Friends of St Pat’s, My apologies for this late notice, but we’ll get back together for another movie night tomorrow, Thursday, June 8, at 7 pm. The zoom link remains: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 This Thursday’s gathering will be a little different. First, I want to let you know that we have finally received our long overdue response to our appeal from the Dicastery for the Clergy in Rome. As expected, it supports the Archbishop’s decree of our closure. Without going into an extended discussion, we’ll tell you basically what it says (I had to use Google Translate to deal with annoying statements of policies from Rome issued in Latin) and what kind of rebuttal we expect to make as we take the next step, bringing the appeal to the Apostolic Signatura. Second, we’ll return to our care for creation theme with presentations of the two morning seminars at the Turning the Tide for Ecology - 2023 Catholic Earth Day Summit held in April at Seattle University. All in attendance agreed that these were exceptionally engaging presentations and we are happy to watch them again. Both concern salmon, an obviously big issue here in the northwest. As a side note, one of the reasons for showing these presentations, rather than another documentary, is that I’m running into more documentaries that come with “HDCP”, High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, that prevents them from being shared on zoom. We’ll revisit the list of possible documentaries I last circulated. But for tomorrow, here are the two presentations we will watch. An Alaska State of Mind: The Salmon Way Speaker: Amy Gulick – Photographer and author Amy Gulick is the recipient of the Voice of the Wild Award from the Alaska Wilderness League, the Daniel Housberg Wilderness Image Award from the Alaska Conservation Foundation, and the Conservation Voices Award from Washington Wild. Her work has been published in Smithsonian, Audubon, Sierra, and National Wildlife. She is a fellow with The Safina Center and the International League of Conservation Photographers. Her award-winning books include The Salmon Way and Salmon in the Trees. Visit: amygulick.com King of Fish: The Thousand Year Fall of Salmon Speaker: Dave Montgomery is a professor in the college of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington. He is a geomorphologist-that is, a scientist who studies the processes that shape the surface of the Earth, and how these processes shape ecosystems and human societies. His work has taken him to mountain ranges throughout the world, including the Cascades in Washington, the Andes in South America and the Himalaya in Tibet. David received his B.S. in Geology from Stanford University and his PhD from UC Berkeley. He has the gift of communicating in a clear, entertaining and motivating way to non-scientists. Professor Montgomery has written five highly acclaimed popular science books; three have won the Washington State Book Award and one, King of Fish-The Thousand-Year Run of Salmon has been acclaimed as the best single exploration of the decline of Salmon and recommendations for their recovery. (Personal footnote: I’m reading this book, on the last chapter now, and it is really good!) Join us on zoom tomorrow night, June 8 at 7 pm, for viewing and discussion: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09

Happy Easter Season! We resume our movie nights, although with a rather intermittent schedule over the coming months. Here we’ll just address the two movies coming up this month: May 4 and May 18, at 7 pm on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09. May 4: The Year the Earth Changed Narrated by David Attenborough, never-before-seen footage shows how our living in lockdown opened the door for nature to bounce back and thrive. Across the seas, skies, and lands, Earth found its rhythm when we came to a stop. (2021, 48 min) May 18: Nasrin NASRIN is an immersive portrait of the world’s most honored human rights activist and political prisoner, attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh, and of Iran’s remarkably resilient women’s rights movement. In the courts and on the streets, Nasrin has long fought for the rights of women, children, religious minorities, journalists and artists, and those facing the death penalty. In the midst of filming, Nasrin was arrested in June 2018 for representing women who were protesting Iran’s mandatory hijab law. She was sentenced to 38 years in prison, plus 148 lashes. Featuring acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, and journalist Ann Curry. Secretly filmed in Iran by women and men who risked arrest to make this film. Narrated by Academy Award-winner Olivia Colman. (2021, 1 hr, 30 min)

A reminder about this Thursday’s (April 20) movie night. We are showing The Current Revolution: A film series for America’s Energy Transition (https://www.amresproject.org/current-revolution-series), provided to us by Interfaith Power & Light, which is sharing with faith congregations across the country the exciting news of the transition to clean energy provided in this film. (https://interfaithpowerandlight.org/faithclimateactionweek/2023-featured-film-current-revolution-series/). From substations to gas stations, boardrooms to military bases -- this film tells the story of America’s energy industry on the brink of massive change. Whether it fails, prevails or adapts, the outcome will profoundly affect us all. These films show the possibility of a just transition to a clean energy economy where the well-being of workers and frontline community members is valued, instead of neglected. We will be sharing the first three episodes of this series this Thursday, April 20, at 7pm on Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 These are: · Episode 1: The Transformation Can Not Be Stopped (30 min) · Episode 2: Nation in Transition (30 min) · Episode 3: Workforce Rising (6 min) You are invited to join your St Pat’s community friends, as well as members of the Care for Creation team from Our Lady of Guadalupe and Holy Rosary (West Seattle), for viewing and discussion. Hope to see many of you Thursday evening.

Movie Night Update: Our Sacred Obligation Dear Friends, In this email I have a very brief update on our appeal and then I’ll give you the planned movie schedule for the next month (starting this coming Thursday, Feb 23). In my last email on Feb 2 I told you about the Dicastery for the Clergy accepting our appeal for review, but not responding as they should have within 90 days. Under Natasha’s direction, we sent a “placeholder letter” to preserve our rights for an Appeal to the Apostolic Signatura. I received confirmation of receipt of this letter by the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, DC, with assurance that it was being forwarded by diplomatic pouch to the Dicastery for the Clergy in Rome. Now to the movies. Thurs, Feb 23: Our Sacred Obligation. We will resume our Care for Creation theme for the next month. Please note this change to the movie plan for this Thursday, Feb 23. We will not share a movie at 7pm this Thursday, but instead strongly urge you all to register to see a documentary called Our Sacred Obligationshowing this Thursday at 6:30pm (as indicated in the image above). This is being shown and sponsored by Washington Conservation Action (the new name for the merger of Washington Conservation Voters and the Washington Environmental Council). Here is the invitation to register/RSVP for the film: Dam removal on the Elwha and Klamath rivers was only possible because Indigenous leaders fought fiercely to restore life-sustaining salmon to abundance. We’re proud to partner with Children of the Setting Sun Productions and others for this screening of Our Sacred Obligation, featuring Washington Conservation Action CEO Alyssa Macy. This is the first of a documentary film series, "The Salmon People Project,” that amplifies Indigenous voices working to reverse the devastating impact of salmon loss and to heal Mother Earth. What: Our Sacred Obligation virtual screening and panel When: Thursday, Feb 23, 6:30 - 8:00 PM PT RSVP NOW https://waenvironment.cmail19.com/t/i-l-qhkdhdy-urdtidutr-r/ Hear from Frances Charles, Chairwoman of Elwha Klallam Tribe; Amy Cordalis, Principal, Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group; and Darrell Hillaire, Executive Director of Children of the Setting Sun Productions. Our Sacred Obligation, recounts the historic, and now-threatened, relationship between the Yurok Tribe and Klamath River salmon. The work of the Yurok recently lead to the decision to remove four dams on the Klamath River. You don't want to miss this, RSVP to join us for the screening! https://waenvironment.cmail19.com/t/i-l-qhkdhdy-urdtidutr-y/ Hope to see you there! Rein Attemann (he/him) Puget Sound Campaign Manager Washington Conservation Action I have watched the film (https://youtu.be/tJKq8nWliog). It is very good, and also short (24 min), so a lot of time is being reserved for the additional speakers and discussion. Please, for the sake of the film producers and organizers, follow the link above to register/RSVP. But if you are running late, this link to the showing should work: https://sierraclub.zoom.us/j/91524203102. Don’t be late or you’ll miss the film! Thurs, March 2: Wonderfully Made: LGBTQ+R(eligion). We are again notshowing a film, but encouraging people to attend the in-person screening of Wonderfully Made: LGBTQ+R(eligion) at the Seattle University Pigott Auditorium. This is a new film that combines fine art and documentary to explore LGBTQ+ identity in the Catholic church. There is a reception at 5pm followed by the film screening at 6pm and a Q&A with the director Yuvall David and executive producer Mark McDermott. Register at https://seattleux.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ZrDPdU0WCJYIse. Thurs, Mar 9: Inhabitants: Indigenous Perspectives on Restoring Our World (1 hr, 16 min) https://www.inhabitantsfilm.com A natural follow-up to Our Sacred Obligation is this highly rated documentary. For millennia, Native Americans successfully stewarded and shaped their landscapes, but centuries of colonization have disrupted their ability to maintain their traditional land management practices. From deserts, coastlines, forests, mountains, and prairies, Native communities across the US are restoring their ancient relationships with the land. As the climate crisis escalates these time-tested practices of North America's original inhabitants are becoming increasingly essential in a rapidly changing world. Thurs, Mar 16: To The End See https://www.totheendfilm.com. We conclude this series with climate change legislation. I’ve never seen a movie rated so highly by the “Critics” and slammed so strongly by the “Audience” on Rotten Tomatoes. Filmed over four years of hope and crisis, To the End captures the emergence of a new generation of leaders and the movement behind the most sweeping climate change legislation in U.S. history. The award-winning team behind Knock Down the House follows four exceptional young women— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, activist Varshini Prakash, climate policy writer Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and political strategist Alexandra Rojas— as they grapple with new challenges of leadership and power and work together to defend their generation’s right to a future. From street protests to the halls of Congress, these bold leaders fight to shift the narrative around climate, revealing the crisis as an opportunity to build a better society. Including up-to-the-minute footage that culminates in 2022’s landmark climate bill, To the End lifts the veil on the battle for the future of our world, and gives audiences a front seat view of history in the making. For these last two films we return to our usual time, Thursday, 7pm, and zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043...

Friends of St Pat’s, Here is our schedule of documentaries for the next 3 weeks. I know that you will enjoy seeing and discussing these films covering topics on the environment, specifically climate change, and then (mostly) changing focus to issues facing parishes of the Catholic church in the United States. This is a long email, so be prepared to scroll a long way through the descriptions below. Join us on zoom, Thursday, Jan 26, Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16, at 7 pm, for viewing and discussion with friends via our usual zoom link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 Jan 26: Taking Root: The Vision of Environmentalist Wangari Maathai (1 hr, 20 min) TAKING ROOT tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy—a movement for which this charismatic woman became an iconic inspiration. As a child at St. Cecilia's Intermediate Primary School in Nyeri, Kenya, she became fluent in English and converted to Catholicism. She was involved with the Legion of Mary, whose members attempted "to serve God by serving fellow human beings." As an adult she said: "It is the people who must save the environment. It is the people who must make their leaders change. And we cannot be intimidated. So we must stand up for what we believe in." If this were not enough to recommend this documentary, Wangari Maathai was the inspiration behind Laura’s Song of the Tree on the She is Remembered CD! Feb 2: Chasing Ice (1 hr, 14 min) For the next 2 weeks we will switch to the effects of climate change on the Arctic. The acclaimed 2012 documentary (96% Rottentomatoes critics score) Chasing Icecaptures the urgency of climate change while prevailing as entertainment, thanks the awe-inspiring scenery and James Balog's charisma.” National Geographic photographer James Balog was once a skeptic about climate change. But through his Extreme Ice Survey, he discovers undeniable evidence of our changing planet. In Chasing Ice, Balog deploys revolutionary time-lapse cameras to capture a multi-year record of the world's changing glaciers". His hauntingly beautiful videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate. Traveling with a team of young adventurers across the brutal Arctic, Balog risks his career and his well-being in pursuit of the biggest story facing humanity. As the debate polarizes America, and the intensity of natural disasters ramps up globally, Chasing Ice depicts a heroic photojournalist on a mission to deliver fragile hope to our carbon-powered planet. Directed by Jeff Orlowski Feb 9: The Melting Ice of the Arctic: Signs of Change (1/2) The Melting Ice of the Arctic: Who Owns the North (2/2) This is a pair of recent (2022) documentaries produced by a German TV news network. Soon the Arctic will be ice-free in summer. While many are concerned about the consequences for the global climate, countries like Russia and the US, as well as China and Canada see an ice-free Arctic as an opportunity, offering everything from new trade routes to mineral resources and tourism. In two episodes, this documentary reports on a region of the world that is changing dramatically because of climate change, affecting the lives of the people who make their home in the Arctic. The film team experiences first-hand what it means to live at the mercy of the forces of nature in this inhospitable region, which makes for an adventurous and frightening journey. In the first part of the documentary, they fly low over the fascinating icy landscape of Greenland, filming the fjords and mighty glaciers of the loneliest places in the world. The current Arctic thaw, however, is felt far beyond this lovely, isolated place. Progressing faster here than in the rest of the world, climate change is moving the Arctic into the focus of global politics. Littoral states and world powers are fightiung for influence here. At the heart of their interest: access to mineral resources and new transport routes. Because, as the ice melts, new, shorter shipping routes are opening up. Is a new conflict looming at the North Pole? Feb 16. People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States We return to issues in the Catholic Church with this new (Oct, 2022) America Magazine (The Jesuit Review) documentary. It visits four communities across the country with issues largely quite different from those we face here in Seattle. The capsule summary: "We traveled to the dairy farmlands of Wisconsin, where parishes are ‘clustering’ at a rapid pace. We went to the suburbs of Phoenix, Ariz., where parishes are booming due to internal and external immigration, and where the big challenge now is integrating Hispanic and Anglo communities. We journeyed down to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, where intensifying climate crises are dramatically impacting longstanding ways of life. And finally, we went to the big city in Boston, Mass., where the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the parish to grow its digital community, which has since expanded around the world.” Each of the 4 destinations gets 15 min in this 1 hr documentary. For more information, see https://www.americamagazine.org/people-of-god-parish-documentary.

Change of Movie Night; Prophetic Voices series update St Pat’s Movie Night friends, We are changing Movie Night to Thursdays because of a number of conflicts on Tuesdays and general preference for Thursdays among all those who have been attending. This shift will begin with this week’s showing of Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story. Here is the short statement from my last email: — Dec 1: Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story Dorothy Day was a grandmother, anarchist, prophet, journalist, pacifist and much more. The FBI once considered her a threat to America’s national security. Despite often being critical of leadership in her own Catholic Church, Rome is now considering her for sainthood. (57 min) — Dec 15: Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story Born the grandson of enslaved people, Howard Thurman became a “spiritual mentor” for the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring many of the leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Jackson and Congressman John Lewis. Thurman’s book Jesus and the Disinherited was said to be in King’s briefcase wherever he traveled. Today it is considered a spiritual classic. (57 min) — Jan 5 (tentative): Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel was a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr and the entire Civil Rights Movement, a leading critic of the Vietnam War, a champion for Soviet Jews and a pioneer in the work of interfaith dialogue. (57 min) — Chris C-B did a little research and found an interview with the director Martin Doblmeier that discusses this series under the heading “Common threads among five prophetic voices of the 20th century.” It is a short, worthwhile read at https://www.christiancentury.org/article/interview/common-threads-among-five-prophetic-voices-20th-century . — So, join us on Zoom each of the next three Thursdays at 7 pm for viewing and discussion: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 Please note that the Zoom link posted here will be good for all movie night presentations and that folks might want to save the link for future presentations as there will not be an email like this every week. — Update on our canon law appeal: In my last email I told you all that I had received from the Dicastery of the Clergy a letter saying that they had received our petition and that “Your petition appears to have been placed within the peremptory time limits and to the correct curial Institution, and is hereby accepted for examination in accord with the norms of article 137 §1 of the “General Regulations of the Roman Curia”, recognizing as the object the decree mentioned above.” So, what happens next? How do we proceed with our case to the Apostolic Signatura if the Dicastery for the Clergy (DC) rejects our appeal? Our case manager at the St Joseph Foundation explained that: The Dicastery has 90 days to respond from the date of acceptance. I have February 26 as the time limit for the DC in the case of St. Patrick’s case. And If the DC rejects the appeal, there are two phases to the Signatura. The [St Joseph] Foundation will assist with drafting the Appeal to the first phase. Once the case moves to the second phase, you will have to hire an Advocate; and he will use the work thus far to plead the case. He will draft his own arguments, etc. — That’s all for now. Have a blessed season of Advent and see you soon on zoom. Paul

We are moving in a different direction for the next few weeks, viewing documentaries on some of the most inspiring figures in the world of religion from the 20th century. Barring any calendar conflicts or constraints that pop up, these will be: Nov 15: Bonhoeffer Despite his untimely death at the age of 39 at the hands of the Nazis, German-born Dietrich Bonhoeffer has emerged as one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century. Educated in both Germany and at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, Bonhoeffer became one of the early voices of resistance to the rise of Adolf Hitler. He helped form one of the seminaries for the rebellious Confessing Church, a breakaway church whose members resisted National Socialism. (90 min) Nov: 22: An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer remains one of the most quoted writings in American literature. Yet Niebuhr’s impact was far greater, as presidents and civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., often turned to Niebuhr’s writings for guidance and inspiration on the most volatile political and social issues of the 20th Century. (57 min) Nov 29: Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story Born the grandson of enslaved people, Howard Thurman became a “spiritual mentor” for the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring many of the leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Jackson and Congressman John Lewis. Thurman’s book Jesus and the Disinherited was said to be in King’s briefcase wherever he traveled. Today it is considered a spiritual classic. (57 min) These are three of a series of five documentaries on people considered “prophetic voices of the 20th century”. Of the remaining two, we watched “Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story” early during the pandemic (June 3, 2020). Depending on interest we could watch this again and the final movie, “Spiritual Audacity: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story”. Join us on Zoom each of the next three Tuesdays at 7 pm for viewing and discussion: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 Please note that the Zoom link posted here will be good for all movie night presentations and that folks might want to save the link for future presentations as there will not be an email like this every week.

Having seen "The Letter", and perhaps been overwhelmed by the climate-related weather extremes the world is experiencing, many of us may feel despair and anxiety. This week's "movie" is actually a seminar presentation addressing this topic. Join us for viewing and discussion: St Pat’s Movie Night, Tuesday, Nov 8 (Election Day!), 7pm on Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85347180376?pwd=TGtYV1RuMHVoRmZXaUE2T05rUGZ3UT09 Beyond Climate Despair: Reclaiming Hope in a Warming World Seminar presentation by Dr. Jennifer Atkinson at the Center for Climate Action and Sustainability. Evergreen State College. Oct 12, 2022 It is easy to get weighed down by the enormity of the climate crisis, and overcome by anxiety and grief. There is much to mourn as we see the loss of biodiversity and extreme weather events unfolding all around us. It’s necessary to recognize the grief, and its emotional toll in order to find the strength to take meaningful action and change. To quote Prof. Atkinson, “To successfully navigate the long emergency ahead, we need to build inner resilience, not just seawalls and solar panels.” Dr. Jennifer Atkinson is an Associate Professor of environmental humanities at the University of Washington, Bothell. Her seminars on Eco-Grief and Climate Anxiety have been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, Seattle Times, NBC News and many other outlets. Dr. Atkinson is currently working on a book titled An Existential Toolkit for the Climate Crisis, which offers strategies to help young people navigate the emotional toll of climate breakdown. She leads public seminars on climate and mental health in partnership with youth activists, psychologists, climate scientists and policy makers. Her podcast Facing It also gives people tools to channel eco-anxiety into action. See also: https://www.drjenniferatkinson.com/.

A reminder for tonight's 7pm St Pat's Movie Night, Oct 25: Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 Meeting ID: 890 1505 1980 Passcode: 375354 and a look ahead to next week's movie St Pat's Movie Night, Nov 1: Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman's Journey to Sainthood Many of you were introduced to Sr. Thea Bowman at least once in previous movies. "Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood," presents the riveting life of Sister Thea Bowman, an African American Catholic Franciscan Sister who used her powerful gifts to educate and challenge the church and society to grow in racial inclusivity. Her skills of preaching, music, and teaching moved many Catholics to begin to confront their own racism while she urged her African American brothers and sisters to claim their gifts and share their “fully functioning” personhood. Thea worked tirelessly to proclaim this message until her untimely death from breast cancer in 1990. The film makes a strong connection between Thea’s Gospel call for justice, love and unity and the current effort of Black Lives Matter activists and efforts to combat systemic racism. Many in the film cite Thea’s voice as an influence on their ongoing efforts to achieve social and racial justice. Production of "Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood" was made possible with funding from the Catholic Communications Campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as support from various foundations and congregations of U.S. men and women religious. https://www.sistertheabowman.com Time: Oct 25, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 Meeting ID: 890 1505 1980 Passcode: 375354

The National Catholic Reporter yesterday (Oct 18) featured an article on a webinar organized by Faith in Public Life titled "Protecting Democracy & Voting Rights: A Conversation With Catholic Activists." The webinar built on a statement that Faith in Public Life released Sept. 27 in which Catholic leaders wrote, "Voter suppression is a sin and silence is complicity." This, and the current elections, make our next movie night presentation all the more important. The documentary “Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote” (https://www.bravenewfilms.org/suppressed) is a powerful documentary about the growing threat of voter suppression and election sabotage to our 2022 midterm elections. In 2021, 19 states passed 34 new voter laws following the Big Lie of the 2020 election. The film focuses on this recent wave of voter suppression and subversion laws being enacted in states, and how the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp provides a case study for understanding today’s voter suppression laws across the country. The documentary includes perspectives from voters in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and Georgia that highlight how these new laws will affect their constitutional right to vote. Suppression tactics covered in the film include: deliberate barriers to registration; polling place closures; voter purges; missing absentee ballots; extreme wait times at polling locations; exact match disqualifications; new vote by mail limitations; changes to ballot collection and drop off and more. Voter suppression laws disproportionately affect American Students, Senior Citizens, Black, Indigenous, Latine, and People of Color from casting their ballots. Suppressed and Sabotaged 2022 is a call to action against the calculated, unconstitutional and racist attacks intended to suppress the right to vote in America. For those new to our Movie Night, you might be interested to know that we have shared over 60 films since the beginning of the pandemic (April 2020). Join us on zoom for community building, viewing, and discussion next Tuesday, Oct 25, at 7 pm. Here is the zoom invitation: Paul Sampson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: St Pat's Movie Night Time: Oct 25, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83839671043?pwd=NENlelB1dWZvZHVTTmRuS04xQ0tQUT09 Meeting ID: 890 1505 1980 Passcode: 375354 One tap mobile +12532158782,,89015051980#,,,,*375354# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,89015051980#,,,,*375354# US (Houston)

I apologize for leaving a lot of people hanging regarding the resumption of St Pat's Movie Nights. I had thought I might bet it started by today, but our son, Sasha, is visiting from Coeur d'Alene (and I didn't leave enough advance notice). So now, finally, we will share "The Letter" next Tuesday, Oct 18, at 7pm. I will be getting the word out also via one or more email lists and we will be inviting people from St Joe's and Our Lady of Guadalupe for this special Laudato Si event. This is a very important for our Care for Creation groups and I expect that many people will want to see it more than once. There will be opportunities for in-person viewing as well as remote viewing with a planned discussion agenda. You can watch it on your own at any time. See https://theletterfilm.org for more details. I hope to see many of you on zoom next Tuesday. Here is the zoom information. Paul Sampson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: St Pat's Movie Night Time: Oct 18, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89015051980... Meeting ID: 890 1505 1980 Passcode: 375354 One tap mobile +12532158782,,89015051980#,,,,*375354# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,89015051980#,,,,*375354# US (Houston) And, incidentally, for those new to our movie night, you'll see a scheduled start time of 7pm, but it has been our tradition to chat a little and wait for late-comers before starting the movie at 7:10 pm.

After two weeks off, St Pat’s Movie Night returns with a pair of movies focused on Israel. These will be shown on Wednesday, May 11. The first will be a short (35 min) feature called “I Am Israel”. This award-winning 2017 short film (do we ever show a documentary that isn’t “award winning”?), gives an intimate look at the lives of those who live in the Land and about the relationship between Jewish people and the land of Israel. There are few reviews, but one from a Jewish organization says: “The film presents a very positive view of Israel. The focus is primarily on biblical sites, and we do not see how Israeli citizens have been affected by the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. … Ultimately, the film accomplishes what it sets out to do. It reminds the audience that God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham, that prophecies about Israel are coming true, and that we need to stand with Israel against those who want to destroy her. It will give people a greater desire to visit the Holy Land if they have not already done so, and for those who are passionate about Jewish evangelism, they will feel more inspired to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the salvation of the chosen people. You can learn more about this short film at iamisraelfilm.com.” I don’t want to try to do justice to the current state of the conflict in Palestine, but I was interested in the earlier history told in a 2015 PBS documentary “1913: Seeds of Conflict”. Breaking new ground and shattering old myths, this one-hour documentary explores the little-known history of Palestine during the latter part of the Ottoman Empire, a time of relative harmony between Arabs and Jews. Living side by side in the multi-lingual, cosmopolitan city of Jerusalem, Jews, Christians and Muslims intermingled with a cultural fluidity enjoyed by all. How did this land of milk and honey, so diverse and rich in culture, become the site of today’s bitter and seemingly intractable struggle? Was there a turning point, a moment in time when things could have been different? Weaving the raveled threads of Arab and Jewish narratives back together, 1913: Seeds of Conflict provides new and fascinating insights into the dramatic events that took place in Palestine which set the stage for the coming century of unrest. (http://1913seedsofconflict.com ) So, join us for viewing and discussion of this pair of films on Wednesday, May 11, at 7pm on our usual zoom link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09

We will present an important new Care for Creation documentary, “The Story of Plastic” (https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/the-story-of-plastic-documentary-film/) this coming Wednesday after Easter, April 20. The Story of Plastic is a searing exposé revealing the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the false solution of plastic recycling. Different from every other plastic documentary you’ve seen, The Story of Plastic presents a cohesive timeline of how we got to our current global plastic pollution crisis and how the oil and gas industry has successfully manipulated the narrative around it. From the extraction of fossil fuels and plastic disposal to the global resistance fighting back, The Story of Plastic is a life-changing, Emmy-winning film depicting one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. On Friday afternoon, April. 20, there will be a panel discussion and community conversation hosted by the Episcopal Church of Western Washington (https://adultfaithformation.ecww.org/april-screening/). So, join us on Wednesday after Easter, April 20, at 7pm, for viewing and discussion on our usual zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09.

For more information on Mary McAleese, https://www.marymcaleese.com/, and for more information about Sr. Joan Chittister, https://www.joanchittister.org/

We continue with our Lenten Wednesday Movie Night series with episodes 3 & 4 of the first season of “The Chosen,” the well-received, crowd-funded series about the life of Jesus. Don’t worry if you missed the first two episodes this past week. You can watch episodes 1 & 2 on your own at the series website (https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen) in order to be introduced to Mary Magdalen, the fishermen Andrew & Simon, Matthew the tax collector, and Nicodemus, the Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Then join us for viewing and discussion of these next two episodes. There is also supplementary material on the series website, including a “Biblical Roundtable” on each episode with the Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant advisors of the producer of the series (himself an Evangelical). So, this Lent, come and see Jesus through the eyes of those that met him. Join us this Wednesday, March 16, at 7pm, on our usual zoom link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09, as we will see much more of Jesus himself, who appeared only at the ends of episodes 1 & 2: Episode 3: Jesus Loves the Little Children: Jesus befriends and teaches the group of children who discover His camp on the outskirts of Capernaum. Episode 4: The Rock On Which It Is Built: With his life and family under threat from Rome, Simon spends one last night fishing in a desperate attempt to square his debts. Andrew spots a familiar face waiting for them on the shores of Galilee.

This Lent we will do something very different in our Wednesday Movie Night series: we will show all 8 episodes (2 episodes per week) of the first season of “The Chosen” (https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen), the amazing, crowd-funded series about the life of Jesus. A charismatic fisherman drowning in debt; a troubled woman wrestling with real demons; a gifted publican ostracized by his family and his people; a religious leader struggling with his beliefs. See Jesus through the eyes of those that met him. Season 1 was funded in Nov 2019 by 75,346 people contributing a total of $10 million in record time, making The Chosen the largest crowdfunded media project in history. Season 2 was fully funded in Nov 2020 by 125,346 people contributing to the total of $10 million. Season 3 is fully funded and “coming soon”. Funding is underway for Season 4, with plans for a total of 7 seasons. Viewer ratings of the series are unbelievably high (99% from 2795 ratings on RottenTomatoes; a weighted average of 9.6/10 from 24,254 users on IMDb; 5.0/5 on 258,300 reviews for “The Chosen” mobile App in the Apple store). This Wednesday, March 9, at 7pm, we will show the 1st two episodes of Season 1 (about an hour and a half in total): 1. I Have Called You by Name: A look at Mary Magdalene and her life right before she meets Jesus; Jesus' future apostles. 2. Shabbat: Learning more about the characters who will follow the great rabbi from Nazareth. With sufficient interest we will continue for the following 3 weeks. Join us on our usual movie zoom link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09, for this special series for Lent.

We are overdue to address the issue of gun violence in our Wednesday night movie series. The Price of Freedom (https://www.thepriceoffreedommovie.com) is an unflinching look at the gun violence epidemic in America and the role the National Rifle Association, with its outsized political and cultural influence, has played over time. The NRA believes the deaths of innocent Americans are a necessary price to pay for the freedom to own firearms without restrictions. By manipulating the narrative around guns and backing politicians who commit to upholding their agenda, the NRA has cost us far more than we realize. Featuring passionate pleas from President William J. Clinton, Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT); NRA Board Member and former NRA President David Keene, and activists on all sides of the issue, The Price of Freedom presents a compelling case for those brave enough to take a stand against the NRA in defense of our communities and collective future. Join us on Zoom on Wednesday, February 23rd , at 7 PM for viewing and discussion. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09

During this Black History Month, our next St Pat’s Movie Night will look close to home with a documentary about race and education based on the experiences of Roosevelt High School, yesterday and today. The 31 min documentary, Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black and White features interviews with alumni and current students spanning the time before, during and after attempts at bussing to desegregate Seattle schools. The documentary was produced by the group Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE). It premiered last Monday, Jan 31, with recordings of that premiere and zoom discussion available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLab7AX_xpc). See https://rhs4racialequity.org/roosevelt-high-school-beyond-black-white/ for background, discussion questions, and a curriculum guide prepared by RARE. Join us on zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09, Wednesday, Feb 9, at 7pm for viewing and discussion.

Since I Been Down – 2nd chance Unlike many of the prisoners in the documentary Since I Been Down, you have a 2nd chance -- to view the documentary shown this past Wednesday on St Pat’s Movie Night. All of us in attendance were uniformly surprised and impressed by all we learned in this documentary on the accomplishments of amazing prisoners, many serving life sentences, in the Washington State prisons. We want to encourage everyone to see the movie and consider attending the online zoom event, Discussion & Advocacy for Justice Reform, this Sunday evening, Feb 6, 7:00-8:30 PM. The film told by the people who have lived these conditions, unravels why children commit violent crime and how these children—now adults—are breaking free from their fate by creating a model of justice that is transforming their lives, our humanity, and the quality of life for all our children. The Sunday evening panel presentation and discussion will be led by Jennifer Kelly, Director of the Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative Northwest (JRJINW). Featured Panelists: • Gilda Sheppard, Director/Executive Producer/Writer of Since I Been Down • Kimonti Carter, the young incarcerated individual featured in the film; former President and current member of an over 40-year Washington State prisoner-initiated program, the Black Prisoners’ Caucus. Kimonti founded TEACH (Taking Education and Creating History), an innovative prisoner education program • Anthony Powers, Executive Director/founder of the American Equity and Justice Group; Reentry Director for the Seattle Clemency Project; Founder of the Redemption Project and former Chair of the Black Prisoners Caucus’ Legislative Committee We hope to follow the February 6th event with an Interfaith Listening Session. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/since-i-been-down-film-discussion-advocacy-for-justice-reform-tickets-230492347817. A Zoom link for the film and discussion event will be emailed to you upon registration.

We have an especially interesting documentary for this coming Wednesday’s movie night, “Since I Been Down” (https://www.sinceibeendown.com): Meet Kimonti Carter. Joined a gang at age 11. At age 18, sentenced to 700 years in prison for his role in a drive by shooting in 1997. Against all odds, Kimonti became an inspirational role model within the prison system. As a leader of the Black Prisoners' Caucus, at age 34, Kimonti founded TEACH (Taking Education and Creating History), a remarkably innovative prisoner education program. Kimonti was part of a community profoundly impacted by the city's disinvestment in housing, education, and employment as well as our policies in the 1990's. This film, told by the people who have lived these conditions, unravels why children commit violent crime and how these children – now adults – are breaking free from their fate by creating a model of justice that is transforming their lives, our humanity and the quality of life for all our children. Join us Wednesday, Feb 2, at 7 pm, on zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09, for viewing and discussion. And, if you are interested, there is a follow-up event on Sunday, Feb 6, at 7pm: Since I Been Down -- Film Discussion & Advocacy for Justice Reform To learn more, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/since-i-been-down-film-discussion-advocacy-for-justice-reform-tickets-230492347817