FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear St. Charles Parishioners:

Sunday between 5 to 9pm, the priests of St. Charles welcome you to join us at the Rectory for a Christmas Gathering. At 7 we will have a surprise for one of our volunteers!

Eight other priests will join us on Monday the 18th for our Advent reconciliation/Christmas Confessions, even if you have not participated for a while you are welcome. The community dimension of the Word of God brings home the family and social aspects of forgiveness. There is no better way to prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace than by making peace.

Shalom, Salaam, Peace, Paz,

HAITI CORNER

Remember our sister parishes this holiday season. The Haiti Committee is seeking contributions for special priority needs. One of the most pressing needs is a heavy-duty copier for Gros Marin. We need $5,000 for local purchase. Another is a new church building for the village of Flamond. $8,000 of the 20,000 needed for the church has already been raised. Contributions toward this should be left at the parish office, care of Micheline Toussaint.

RCIA NEWS

The RCIA catechumens and candidates are continuing to learn and deepen their faith. Please remember to keep them in your prayers as they proceed on their journey.

ADDITIONAL PARKING AVAILABLE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

George Mason 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.

We are working on plans for a “one-way” traffic flow in the Church parking lot to avoid parking difficulties. Please be patient with us during this transition. Thank you for your cooperation!

This Week's Readings & Mass Intentions

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2000

7:30Parishioners

9:00Mirian Galster by Catherine Schmitt

11:00 John Dwight Evans by Rose Evans

1:00Maria Alicia Hernandez by Maria Hernandez

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7;

Luke 3:10-18

Monday, December 18:

9:00Regina C. Finan by Frank J. Finan

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

Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-24

Tuesday, December 19:

9:00Pablo Prieto by Maria Prieto

Readings: Judges 13:2-7,24-25a; Luke 1:5-25

Wednesday, December 20:

9:00 Mildred Lewis by Veronica Ricks

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38

Thursday, December 21:

9:00Mrs. Graham by Lisa Loss

Readings: Song 2:8-14; Luke 1:39-45

Friday, December 22:

9:00Venson Chu by the Chu family

Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56

Saturday, December 23:

9:00Dina Ballarin by Pietro Lojacono

5:00 Suzanne Reynolds by Marcia Rachy & Sandra Utter

Readings: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24; Luke 1:57-66

Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Bert Sebben, Joe Frascone, Michael Ann Dean, Fugiang Wang, John Biddle, Andrew Niland, Gene Biedscheid, Lucile Phelan, Eileen Bruno, Glyne Goodridge, Judy Birt and Maria Segarra Hines. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Samuel Gavinelli

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

This weekend we are conducting our annual “Home for the Holidays” card writing campaign to remind the General Assembly of the needs of Virginia’s homeless children, elderly, and families. Far too many will not have a home this Christmas! Please take a card on your way out and do your part to end homelessness in Virginia. As we wait in joy-filled hope for the birth of Jesus, let us commit ourselves again to the building of God’s Kingdom here in our midst.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our Special Thanks to Ireland’s Four Courts for their support.

Ministry

On Wed. Dec.6 the state of Virginia executed Christopher Goins for the murder of Robert Jones. Please pray for the families of both men, for all those involved in the carrying out of this execution, and for all of us whose humanity is diminished when we allow the state to kill in our name. “We oppose the death penalty not just for what it does to those guilty of heinous crimes, but for what it does to all of us. It offers the tragic illusion that we can defend life by taking life. We hope others will take the Holy Father’s message to heart and respond to the biblical call to choose life over death and to reject all forms of violence and vengeance as incompatible with the life and teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

--US Conference of Catholic Bishops

300 CLUB

Congratulations to our 300 Club winners for the month of October! They are: Elizabeth Allenchey; Sr. Margaret Cook; Francis Duffy; Donald Garcia; and Genie Norris Murphy. Anyone who would like to participate in the 300 Club should call the school at 703-527-0608. Membership fees are $60 for 12 months. Payments can be made annually, semi-annually or quarterly. Thank you for supporting Catholic education.

COME LET US ADORE HIM!!

Exodus Youth Services, Inc., brings help and hope to the needy through Christ. Be an active partner in combating the chaos of inner-city neighborhoods. Consider offering your prayers, making a financial donation, or volunteering your time so that the light of Christ can continue to shine brightly in the hearts of Exodus’ clients. Your contribution will help support programs like our Catholic catechesis for children, our senior citizen drop-in-center, KINDNET-a-network of kids helping kids, and social services as well as holiday gifts and meals. Your support in the past has been a tremendous help. Please consider helping exodus again. For more information contact Marques at 703-748-2356, or send donations to Exodus youth Services, PO Box 9444, McLean, VA 22102.

COME OUT FOR AN EVENING OF DINNER AND DANCING

The annual polka party dinner dance to benefit the Dina Ryan-Jane Houston Memorial Scholarship Fund of St. Charles School will be held Saturday, January 27, 2000, at the Edward Douglas Council knights of Columbus, 5115 Little Falls Road, Arlington. Dinner service will begin at 7:00PM. The band of Mike Surratt and the Continentals will provide the music for 8:00 to 12:00. Tickets are $25 per person, so please make your reservations early to Melissa at 703-266-4932!

ADVENT IN OUR PARISH. . .

WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOME CLASS…

…Rooms or a computer lab so that the Web Team can teach internet and web programming classes in English and Spanish for parishioners. Does anyone out there have a contact at Marymount or know other resources? Let us know by contacting webteam@stcharleschurch.org or calling Mark Alves at 703-528-0694. Ideally we’d like a room with similarly equipped PC’s which rules out for now the potpourri of PC’s in the school’s lab. Don’t forget to visit www.st.carleschurch.org this week to find your reflections for Advent and the complete list of Advent events at the parish.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

The Parish Office is now accepting donations for Christmas Flowers. If you wish to have a loved-one remembered, please include his or her name with your donation. For your convenience, there are envelopes available at the Church entrances or you may place your donation and the name of your loved-one in a plain envelope. Both may be dropped in the Sunday collection basket or you can stop by the Parish Office. The list of those remembered will be published on Christmas Day, so please have your donations and names to the Parish Office by Tuesday, December 19th. Thank you

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Thank you to all who have made their commitment by pledging to the Campaign to Build the Spirit at St. Charles. We have received over $150,000 in new pledges as a result of our appeal to you the week of Dec. 2-3. That puts us well over the $2 million mark toward our $3 million goal. Those of you still “mulling over” your intentions—please try to make a decision before the end of the year. And again, thank you to those who are participating.

SIMBANG GABI

Please join Simbang Gabi, a nine day novena Mass in preparation for the coming of Christ from December 16th through the 24th at 5:00 AM. Also, a Mass will be held on the 22nd at 7:30 PM with a reception following. For information on other Masses and where they will be celebrated, please call 703-403-5624.

• Last Week’s Collection: $16,846.20
• Last Week’s 2nd Collection of $6,436.00 was for Catholic Charities Christmas Collection.
• This Week’ Tithe is for the Latin American Community.
• Next Week’s Tithe is for St. Charles Outreach.

Revised/reviewed December 13, 2000