FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear St. Charles Parishioners:

I hope you are all finding time to be with family this summer. I am enjoying the benefit of being a part of a large family of nine brothers and four sisters, and forty-five nieces and nephews. We rejoice in my mother’s continuing good health and spirits as we celebrated her eighty-second birthday. One or the other of my older brothers is occasionally surprised when she is mistaken for a sister! … Well, okay, it happened to me, too, just once. The leveling experience of being just a brother or especially just a son removes all the pretensions that clericalism brings with it. I wish for each of you the time and opportunity to renew the bonds of family this August.

Next week, I will be packing my bags and preparing to return to my other family, St. Charles. The warmth, the neighborliness and the deep faith of our diverse members serve to deepen the bonds of friendship that shape us into a family of believers.

Feel the Spirit!

ANNUAL ST. COLETTA’S COLLECTION

Porto Caravan of the Order of Alhambra is conducting their 39th annual collection at Church entrances after all Masses, for St. Coletta School. St. Coletta’s is a Diocesan-sponsored school offering academic, religious and vocational training for mentally and emotionally challenged children and young adults. All funds collected are distributed to the school in their entirety and constitute almost 10% of St. Coletta’s operating budget. Please be generous in your response.

MOM-N-ME

Looking for a fun activity to do with your baby, toddler or pre-schooler? Join other moms and kids every Thursday at 10:00 AM in the Parish Library. For information, call Marybeth Connelly at 703-645-0033.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our special thanks to Dwyer Plumbing, Air Conditioning and Heating for their support. Thank you!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 2000:

7:30Rosalia Macairan by Tito Farrales

9:00Parishioners

11:00 Jane Thompson (L) by Edward F. Burzynski

1:00 Alejandra Zurita and Pablo Ferrufino by Florencio Ferrufino

Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

Monday, August 14:

9:00 Domingo Ocenar by Tito Farrales

7:30 Maria D. Absalon by Emolyn Yrahela

7:30 (at the Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates

Readings: Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28c; Matthew 17:22-27

Tuesday, August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

9:00 Robert Howe (L) by Joanne Marie and M. McDonald

12:00 Simon Joseph Low (L)by Aby, Alicia, Casi and WAY

7:30 Nena and Pepe Perez by Jose T. Perez

Readings: Revelation 11:19a;12:1-6a,10ab; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56

Wednesday, August 16:

9:00 Otiliano Farrales by Tito Farrales

Readings: Ezekiel 9:1-7;10:18-22; Matthew 18:15-20

Thursday, August 17:

9:00 Primitiva Ocenar by Tito Farrales

Readings: Ezekiel 12:1-12; Matthew 18:21-19:1

Friday, August 18:

9:00 Sally Coram by Theresa Good

Readings: Ezekiel 16:1-15,60,63; Matthew 19:3-12

Saturday, August 19:

9:00 Mary Cocchiarales by a Gathering Group

5:00 John Dwight Evans by Rose Evans

Readings: Ezekiel 18:1-10,13b,30-32; Matthew 19:13-15

Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Kathy & Mike Burke, Gene Biedscheid, Jill Hasty, Ralph Bruno, Eileen Bruno, Michael Rontaler, Helena Guziczek, Josephine Hilton, Barbara Cronin, Robert Howe, Judy Birt, Margaret Tappen, Rodney Barnes, Mary McLaren, Helen Tyler, Keith Fredlake, Maria Segarra Hines and Fidelis Oyogoa. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: William L. Spaniel, Mary Sacharanski, Dolores A. Osmena, Martha Nelson and Mercedes Rodriguez.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

St. Charles’ Philippine Medical Mission (PMM) is One-Year-Old on August 15! PMM thanks the parish, all sponsors, volunteers and friends who helped make this year very successful. A total of $10,500 was sent to the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission, the primary beneficiary of this Ministry. Through FOLPM, a total of 2,300 men, women and children were provided free medical, dental and surgical services in remote parts of the country. About 850 children were fed daily in 8 soup kitchens in the metro area. Please pray for the continuing service of PMM to the needy.

Ministry

You who are specialists in accompanying the wondrous and delicate beginnings of human life in the mother’s womb … you know best how Catholic moral teaching strengthens and supports a natural ethic, based on respect for the inviolability of every human life. Catholic moral teaching sheds a guiding light on questions connected with the delicate process of life’s dawning, so full of hope and rich in promise for later life, and a field now ripe for the marvelous discoveries of medical science.

- Pope John Paul II, April 3, 2000 Discourse to Congress “Fetus as a Patient”

YOUTH NEWS!

All high school-aged youth are invited to participate in WAY, which stands for “Wise And Young.” Our first meeting will be on Sunday, September 10 from 7-9 PM in the Youth Center, after the 6 PM Youth Mass in the Chapel. Look for registration forms and more information at Church entrances or call Anne Marie at 703-527-5500 x19.

All 7th and 8th graders are invited to be a part of On The Way. Our first meeting will be on Sunday, September 10 from 7-8:30 PM in the Upper Room, after the 6 PM Youth Mass. Look for registration forms and more information at Church entrances or call Anne Marie.

Youth Rally 2K, September 16, 2000!! Mark your calendars now for this day of live concerts by Burlap to Cashmere, LaRue, and Superchic, plus a Youth Mass with Bishop Loverde.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION

Registration forms are available at Church entrances and the Parish Office for Religious Education programs from Kindergarten through High School. Please register early, as some programs will be filled at a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions or need more information as to which program will best suit your child, please call Anne Marie Kaufmann at 703-527-5500 x19.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

First Communion: Children who wish to receive First Communion should be enrolled in the Grade-based Sunday program or Atrium Level II. It is preferable that children have participated in at least two consecutive years of religious education to receive the sacrament.

Confirmation: Youth who wish to receive the sacrament of Confirmation should be enrolled in either On The Way or WAY. It is asked that two consecutive years of participation in religious education occur before being confirmed. Additional preparation will take place outside of On The Way and WAY. An informational meeting will be held in September.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The grade-based (K-6) Sunday classes need volunteer teachers. If you love children and your faith, please consider helping out with religious education. If you are interested, please complete a volunteer form (available at Church entrances and the Parish Office) or call Anne Marie at 703-527-5500 x19.

Are you full of energy and faith to share?!? If so, consider joining the adult leadership teams for our junior high and high school youth programs. Commitments include weekly meetings with the youth, adult planning meetings and participation in retreats, service activities and social events. For more information, please call Anne Marie.

MASTER CATECHIST TRAINING PROGRAM

The Master Catechist Training Program seeks experienced catechists who are ready to deepen their knowledge and develop skills to lead catechist training sessions. The program provides spiritual formation and doctrinal grounding based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Graduates are certified by the Office of Catechetics to provide catechist enrichment and training in parishes throughout the Arlington Diocese. Applications are now being accepted for classes beginning in September. To pick up an application or to obtain further information, please contact the Parish Office at 703-527-5500 or the Office of Catechetics at 703-841-2554.

RCIA NEWS

Are you being called to join the Catholic Church? The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) begins September 5th. There will be an informational session Tuesday, August 29th at 7:30 PM in the Parish Library.

Also … Are you a Catholic willing to share your faith with others? We are looking for sponsors and team members for the RCIA program. No experience needed!

Contact Stacy Greene at 703-522-9467 or SGreene715@aol.com for more information about either of the above.

C’YA

Here’s your chance to “add your two cents’ worth” to upcoming C’YA events! The C’YA monthly planning meeting will be held after 11:00 Mass, this Sunday, August 13, at Sgt. Pepper’s Restaurant at Pentagon City. Brunch usually runs about $10 per person, but it’s “all you can eat.” So, if you’re hungry for interaction with other young adults, please come by Sgt. Pepper’s and help plan September’s events. Contact Larry Prikockis for more details, 703-312-9463.

THE VOTES ARE IN

The parish Web Team, the creative bunch making this site possible, is busy counting the votes and reading your comments from the parish web site survey. Thank you to all who participated. In the coming weeks, we’ll report how we’re going to respond to your comments and suggestions. Don’t forget to visit us this week online. Your suggestions are always welcome, too, by e-mailing webteam@stcharleschurch.org.

• Last Week’s Collection: $14,085.50
• Last Week’s Tithe of $1,408.55 is for Housing.
• This Week’s Tithe is for Covenant House.
• Next Week’s Tithe is for St. Charles Outreach.

Revised/reviewed August 10, 2000