FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
This Sunday at 2 PM, the parish
will host a Christmas Party beginning with a Posada. This is a Latin
American tradition that reenacts Joseph and Mary's search for a room
at the inn. At 4 PM, we will offer awards for outstanding voulunteers.
Christmas is a wonderful time to appreciate the generosity of our people
with their time and talent. Come join us at the Cafeteria. I also thank
you for including the parish's needs in your Holiday giving.
We look forward to the Christmas Masses, especially with the children
at 5 PM (in English) and 1 PM (in Spanish),
May the Prince of Peace bring reconciliation to our world and joy
to every family!
PARKING
Please note that Midas (across the street from the Church on Washington
Blvd.) allows parking on Sundays ONLY! Cars will be towed on any other
day.
PLEASE NOTE...The Parish Office will be closed at Noon on Wednesday,
December 24th through Friday, December 26th in observance of Christmas.
The office will re-open on Saturday, December 27th.
Bulletin Article submissions for Sunday, January
4th are due no later than 9:00 AM on Tuesday, December 23rd (instead
of Friday, the 26th.) Thank you for your cooperation.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to Arlington Funeral Home for
their support.
MASS INTENTIONS
SUNDAY, December 21, 2003:
7:30 Eva DiGiammarino by Joseph Frascone
9:00 John Biddle by Mary Biddle
11:00 Villamizar Family by Hittle Family
1:00 Angela Campbell by Susana Moncayo
6:00 Parishioners
Readings: Micah 5:1-4a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
Monday, December 22, 200:
9:00 Bishop Vincent J. MacCauley, CSC
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Tuesday, December 23, 2003:
9:00 Robert Somma by Joseph Frascone
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24; Luke 1:57-66
Wednesday, December 24, 2003:
9:00 Dr. Earl Biddle by Ed & Mary Biddle
5:00 Louise A. Montavon by St. Charles Staff
7:30 Tiffany Werthmann by Werthmann Family
10:00 Kathleen Wholey by Joe & Midge Wholey
Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Luke 1:67-79
Thursday, December 25, 2003: NATIVITY OF THE LORD
10:00 Dennis Costa
1:00PM Elisenda de Velez by Leonor & Freddy Jara
Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18
Friday, December 26, 2003:
9:00 Mary Serra by Mr. Serra
Readings: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22
Saturday, December 27, 2003:
9:00 Lucile Marie Phelan by John T. Phelan
5:00 Pearl Walsh by Camille Burruto
Readings: 1 John 1:1-4; John 20:2-8
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those
who suffer, especially: Diane Herbst, Celia Coronado, Josephine Meuse,
Veronica Ricks, Regina Heise, Edgardo Bunuan, Mrs. Denis Laroche, Katie
Spasaro, and Rosemarie Rothe. Let us also pray for those who have died.
ANOTHER PLACE FOR DONATIONS
Thank you all for your generous donations! St. Charles is short on space
and can not accept furniture or clothing donations. Please take these
items to the Arlington Goodwill, 10 South Glebe Road, intersection of
50 and Glebe, and bring us your donation receipt. The receipt is then
turned into vouchers for OAR (Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington
County) clients. They use the vouchers to get clothing for job interviews,
and to get back on their feet once released. This way we can all work
together for the poor.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
"…it must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience
does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual
law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals."
(Doctrinal Note on Some Questions regarding the Participation of Catholics
in Political Life).
NURSERY NEWS
The St. Charles Borromeo nursery is now open for both the 9:00 and 11:00
AM Masses. We have committed volunteers that are there every Sunday
to watch your children. Please feel free to stop by the nursery after
either Mass to meet Shannyn Peterson, the 9:00 am volunteer, or Ryan
Taylor and Amy Wyckoff, the 11:00 am volunteers. The nursery is located
in the Memorial Room, and accepts children between the ages of 1 and
4. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Rose
Holliday, the Nursery Coordinator at 703-522-8336. Hope to see you there!
WORDS FOR CHRISTMAS
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse may accuse you of selfish, ulterior
motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true
enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank
anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build
anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never
be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and
God; It was never between you and them anyway.
--Mother Theresa
IN OUR PARISH
PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Fr. Creedon, Fr. Mendez, Fr. Whitestone, Sr. Benedict, the Parish and
School Staff and the Parish Council cordially invite you to the Parish
Christmas Party on Sunday, December 21 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. We begin
with Posadas/Looking for Lodging sponsored by Neighborhood F. A reception
and volunteer awards presentation follows in the School Cafeteria. Please
come and celebrate the spirit of the season!
TOP PARISH WEB PAGES FROM LAST MONTH
Your parish website, www.stcharleschurch.org, gets thousands of visitors
each month. We hope you're one of them! The most popular pages in November
were the homepage and the celebrant's
schedule, as usual, followed by the San
Carlos homepage (in Spanish), which jumped to the number three spot,
followed by the C'YA (young adults) calendar,
our Advent section and Fr. Creedon's biography
of Charles Borromeo. Advent-related pages accounted for 6 of the
top 25 pages. The most popular ministries online were once again C'YA,
followed by RCIA (for converts) and
Social Justice. The most
read homily was Fr.
Creedon's All Soul's Day reflection on celebrating the heroes of our
faith. Visit us this week for Advent reflections
and holiday photos.
CHURCH SEATING AT CHRISTMAS MASSES
Parishioners and visitors attending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Masses are kindly requested to refrain from saving seats for family
and friends. Parish ushers will be assisting attendees to find seats
as they enter the church and will with the peace and spirit of this
joyous Christmas season by cooperating with this request are appreciated
- The Collection for (Sunday, December 14th) was $13,150.50
- The 2nd Collection for (Sunday December 14th) was $5,010.00 and
was for the Catholic Charities Christmas Collection.
- This Week's Tithe is for Project Lazarus.
- Next Week's Tithe is for Hogar Hispano.
