FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear St. Charles Parishioners:

Easter season culminates with Ascension and next week's feast of Pentecost. It is a season of growth and renewal.

We rejoice with all our new First Communicants and their families. We give thanks for the work of their catechists. We also congratulate our graduates as they face new challenges. We celebrate new life with all our members who go before us in faith. I ask your prayer for Glyne Goodridge, Annabelle Ryan and May Merrick as we remember their gifts of love. Glyne will be especially remembered for his efforts with the Circle of Caring. Let us make sure that there are people like Glyne in all our neighborhoods to reach out and support the homebound. Let me know your interest and we will make sure you find a place to serve.

Our report on the Community Center in today's bulletin calls us to continuing effort!

With the hope and anticipation of Pentecost!

RCIA NEWS

Are you interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, or do you know someone who is? Join us each month for our summer sharing sessions from 7:30 - 9:30 in the Upper Room on June 19, July 24, and August 21. For more information, contact the parish office or see new brochure.

JUNE TEA
Experienced and new moms-come share the wisdom and joy of being a mother. The June Tea is a time for fellowship and for finding out more about the moms ministry. Please join us at 2:30 PM one June 9th in the Parish Library. RSVP to Marina Louis at 703-807-1939.

SHOW YOUR SPIRIT
Remember to show your spirit by wearing one of the colors of fire to celebrate Pentecost Sunday on June 3. Those colors are red, orange, yellow and white.

OUR SINCERE THANKS
Thank you to all those who brought Mothers' Day presents for Moms - to - be and moms in need. Your gifts were given to SLM (Sanctity of Life) Pregnancy Help Center in Fairfax. They provide, for free, a variety of services to women in difficult pregnancy situations. Their help includes maternity and baby items, counseling in Spanish and English, referrals for medical assistance, legal aide, adoption and post abortion counseling

PLEASE NOTE:
· In observance of Memorial Day, the Parish and School Offices will be closed tomorrow.
· Please remember to turn off all electronic messaging devices (cell phones, pagers, etc.) during Mass. Thank you!

SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2001:
7:30 Parishioners
9:00 Florencio R. Riguera (L) by the Riguera Family
11:00 Velvet G. Bergeron by Enid White
1:00 Maria Esther & Heliodorio Heredia by the Jara Family
Readings: Acts 7:55-60; Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20; John 17:20-26

Monday, May 28, 2001:
9:00 Domingo Ocenar by Tito Farrales
7:30 (at the Arlington Detention Center) for Inmates
Readings: Acts 19:1-8; John 16:29-33

Tuesday, May 29, 2001:
9:00 Ebie Usera by Rebecca Escario
Readings: Acts 20:17-27; John 17:1-11a

Wednesday, May 30, 2001:
9:00 Gwendoline Gradoville by Savery Gradoville
Readings: Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11b-19

Thursday, May 31, 2001:
9:00 Fernando Atmosfera by the Riguera Family
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18; Luke 1:39-56

Friday, June 1, 2001:
9:00 Mary Martin by The RCIA Team
Readings: Acts 25:13b-21; John 21:15-19

Saturday, June 2, 2001:
9:00 Ricks Family by Veronica Ricks
5:00 William Hallahan by Helen Hallahan Jakubowski
Readings: Acts 28:16-20,30-31; John 21:20-25

PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Eileen Bruno, Judy Birt, Sr. Margaret A. Cook, Marco Antonio Villamizar, Connor Cozoli, Irene Widlitz, Edward McGettigam, Raymond Frank, Jack Bottash and Frank Natoli, Jeannie Newell, Emilio Chavez, Charles Williams, and Nazirah Clark. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Glyne Goodridge, and Annabelle Ryan.

SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS

DONATIONS FOR CLARENDON HOUSE
Clarendon House is still in need of household items. If you are able to donate such items as baking dishes, laundry detergent, mugs, potholders, dish towels, pots and pans, roach traps, bed sheets, towels and garbage bags, they can be dropped off at Clarendon House, 3141 North 10th St, Arlington, or call 703-228-0244.

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

Ministry

For every unborn child, that in littleness they may know God's greatness that in weakness they may know Christ's power and that in danger they may know the protection of the Holy Spirit;
We pray to the Lord

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
We are pleased to announce that the school has received a share of the $4 million Giant/Super G A+ Bonus Bucks program. We received $2,292.47! Thanks again to all parents and friends for your participation in the 2000/2001 A+ Bonus program. Keep up the good work. Live the Spirit!!

ADULT EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES
First Monday Adult Ed Speaker Series presents Prof. Marc A. Christopher for a discussion of "Images of Haiti" on next Monday, June 4 at 8PM in the Church. Dr. Christopher has extensive knowledge of Haitian history, culture, and religion.

WOMEN'S RETREAT
CWIA (a Catholic Women's service and outreach) cordially invites you to attend our Annual Retreat for Women at Marymount University in Arlington, VA for the weekend of June 1 - 3. Our retreat masters will be Fr. Terry Staples and Evangelist Tim Staples, theme is "You are the salt of the Earth". Please call Patti at 703-971-3633 for more information.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONFERENCE
Concerned about affordable housing in our area? Join us on Friday, June 15, 8 AM - 3 PM at St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church for a chance to find out about the regions best programs, plan action with a wide range of concerned citizens. Sponsors include the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, SALT, AHOME, Fairfax County Alliance for Human Services, Northern Virginia Building industry Association. Contact Micheline Toussaint at 703-527-5500 if interested in going with a group from St Charles.

MUSIC TEACHER WANTED
Saint Agnes School is Arlington is now accepting applications for a Music Teacher for Grades K-8. Experience preferred with knowledge of Catholic Liturgy. Please contact Dr. Carole Stabite at 703-527-5423.

HEALING MASS
Fr. Edward Evans will be celebrating a Healing Mass on Tuesday, June 5, at 7:30 PM at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1020 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA. A time for individual blessings will follow the Mass. For information, call St. Catherine's Church at 703-759-4350 or Fran Chronowski at 703-769-4788.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

RENEWING THE MEDIA WITH ST.CHARLES
The Bishop's Renewing the Media campaign calls each of us to "seek out and use media that explore faith and spiritual issues"-and that's where St. Charles comes in. Your parish website, www.stcharleschurch.org, offers you a rich selection of faith content, such as Marian mediations for May [For example, the history of the Rosary and a Marian reflection]. Log on and take advantage of these free resources by yourself, with friends and family, or with your neighborhood or ministry. You can even add to our site by telling your own faith story as part of our Living Stones project [ your story of faith]. Renew the media and yourself by visiting us this week.

MUSIC FOR MOMS 5
St. Charles CYA Team would like to thank all who attended or otherwise supported our fifth Music for Moms concert last Sunday where we raised $1,930. You helped advance Borromeo Housing's mission while enjoying great music, good food and fun prizes. Special thanks go to Monica Perz-W for sharing her music and her many musical friends. To learn more about the history of Music for Moms check out the website at www.stcharleschurch.org/m4m. Thanks again.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED
Calling upon all Neighborhood D parishioners to see if the Spirit is moving among you to interest you in any of the following: coordinating Neighborhood D events and representing it on the Parish Council, coordinating outreach for the neighborhood's homebound and others in need with the Circle of Caring, welcoming Neighborhood D newcomers to St. Charles and/or helping represent St. Charles at the Brighton Gardens retirement home. Perhaps you have other special talents or gifts you would be willing to share? If any of this might be applicable to you or someone else you know in Neighborhood D, feel free to contact Monica Beaston at 703 528-4359 or by e-mail at vbeaston@aol.com or by leaving her a message in the Neighborhood D mailbox in the Parish Office. Thanks for your consideration.

MISSING VIDEO
If you or someone you know had borrowed the video "Paulist Press Bible Study Program: Jesus and the Gospel", several weeks ago, we request that you return the video as soon as you can. Thanks!

PARISH SUPPORT
· Last Week's Collection: $15,094.50
· Last Week's Tithe of $1,509.45 was for St. Charles Outreach.
· This Week's Tithe is for. BRAVO, a project of "Catholics for Housing."
· Next Week's Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon & Gros Marin, Haiti.

WRITE UP YOUR STORY
Your Living Stones story is due on June 3. E-mail your stories to the church or Jean Sweeney at jeansween@erols.com, or if it's more convenient you can drop it off at the Parish Office. Let's hear your story of faith at St. Charles

Revised/reviewed May 25, 2001