FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear St. Charles Parishioners:

A letter from Bishop Loverde dated November 16 states:

“After consultation with the Diocesan Finance Committee, I am pleased to honor the request made during your presentation. I grant you permission to select an architect and an engineer, so that you may make further progress toward the construction of the desired Community Center. Please keep me apprised if a loan should become necessary. I thank you for all you are doing to encourage community life within St. Charles Parish. Please be assured of my continued prayers for you and your parishioners.”

This is a major step toward the development of our needed facilities. How can you help? Prayer motivates and strengthens our effort. Maintain your pledge.

This weekend at the Masses, ALL members are called to renew their support. Those who have not yet joined our campaign are urged to pledge their support.

In a season of thanksgiving we invest our time and resources, all gifts from a provident Creator, in the mission of Christ. He is the one who longed to “gather as one all the scattered children of Israel”.

Mark December 4 on your calendar for my presentation on, “Reconciliation, its sacramental and ecumenical aspects”.

Build the Spirit!

RCIA NEWS

Last week we welcomed the RCIA catechumens and candidates with the Rite of Acceptance and the rite of welcoming. These individuals are now continuing to learn and deepen their faith. Please keep them in your prayers as they proceed on their journey. We are still seeking sponsors, team members and dismissal leaders. For more information, please contact Stacey Greene at 703-522-9467 or Sgreene715@aol.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD D’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Neighborhood D will be holding its annual Christmas celebration with lots of wonderful music, fine fellowship and good cheer on Sunday, December 3rd at 7:30PM in the Randolph Towers Party Room, located at 4001 N. Ninth Street, between Randolph and Quincy Streets. Feel free to bring, though not required, a snack to share, a toy for tots, and or food items for St. Charles food pantry. Hope to see you there! RSVP appreciated to Monica Bastion at 703-528-4359.

ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE

Step away from busy preparations to reflect on the coming gift of new life. Join the mom’s ministry for a quiet time of prayer and reflection on the longing in our hearts on December 14th, at 7:30 in the Chapel.

This Week's Readings & Mass Intentions

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2000

7:30 Parishioners

9:00 Paul & Rose Labbe by Dale Labbe - Anhut

11:00 Deceased Members Johnson Family by Sirotniak Family

1:00 Ricardo Luis Fonnegra by Nancy & Stephany Fonnegra

Readings: Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37

Monday, November 27:

9:00 Maxima Rubio by Marina & Ted Taverner

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

Readings: Revelation 14: 1-3,4b-5; Luke 21:1-4

Tuesday, November 28:

9:00 Herbert Arey by George Macdonald

Readings: Revelation 14:14-19; Luke 21:5-11

Wednesday, November 29:

9:00 Albert G. McCarthy, Jr.

Readings: Revelation 15:1-4; Luke21: 12-19

Thursday, November 30:

9:00 Lucio Yranela by Emolyn Yranela

Readings: Roman 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22

Friday, December 1:

9:00 Herbert Post by Patricia & Edward Lafean

Readings: Revelation 20:1-4,11-21:2; Luke 21:29-33

Saturday, December 2:

9:00 Venson Chu by the Chu family

5:00 Susan D. Mac Adam by Marcia Rachy & Sandra Utter

Readings: Revelation 22:1-7; Luke 21:34-36

Readings: Revelation 11:4-12; Luke 20:27-40

Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Joe Frascone, Leye Chrzanawski, Michael Ann Dean, Fugiang Wang, Walter Zimmermann, John Biddle, Andrew Niland, Colleen White, Gene Biedscheid, Eileen Bruno, Glyne Goodridge, Judy Birt, Maria Segarra Hines, Jeanette Moore, Rita Coleman, Monica Svete, and Sr. Margaret Ann Cook. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Anthony Wadell, Catherine Teevan Feord, Josephine Hilton and Maude “Peggy” Egerton.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

SOMETHING WORTH LIVING FOR

Please join us at the following two events to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the four US women killed in El Salvador on Thursday, November 30th, 7 PM at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (36th & O St. NW), and Saturday, December 2nd, 7 PM at Trinity College Chapel (125 Michigan Ave., NE). Special guests Jon Sobrino, SJ, Jesuit Community of El Salvador and Melinda Roper, MM, former president of the Maryknoll Sisters, will be at both events. For more information contact www.Rtfcam.org, or call 202–529–0441

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our Special Thanks to Arlington Auto Care for their support.

Ministry

- For the littlest of children and especially those yet unborn: that our love for them may shield them from all harms; we pray to the Lord.

ST. CHARLES SCHOOL

St. Charles School Extended Day Program is looking for responsible individuals to help staff the afternoon portion of the program. Please call Lisa at the School on 703-527-0608.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Grades K – 6 and Atrium religious education classes will not meet this evening due to the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving and see you next Sunday!

Youth News: On The Way (grades 7 & 8) and Way (grades 9-12) will not meet tonight because of the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving and see you next Sunday!

Adult Education: The third in our Monday night Adult Education Speaker Series will feature our very own Fr. Creedon for a discussion on Reconciliation, both looking at our own conscience and examining the need for reconciliation on among peoples and faiths with some reflection on Dominus Jesus. Join us Monday, December 4th at 8PM in the Church for a thoughtful presentation and discussion.

HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST

Any 8th grade student wanting to apply to Diocesan high schools must take a Placement Test. The test date is Saturday, December 2, 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon at Bishop Ireton and Bishop O’Connell. Registration forms and more information are available in the Parish office or call the Office of Catholic Schools at 703-841-2519. Registration deadline is November 29, 2000.

PRAYER VIGIL

Take time out of the hectic holidays and join us in honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, protectress of the unborn. The Respect Life Committee is sponsoring a prayer vigil on December 7, 2000 from 8:45PM to 10:45PM, following the Vigil mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is at 7:30PM, to pray for an end to abortion and for help and healing for those who’s lives have been touched by it. We will say Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, and have time for quiet prayer. We will also have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. It is not too early to start thinking about the March for life on January 22, 2001. If you have any questions, please call Becky at 703-524-4658 or Jenny at 703-532-5457.

ECUMENICAL EVENT

The LARC Conference convenes in Arlington on Dec. 1; its aim is to advance the cause of Christian unity among Lutherans, Episcopalians & Roman Catholics in Virginia. Two decades of dialogue have led our three traditions to establish full communion as our mutual goal! Presentations, discussions and orientations, will take place at our Cathedral, St. Mary’s Episcopal and Faith Lutheran Church. Parishioners who have attended previous Conferences have returned enlightened, informed and excited by the degree of unity that currently exists. LARC brochures at entrances have registration forms. Registration fees are required, but financial assistance is available from the Parish for anyone who needs it.

IN OUR PARISH. . .

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

All parishioners are invited to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday, December 9, 2000. Join us for the Bi-lingual Mass at 5:00 PM followed by a Fiesta in the Cafeteria with food, songs and dancing from our Latin American Community. Come with the family and be a part of this traditional celebration

PARISH WEBSITE NAMED “TOP 3” AMONG CHURCHES

The Parish website, www.stcharleschurch.org, earned the “Top 3 Distinctive Churches on the Web” award by the Distinctive Church Collection group. Congratulations to the Web Team for their hard work. We also thank the staff and volunteers who e-mail the Web Team with updates and additions to keep our site accurate and complete—we couldn’t do that without you! We invite parishioners and visitors to take a look at our award-winning site this week. You can count on the site to have all the details of Advent events in the parish. Let us know what you think by e-mailing us at webteam@stcharleschurch.org.

THE GIVING TREE

The Giving Tree has been placed in the Church this weekend. The Giving Tree affords us the opportunity to share our blessings with those in need. Tags are placed on the tree with the name of the child (or organization) that might not receive a gift without your help. There are also tags for a “Shoebox Gift” which may be filled with such items as toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, knit hat, gloves, scarf, socks, and other miscellaneous items. Please take a tag off the tree before or after Mass and purchase the item(s) needed and then place the tag on the gift. Some gifts specify that they are not to be wrapped. Please wrap all others and place them under the tree. If you have any questions, or would like to help, please feel free to contact Ann or John Breslin at 703-525-0041.

ARLINGTON FREE CLINIC NEEDS YOUR HELP!

In the Parish Office, you will see a reading tree with white book labels. Please take a label, sign and /or decorate it, then return it with a book. The books will entertain and distract the children as they wait to see the doctor. If you’d like to make a donation instead, it can be left in the green envelopes on the tree. The books will be delivered in late November.

CHURCH SUPPORT

• Last Week’s Collection: $14,758.50
• Last Week’s 2nd Collection of $6,405.50 was for the Campaign for Human Development.
• This Week’s Tithe is for Hunger.
• Next Week’s Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon & Gros Marin, Haiti.

Revised/reviewed November 21, 2000