St Charles Church .org   News & Events Faith Ministries Parish Volunteer Help Contact Us « Previous week | All Bulletins | Next week » St. Charles Bulletin for December 22, 2002 4th Sunday of Advent Dear St. Charles Parishioners: "Should you build me a house to dwell in?" Only a few days remain to the celebration of the Word made flesh, who dwells among us. In all of our Christmas preparations let us open our hearts to a new experience of Christ's presence. The new parish Community Center that we will open next year will be a way of strengthening the spirit of Jesus among us. Where two or three or many more are gathered, He is with us. I thank all of you for your flexibility with the many obstacles you find in your way as you come to church in these days. Like John, we are attempting to make straight the ways of the Lord, even in our parking lot! While the spirit of Christmas is obscured when we turn it into a time for consumerism and selfishness, the real meaning of the season becomes more apparent in a community like ours that opens itself up to the spirit of love in ever more abundant giving and generosity. With Advent hope and gratitude, Fr. Mendez and the Parish Staff joins me in wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and love! THANK YOU Please cooperate with our parking lot attendants and ushers as they are trying to accommodate EVERYONE! We ask you for patience as our community center construction continues. We are also asking for volunteers to help direct traffic in the parking lot. Please call Marvin Mayorga at the Parish Office. Thank you! SPIRITUAL COMPANION TO DYING Training program on Wednesdays from January 8 - April 9th 3-6 PM. All of us will one day help another to die. Join us in becoming a spiritual companion. For information, call Jean Sweeney 703-527-5500 x. 15 or jeansween@erols.com THANKSGIVING FOOD GIFTS St. Charles is grateful for the food donations that made it possible for our Food Pantry to cook and distribute Thanksgiving dinners and food baskets to the needy for this year's holiday. In appreciation, we hope parishioners will patronize these generous donors: Harris Teeter - - Pentagon Row Harris Teeter - - N. Glebe Rd. Harris Teeter - - N. Harrison St. Safeway - - Wilson Blvd. off George Mason Dr. Safeway - - N. Harrison St. Safeway - - Wilston Shopping Center SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to SUSANNE H. NOLAN, Parish Certified Financial Planner for her support. MASS INTENTIONS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2002: 7:30 Parishioners 9:00 John Biddle by Mary Biddle 11:00 Marco A y Maruja Villamizar (L) by The Hittle Family 1:00 James Merry by Familia Villanueva 6:00 Eoin Healy by Kathleen Shears Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 Monday, December 23, 2002: 9:00 Aurelia Bacarreza by Francisco Roque 7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates Readings: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24; Luke 1:57-66 Tuesday, December 24, 2002: 9:00 Dr. E. Biddle by Mary Biddle 5:00 Jean Marie Howe by the Gathering Group 7:30 Tiffany Werthmann by Werthmann's Family 10:00 Christina Coniglio & Mary Cardano by R. Williamson Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Luke 1:67-79 Wednesday, December 25, 2002: 10:00 Robert Orndorff, Sr. by The Durig Family 1:00 Magdalena Moncayo by Susana Moncayo Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 Thursday, December 26, 2002: 9:00 Francis J. Mulcahy by Margaret M. Mulcahy Readings: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22 Friday, December 27, 2002: 9:00 Meltha Lyle by Fiona Greene Readings: 1 John 1:1-4; John 20:1a,2-8 Saturday, December 28, 2002: 9:00 Patricio Donovan Carton by Dale Anhut 5:00 Michael Wiley by Susan Pfaff Readings: 1 John 1:5-2:2; Matthew 2:13-18 PLEASE PRAY FOR Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Jeanne Howe, Margaret Niland, Fran Hobbs, Diane Herbst, Katie Spasaro, Jose Reyes, Mary Casey, Brad Harrison, Connor Cozoli, Jeff Bailey, Eileen Sperol, Dawn Buzzell Mealey, Carmen Williams, Mary Jane Morris and Hilda Britt. Let us also pray for those who have died: SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS SENIORS IT'S TIME TO UPGRADE! Cyberseniors/Teens, a partnership of 4-H, National Retired Teachers Association and others, is helping seniors use the Internet and basic e-mail services. It also helps aspiring teenagers learn to teach, in working with the senior community. Courses are in four one-hour afternoon sessions, twice a week for two weeks, at $30.00 total with scholarships available. Classes are in local Arlington schools. Call 703-228-6425 to register! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! RESPECT LIFE COMMITTEE Through the intercession of John the Baptist, we might be prophets for the Gospel of Life, crying in the desert: "make straight the way of the Lord;" We pray to the Lord: YOUTH A few Entertainment Books still remain. For only $35, these books contain a year's supply of coupons for restaurants, stores, and services in the area. These also make great gifts. For more information, please stop by or contact the Parish Office at 703-527-5500. CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES All children are invited to participate in the 5:00 PM Children's Mass on December 24th in celebration of Jesus' birth among us. Parents of any children interested in being part of the liturgy should contact Cathleen O' Brien at 703-312-1182 for more information. All young people in grades 7-12 are invited to participate in the 7:30 PM Christmas Eve Mass. Any teens interested in being lectors, ushers, musicians, or joining in other parts of the liturgy should contact Cathleen O' Brien at 703-312-1182. PROYECTO AMISTAD MISSION TRIP Applications for Proyecto Amistad, the high school mission trip to the Dominican Republic, are now available. The trip will take place form June 21 - 30, 2003 and is open to all current juniors and seniors. For more information, contact Anne Marie 703-527-5500 x. 19 or youth@stcharleschurch.org. Also, forms can be downloaded from arlingtoncatholicyouth.org. NEW YEAR'S BALL The Edward Douglass White Council of the Knights of Columbus will be holding its 43rd annual New Year's Eve Ball at 5115 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA. The cost is $65 a couple and includes a social hour at 6:30 PM with dinner at 7:30 PM. There will be a live band with dancing from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM and much more. For information and reservations, call the K of C Office at 703-536-9656. All are invited for a fun entry into 2003. PARISH COUNCIL NEWS Thanks very much to all parishioners who attended the recent St. Charles Town Hall programs. We appreciated hearing your thoughts on several of the larger issues facing the Catholic Church today and on topics related to St. Charles parish life. We are most grateful for your participation. IN OUR PARISH POSADA PARTY Join Neighborhood "F" celebrate the Season December 22 at 2 PM. Participate in the "Posada" (looking for lodging), a Latin American tradition that reenacts the journey of Mary and Joseph as they look for shelter to welcome Baby Jesus. We will sing as we walk asking for "Posada" for Mary and Joseph. Afterwards, the children will celebrate with a pinata/fiesta in the School Cafeteria. Shepherds and Angels are welcome. For more information, please call Teresa Madrid at 703-241-7747. PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY All parishioners are cordially invited to our annual St. Charles Christmas Party on Sunday, December 22 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM in the Rectory. Come and celebrate the season! ADVENT AND YOUR PARISH WEBSITE Finish your Advent gloriously by visiting your parish website, www.stcharleschurch.org, and this week. You'll find faith reflections and the parish's Christmas schedule including who's saying which holiday Mass. What's more, you'll find details about the Web Mass coming January 12, at 6 PM. Also, a special thank you to Rob and JoAnne Elnicky who came to the reception for new parishioners, joined the Web Team and updated the Liturgy Ministries page! Email webteam@stcharleschurch.org if you too want to get involved updating pages for your award - winning site. COLLECTION INFORMATION Last Week's Collection (Sunday, December 15, 2002) was $19,237.50. Last Week's Tithe of $1,769.85 was for St. Charles Outreach. This Week's Tithe (December 22, 2002) is for Project Lazarus. Next Week's Tithe (December 29, 2002) is for Borromeo Housing, Inc. Top Revised December 19, 2002 St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church 3304 North Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, USA Tel: 703.527.5500 | Fax: 703.527.5505 | Web: www.stcharleschurch.org