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.
Celebrating the Season of Christmas
The Christmas season spans from December 25 to January 12. While the world is quick to rush to the next thing, we hope you’ll join us as we continue to celebrate the joy and hope that the season of Christmas offers. In particular, we invite you to join us for daily Mass during the Octave of Christmas, the eight days of feasts which concludes with the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, on January 1. Learn about the feasts of the Christmas season and ways to celebrate at archseattle.org/christmas.
Parish Family Listening Sessions
The next step of our One Parish Planning process is a series of listening sessions seeking to understand the opportunities and challenges which exist for our parish family. Our listening session options are:
- Monday, January 12, 8:30AM at St. Monica
- Wednesday, January 14, 6:30PM at St. Monica
- Thursday, January 15, 6:30PM at Sacred Heart
- Saturday, January 17, 10AM at Sacred Heart
- Sunday, January 18, 12PM at Sacred Heart
After opening prayer and an overview of the process and relevant information. Attendees will break into small groups to share their feedback.
To prepare for these listening sessions, please reflect on the following questions:
- What challenges do you see that exist in the wider community? (For our parish family, this is Bellevue and Mercer Island.)
- What challenges do you see that exist within the parish?
- What opportunities do you see (in our parish and in the wider community) to more effectively serve and accompany others?
To learn more about our parish family and the One Parish Planning process, please visit stmonicami.org/partners.
2026 Catholic Calendars
Stop by the main church vestibule to pick up your personal 2026 Catholic Calendar. These calendars were provided for the St. Monica Community by Flintoft’s Funeral Home and Crematory.
Carpe Diem’s Potluck
Those who are 50 years of age and older, are invited to the Sacred Heart Carpe Diem group January Potluck and Movie. This event will be held on Thursday, January 15, at 11:30AM at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue.
With any questions, please contact Linda Geere by calling 425-450-3908 or emailing lgeere@sacredheart.org.
Walking With Purpose - Rooted and Radiant
Plan for an excellent New Year in Christ. Join Women’s Bible Study starting Thursday, January 8 for a 6 week study. We start learning that in a world increasingly plagued with confusion and chaos, you are invited to encounter the God of clarity and peace. Let Christ reveal Himself to you as He truly is and transform you into the woman that our world so desperately needs.
Through this Bible study, we dive deep into understanding who Jesus is and what that means for us. We learn how to abide in the wisdom of Christ to navigate the ever-increasing demands and messages of our culture, and what it means to live in the freedom of Christ and how to continually set our minds on Him. We have everyday guided personal scripture study and reflection and a once a week time to discuss and spend sweet fellowship together as women while we hold each other up in Christ and learn together. Come join us! Register by clicking here.
This course will run from January 8-February 12, every week, on Thursday mornings in the Family Center, from 8:30-10:30AM.
Below is an overview or our current meeting schedule. This schedule will be updated as any changes arise.
- January 8: In the St. Augustine Room.
- January 15: In the Family Center.
- January 22: In the Family Center.
- January 29: In the Family Center.
- February 5: In the Family Center.
- February 12: In the St. Augustine Room.
Knights of Columbus NFL Playoff Party
The Knights of Columbus are inviting men aged 21 and over to an NFL Playoff Party at the Family Center for an evening of football and fellowship. The game will be streamed on the big screen over the fireplace.
The details are as follows:
- Date: Saturday, January 17
- Time: 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM
- Location: Family Center
- Pregame: Nachos and Snacks
- Halftime: Chili and Cornbread with dessert following
- Open to: All men aged 21 and over
Collection for the Church in Latin America
Next week we will take up the Collection for the Church in Latin America. Many in Latin America and the Caribbean find that a rising secular culture, difficult rural terrain, and a shortage of ministers all present obstacles to practicing the faith. Your support for the collection provides lay leadership training, catechesis, priestly and religious formation, and other programs to share our Catholic faith with those who long to hear the Good News of Christ.
To learn more about how your gifts make a difference, visit usccb.org/latin-america.
2026 Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Mass
Join Bishop Eusebio Elizondo for Mass to celebrate Martin Luther King Junior on Monday, January 19 at 11 am, at the St. Ignatius Chapel at Seattle University. The Mass will be followed by a talk given by Sharon Spense-Wilcox. Click here for the full details for this event.
Upcoming WSCC Webinar
The Washington State Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the bishops of Washington State, has been hosting a series webinars on topics relevant to today’s world. The next webinar will be held on January 22, at 12PM. Join Fr. Jim Northrop for a virtual hour of prayer focused on defending the unborn children and promoting a culture of life. This time of reflection supports our shared mission to uphold the inherent dignity and protection of every child. Be an advocate for Life, Justice, and Peace. Register for the Zoom meeting at: bit.ly/4iwyCGB
Save the date for our School Showcase!
St. Monica School invites current families, students, and families exploring St. Monica to experience learning across our Preschool-12 community. The School Showcase will be held on Sunday, January 25, from 10AM to 1PM.
- Learn about Classical education and integrated curriculum driven by our talented faculty.
- Experience our welcoming community where everyone nurtures clarity of thought and love for truth.
- Socialize with students who are supportive and ambitious in a Christ-centered environment.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Crusader community! RSVP now at stmonicasea.org or call 206-232-5432.
Upcoming Funeral
The Funeral Mass for Cleo Nelson will be on Thursday, February 12, at 11AM, at St. Monica Catholic Church.
Young Catholic Professionals — Executive Speaker Series
Looking for a community with a professional focus grounded in Catholic values? Your 20s and 30s can be a confusing and lonely time, but they don't have to be. Come and see. Attend a Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) event and join like-minded, mission-driven peers to find God in all things and seek excellence and joy in every area of your life. YCP brings together young workers and seasoned business professionals in a variety of programs to foster Catholic identity, encourage community, and inspire action.
YCP’s next Executive Speaker event is on Thursday, February 12, at St. Monica Catholic Church. The guest executive speaker will be our very own Deacon Frank!
The event is free and open to those in their 20s and 30s. Click here for more information and to register.
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
ASCEND Eucharistic Revival
This moment is a time to refresh and renew our hearts in hope and ignite a deeper love for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The ASCEND Eucharistic Revival is a movement dedicated to renewing love of and devotion to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Rooted in prayer, teaching and worship, the event seeks to draw individuals and communities deeper into the mystery of God’s love by better understanding the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Through encounters, formation and sacraments, ASCEND inspires the faithful to live and carry Eucharistic joy in this world. By lifting hearts and minds to God, the revival fosters unity, love of neighbor, healing, and a renewed sense of mission in the church today.
Mark your calendars for May 16, 2026 and join us in drawing deeper into the mystery of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. For details on this special one-day event, to sign up for alerts, volunteer, and/or support ASCEND through donations, please visit
www.ascendeucharisticrevival.church.
Washington State Catholic Conference
The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) is the common voice of the Catholic Bishops of the Archdiocese of Seattle, the Diocese of Spokane, and the Diocese of Yakima. They encourage advocacy in public policy as we work together for the common good to create a society that recognizes the dignity of every human person. Visit wacatholics.org to learn more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
