Thursday Note Home

Dear Visitation Families,

One of the characteristics I have noticed about Visitation Catholic School’s community is how much it feels like a big family here. Families support and care for one another. In times of crisis, support and care pours out to the families that have experienced loss and injury. I see constant generosity in what you freely share with others who are in need and with your warm response to any request. The staff appreciates your kindness expressed in Wednesday treats that are left in the Staff Room and in the thoughtful gifts from the secret pals. So, I just wanted to say an overall “Thank you!” and I am most thankful to be part of this community!

REMINDER TO MARK THIS DATE: October 28th, at 5:00, there will be a special Mass at St. Ann’s Church. All four parishes are involved as Archbishop Brunett officially installs Fr. Tuan as the Pastor of the four parish cluster. Several of our school children are involved as greeters or gift bearers. I would like to see as many of the children at this Mass, dressed in their uniforms, as possible. Any child who attends
this Mass in uniform will earn a free dress coupon. This is also a beautiful and solemn celebration.

CONFERENCES: You should be receiving your appointment time in today’s letter. If you did not receive a time, or you need to change the time you were assigned, please call the office.

SAFETY COMMITTEE: There are still a few spots open if you would like to be part of the safety group which is looking at safety and security issues in the school. Send your name in or call the office. Thanks to all of you who have already volunteered to be part of this committee.

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY: Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital is hosting a lecture series called “Tools For Parents”. The next lecture is on sleep deprivation among young children and how a lack of sleep can contribute to behavioral problems. The talk includes practical strategies to help children and their parents get the sleep they need. This is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24th, at 7:00 PM in the Kemper Center located at Annie Wright School. Tickets are $10 and you can register by calling 1-800-342-9919
or go to www.marybridge.org.

WELCOME: Four new students have joined the VCS family - two in Pre-K, a Kindergartener, and a fourth grader. Welcome!

THANK YOU: To Frances and Adam Wendel for the parachute they gave to Extended Care.

A WAY TO HELP: You can contribute to disadvantaged communities abroad and to victims of domestic violence through your holiday shopping. Products include home fragrance, bath and body care, makeup and more. Kathi Stewart is a consultant for The Body Shop. To view a catalogue or for more info call (253) 576-8466 or order online at www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/kstewart

CHESS CLUB: The first meeting of the Visitation Chess Club was well-attended with abilities ranging from near-master to total beginner! There are still some spots left if you would like your child (or yourself!) to be part of this great activity. It meets every Thursday in the library from 2:45 to 4:00.

ANNUAL FUND: The Annual Fund Drive begins on October 15th. Please consider how much you can contribute and respond when you are called.

SKATING PARTY: A great FUN raiser on October 19th. All Visitation Catholic School students attend free! Mark your calendars!

DID YOU HEAR? Your PTO raised $2000 in their first fundraiser of the year. Great work! Now get ready to order your holiday cookie dough from Oct. 23rd to Nov. 3rd. It will be delivered right before Thanksgiving break so you can bake up all your holiday cookies quick and easy! Speaking of Thanksgiving, PTO is hosting the Turkey Feathers Contest again with all proceeds going to Visitation Food Bank. Watch for details! PTO is also looking for a few good chili chefs to organize and run the 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off on December 2nd. This FUN raiser involves cooking up your favorite chili recipe and bringing it to share. Prizes will be awarded for the best and most original recipes! Check out the PTO report for more information on the really fun upcoming events. Thank you PTO !!!

SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITY: If you have the opportunity, come to Visitation Church any Friday, from 9:00 – 10:00. That is when the school children attend weekly Mass. It is wonderful to listen to their voices raised in prayer and song!

POR FAVOR: The staff is looking for the donation of an espresso maker for the staff room. A barista has been discovered in our midst. If you happen to have an unused espresso maker taking up room in your closet or cupboard, we promise to give it a good home.

Peace,

Sheila Harrison

The Week Ahead: Oct. 9 - 15

Everything you need to know for the upcoming week.

Monday, October 9

No school - Columbus Day!

Tuesday, October 10

• 9AM - Scrip due in office (www.glscrip.com)
• return Thursday folders to school (deadline)
• Advanced Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM
• Adult Enrichment classes with Fr. Bryan Dolejsi at St. Ann's Hall - 7PM to 9PM

Wednesday, October 11

• Beginning Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM
• Student Council Meeting - 3PM
• Cub / Boy Scout Recruitment Meeting - Visitation Lower Hall - 7PM (Welcome to join ANY time. Contact John Albers.)

Thursday, October 12

• Thursday folders and scrip sent home with students
• Brownie Girl Scouts - 2:45PM to 4:15PM - Collier Center
• Chess Club - 2:45PM to 4:15PM - School Library - bring a chess set if you have one. (Limited to 4th - 8th graders)

Friday, October 13

• Full Dress Uniform
• All School Mass - 9AM
• Beginning Band - 11:45AM to 12:15PM
• Advanced Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM
• Book Fair Setup - 1:15PM - Volunteers needed - School Library
• Scrip available at PM carpool - 2:45PM. If raining, will sell in PTO room.

Saturday, October 14

• Visitation Fall Festival - 10AM to 6:30PM - Upper and Lower hall
• Festival Entertainment -12NOON to 4PM

Sunday, October 15

• Annual Fund Drive starts - Volunteers needed - Callers earn DOUBLE service hours!
• German Dinner - 2PM to 6PM - Lower hall
• Visitation Disciples Youth Group (grades 6th, 7th, and 8th) - 12NOON to 2PM - Collier Center. Contact Eugena Douglas at youthministry@visitationchurch.org

 
Volunteer Opportunities - (hours count towards commitment hours)

In Order by Date:

• Book Fair - Oct. 13th thru Oct 20th - Contact Mrs. Todd
• Fall Festival Entertainment Performers - Oct 14th, 12NOON to 4PM - Contact Mr. Leister.
• Fall Festival (Oct. 14) and German Dinner (Oct. 15th). Contact co-chairs Shirley Estabrook and Doris Leister at doris472@harbornet.com
• Annual Fund Drive - Oct 15 to 17 - 6PM to 8PM - Callers earn DOUBLE service hours! Contact Carol Loughridge at loughridgec@visitationschool.net
• Santa Shop helpers - Dec. 5th thru 8th
• St. Nick's Day - Dec. 6th

Ongoing:

• Athletic School Board Members - Contact Mrs. Marcy at marcym@visitationschool.net (Be a part of the team!)
• Chess Club helpers. Meet every Thursday, 2:45PM to 4:15PM at School Library. Contact Mr. Ryng at ryngt@visitationschool.net
• PTO Communications - make weekly flyers. Contact Tona Mickelson.
• PTO Fundraising chair or two co-chairs. Contact Tona Mickelson.
• Treats / Snacks for staff on Wednesdays. Sign-up sheet posted in PTO room or contact Celeste Ayton.
• School Safety Committee Members
• Van or Truck with driver on a Friday needed to pick-up new computer equipment donated to school.
• Volleyball Coaches for 4th and 6th grades

 
Save and Send to Visitation School

• Campbell's product UPC labels - (includes Franco-American, Market Day, Pepperidge Farms, Prego, Swanson, V-8 lids)
• Cell Phones - old
• Education Box Tops
• Ink Jet, Laser and Fax Cartridges

Columbus Day

Remember - no school Monday the 9th.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday Note Home

Dear Visitation Families,

In light of recent events, both on our playground and in schools around the nation, I would like to take a moment and talk about safety. This week one of our students had an accident on the playground. It was serious enough to require stitches to his leg. He is recuperating and will hopefully be back at school soon. I would like to commend our playground monitors, Christine Buzard and Joe Leister, because their actions ensured quick aid for the student while keeping all of the other students safe.

As always, when there is an accident involving injuries, we review what happened and look for ways to improve safety. Two actions came out of the review. First, Joe and Christine, along with help from Alex Desmonie, carefully examined the fence and removed severalold pieces of wire that were hanging from the fence. Second, I have temporarily banned football on the playground. Students may throw a football back and forth, but they may not run plays. The question is what activities are appropriate to the limitations of the space while still providing fun and physical movement?

We also reviewed security procedures with support personnel and Extended Care. We have good policies in place. All exterior doors, with the exception of the front door, are locked at all times. All visitors must stop in the office to get a visitor pass, and anyone without a pass is questioned. All fence gates are locked. Students are instructed to not speak with anyone at the fences during recess. All of our personnel are trained in CPR, or will be soon, and many have had first aid courses. These are all good procedures, but is there more we can do to ensure the safety of our children?

To help us answer these questions of safety and playground usage, I have asked Mary Bromberg, who heads the Policy and Planning Committee on the School Commission, to form a committee to examine issues of safety in all areas of our school and make recommendations. If you would like to be part of this committee, please call the office.

CALLING ALL FORMS: Speaking of safety issues, some emergency forms have not been returned.

These are absolutely vital when any emergency occurs. We have sent copies of the missing forms to any family missing them, so please check your envelope and if there are forms to be filled out, please fill them out and return them ASAP.

MARK THIS DATE: October 28th, at 5:00 there will be a special Mass at St. Ann’s Church. All four parishes are involved as Archbishop Brunett officially installs Fr. Tuan as the Pastor of the four parish cluster. Several of our school children are involved as greeters or gift bearers. I would like to see as many of the children at this Mass, dressed in their uniforms, as possible. Any child who attends this Mass in uniform will earn a free dress coupon. This is also a beautiful and solemn celebration.

DON’T FORGET THE FALL FESTIVAL: The annual Fall Festival is on Saturday October 14th. This is always a great event with lots of crafts, food, and fun. There is also going to be a talent show in the afternoon. Did you know that our own Fr. Tuan plays the trumpet? Don’t forget the German Dinner is Sunday 2PM – 6PM.

CONFERENCES: Slips were to be back to the office by today, Thursday, October 5th. We will send confirmations of your appointment time home on Thursday, October 12th. If you missed getting your slip back by October 5th, we will assume that any day or time is acceptable.

EARN FREE TUITION: Yes, that is what we meant! Ask for details.

BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Be a part of the fun by connecting our students with books they want to read and get some service hours done! You can be part of set up on Friday, the 13th at 1:15 until it’s done or the Wish List on Tuesday the 17th from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM or do Sales on Oct. 18th from 8:00AM to 7:30 PM, Oct.19th from 8:00 AM to 5:00 or Friday, Oct.20th from 12:00 until done for clean up. Sign up on the response portion of this letter.

PENNY WARS: Are your children checking everywhere for pennies to bring in? The reason is that Student Council is running a great fund raiser called Penny Wars. Each class has a jar outside of their door. The objective is to get the most pennies in your jar. You can sabotage other classes by putting nickels, dimes, quarters, or dollars into other jars, because those coins actually subtract the number of pennies. The Holy Name Society gets all of the proceeds. The contest ends on October 20th.

YEARBOOK: Please sign the response portion of this letter if you would NOT like your child’s photo to appear in the yearbook.

THANK YOU! We want to thank Toby and Sherri Dinkins for the 60 movies they donated to Extended Care.

OOPS: The October calendar says Popcorn is 25 cents; it is really 50 cents… sorry!

HELP: Your gently used uniforms are needed to replenish our emergency closet. We would appreciate your donations. Also, when your child borrows clothing, please see that it is returned.

Peace,

Sheila Harrison,
Principal

Michael Padgett's Guest Book

Michael Padgett, the father of one our beloved Visitation school students recently died. If you would like to sign his family's Tacoma News Tribune online obituary guest book go to the following link:

http://www.legacy.com/Tribnet/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=19294559

Interview with Fr. Bryan Dolejsi

In this radio interview, Fr. Bryan describes his call to the priesthood and shares the joys of priestly life.

http://www.cwfb.org/Interviews.php (Scroll down to interview. Listed in alphabetical order of first name, see "Fr.")

Or download the mp3.

The Week Ahead: October 1 - 7

Everything you need to know for the week ending October 7th.

Monday, October 2

2:00PM - Early school dismissal

Tuesday, October 3

• Free Dress. Bring can of food for food bank.
• return Thursday folders to school (deadline)
• 8th grade retreat
• Advanced Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM

Wednesday, October 4

Beginning Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM

Thursday, October 5

• Thursday folders and scrip sent home with students
• Parent Conference schedule slip deadline
• Chess Club starts - 2:45PM to 4:15PM - School Library. Bring a chess set if you have one. (Limited to 4th - 8th graders)
• Brownie Girl Scouts - 2:45PM to 4:15PM - Collier Center
• VITAE = Youth for Life - 6:30PM - Kick off potluck and information night for parents and students (invited grades 6. 7, 8) - St. Patrick's Church Hall.
• PTO Meeting - 7PM to 8PM - School Cafeteria, enter side door on playground.

Friday, October 6th

• Contest Ends - Campbell's UPC product labels and Education Box Tops
• Popcorn $.50
• Full Dress Uniform
• All School Mass - 9AM
• Beginning Band - 11:45AM to 12:15PM
• Advanced Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM
• Scrip available at PM carpool - 2:45PM. If raining, will sell in PTO room.

Monday, October 9th

Columbus Day - No school

Volunteer Opportunities

all hours count towards commitment hours

• Annual Fund Drive - Starts Oct 15 - Contact Carol Loughridge
• Athletic School Board Members - Contact Mrs. Marcy (Be a part of the team!)
• Book Fair - Oct. 16th through Oct 20th - Contact Mrs. Todd
• Chess Club helpers. Meet every Thursdays starting October 5th, 2:45PM to 4:15PM at School Library. Contact Mr. Ryng
• Fall Festival (Oct. 14) and German Dinner (Oct. 15th). Contact co-chairs Shirley Estabrook or Doris Leister
• Fall Festival Entertainment Performers - Oct 14th, 12NOON to 4PM - Contact Mr. Leister
• PTO Fundraising chair or two co-chairs
• Santa Shop helpers - Dec. 5th thru 8th
• St. Nick's Day - Dec. 6th
• Treats / Snacks for staff on Wednesdays. Sign-up sheet posted in PTO room or contact Celeste Ayton
• Van or Truck with driver on a Friday needed to pick-up new computer equipment donated to school.
• Volleyball Coaches for 4th and 6th grades

Fall Festival 2006: Celebrating our Diversity

Come one, come all!

Saturday October 14 / 10 AM - 6:30 PM

Visitation Upper Hall

• Ethnic Food by the bowl or by the plate
• Bake Sale whole or by the slice
• Real Stuff Raffles - Tickets cost less when you buy more
• Craft Tables
• Pail Sale $10 a pail, basket, bowl which are filled with goodies
• Live Entertainment from noon to 4 PM (the Talent Show!)
• Ethnic dancers, drummers, sing along
• Singing, Dancing and Skits

Visitation Lower Hall

• Fun and Games 10 – 4 PM with prizes
• NEW! Slot car races
• Cake Walk

Sunday October 15

Visitation Lower Hall

2 PM – 6 PM

German Dinner

• Adults $8.00
• Ages 5-12 $4.00
• Ages 4 and under Free
• Dessert and beverage included
• Wheel of Fortune
• Raffle Drawings - need not be present to win

Talent Show

Our talents are God's gift to us. Our use of those talents is our Thank You.

We are looking for parish / school children and adults to share their talents on the afternoon of Saturday October 14th to entertain visitors at the Fall Festival.

If you can sing, dance, do magic, play an instrument, tell jokes, or anything that will make people smile, you are invited to thank God for the talents you have by joining us.

Specifics are:

1. Entertainment will be from noon to 4PM on Saturday, Oct 14th.
   
2. Entertainers will perform on the Upper Hall Stage with each act starting on the hour and half hour. This will allow approximately 9 periods of entertainment.
   
3. Limited to 20 minutes or less. This will allow the next performance to set up.
   
4. Microphones are available. Suggest you bring your music player if needed. We will have a spare just in case.
   
5. The MC will introduce your act unless you have someone more knowledgeable to do it.
   
6. Note: this entertainment will take place during Fall Festival activities which means people will be coming and going during your performance.

PLEASE call Joe Leister if you are interested, or think you might be interested but need more information.

Joe Leister,
Entertainment Coordinator ("recruited" by his wife)

The Week Ahead

Everything you need to know for the week ending September 29th.

Monday, September 25

• 9AM - Scrip due in office (www.glscrip.com)
  
• 2:00PM - Early school dismissal

Tuesday. September 26

• return Thursday folders to school (deadline)
  
• Advanced Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM
  
• Adult Enrichment classes with Fr. Bryan Dolejsi at St. Ann's Hall - 7PM to 9PM

Wednesday, September 27

• Beginning Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM
  
• Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser - 4PM to 7PM - Adults $8, Kids 12 and under $4 - Visitation Lower Hall - "Raise the Roof" (to replace Visitation hall roof)

Thursday, September 28

• Thursday folders and scrip sent home with students
  
• Brownie Girl Scouts - 2:45PM to 4:15PM - Collier Center
  
• Cub Scouts Pack Meeting - 7PM - Upper Hall (Welcome to join ANY time. Contact John Albers.)
  
• School Athletic Board Meeting - 6:30PM - PTO room - (Be a part of the team. All are welcome.)
  
• "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" (RCIA) starts - 7PM to 9PM - Visitation or St. Ann Parish. Contact Kate Amundson.

Friday, September 29

• Full Dress Uniform
  
• All School Mass - 9AM (6th grade leading music.)
  
• Band registration/contract and money due
  
• Beginning Band - 11:45AM to 12:15PM
  
• Advanced Band - 2:45PM to 3:20PM
  
• Scrip available at PM carpool - 2:45PM. If raining, will sell in PTO room.

Saturday September 30 or Sunday October 1

Wear Visitation School uniform to church of worship and receive Free Dress on Monday October 2nd (On Monday send note with student for teacher and bring a can of food.) See Family Handbook pg. 52 for more information.

Guest Book

As you know, Michael Padgett, a parent of one our beloved Visitation school student's recently died. If you would like to sign his families Tacoma News Tribune online guest book go to the following link. Guest Book

VCS Staff in the News

Saturday, 9/23/06 edition of the Tacoma News Tribune, page E3. Check out upper right hand corner photos. Does the name "Esther Dille-McCoy" ring a bell with you?

Volunteers Opportunities (all hours count towards commitment hours)

• Annual Fund Drive - Starts October 15 - Contact Carol Loughridge.
  
• Chess Club helpers. Meet every Thursdays starting October 5th, 2:45PM to 4:15PM in the School Library. Contact Thom Ryng.
  
• Fall Festival (Oct. 14) and German Dinner (Oct. 15th). Contact co-chairs Shirley Estabrook or Doris Leister.
  
• PTO Fundraising chair or 2 co-chairs
  
• Santa Shop helpers - Dec. 5th thru 8th
  
• Secret Pals for Visitation staff. Contact LoAnn Rector.
  
• St. Nick's Day - Dec. 6th
  
• Treats / Snacks for staff on Wednesdays. Sign-up sheet posted in PTO room or contact Celeste Ayton.

Visitation Tips

Extended Care - Students can attend Extended care between 7:45AM and 8AM before school without being charged a fee.

Save and Send to Visitation School

• Campbell's product UPC labels - (includes Franco-American, Market Day, Pepperidge Farms, Prego, Swanson, V-8 lids)
  
• Cell Phones - old
  
• Education Box Tops
  
• Ink Jet, Laser and Fax Cartridges

For more information go to Labels for Education and Boxtops for Education

Thanks to Robin Estabrook and the PTO for this post

Saturday is Race Day!

On Saturday, September 16, our own Viking Dragon Boat team will race at the Commencement Bay Maritime Festival.

Come cheer Visitation on!

The best place to view the races is the beach at Thea's Park at South 4th and Dock Streets.

Opening ceremonies begin at 9:00AM, with the races starting at 10:00. The Viking paddlers will be in four heats, and we'll finish off the day with a one-on-one race against the Boys & Girls Club.

For more information, check out the Maritime Festival web site.

Show your school spirit by purchasing a Dragonboat team t-shirt.

Hope to see you there!

Golfing and Paddling Saturday

The Third Annual Visitation Golf Classic will be held tomorrow beginning at 10:00AM at Meadow Park Golf Course. Proceeds benefit VCS. For more information,  download the PDF flyer.

Viking Dragonboaters: remember we have practice at 10:30AM on Saturday. Only one more practice before the Maritime Festival!

First Day of School

Our first full day back from the summer break is Tuesday, September 5th. The first bell will ring at 8:05, and the tardy bell will ring at 8:15.

Welcome back; we've missed you!

School Orientation on August 30th

As a reminder, school orientation will be on Wednesday from 8:00AM to Noon, and from 1:00PM to 3:00PM.

Come in any time during those hours with your child to meet the teachers, drop off supplies, and pick up a short assignment that will be due on the first day of school.

Welcome back!

Viking Dragonboat on the Foss!

We had a fantastic practice on Sunday! Sixteen students and recent alumni turned out. Mrs. Marcy, Mr. Ryng, and a few parents rounded out the crew. It was great fun, and we're looking forward to our next practice on September 2nd.

Important Dragonboat Schedule Change

Due to unforeseen circumstances, TDBA has been forced to reschedule our first practice session.

On behalf of everyone here, please accept my personal apologies for this inconvenience. It is my hope that everybody will be able to adjust to the new time. If you have any issues, please contact me as soon as possible. If you miss this first practice, it is still possible for you to be on the team, but please try to make it if you can.

The first practice will now be held at TDBA on Sunday, August 20th, at 3:00PM. The times and dates of the other practices are unchanged. We will be calling everyone who signed up to confirm the new time and date.

Again, I apologise for any inconvenience this rescheduling may cause.

Thom Ryng,
Marketing and Admissions Director
Visitation Catholic School

A Busy Saturday!

Dragonboats

A reminder to all students interested in dragonboating - our first practice is on Saturday the 19th, beginning at 10:30AM at TDBA. See you there!

South Tacoma Classic Car Show

The Car Show is also on the 19th.

We still need some volunteers for our booth! If you are available, please contact Thom Ryng at ryngt @visitationschool.net. Indicate which shift(s) you are interested in: 8AM to noon or noon to 4PM. We'll also need some help with cleanup after 4.

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

We have somegreat volunteer opportunities coming up.

There are several community events in August where we're looking for a Visitation presence! If you're interested in helping represent your school at any of the following, please let us know just as soon as you can.

• Fircrest Fun Days (Aug. 11 and 12)
• South Tacoma Classic Car Show (Aug. 19)

If you can help your school with either of these, please e-mail Thom Ryng at ryngt@visitationschool.net.

Thank you for your support.

Father Nguyen Goes to Tacoma

June 17, 2006 / Photo by Adam Amato

---

The Rev. Tuan Nguyen, a fixture in Lewis County for the past 11 years, has accepted a reassignment to lead a four-church Roman Catholic parish in Tacoma. The move comes not long after Tuan's completion of a 260-page dissertation, on which he worked for three years, researching and discussing the challenges and contributions of Vietnamese priests in Western Washington.

Archbishop Alex J. Brunett of the Archdiocese of Seattle encouraged him to begin the project, Nguyen said. Many people had been discussing problems associated with foreign Catholic priests, he said, and more research was needed in the area.

Mary Wiley, a member of the congregation at Centralia's St. Mary's Church since the 1950s, helped Nguyen transcribe the massive project.

"He just had the desire to get this dissertation," said Wiley. "It was something he thought really had to be done."

Nguyen of all people, she said, recognized that foreign priests don't just step into a new community and fit in overnight.

"He wants them to have at least six months of information," she said. "It's just things like that that we don't realize."

THE TACOMA MOVE was actually a second request from Archbishop Brunett. After Nguyen finished the dissertation, the archbishop asked him to become the vicar to the Vietnamese in the Archdiocese of Seattle, though Nguyen politely declined.

"I like to be with people," said Nguyen, with his trademark grin, explaining why he turned down the first request.

"I thought the bishop had left me alone," he said, of his reassignment to south Tacoma. "But, they needed some pastor who is competent and has worked with a school. Not many people have the experience like I have here, and I'll bring this up to Tacoma."

In his new position, Nguyen said, he'll be the pastor of four different parishes: Sacred Heart Church, St. Anne Church, St. John of the Woods Church and Visitation Church in Tacoma. The four parishes vary from 450 to 1000 families, and Visitation Church includes the Visitation Catholic School.

"I'll have at least three assistants working with me, as a team," he said. "One of them is American, one is Samoan and one is Colombian, so we'll have four priests representing different countries and cultures."

Nguyen's energy and training were important factors in the decision for the reassignment, said Loren Lane, who has worked with Nguyen as the deacon of several of the Lewis County parishes.

"The archbishop was looking for someone who had the skills needed to bring a group of parishes together," said Lane, a retired park ranger who now serves as deacon of the Centralia, Chehalis, Pe Ell and Frances parishes. "He's a very dedicated, energetic, active pastor. He's always on the go, and he's always there to serve the people of the community."

The six parishes within the Lewis County cluster, which Nguyen will oversee until his move on July 1, total about 1,500 families, he said. The largest parish is St. Joseph in Chehalis with about 600 families. The Rev. David Mulholland will move from a parish in Bellingham to head the Catholic church in Lewis County.

NGUYEN WAS ordained in June of 1992, and worked in Vancouver and Bothell before taking over as the pastor of St. Mary's and St. Joseph in 1995.

After two years, he also became the pastor of Catholic parishes in Toledo, Winlock, Pe Ell and Frances, and he is currently the spiritual leader of the Hispanic Catholic community in Lewis County.

He arrived in the United States in 1981, after his family sent him and his 2-year-old cousin out of South Vietnam.

"I felt at home," he said, of his early years in Lewis County. "At first I was very scared, being the only Vietnamese priest, but the people, even the strangers, made me feel at home."

He liked the area so much, he said, that he went so far as to buy a burial plot at Holy Family in Frances.

The prospect of moving away from the county he calls home is scary, Nguyen said.

"I'll have to spend a lot of energy listening to people and trying to learn the area," he said. "But, being a priest, I have to be obedient and respectful to a big church. I have to have faith in God," he said, smiling.

His challenge for the first year in Tacoma is simply to see his four new parishes work together.

"I'm the one that has to bring them together," he said.

"That's why I'm scared. People think a lot of me, but I'm not," he added with a chuckle. "Maybe after a year, I'll have to come back."

The Rev. Tuan Nguyen will leave at the end of the month for new duties in Tacoma after 11 years with the Catholic churches in the Lewis County area.

---

Copyright © 2006, The Chronicle, Centralia WA
(Reprinted with permision from the Chronicle)

Dragonboat Schedule

The team practice schedule for the Dragonboat team have been set as follows:

August 19
September 02
September 09

Remember race day is September 16.

All practices are at 10:30AM at TDBA.

Directions are here.

I would encourage all of you to check out dragonboating before then - TDBA runs open practices on Sundays at 3:00PM (push away from the dock by 3:30, return by 4:30). It's a lot of fun!

Team t-shirts for students and adults can be purchased here: http://www.cafepress.com/vcs_sports.