FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
This weekend we celebrate stewardship Sunday.
Over 140 members volunteered their time and talent during our recent
Ministries Fair. The programs of the parish grow
because of your willingness to share your precious time. I need not
urge you to share your treasure. Over the past year though Rooted in
Faith and through the earlier Build the Spirit Campaign, over 5 million
dollars have been pledged. Because of your pledges and a diocesan bridging
loan we are able to fund our Community Center which we hope to officially
open in late January. We need you to continue to redeem your pledges.
For newcomers we have designated a Building Fund to which they can pledge
to assist in the completion of our Center and to assist us with the
needs of our other aging campus facilities.
We have been able to fund these major campaigns without cutting back
on our operations because of your support to the regular Sunday Offertory.
Thank you! Thank you!
My appreciation to the planners of last Sunday's celebration of Respect
Life and La Fiesta del Señor de Los Milagros.
May we thank the Lord of the Marvels for his many gifts!
MASS OF REMEMBRANCE
Each life is a gift from God. Let us remember those who have touched
our lives. Let us celebrate them together. Please join your fellow parishioners
in celebrating the lives of your deceased loved ones at Mass November
3, 2003 7:30 PM at St. Charles followed by a reception in the Parish
Library sponsored by the Circle of Caring. For those of you grieving
a lass, there are also two bereavement sessions: October 20, and October
27, (the two weeks prior to the Mass) in the Parish Library at 7:30
PM. Call Jean Sweeney to register NO fees. (703) 527-5500 x 15.
BAPTISMAL PREPARATION
Baptismal instruction in English will be offered on Wednesday, October
22, at 7:00 PM in the Parish Library. To register please call the Parish
Office, 703-527-5500.
THE CONTEMPLATIVE WAY
Contemplative Way will meet October 14th, at 7:30 PM and we will meet
every 2nd Tuesday night in the Chapel (in the Church if the chapel is
not back in shape) for practices of centering, silence, and this month,
the "Examination of Consciousness."
PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, October
13th, in Observance of Columbus Day.
SUNDAY, October 12, 2003:
7:30 Eva DiGiammarino by Joseph Frascone
9:00 Maria No Cao by Tonhu Nguyen
11:00 Mary Gentile by Joe Rollo
1:00 Raquel Vargas by Berónica Salas
6:00 Parishioners
Readings: Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30
Monday, October 13, 2003:
9:00 Wendy Stevens by Jan & George Macdonald
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: Romans 1:1-7; Luke 11:29-32
Tuesday, October 14, 2003:
9:00 Dennis Costa by Joseph Frascone
Readings: Romans 1:16-25; Luke 11:37-41
Wednesday, October 15, 2003:
9:00 Mary Ellen McKean (Sister of Patricia Newman) by Deanna Dulka &
Office of American Realty
Readings: Romans 2:1-11; Luke 11:42-46
Thursday, October 16, 2003:
9:00 Mary Passerini by Mario D'Ambrosio
Readings: Romans 3:21-30; Luke 11:47-54
Friday, October 17, 2003:
9:00 Charles Olszewski by Jan & George Macdonald
Readings: Romans 4:1-8; Luke 12:1-7
Saturday, October 18, 2003:
9:00 Francis Jean Scott by Joan Lucas Anderson
5:00 Scott Hallahan by Helen Hallahan
Readings: 2 Timothy 4:10-17b; Luke 10:1-9
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those
who suffer, especially: Diane Herbst, Celia Coronado, Andrew Trombley,
Josephine Meuse, Eugene Jasper, Ly King, Helen Marichak, Kathleen Houke,
Maria Segarra-Hines, Veronica Ricks, and Msgr. James McMurtrie. Let
us also pray for those who have died: Barry Beringer.
CROP WALK
It's that time again! The 22nd Annual Arlington CROP WALK will take
place on Saturday, October 19. This popular event is sponsored every
year by Church World Service to raise funds to fight hunger around the
world, with 25% of the amount raised in Arlington remaining here to
be used by the Arlington Food Assistance Center. It is a pleasant 10-kilometer
walk around central Arlington on a lovely fall morning, and can be enjoyed
by all ages. Our Church has been active in both walkers and pledges
in the last several years. Plan to walk if you can. Plan to support
a walker for sure. Contact Erick VandeMeulebroecke at 703-946-2823 for
further details, or to receive a pledge form.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to THE GREAT SOUTHERN contracting
company for their support.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
To end abortion will take place Monday, October 13, at the Basilica
of the National Shrine from 9 AM to 5 PM there will be Mass, the Holy
Rosary. The divine mercy chapel, and very inspiring and talks. Come
and participate in this spiritually fulfilling event. For more information
call 703-327-2277 or iwpf2003@aol.com.
It's easily accessible by Metro's Red Line.
OKTOBERFEST 2003
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 18th, 2003 for a fun
day at St. Charles' Annual OKTOBERFEST! All proceeds will go directly
to our parish school and is by far our biggest fund-raiser. We have
two NEW additions to the Oktoberfest this year! We will have a PUMPKIN
PATCH where children young and old can decorate a small pumpkin or pick
out a larger pumpkin for your holiday decorating. You will also be able
to purchase a picture of your "little pumpkin" holding his/her
favorite pumpkin! We are pleased to announce that we will have KARAOKE
at the Spaghetti Dinner 4:00 - 7:00 PM, so warm up those voices or just
be a good audience for our own American Idols! By now you have received
your raffle tickets in the mail. If you have not received them, or would
like more, please contact the School Office or the Parish Office. Please
offer these raffle tickets to your friends, neighbors and relatives.
The Silent Auction Pre-Catalog should be available TODAY! Please look
at the entrances of the Church for a copy. We will still be accepting
donations for the Silent Auction and the Krafthaus until Wednesday,
October 15th. Please bring your donations to the School Office or email
Jennifer Torregrossa (Silent Auction) at justjen30@hotmail.com or Angela
Rowley (Krafthaus) at arowley5@juno.com to make arrangements for delivery.
We are in GREAT NEED of VOLUNTEERS! Please email Sabra Flaherty oktoberfest@stcharleschurch.org
or call 703-920-2689 if you are able to volunteer during the Bake Sale,
Pumpkin Patch, Spaghetti Dinner, Silent Auction and Krafthaus. See you
NEXT WEEK!
ESSAY CONTEST
SALT, a parish-based advocacy group in the Arlington Diocese that works
on behalf of the poor and homeless in Virginia, is sponsoring an essay
contest for students in grades 7-12. Students are invited to write an
essay on one of three social justice topics, using Catholic Social Teaching
as a basis for their discussion. Cash prizes will be awarded for first
and second place in each of three divisions by age, and the winning
essays will be published in the Arlington Catholic Herald. For details
see the SALT website: s-a-l-t.org/essay.html
or contact Ann Marie at 703-527-5500 x 19 or youth@stcharleschurch.org.
IN OUR PARISH
C'YA NEWS
Mark your calendars for October 19th for St. Charles Young Adult's Sunday
Night Social. C'YA is open to all in their 20's & 30's. Our Sunday
Night Socials are held each month and are a great way to get to know
about us. Join us in the School Cafeteria after the 6 PM Mass for activities
& food. Please bring $4-5 to defray food costs. Email Nick at nbaric67@msn.com
or call at 703-276-2711 for details.
C'YA is having our annual Halloween Party on Saturday night, October
25th from 8:30 until past midnight. It will be held at the Alta Vista
condo's party room, right above the Ballston Metro. Costumes are strongly
encouraged. Bring a snack or adult beverage to share. Tickets are available
at $5 in advance-the remainder will be sold at the door for $7. Email
Nick at nbaric67@msn.com or call at 703-276-2711 to reserve yours!
BIENVENIDOS-WELCOME-BIENVENUE!
Fr. Gerry Creedon, Fr. Mendez and the St. Charles Parish Community cordially
invite all new parishioners to "Welcome
Receptions" on Saturday, October 25 at 6:00 PM or Sunday, October
26 at 7:00 PM in the St. Charles School Cafeteria. We look forward to
meeting and welcoming you to our parish family.
TOP WEB PAGES AND POLL RESULTS FROM LAST MONTH
Your parish website, www.stcharleschurch.org, gets thousands of visitors
each month. The most popular pages in September were the homepage and
the celebrant's schedule, as usual,
followed by the C'YA (young adults) calendar,
the parish calendar and Fr.
Chuck's house blessing. The most popular ministries online were
C'YA, followed by RCIA
(for converts) and Social
Justice, unchanged from August. The most read homily was Fr.
Creedon's reflections on war from September 7. That homily included
September's most popular poll where we asked you what you thought about
the war in Iraq. Out of 80 respondents, 49% answered "It's necessary,
and I feel safer," while 44% felt "We should not have gone
to war in Iraq," and 8% said "It's necessary, although I don't
feel safer right now."
COLLECTIONS
· Last Week's Collection (October 5, 2003) was $18,046.50.
· Last Week's Tithe of $1,660.28 was for the Philippine
Medical Mission.
· This Week's Tithe is for St. Charles Outreach and NAMI.
· Next Week's is 2nd Collection is for World Mission Sunday.
