Carpe Diem

 

Carpe Diem(Latin for “seize the day”) is a community of parishioners aged 55+ years old at Sacred Heart Church providing opportunities for social connection and outreach, spiritual and personal growth, and service within the parish and wider community.

Members and friends enjoy quarterly catered luncheons, monthly healing Masses (with hospitality hour), and potluck dinners. There are also weekly bridge groups and occasional daytrips. These have included: a Seattle Symphony series, a Microsoft art tour, a trip to view the Bellevue Botanical Gardens’ Christmas lights, guided tours of the Bellevue Art Museum and new Bellevue City Hall, a Christmas concert at Kirkland Performance Center, and a July 4th fireworks cruise. Carpe Diem members also have produced fancy name badges and spiffy fleece vests for members, as well as directories that include contact information for 160+ members!

Won’t you please join us? We always welcome new members and friends — the more, the merrier! See “Membership” section below for details.

Carpe Diem Prayer

Here we are, Lord, your older children.

We come today to honor you in our own special way.

We have been busy with many things.

In our lives we have sometimes been more like Martha than Mary.

But we have more time now, and we ask your help to spend it well.

Give us the strength to be an inspiration to our families.

Grant us the courage to be positive, when we are faced with the challenges of life’s journey.

Give us the energy to try new things, to wake up to an exciting new day,

and appreciate your beautiful world. Let us bring joy and laughter to those around us.

Assist us in enjoying and cherishing each other, in being tolerant of our frailties and short-comings.

Let us appreciate each other’s gifts, talents, and shared life experiences.

By being closer to each other, we are closer to You.

We have many things for which to be grateful.

You have given us so much.

We thank you for all your gifts and even for the challenges in our lives.

We thank you for each other. We thank you for Carpe Diem and our community at Sacred Heart.

Amen. (Written by Marian Brusselback)

Daytrips & Concerts & Plays — Oh My!

Members are encouraged to help plan activities, and to reach out to others with similar interests. If you have a great idea for a daytrip or other interesting get-together, please contact Mary Dickins or a member of the Carpe Diem steering committee (contact information listed in separate section below). We’ll be happy to support you and help get the word out! Several events are currently in the planning stages, including a fall trip to Ste. Michelle Winery. Check this space and/or in the parish bulletin for details soon.

Healing Mass & Coffee Hour

All are warmly invited to join in the monthly Healing Mass at 9am on select Thursdays of each month.  After Mass, Carpe Diem members provide beverages, munchies, and good conversation in the narthex.

The next Healing Masses are:

  • November 10th 2011
  • December 15th 2011
  • January 12th 2012
  • February 9th 2012
  • March 8th 2012
  • April 12th 2012
  • May 10th 2012
  • June 14th 2012

Quarterly Luncheons
Meet old friends and make new ones at one of our delicious catered luncheons held quarterly in the narthex. (60 to 80 people usually attend!) Sometimes after the meal, we have special entertainment or interesting presentations. Other times, we just relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Tickets are $15/person, and they are sold in advance only. Check out the dates below and mark your calendars now. (As each luncheon date approaches, details will be listed in the weekly parish bulletin and on the website.)

  • October 31st                 (Halloween – catered)
  • December 9th              (Christmas potluck lunch)
  • March 16th 2012        (St. Patrick’s Day Celebration-catered)
  • May 2nd 2012              (Spring Celebration – catered)
  • July 18th 2012             (Summer BBQ  – catered)
  • October 31st 2012      (Halloween – catered)
  • December 7th 2012   (Christmas Potluck lunch)

 

Monthly Potluck Dinners/Movie Nights

On the last Thursdays of each month from April through September, we gather in the narthex at 5pm for potluck dinner and socializing.  After concluding our meal, we adjourn to a conference room with comfortable seating and watch a full-length feature film.  Since food assignments (and movie titles) change monthly, please consult the weekly parish bulletin for details.  (You may also contact Mary Dickins for details, 425-450-3908, or at mdickins@sacredheart.org )

Below are the 2012 dates (all are Thursdays)
  • April 26th
  • May 31st
  • June 28th
  • July 26th
  • August 30th
  • September 27th

Bridge

Carpe Diem sponsors regular weekly bridge groups meeting downstairs in the parish social hall. (For schedules or other information, please contact Frank Powers, (425) 454-2550. You may drop in anytime you wish. Just bring your lunch — beverages will be provided.

Membership Info:

While guests and visitors are welcome to attend any of our events, please consider becoming an official member of Carpe Diem to help support our programming. Membership is open to parishioners aged 55 and over, and since we are self-supporting, we suggest an annual donation of $20 per member to help defray expenses.

Depending on your budget, you may contribute more — or less — if you like, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. (Members receive membership directories and wear fancy nametags at our luncheons!)

To obtain a membership form, please contact Mary Dickins, Pastoral Assistant for Carpe Diem, (425) 450-3908.

Steering Committee:

  • Mary Dickins*, (425) 450-3908 – Pastoral Assistant
  • Jane Arnold, (425) 455-3397
  • Judy Barnes, (425) 454-5446
  • Nancy Bell, (425) 454-1256
  • Lydia Carroll-Libbey, (425) 641-8362
  • Lucille Deuster, (425) 454-5118
  • Mildred Douthit, (425) 641-4949
  • Lucille Elbert, (425) 454-3566
  • Mary Geraghty, (425) 455-4261
  • Diane Gustaveson, (425) 453-6967
  • Jerry Harkleroad, (425) 455-2719
  • Stella Kahrs, (425) 454-0906
  • Frank Powers, (425) 454-2550
  • Rhoda Chirillo, (425) 646-9290

Please Note: All contact information listed here is confidential and should be confined to fostering Carpe Diem activities and member-to-member contacts. Using any of the information to facilitate personal business development or to solicit participation in or contributions to organizations beyond Sacred Heart parish violates the spirit of its intended use.