This page lists upcoming events taking place in the St. Monica Church Community and around the Archdiocese of Seattle. For information on additional Catholics events, retreats, and programs in the greater Seattle area, we recommend checking out the Archdiocese of Seattle Event Webpage and the Sacred Heart Radio Event Webpage. If you have any questions about this page, please contact Tony Brooks, PA for Communication, 206-232-2900 x.131; tony@stmonicami.org.

National Fall 2025 40 Days For Life Campaign

40 Days for Life has accomplished wonderful results across the world by their peaceful prayer to end abortion. There are now 1000 cities registered to participate in the national campaign. This Fall’s 40 Days For Life campaign began on September 24 and will continue through November 2. The campaign location nearest to our community is in Renton. If you would like to participate in this cause or learn more, we invite you to visit their webpage: 40daysforlife.com/renton

NW Catholic Magazine

The latest issue of Northwest Catholic Magazine (October/November) can be read online at nwcatholic.org/magazine.

Catholic Citizenship Student Essay Contest

The Knights of Columbus conduct a Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest to encourage today’s youth to be more connected to their community and their faith, to involve them in civic discourse, and instill in them religious and life-affirming values. The contest is open to young Catholics in grades 8 to 12 (public, private, parochial or home schools during the current school year). The 1st place prize is $100!

Essay submissions should be between 500 and 750 words in length and be on this year’s assigned topic: “Out of the 267 popes that have led the Catholic Church, who are your three favorite popes and why?” Entrants will be judged on grammar, style, and how clearly they present the theme in a way that showcases creativity, imagination and overall development of the topic.

If your student would like to participate, please fill out a copy of the official entry form (hard copies are available in the church vestibules) and submit it to our Knights of Columbus council along with a printed copy of their essay. Submissions can be turned in to the parish office. All essay submissions are due by Friday, October 31.

All Saints Day Mass

This year, due to its occurring on a Saturday, November 1, All Saints Day, is NOT a holy day of obligation. Our morning Mass will be offered at 7:45AM.

National Vocations Awareness Week (November 2-8, 2025)

The week of November 2nd is National Vocations Awareness Week, where we encourage all to pray for the vocations of Marriage, Holy Orders, Religious and consecrated life. We especially encourage our youth and young adults to ask God what He wants for their lives. Even before birth, the Lord has instilled a vocation in the heart of every child and has given him or her the gifts to realize this call. He promises: “For I know well the plans I have in store for you… plans not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.”- Jer. 29:11.

Throughout the week of November 2nd please offering your prayers and Masses for Marriage, Holy Orders, Religious and consecrated life. Take time to pray with Our Lord this week in the Adoration Chapel for vocations.

Ecumenical Prayer Night

Neighbors of Light: United in Prayer for Our Schools and Our City.

The Mercer Island Faith Collective has invited members of our community to join with churches across Mercer Island as they gather to lament what's heavy, share our hearts, and lift our community before God in prayer: This event will take place on Sunday, November 2nd, from 7:00–7:30PM. It will be held at the Congregational Church on Mercer Island (4545 Island Crest Way). This 30-minute service will include Scripture, guided prayers, and time for personal reflection through three prayer stations: lighting a candle for hope, writing prayers for our schools and city, and praying with a minister for those who desire personal prayer. Our hope is that this evening will offer a simple but meaningful way for churches across Mercer Island to stand together — united in Christ, grounded in light, and rooted in care for our community. All are welcome - come as you are.

(MS) Youth Group

Join us for youth group on Wednesday, November 5, at Sacred Heart!

• J-Walkers (MS Youth Group) will meet from 4:00PM-5:00PM in the Sacred Heart Youth Room. With any questions, please contact Kelsey Heintz (MS Youth Minister) kelsey@stmonicami.org.
• High School 6:35 (HS Youth Group) will be heading off campus for a Cemetery Prayer Crawl! See the information for this event below.

Visit our Emmaus Youth Ministry page for the latest youth ministry details!

(HS) Cemetery Prayer Crawl

Memento Mori "Remember Your Death"

Join High School 6:35 on Wednesday, November 5, from 6:25-8:15PM, as we pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory! We'll meet at Sacred Heart Church to carpool. Click here to complete the RSVP form for this special off-campus event!With any questions, please contact Sharon Phillips (High School Youth Minister) sharon@stmonicami.org. Visit our Emmaus Youth Ministry page for the latest youth ministry details!

Upcoming Funeral Mass

The Funeral Mass for Carol Jergens will be on Wednesday, November 12, at 10AM, at St. Monica Catholic Church.

Jubilee Pilgrimage to Vietnamese Martyrs Parish

St. Monica and Sacred Heart parishioners and friends are invited to join on Thursday, November 13, for a Jubilee Pilgrimage trip to the Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs in Tukwila.

9:30AM — Departing from the St. Monica parking lot via charter bus.

11:00AM — Attending Mass in Vietnamese (with English translations of the readings and Gospel projected on a screen).

12:00PM — The pastor of Vietnamese Martyrs Parish has graciously offered to give us a church tour in English. Following the tour, we will share lunch in the church basement.

After lunch, we will pray the Rosary before returning to St. Monica around 3:30-4:00PM.

There are limited seats available on the charter bus. If you would like a seat on the bus, please reserve your spot ASAP by completing the registration form. The cost is $50 per person. Access the form by clicking here.

A brief history of the Vietnamese Catholic Faith:

In 1524, a Portuguese merchant fleet arrived in Vietnam to trade, bringing with them Catholic missionaries. These missionaries faced many challenges: unfamiliar cultures, languages, and climates. Yet their strong faith and dedication eventually touched hearts, and the Catholic faith began to spread among the countryside.

However, the Missionaries soon faced strong opposition from Vietnam’s kings and emperors. At the time, rulers were believed to have divine authority and absolute power over the people. Catholic teaching, which proclaimed that all humans are created equal and share the same God-given rights, directly challenged that system.

In the 1600s, Jesuit priest Alexandre de Rhodes adapted the Latin alphabet for the Vietnamese language, creating Quốc Ngữ, the writing system still used today. His work, along with the spread of Catholicism, was seen as a threat to royal authority. The kings responded by banning the faith and persecuting its followers.

For nearly 300 years, Missionaries and Vietnamese Catholics endured great suffering. Many were imprisoned, tortured, or executed, an estimated 300,000 Catholics were martyred for their faith.

In the 1800s, the French military intervened to protect their Missionaries, leading to over 80 years of French colonization. The writing system developed by Alexandre de Rhodes eventually spread throughout the country and became Vietnam’s official national language, which is still used today.

When Vietnam was divided in 1954 into the Communist North and the Republic of Vietnam in the South, about one million people migrated southward, including 700,000 Catholics. Today, Catholics make up roughly 7% of Vietnam’s population.

After the Communist takeover in 1975, many Vietnamese fled the country as refugees, most by boat. About 1.4 million eventually resettled in the United States, and around 30% of them are Catholic. Today, approximately 55,000 Vietnamese Catholics live in the Seattle area.

In 1988, Pope Saint John Paul II canonized 117 martyrs — including 96 Vietnamese, 11 Spanish, and 10 French, who gave their lives for the faith. The Vietnamese Martyrs Parish, named in their honor, is now the largest Vietnamese Catholic church in Washington State. It was dedicated in a Grand Opening Ceremony in November 2024 and has been designated as one of the pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of Seattle for the Jubilee Year 2025.

Upcoming Funeral Mass

The Funeral Mass for Richard Bradbury will be on Friday, November 14, at 11AM, at St. Monica Catholic Church.

(HS) Catholic Youth Convention

Let’s become saints together!

Join us at St. Martin’s University in Lacey on Saturday, November 15, for the annual Catholic Youth Convention, for High School students in the Archdiocese of Seattle. This year’s theme is: Saints in the Making! This faith-filled day includes live worship music, games, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, adoration, and Mass with Bishop Schuster. The cost is $65 per youth (scholarships from the Archdiocese and/or from our Parish Family are available). HOW TO JOIN OUR GROUP:  After registering, you must forward your registration confirmation email to sharon@stmonicami.org to confirm your spot in our St. Monica/Sacred Heart group and to coordinate rides to/from the event. A small additional fee will be included for transportation and dinner on the way back. Register by clicking here.

Visit our Emmaus Youth Ministry page for the latest youth ministry details!

(MS & HS) Youthsgiving Dinner

Save the date (Thursday, November 20) for the Emmaus Youth Ministry Youthsgiving Dinner! More information about this event will be provided soon. With any questions, please contact Sharon Phillips (HS Youth Minister) sharon@stmonicami.org or Kelsey Heintz (MS Youth Minister) kelsey@stmonicami.org. Visit our Emmaus Youth Ministry page for the latest youth ministry details!

Vocations Benediction

Join St. Monica Parish on Friday, November 21 at 6:00PM for a special evening of Adoration and Benediction for Vocations. Take time to pray for the vocations of Marriage, Holy Orders, and Religious and consecrated life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available.

Stewardship of Treasure — 2026 Campaign

As we begin our annual focus on the Stewardship of Treasure, we invite you to take a moment to reflect on how God has blessed you over the past year. You will soon receive a letter from Fr. Nagel encouraging you to consider how you might return a portion of those blessings to our parish community. Your generous gifts directly support our mission of helping one another encounter Jesus Christ in meaningful and transformative ways.

There are two options for completing your 2026 Stewardship of Treasure Pledge:

Option One: Fill out one of the commitment cards (found in the church pews) and return it to the collection basket at Mass or to the parish office.

Option Two: Complete our online stewardship pledge form. Click here to access the 2026 Stewardship of Treasure Pledge online form.

If you have any stewardship or giving-related questions, or if you need assistance, please contact the parish office. Thank you!

Spiritual Mentorship — School of Faith

Holy Family School of Faith Institute offers a two-year course of study combining self-paced distance learning courses with in-person sessions offered at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas. The program aims to form Spiritual Mentors to serve as guide and companion to others on their journey to holiness. It is designed for Catholics who have a desire to develop a deep prayer and sacramental life, to increase their knowledge of the Catholic faith, to grow in the virtues and a desire to help others do the same. For more information on this program, please visit: schooloffaith.com/spiritual-mentorship

Friday Evening Adoration

Don’t forget Friday Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions are offered every Friday, 6PM-7PM in the church. End your work week and start off your weekend right by spending some time in the church adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!

It’s much more than just Coffee & Donuts!

Don’t pass on the opportunity to join us every Sunday after Mass for an hour of Coffee & Donuts. More than simply an opportunity for a sugary treat and a cup of coffee, this time is an important chance for each of us to form deeper connections with the other members of our parish community. We encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.

Want to help host Coffee and Donuts? Volunteers set-up, facilitate, and clean-up each Coffee & Donuts hour to cultivate an environment where our faith can grow in relationship with each other. If you’d like to help, please contact Gloria Hardy at the parish office at gloria@stmonicami.org or simply talk to one of the volunteers hosting coffee and donuts on a given Sunday.

OCIA Classes Have Begun

Interested In Becoming Catholic? Fr. Nagel would like to invite all those interested in becoming Catholic to learn more about the Faith. OCIA classes started on September 15, but it's not too late to join! Father will be teaching a combined class with St. Monica and Sacred Heart from 6:30-7:30PM on Mondays at Sacred Heart Church (9460 NE 14th St, Bellevue, WA 98004). Interested? Please call Heather at 206-232-2900 ext. 130 or click here to sign up.

Feeling too ill for Mass?

The general obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is excused for those who are ill or are homebound. If you are unable to attend Mass for valid reason, we encourage you to make use of our Mass Livestream which can be accessed at stmonicami.org/livestream.

Knights of Columbus Meetings

No Summer KOC Meetings: In previous communications, we advertised that the Knights of Columbus would be having a council meeting in July. This was incorrect, as the Knights will have no general member meetings in the months of July and August. 

Knights of Columbus want to invite all men of the Parish to join them at their Council meetings held on the first Monday of every month. The meetings are held at 6:30PM in the Parish Office dining room (accessed via the front office entrance).

A life of faith in action, a life of boldness in brotherhood, a life worth living.

For more information, please contact:

Grand Knight Reed Nagel at jacknreed@hotmail.com.

Legion of Mary Meetings

The Legion of Mary group meets every Tuesday morning after the 7:45AM Mass in the St. Augustine Room. Legion of Mary is a world-wide movement of lay people, who propose making Faith the goal of their life in an effort to achieve personal sanctity. The virtue of Holiness in the life of the members of the Legion is promoted under the influence of Mary and the Holy Spirit. This becomes the source of inspiration for Legion work, which is under the direction of our Pastor, Fr. Nagel. He has asked the Legion to take Holy Communion to the homebound, providing the Real Presence of Jesus to them.

For more information, please contact:

Francis Chang (Parishioner) 425-442-3478

Helga Osborn (Parishioner) 206-232-2328

Cooking for the Homeless

Every Tuesday, volunteers of the Friends of the Needy ministry meet at St. Monica’s kitchen at 10:30AM to cook a four-course hot dinner for later delivery. Want to volunteer? Come for an hour or the afternoon, every Tuesday or as often as you like. Experience the joyful camaraderie in the kitchen from preparing the ingredients to washing the dishes. For more information, please contact:

Karen Zimmer (Head Cook) karenzimmer@comcast.net 253-273-6704

Rosary Makers

Rosary Makers is a wonderful group of people who get together every week on Wednesdays in the St. Augustine Room to make Rosaries for the Catholic missions. All are welcome to come and make rosaries or gather the materials to work at home. 

For more information, please contact:

Joyce Kaifer (Parishioner) 425-644-2518

Bringing Holy Communion to the Homebound

Every Wednesday morning immediately after the 7:45AM Mass, members of the Legion of Mary bring the Communion to homebound parishioners who are unable to attend Mass in person. If you or a loved one are physically unable to attend Mass and would like to receive Communion, please contact the parish office to receive more information on this ministry. 

Friends of the Needy Drivers Needed

Is there anyone who would not help their brother or sister? Christ has said, “the less fortunate are our bothers and sisters”. We are in need of 5 more drivers to help feed the 12 different shelter and food banks that we now deliver food to from our most generous donor Metropolitan Market!

If you could spare just 2 or 3 hours once a month that would fulfill our obligation to feed the hungry. If you volunteer you can choose the day of the month that you would drive each month. Please give this some thought and if you would like to just discuss the opportunity, please call me, Bob Kessler, at (206) 276-0515 or email rar811@me.com. Thank you!