SEATTLE — In his annual letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Seattle, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne reflects on the “manifestations of the Lord’s presence and grace at work” he saw during 2023 and looks ahead to the challenges and joys of 2024.

The archbishop highlighted the launch of Partners in the Gospel, the archdiocese’s strategic planning initiative, as well as building bridges with cultural communities around the archdiocese and across the globe.

Partners in the Gospel was “a significant focus in 2023,” he said, and will continue to be in 2024. This planning process, born from a dwindling number of priests in the archdiocese, will see the creation of “parish families” made up of two or more parishes with one pastor and at least one parochial vicar.

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne speaks to youth and young adults during a prayer service in September 2023. A listening session followed. (Photo: Stephen Brashear)

After 11 months of consultation with clergy, lay leaders, parish and school staffs and parishioners, “I am discerning the parish families now and will announce them in early February,” Archbishop Etienne wrote. “Thank you to everyone who shared their insights and participated in the process of prayerfully experiencing our true partnership in the Gospel to become more fully the living Body of Christ.”

The archbishop acknowledged the implementation of parish families in July 2024 and the process of each family becoming one canonical parish over the next three years will not be easy.

“The first few years will be trying and will require us to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work of restructuring and re-envisioning together. This will no doubt be a challenge for many and will require grace and patience from all of us,” he wrote. “However, if we remain focused on Jesus and his call for us to be his missionary disciples, he will show us the way.”  

Beyond Partners in the Gospel, the archbishop said, 2023 had “several other noteworthy moments for us to reflect upon.” Among them:

Nuclear disarmament advocacy

Archbishop Etienne joined with other bishops to demand nuclear disarmament. This includes the letter they sent to G7 leaders and the Pilgrimage of Peace he and Archbishop John C. Wester of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe led to Japan in August, meeting “with our brother bishops in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to discuss ways our dioceses can partner in continuing to call for nuclear disarmament and peace,” he said.

During his Pilgrimage of Peace to Japan in August 2023, Archbishop Paul D. Etienne met Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Thurlow was 13 years old the day of the bombing. 

“After meeting with people who survived the atomic bomb and witnessing the devastation firsthand, I am convinced that we must not let the topic of nuclear disarmament fade into the background,” Archbishop Etienne wrote. “Because of this, we have a new Director of Integral Human Development who will be responsible for bringing these issues to the forefront and catalyzing Catholics to take action around unity, peace, and care for our common home.”

Building bridges in cultural communities

Archbishop Etienne highlighted attending the National Black Catholic Congress in July: “It was a joyful, educational and thought-provoking event for me to learn more and honor the experience of our Black Catholics. I will be a better pastor for having spent time learning with members of our Black Catholic Advisory Circle at this Congress.”

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne attends the National Black Catholic Congress with a contingent from the Archdiocese of Seattle in July 2024. (Photo: Courtesy Archbishop Etienne’s blog)

He also shared the work being done between the archdiocese and the Native community: “Our Archives team convened a meeting with members from nearly two dozen local tribes” to discuss the histories between the church and the tribes and to develop “a records policy that both provides access to records, while also protecting the privacy of the ancestors appearing in the records.”

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne joins the St. Kateri Tekakwitha celebration at St. Joachim Mission on the Lummi Reservation. (Photo: Stephen Brashear)

Synod

Archbishop Etienne was among Pope Francis’ appointees to the Synod on Synodality in Rome in October: “Synodality is not just a one-time event or a way to listen. It is that and much more. … Synodality calls all of us to rediscover and live the dignity of our baptism — as lay men and women, religious, deacons, priests and bishops — and to co-responsibility for the life of the Church.” During 2024, he added, the archdiocese will explore “how we can bring it to fruition in our parishes, our communities and our families.”

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne, appointed by Pope Francis to attend the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2023, greets the pope during a session. (Photo: Courtesy the Vatican)

Hope for the future

In addition to implementing Partners in the Gospel and bringing the synod to life in the archdiocese, spending time with the people of the archdiocese is among the archbishop’s 2024 goals.

Archbishop Paul D. Etienne is attentive as a young woman speaks during the archdiocese’s listening session for youth and young adults in September 2023. (Photo: Stephen Brashear)

“This past year, we restructured the Chancery so that I can spend more time out in the community,” he explained. “The two auxiliary bishops (Bishop Eusebio Elizondo and Bishop Frank Schuster) are now regional bishops providing support to the priests and parishes in their regions. I have a Chief Operating Officer and a Vicar General who together oversee the Chancery, allowing me more time to spend with you. I have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Mass with you, and I look forward to meeting more of you this year.”

Read Archbishop Etienne’s complete letter:  English    Español

Read Archbishop Etienne’s latest reflections and keep up to date on his activities by reading his blog, Truth in Love, archbishopetienne.com.