Letter from Archbishop Sartain - November 17, 2016

November 17, 2016


Dear Brother Priests and Pastoral Coordinators,

After spending the past year listening to our neighbors who live in poverty, the Bishops of Washington State prepared the attached pastoral letter on poverty in Washington State. As we say in the letter, the suffering associated with poverty has become epidemic in every city, town and community in our state. I ask you to read and reflect on the letter and share it with your people.

In order to promulgate this statement and mobilize Catholics in Washington to pray and act in solidarity with those who lack the necessities of life, we also have prepared a video and a study guide for use by parishes. These supporting materials are being finalized now and will be sent to you next week with an order form.

I encourage you to consider a parish initiative to engage your people in reflection on our pastoral letter during Lent 2017, so that the Catholic community in Washington State may discern how to live out our call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and care for those suffering from physical and mental illness. The video and study guide will help lead your parish in a discussion to answer the question: “Who is my neighbor?” and it will assist them to identify “the Faces of Poverty” in your community.

I am deeply grateful for all you do in your ministry, and in the coming Advent season, I hope you will join me in giving thanks for all the blessings we receive from God’s bountiful hands. Through prayer and action, may the Church in Washington State expand its efforts to act in solidarity with our neighbors who do not share fully in these blessings.

Sincerely in Christ,

J. Peter Sartain
Archbishop of Seattle