Special Event
July 20/21 
Fr. Aloysius' 25th Anniversary of Ordination Celebration
Fr. Aloysisus will celebrate the Masses as a thanksgiving offering to our parish whom he considered his second home during his early visits in the US. 

Fr. Aloysius Gonzaga is a Diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Kampala- Uganda. He had his seminary studies at Nswanjere Junior Seminary, Kisubi Minor Seminary, Katigondo National Major Seminary and Ggaba National Major Seminary, in Uganda. He was ordained priest on July 16th, 1994. 

Ministry 
Throughout his 25 years of priesthood, Fr. Aloysius has worked in the formation to prepare young men aspiring to become priests and to provide Christian formation to the youth generally. After his ordination, Fr. Aloysius worked in Mpigi parish for only eight months. Since then, he has taught at major seminaries, Katigondo National Major Seminary and St. Mbaaga Major Seminary respectively.

Connection with St. Thomas More Community 
Fr. Aloysius was connected to St. Thomas More after the 1983 Wakiso shooting (in Uganda) in which his parents, sister and brother met their tragic death, leaving him as the surviving witness of the incident. 
Looking back on the challenges that ensued thereafter, Fr. Aloysius has often recalled that it would not have been possible for him to make it to priesthood had it not been for the support of the St. Thomas More Community. Fr. Aloysius has always been, and will continue to be thankful to the Community of St. Thomas More for their morale and emotional support. Fr. Aloysius first visited St. Thomas More Parish while in Rome as a graduate student.

Fr. Aloysius is now in Battleground at Sacred Heart Church and Office
1603 N. Parkway Avenue, PO Box 38
Battle Ground, WA 98604…

  Summer Stretch, Expand Your Faith
 By Lorene Hanley Duquin,
 Take Out: Family Faith on the Go

Faith is an integral part of our lives; it is interwoven into everything we do.

Summer is a great time to refocus your family on faith, fellowship and fun!

The time you spend this summer strengthening your family’s faith will reap rewards in the fall when life begins to rev up again. You may even find that your kids want to continue some of the faith-filled summer fun all year long.

Make Mass a Priority

Resist the temptation to skip Mass during the summer months or when you are on vacation. You can make Mass something the whole family can look forward to by planning a fun family activity afterward. Or check to see if there are outdoor Masses at a parish near you. We believe that Jesus Christ is fully present in the Mass and the assembly gathered as the Body of Christ.

Do Some Spiritual Reading

Set aside some special time to introduce your children to the lives of the saints. The stories of these real-life people, who lived out their faith in courageous and inspiring ways, will serve as heroes and role models for your kids. We believe All of the faithful — both living and dead — are connected for all time through Jesus Christ.  

Visit a Holy Place 

Take a day trip to a monastery, a shrine, or a famous church so your children can experience some of the different types of spirituality that are part of the Catholic Faith. Ask if there are tours, and be sure to visit the gift shop. We believe in the divine presence of God among us.

Simplify Your Lives  

Summer is a great time to sort through clothing, toys, sports equipment, and other possessions with the intention of sharing what you have with people who are in need. Or have a garage sale and donate the proceeds to charity. We believe in sharing material possessions and justice among all people.

Do Something for Someone Else  

Make it a point to teach your children that an important part of faith in action is reaching out to others. Bring some summer flowers to a nursing home. Deliver a bag of groceries to the neighborhood or parish food pantry. Offer to help an elderly neighbor with a home-improvement project. We believe in the dignity of human life.   

Do Something Good for the Earth

Plan a family project that will help the whole family appreciate and protect God’s creation. It could be something as simple as planting a tree, using less water, walking or biking instead of hopping into the car, or expanding your efforts to recycle and reuse. We believe the Earth is God’s creation, and we are called to protect the environment. 

 Have God Talks

Build a campfire in your yard or at a local park, and instead of telling ghost stories, encourage your kids to tell “God stories.” You may be surprised at how your children have experienced the presence of God in their lives, and you may find that memories of your own God experiences begin to surface. We believe that God wants to be with us.

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