent)
Where: St Joseph Hall
Knights of Columbus prepare a delicious Fish Dinner during Lent, please join them after attending the Stations of the Cross at 5pm.
Donations are appreciated to help fund 2026 High School Scholarships.
Shadow Stations of the Cross
Friday March 20th, 7pm St Joseph, Ferndale Church
Friday March 27th, 6pm Assumption Gym followed by Lenten Soup Supper
Don’t miss an unforgettable Live Performance by the youth of St Joseph, Ferndale, St Joachim and St Anne.
St Anne Potluck
When: March 21 after 5:00 pm Mass
Where: St Anne, Blaine
Please join us for our Irish “Pot of Luck” Bring a dish or dessert to share. All are welcome.
Mysteries of the Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries
When: Mondays, beginning March 16 at 9:15 am.
Where: Sacred Heart Library in the Parish Hall
Join us for a special seven-week video study, “Mysteries of the Rosary: The Joyful Mysteries.” Host Mark Hartfiel will lead us on a spiritual journey to the Holy Land walking the places where these mysteries occurred. Come deepen your faith!
No registration required. Refreshments will be provided as we gather in fellowship. We look forward to seeing you there!
LAMENTATION: An Eight Week Journey
When: Saturday, April 11, 2026, 1pm-3pm
Where: Assumption School, Teacher’s Lounge Room
Mourning and grief come in waves, sometimes like a tsunami and at other times like a gentle yet persistent rain.
And grief has its own timeline: whether we have lost someone in the past year or twenty years ago at times we want support for our healing journey.
God and our Roman Catholic Faith call us to community at times of joy and celebration and in times of questioning, searching, and, yes, in times of grief and loss.
Beginning on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Assumption will be the location for an eight week Grief Ministry Program: LAMENTATION. It will meet from 1pm to 3pm in the teacher’s lounge room.
LAMENTATION, written by Deacon Dale Pollard, offers a journey of spiritual insight and hope, giving those who are mourning an invitation to experience God’s love, care, and transformation.
Deacon Dale will lead this series with the assistance of his Grief Ministry Team which includes Clarence Bob, David Strutz, Rita Clare Hall, and Dr. Kathy Ernst.
LAMENTATION is open to any Whatcom Catholic parishioner who has experienced the loss of a loved one.
Please contact Dr. Kathy at [email protected] or 253-356-5523
Roof Recovery Appeal
Last fall we completed a necessary roof replacement to prevent further water damage and protect our parish facilities. This work was essential to avoid much larger, long-term repairs.
To recover financially we must raise $73,000 in one-time gifts. If you can, please donate today. For full details, read Fr. Moore’s complete letter on the St Joseph Website.
Lent Information
CRS Rice Bowl: Nourishing Futures in Guatemala
In Guatemala, nutrition classes and savings programs give mothers and families better opportunities to improve their health, nutrition and financial well-being. Visit crsricebowl.org/week-3 to read how your support of CRS Rice Bowl is helping the Guatemala community thrive.
Lent Small Group Sessions
Hope and Renewal Through the Season of Lent with Pope Leo XIV
Five 60-90 minute small group sessions of prayer and reflection for the Jubilee Year, focused on the Lenten Scriptures with reflections from Pope Leo XIV’s Dilexi te.
During this Lenten season, we reflect on the Word of God and pray that our hearts may be open to encounter Jesus in all the ways he comes to us: in word, in sacrament, in service, and in all his people, especially the poor.
When: Every Thursday Starting February 19, 2026-March 19, 2026, 6:30-8pm
Where: St Joseph, Ferndale Disciples Den
RSVP: David Day [email protected]
or
When: Every Friday Starting February 27, 2026-March 27, 2026, 10-11:00 am
Where: St Joseph, Ferndale Disciples Den
RSVP: Myra Whiting [email protected]
or
When: Every Thursday Starting February 19, 2026-March 19, 2026, 10:30 am-Noon
Where: St Anne Hall
RSVP: Christy Schroeder [email protected]
School News
Employment Opportunity – Preschool
Assumption Catholic School is seeking a preschool teacher beginning this spring. The position will start March 18th, 2026, or until filled and last until the end of the current school year. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
For more information and to apply, go to the school website.
Growing Great Kids 26th Auction & Gala Saturday March 7th
We are sold out! Thank you to all that have registered and are coming to the dinner and “Live” auction. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful community of support in Whatcom County. Please pray now for a successful night to help the kids and teachers keep moving into the future.
For last minute tickets to the silent auction: contact Angie King in the school office at 360-733-6133.
Affiliated Organizations
Hope House Sock and Underwear Drive
Hope House is a local Catholic non-profit serving homeless and low-income families in Whatcom County. They are in need of new socks and underwear to clothe our neighbors in need.
During the month of March, drop off donations at Assumption or Sacred Heart parish offices or in the gathering space, or bring them to Hope House during their open hours.
207 Kentucky St, Bellingham
Mon: 9-11:30am
Tue: 9-11:30am, 6:30-8pm
Thu: 9-11:30am
Fri: 12-1:30pm
For more information, please visit Hope House on the web at facebook.com/bellinghamhopehouse.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
When: April 24-26, 2026
Where: Hamton Inn, Everate, WA
April 24-26, 2026 May the love of God heal and strengthen our marital bonds so we can live in Love and experience Joy. The next Worldwide Marriage Experience (WWME) will be at the Hampton Inn in Everett, WA on April 24-26, 2026. Apply at www.wwme.org: tap on APPLY, scroll down to April, click on Everett and fill in your information. For more info. Leave a message at 206-772-2344.
WSCC: Depolarizing Within: In-Person Workshop
When: Saturday, March 21, 9am-noon
Where: Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, 4700 SW, Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA, 98023
The Depolarizing Within: In-Person Workshop teaches participants to look at their own attitudes towards the political “other” to develop strategies for engaging in politics without demonizing, and to constructively intervene in conversations with like-minded peers when those conversations stereotype or demonize the other side.
Mass will follow the workshop at Noon.
Upcoming
Thursday, March 12
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
- 8:30am-8:45am: Confessions – St Anne
- 8:30am: Stations of the Cross – St Anne
- 9am-10am: Mass – St Anne
Offered in memory of Tom Gensha and Murray Klein - 10:30: Small Lent Group – St Anne, Hall
- 5pm-6pm: Mass – St Joachim
Offered in memory of Elizabeth Norton Kent - 6:30pm: Small Lent Group – St Joseph, Ferndale, Disciples Den
Friday, March 13
Friday of the Third Week of Lent
- 9am-9:30am: Mass – St Joseph, Ferndale
- 10am: Small Lent Group – St Joseph, Ferndale, Disciples Den
- 5-5:30pm: Stations of the Cross and Confessions – St Joseph, Ferndale
- 5:30pm: Fish Fry – St Joseph, Ferndale (after Stations)
Saturday, March 14
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
- 9am-4pm: Middle School BLAST Retreat – Camp Lutherwood
- 3pm-4pm: Confessions – St Joseph, Ferndale
- 4:30-4:45pm: Confessions – St Anne
- 5pm-6pm: Mass – St Anne
Sunday, March 15
Fourth Sunday of Lent
- 8am-8:15am: Confessions – St Joachim
- 8:30am-10am: Mass – St Joachim
- 10:30am-12pm: Mass – St Joseph, Ferndale
- 12-2pm: Youth Group Shadow Stations Practice – St Joseph, Ferndale, Disciples Den
In case you Missed it
Holy Week Schedule
St Joseph, Ferndale
- April 2, Holy Thursday, 7-8:30pm
- April 3, Good Friday Confession, 6-7pm
- April 3, Good Friday Service, 7-8:30pm
- April 4, Easter Vigil, 8-10:30pm
- April 5, Easter Sunday, 5-6:30pm
St Joachim, Lummi
- April 5, Easter Sunday, 8:30-10am
St Anne, Blaine
- April 5, Easter Sunday, 9:30-11am
For the full Holy Week schedule, please see whatcomcatholic.org.
Wills & Estate Planning Seminar
When: Tuesday, April 7, 10-11:15am
Where: St Mary Parish, Father Auer Center, Room 5, 4001 Saint Mary’s Dr, Anacortes
St. Mary Church will be hosting a Wills & Estate Planning Seminar on Tuesday, April 7th from 10:00–11:15 a.m.
We are pleased to extend this invitation to all parishioners throughout the Skagit, Island and Whatcom Counties. This seminar is a wonderful opportunity for individuals and families to learn more about the importance of having a will, planning their estate, and ensuring their wishes are clearly documented.
Youth Steubenville NW Opportunities
If you are interested in Steubenville Northwest, Days of Grace, Franciscan LEAD, or our summer youth trips, please email Daniel at [email protected] or Dawn Zimmerman at [email protected] for details. Fundraising opportunities are available, and things are moving quickly, so be sure to reach out soon!
Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday will be observed on April 12, the Octave of Easter. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed on the first Friday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Assumption Church and after the 9:00 a.m. Friday Mass at St. Joseph, Ferndale.
Information about the Divine Mercy devotion is available at Women’s Connect and TheDivineMercy.org. For additional information, contact Barbara Karabin at [email protected].
Jesus Day Camp
Save the Date June 22-26, 2026, for Jesus Day Camp at St Joseph, Ferndale.
St Joseph Grounds Clean Up
When: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 9am-4pm (or earlier if we get everything done)
Where: St Joseph, Ferndale
We will be cleaning and weeding flowerbeds and trimming bushes, to beatify our grounds for Easter and to get them ready for the growing season. Lunch will be provided. Come and join us, it is a great opportunity to volunteer and get to know some of our wonderful parishioners. If you have any questions, call Nita Harksell at 360-380-6134.
St Joseph, Ferndale Rummage & Bake Sale
Sponsored by St. Mary’s Guild
Are there items in your home collecting dust or clothes you haven’t worn in a long time?
A good way to clear your home of clutter is to donate clean usable clothing and items.
We are unable to accept TV’s, computers, electronics, baby car seats, Christmas trees, large furniture and appliances.
Drop off items at the Church Hall:
Friday May 15, 9:00 am- 2pm
Sale:
Saturday, May 16, 8am- 2pm
Hotdogs, sodas, and baked goods will be available.
St Joseph Adopt a Flowerbed
We have many flowerbeds around our lovely campus that need someone to give them the TLC that they need throughout the year. We Want You. Adopt A Flowerbed. You may keep the flowerbed clean on your own time, no set day or time to do it. You would be keeping them weeded and any shrubs trimmed as needed. Some of them are such that new flowers may be planted, but most are just pulling weeds. If you already have a bed, let me know if you will continue to keep it up, or if you wish to change flowerbeds, or if you need someone to help you, or if you need to discontinue. Contact Nita Harksell at 360-380-6134 or see her after mass on Sundays