FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear St. Charles Parishioners:

Labor Day signals the end of summer and the beginning of a new academic year. It provides me the opportunity to celebrate the work of the faith community of St. Charles. Our Web Site carries a description of all the ministries that support our mission. Our staff of professional lay, religious and clergy members provides fundamental support, orientation and administrative assistance to our pastoral services and school. All bring to their work a deep commitment to St. Charles and a sense of vocation that money cannot buy. On this holiday, I express my appreciation for a thousand acts of service and kindness.

The ministries of St. Charles could not exist without the involvement of hundreds of volunteers. Voluntary work needs to be especially valued in a culture that tends to see all activity through a monetary lens. The mission of St. Charles draws a deep response from our people that comes from the heart and the spirit.

I join the Pastoral Team and the Parish Council in committing myself anew to the leadership and support of our “work-force”.

Come join us as we “Build the Spirit,”

PASTORAL COUNSELING SERVICES

Meet our Pastoral Counseling Interns: Rev. Carl Ripley, Methodist minister at a neighboring church interned with St. Charles in 1994 – 1996. This one-time teacher and coach is now in Loyola’s Advanced Studies program preparing for licensure as a professional counselor. He writes that he sees the religious task and the healing task as helping persons be free from things that inhibit growth and development in order to facilitate the spiritual journey of the soul. He sees individuals, couples for counseling and does individual dreamwork/analysis and spiritual direction.

Anne Passion, a Catholic lay woman who has held leadership positions in her Catholic community, has a degree in social work which is now being augmented by training in Loyola’s Pastoral Counseling Program. Married almost 30 years, and mediating conflicts at a retirement community, Ann writes that she “seeks to enable others to see possibilities within themselves, which can lead to changes in their worlds.” For appointments, call Jean at 703-527-5500 x15.

SHORT COURSE IN CHRIST – “CURSILLO”

If you are a man looking to make a Jubilee Year retreat experience, this could be the weekend for you (Sept. 28 – evening Oct. 1). Here at Missionhurst in Arlington, let by a team of laymen and priest, this would be a good time to renew your spiritual life and experience Christian community. Call Dawn Mealy or Carol Poplin at 703-892-1509 for information. Women’s weekend is November 16 – 18. Mark your calendar and register now. Our own Duffy Kiko will be a team leader on this retreat.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our special thanks to Clover Plumbing for their support. Thank you!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2000:

7:30 Aaron A. Yranela by Emolyn Yranela

9:00 Vincent Rauth (L) by Anne & John Breslin

11:00 Parishioners

1:00 Francisco & Dolores Mendez

Readings: Joshua 24:1-2a,15-17,18b; Ephesians 5:21-32;
John 6:60-69

Monday, August 28:

9:00 Catherine Westphalen by Savery Gradoville

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

Readings: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11b-12; Matthew 23:13-22

Tuesday, August 29:

9:00 Victor Siwa by Bernadette Bretaña

Readings: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a,14-17; Mark 6:17-29

Wednesday, August 30:

9:00 John & Vina Oczytko by Savery Gradoville

Readings: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10,16-18; Matthew 23:27-32

Thursday, August 31:

9:00 Sarah Evans by Patricia Weth

Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Matthew 24:42-51

Friday, September 1:

9:00 John & Kathleen Kennedy (L) by John O’Connell

Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; Matthew 25:1-13

Saturday, September 2:

9:00 John & Kathleen Kennedy (L) by John O’Connell

5:00 Mary Cocchiarale by Camille Burruto

Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 25:14-30

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, Robert Howe, Judy Birt, Margaret Tappen, Alicia Petta, Rodney Barnes, Keith Fredlake, Mary McLaren, Fidelis Oyogoa, Maria Segarra Hines and Grace Gretzinger. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Bea Caffarina, Charles Dyer and Berta Rosales.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

Senior Issues – Leaders Needed! Are you interested in services and issues related to seniors in our parish? Do you have ideas about programs that could be developed here? Are you willing to put some time and energy into developing something? Let’s talk!! Contact Micheline Toussaint at 703-527-5500 ext. 13.

Pax Christi Regional Assembly: You are invited to attend Pax Christi Metro DC’s retreat and regional assembly, Saturday, September 16th at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in N.E. Washington. This year’s theme is “Bread Not Stones: Meeting Human Needs by Redirecting Military Spending.” Registration is $35.00 – Scholarships are available. Contact 202-635-0441. Pax Christi Metro DC is a region of the Catholic movement for peace.

Ministry

“The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception” (Instruction Donum Vitae, 79). … Every human being … is an incomparable gift of the creative love of God.

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

SCHOOL NEWS

Dear Friends In Christ,

Again this year, I appeal to your generosity for Sr. B’s Special Children who are in need of Financial Aide toward their Catholic Education. With your help, they won’t be deprived. No amount of money is too large or too small. Please make checks payable to St. Charles School Scholarships Fund. Tuition for one child is $2,340.00 for the school year. Thank you so much for your participation. Because of you we continue to CELEBRATE CATHOLIC EDUCATION.

In Him Always,

Sister Benedict

300 CLUB

Congratulations to our 300 Club winners for the month of May! They are: Anna Monico, Colleen Kiko, Robert Kitzmiller, Ruth Magruder, and Elvira Ward. Congratulations to our winners for June: Pat Hill, Theresa Good, Linda Goodman, Isable Sulzer, and Margaret DeCourcey. We hope all our members are enjoying a relaxing and restful summer.

RCIA NEWS

Thinking about joining the Catholic Church? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults begins Tuesday, September 5th. There will be an informal session on Tuesday, August 29th at 7:30 PM in the Parish Library. You are invited to come and find out more about the journey you are considering.

Are you wondering what you can do to get more involved at St. Charles? We are looking for sponsors and team members for the RCIA program (no experience needed!) It’s a wonderful way to deepen your own faith as you walk with those entering the Catholic Church. Contact Stacy Greene at SGreene715@aol.com or 703-522-9467 to indicate interest about any of the above or to find out more.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

St. Charles Parish Office is looking for a mature individual for part-time Front Desk Reception work. The individual must possess good public relations skills as well as computer skills (MSOffice) and be available to work on weekends and evenings. Bilingual a plus. Please send qualifications to the Parish Office c/o Tricia Clark. Thank you.

MOM –N-ME

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

IN OUR PARISH...

Fr. Creedon and the Parish Council invite the new members of St. Charles to a Welcoming Reception in the Cafeteria on Saturday, September 9 following the 5 PM Mass. Please come and share food, drink, and most importantly, the hospitality of your parish community.

Reminder to all Parish Council and Pastoral Team Members: the next joint meeting of the Council and Pastoral Team will be on Wednesday, September 6, in the Parish Library.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT IDEAS

The parish Web Team, the creative bunch making www.stcharleschurch.org possible, announces some more enhancements based on the recent web site poll. The 9 AM daily Mass now appears in addition to the weekend Mass schedule that’s already on the home-page. We’ll also show holy day schedules as they become know to us, as we did with the Assumption. Based on your input, we’ll use the “What’s New” feature to announce when the bulletin is posted on-line. Another respondent suggested we print survey comments in the bulletin, so here we go: …"I hope that every Ministry Head has explored this site. It can be especially useful for Ministry leaders such as myself to use resources you all have to offer." Someone else said, “The web site is a good way evangelizing to the cyber-junkies…” And another exclaimed, “You guys ROCK!” We always want to hear from you so send your comments, compliments and complaints to webteam@stcharleschurch.org when you visit us on-line this week.

• Last Week’s Collection: $12,416.50
• Last Week’s Tithe of $1,241.65 was for St. Charles Outreach.
• This Week’s Tithe is for Healthy Families.
• Next Week’s Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon & Gros Marin, Haiti.

Revised/reviewed August 25, 2000