FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear St. Charles Parishioners:

This weekend after all the Masses, you are invited to come by the Cafeteria to participate in our Capital Campaign to build a Parish Community Center. I believe we are on the brink of a new and exciting chapter in the history of St. Charles. In this Jubilee Year we have the opportunity to renew the facilities of this great and historic park, the oldest Catholic Church in Arlington.

A relatively small number of our parishioners have provided advance gifts that go more than half way to the accomplishment of our goals. It is the moment for every household to participate, at whatever level of sacrifice your available resources will allow. If all join in the Campaign over the next few weeks, I am confident we will be successful. The key is sustained effort at planned giving over a period of time, with everybody’s involvement at some level.

A burden shared is a burden lightened,

PASTORAL COUNSELING AVAILABLE

We have been taking new clients in the Pastoral counseling office. Carl Ripley is with us on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings. Anne Passin is available Wednesday evenings and Saturdays [See New Interns]. Please call the office at 703 527-5500 x 15 to set up your appointments. We see people for relationship issues, depression, anxiety, grief, dream-work addictions and stress. Sliding scale fees are available. See the website under ministries or www.stcharleschurch.org/ministry/pcs.htm.

FALL SPIRITUALITY EVENING

Sr. Anne Jordan, our former minister of religious education, will be doing an evening with “Theresa of Avila” on October 10th at the Dominican Retreat House in McLean. Call 703-356-4243 for information and reservations.

RCIA NEWS

The inquiry phase of RCIA has begun. This is a period of discernment and learning more about the Catholic Church. Please pray for the adults embarking on this journey to become full, active, participating members of the Catholic Church. Also, we are looking for sponsors, dismissal leaders and team members for RCIA. For more information, please contact Stacy Greene at 703-522-9467 or sgreene715@aol.com.

PARKING AVAILABLE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

George Mason University has made available to St. Charles parishioners, 75 parking spaces on their surface lot during Sunday Masses. The parking lot entrance is located on Kirkwood between Fairfax Drive and Washington Blvd. Please note that George Mason also uses the lot during these times and cannot be responsible for any property loss or damage. In the spirit of cooperation, we thank them for their consideration.

This Week's Readings & Mass Intentions

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2000

7:30Parishioners

9:00George Vosper by Mark & Casey Weiser

11:00 Frank Sacharanski by John Sach

1:00Pedro Ferufino by Omar Ferrufino

Readings: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20;James 3:16-4:3;Mark 9:30-37

Monday, September 25:

9:00Mary E. Blakeslee by Mary French

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

Readings: Proverbs 3:27-34;Luke 8:16-18

Tuesday, September 26:

9:00Eileen Fogarty by Margaret M. Kolbe

Readings: Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13;Luke 8:19-21

Wednesday, September 27:

9:00Leslie Burzynski (L) by Edward Burzynski

Readings: Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6

Thursday, September 28:

9:00Kathryn V. Gross, Mother of Fr. Lee Gross by Staff

Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11; Luke 9:7-9

Friday, September 29:

9:00In Thanksgiving by Savery Gradoville

Readings: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14;John 1:47-51

Saturday, September 30:

9:00Sheila Callanan by Sara Hebeler

5:00Mary Sacharanski by John Sach

Readings: Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8;Luke 9:43b-45

Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Maude Peggy Egerton, Deborah Egerton, Michael Ann Dean, John Biddle, Dorothy Sweeney, Andrew Niland, Colleen White, Rodney Barnes, Bert Sweigart, Kathy & Mike Burke, Gene Biedscheid, Jill Hasty, Ralph Bruno, Eileen Bruno, Glyne Goodridge, Josephine Hilton, Robert Howe, Judy Birt, Keith Fredlake, Mary McLaren, Maria Segarra Hines, and Manuel Mercado. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Samuel Arthur Mullins and Grace Gretzinger.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

Get some exercise and enjoy a beautiful fall morning while helping to eliminate hunger! Join the 2000 Arlington CropWalk, which will be held on Saturday, October 21st. CropWalk is a 10K stroll through North Arlington to raise funds for Church World Services’ global and local hunger relief efforts. 25% of the money raised is given to the Arlington Food Assistance Center; the remaining 75% are used for global hunger relief projects. Can’t walk? Consider sponsoring a walker! Look for the colorful T-shirt by the Crop Walk table in the cafeteria after the 9:00am and 11:00 am Masses and register to walk. For more information, call Carol Brown on 524-6133.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our Special Thanks to Darren K. Madden, Attorney at Law for his support.

Ministry

When human beings stop seeing life as a gift from God, they
see it as something over which they have authority and control. 
And then, they are in the gravest danger.
---J. Augustine DiNoia, O.P.,”A Tale of Three
Encyclicals”

RESPECT LIFE COMMUNITY

The Life Chain, an annual event in which people stand prayerfully on the sidewalks of their communities to witness Respect for Life, will be held on October 1st in Falls Church on Rts. 29 and 7. For more information, contact Jenny and Dan Sullivan at 703 532-5457 or at jennydan@earthlink.net.

YOUTH NEWS

Letter to the Pope student essay contest is open to all 7–12 graders. Winners will be published in Maryknoll magazine and will receive monetary awards. Look for guidelines and entry forms at church entrances or stop by the Parish Office.

ADULT NEWS

First Monday Adult Education Series presents “The Church and Politics: A Reflection on the Bishop’s Pastoral on Faithful Citizenship” on Monday, October 2. Please mark your calendars and join other active and concerned adult parishioners to grow in faith and in an understanding of the dynamic Church in an increasingly complex world. The Bishop’s Pastoral is available at Church entrances. Please take a copy home to read.

PARENTS AND FAMILIES

Look for copies of At Home With Our Faith at the circle entrance to the Church. Topics for families include teaching your children to pray, why go to Mass, and living in a chaotic world.

GO FOR THE GOLD

We’re building a parish web site of Olympic proportions and you can be a part of it. Help us win first place by visiting www.stcharleschurch.org, telling friends about us and letting the Web Team know what else you’d like to see. Ministry and Neighborhood leaders: we’re cheering you on as you review the contact information and descriptions for your areas and provide us with updates. E-mail us at webteam@stcharleschurch.org.

FOR ALL FILIPINO – AMERICAN PARISHIONERS

Join us in commemorating the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz on Wednesday, September 27 during 7 PM Mass at St. Anthony in Falls Church, VA. Afterwards be a part of the planning committee meeting for “Simbang Gabi” @ 7:45 at Tony’s Place. For more information call Ed at 703 403- 5624.

IN OUR PARISH...

PARISH COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS

The first week in September saw a joint Pastoral Team/Parish Council meeting. This was an opportunity for all members to review the goals for the coming year (available at the Parish website). We have an ambitious program that will require the hard work and talents of many in St. Charles to succeed. (Find out how you can help at the Volunteer Fair after Masses 9/30 and 10/1). Jane McCarthy reported on the progress of our Capital Campaign and stresses the need to redouble our efforts to meet our September goal of an additional $100,000. Congratulations to Liz McCloskey who was approved as Council Secretary. Pastoral Team and Parish Council members will be commissioned at today’s Masses. A Welcoming Reception for new parishioners was held after the 5 PM Mass on Saturday the 9th that greatly exceeded expectations. There were many new faces anxious to join us in building the spirit of the St. Charles Community. A special thanks to our neighborhood reps that turned out their folks and especially to Fran Hobbs and the Hospitality Committee for the wonderful food and drink!

VOLUNTEER FAIR - REMINDER

The Volunteer Fair will be held after all Masses next weekend--September 30 & October 1, 2000. Plan to stop by and find out about the many opportunities available to participate in the St. Charles parish community. There are endless opportunities awaiting you, whatever your interest or talent. St. Charles Parish needs you! Please don’t miss the opportunity to work together with others in the Spirit!

OKTOBERFEST 2000

Oktoberfest is less than a month away! Make sure your calendars are marked for October 21st for a full day of fun! There will be a moon bounce, face painting and lots of games and prizes for the kids; and music, food and drinks for all. If you haven’t turned in your raffle tickets yet, please try to do so soon. More tickets can be picked up at the School or Parish Offices. Keep looking for items for the Yard Sale and start working on crafts for the Krafthaus. For many years, the handicrafts have been outstanding! If you need more information or would like to volunteer, please call Mike and Sabra Flaherty at 703-920-2689. Thank you for your support!

• Last Week’s Collection: $14,280.00
• Last Week’s Tithe of $1,428.00 was for St. Charles Outreach.
• This Weeks Tithe is for Project Lazarus.
• This Week’s 2nd Collection is for Catholic University of America.
• Next week’s Tithe is for our Sister Parishes in Cavaillon & Gross Marin, Haiti.

Revised/reviewed September 13, 2000