FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
Ray Watson is our new Parish Community Center Manager. He offers many
skills and a winning personality to our work of coordination of activities
and ministries. Join me in offering your welcome and support.
Keep April 5 on your calendar for our Community Celebration of Reconciliation
(Confession). We welcome a number of priests to join us for the Sacrament
of Forgiveness. Let us utilize this rite to make peace before we celebrate
the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter.
On March 27, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and Bishop Loverde
hold a half-day convention from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Holy Spirit Parish
in Annandale. They will include Carolyn Gretzinger from our parish among
their honorees. If you would like to join in this celebration, call
the Parish Office and ask for Jean Sweeney.
Remember our Lenten activities, see our
website. I have room for more people at my Saturday, 8:00 AM Scripture
Sharing in the Chapel.
Fast and Share with Rice Bowl,
FASTING & ABSTINENCE
Those 14 years of age or older are bound to observe the law of abstinence
(no meat). Those over 18 and under 60 years of age should observe the
law of Fast (one normal meal and two smaller ones). Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday are the only days of Fast and Abstinence. The Fridays of
Lent are days of abstinence.
EASTER FLOWERS
Donations and intentions are now being accepted for Easter Flowers.
You may drop your donation, with the name of the persons you are remembering,
in the collection basket during Mass or stop by the Parish Office. Please
remember to mark your envelope "Easter Flowers."
PRAYER VIGIL & ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
The Prayer Group "Divine Mercy of the Lord" of the Latin American
Community invites all parishioners to the Prayer Vigil and Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament, which will take place on March 27, from 7
to 10 PM in the Church. We will pray for peace and reconciliation in
the world as we approach Holy Week.
PERSONAL PLANNING LUNCHEON & SEMINAR
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish will host a Personal Planning Seminar. A
panel of experts will present a program with information about estate
and personal affairs planning, including a Catholic Living Will. The
seminar will take place in the Lourdes Center Hall and will begin after
the Noon Mass on March 31. Lunch will be provided, with donations accepted.
Please RSVP by March 29 to OLOL Office, at 703-684-9261.
SPEND A LENTEN DAY APART
Spend a Lenten Day Apart on Saturday, March 27, from 10:00-4:30. "Transforming
your Life the Cross" will be a day of reflection, contemplative
prayer, and some small group sharing focused on the universal call to
every Christian to walk of the Cross. Dress comfortably and bring a
journal. Since we will be in the Father Casey Room of our new Community
Center, which has only folding chairs, you may wish to bring a cushion
or footstool. Bring your lunch and a drink as well. Afternoon cookies
will be provided. Complete your intentional day of prayer by attending
5 PM Mass. Please contact Trudy Dervan at 703-241-1013 or email at tpharlow@aol.com
to reserve space or ask questions.
SUNDAY, March 21, 2004:
7:30 William Hallahan by Jan Marie Hallahan
9:00 Anne Marie, Kurt & Jacob (L) by John & Twila Gavin
11:00 Douglas Kee by Lisa Gonzalez-Morales
1:00 Jorge Suarez Marill by Susana Moncayo
6:00 Thomas Brown by Maria Martino
Readings: Joshua 5:;9a,10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3,11-32
Monday, March 22, 2004:
7:30AM Claude Laplagne by Judith & David Rybak
9:00 Msgr. James Streng by Peggy Mulcahy
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-54
Tuesday, March 23, 2004:
7:30AM Teodulo Castro by Carmelita Manansala
9:00 Bernardina Belarmino by Ann Belarmino
Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9,12; John 5:1-16
Wednesday, March 24, 2004:
7:30AM George Raymond by Annie & John Rowan
9:00 The Father of Roxana Russell by Joanne McGlinchy
Readings: Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:17-30
Thursday, March 25, 2004: Annunciation of the Lord
7:30AM Joseph Kelly by Kathleen Healy
9:00 Francis J. Mulcahy by Peggy Mulcahy
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14;8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38
Friday, March 26, 2004:
7:30AM Judy Finn by Kevin Mulry
9:00 Renato Gabayan by Virginia Marbella
Readings: Wisdom 2:1a,12-22; John 7:1-2,10,25-30
Saturday March 27, 2004:
9:00 Karin "Toni" Cassamas by Lisa G. Foster
5:00 Theresa Gaglione by Victor & Alicia Mellow
Readings: Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those
who suffer, especially: Celia Coronado, Francis Stanley, Dot Slovak
mother of Dottie Slovak, Margie Matusiewicz, Danny Ropski, Baby Vicent
DelGuidice, Catherine O'Brien, Judy Fender, Christine Rizzuto, Christian
Volz, and Martha Welch. Let us also pray for those who have died: Betty
Murphy, and Claude Laplagne.
HOMELESS WORKERS STILL FILE "1040'S"
The Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless is searching for
volunteers to receive training through Refunds for Free in Metro DC
and then help out their homeless clients fill their income tax returns
between now and April 15th. Homeless people do work and need to file
these returns, which sometimes reap funds amounting to thousands of
dollars. Training will be eight hours. For more information, contact
Ed Rea at erea@aachhomeless.org.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to Dr. Joaquin M. Perez-Febles,
DDS for his support.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
Adoption is the circle of life. It is people coming together and giving
what is best for the life of a child.
-Amy Zajac, Director of Adoption for Catholic Charities of Fairfield.
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE HOLY COMMUNION
Four workshops for new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will
be held on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at Christ the Redeemer Parish in
Sterling; Saturday, April 24, at St. Mary's Parish in Fredericksburg;
Saturday, May 8 at St. John The Evangelist Parish in Warrenton; and,
Saturday, May 22 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. Any
parishioners interested in becoming Eucharistic Ministers this year,
must attend one of these sessions, as this is the only time during the
year that new Eucharistic Ministers will be commissioned by the Diocese.
We hope to have enough new Ministers commissioned this year to begin
offering Holy Communion in both Species at all Masses beginning this
summer. If you are interested in serving in this ministry, please contact
David Heinen at drheinen@alumni.duke.edu or 703-527-0844 or Eric
Heinen at edhein@hotmail.com by March 28.
BAPTISMAL PREPARATION
Baptismal instruction in English will be offered on Wednesday, April
14th at 7:00 PM in the Parish Library. To register, please call the
Parish Office at 703-527-5500.
PASTORAL COUNSELING OFFICE
Saturday appointments are available with Fr. Emmanuel who is doing his
clinical placement at St. Charles. Individuals may call Jean at x115.
Sliding scale fees $50 - $10.
E-MAIL PRAYER TREE
Did you know that St. Charles has an e-mail prayer tree? If you would
like to request any prayers or join the distribution and pray for the
needs of your fellow parishioners, please send an e-mail to prayer@stcharleschurch.org,
and ask that you be included on the e-mail distribution list. If you
have any questions about the e-mail prayer tree, please contact Mary
Rouleau at mrouleau256086@comcast.net
or 703-527-1063.
C'YA (YOUNG PROFESSIONALS)
- Sunday, March 21st: Sunday Night Social: Come join/ meet
other C'YA members for dinner, after the 6pm Mass. Contact Nick Baric,
nbaric67@msn.com
for more information.
- Thursday, March 25th: Dinner at Queen Bee in Clarendon 7pm.
Contact Nick Baric, nbaric67@msn.com
- Saturday, March 27th: National Symphony Orchestra Outing
at the Kennedy Center. David Robertson conducts Haydn's lively "Drumroll"
Symphony and Beethoven's Piano concerto No. 3. Sponsor: Kelly Moon,
kmoon98@yahoo.com
- Wednesday, March 31st: Dinner at Costa Verde, 7pm. Contact
Gilda Ordonez, gildaordonez@hotmail.com
- Saturday, April 3rd. Our big Wine & Cheese Charity Fundraiser
for the Philippine Medical Mission at 7:30 pm in the Parish Center.
Contact Lisa at LisaAnne1104@aol.com
or Ted at Zogakis@flash.net.
IN OUR PARISH
NEIGHBORHOOD A & B LENTEN EVENT
Please join us today, Sunday, March 21st at 7:15 PM at Courtland Towers
(1200 N. Veitch St.) for a discussion by Rabbi Lia Bass and Fr. Creedon
on rituals of reconciliation in the Jewish tradition and the Catholic
faith. Please bring either an appetizer/desert item or beverage so that
we can all enjoy munchies and drinks during the discussion. Also, please
bring some food items to help us stock the St. Charles food pantry.
PARKING
PLEASE NOTE that parking will no longer be allowed at Red Top Cab. Please
DO NOT park in their lot. Also, Midas (across the street from the Church
on Washington Blvd.) allows parking on Sunday until 7:00 PM ONLY! Cars
will be towed after 7:00 PM and on any other day.
HOLY HOUR
Come to spend one hour with our Lord, in the Chapel, Fridays of Lent,
8:15-9:15 PM. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, rosary, prayers, meditation
and blessing. All are invited.
KEEP CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY DURING LENT
Visit your parish website, www.stcharleschurhc.org, to keep connected
to your faith community during Lent. Find out what spiritual
opportunities await you at St. Charles or see photos
from parish events. We're especially thankful for digital photos
from Jose Dominguez Urosa (who also maintains the entire Spanish-language
section of the website) of the town
hall, and parish center
dedication photos by Steve Brown; plus help from Chris Pollock who
scanned photos from the Our Lady of
Guadalupe celebration. If you feel called to contribute digital
photos or to help in other ways, let us know at webteam@stcharleschurch.org.
A LENTEN DAY OF RECOLLECTION
Tuesday, March 30 at the Dominican Retreat House - a beautiful and quiet
place. From 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, $40.00, $35.00 for Seniors, lunch included.
Call Viola Muller at 703-525-1060 to register/carpool.
ALAN AMES - HEALER, VISIONARY, & MYSTIC
Alan Ames, Healer and Australian Mystic revisits St. Charles on Thursday,
March 25th at 8:15 PM after the Stations, with a spiritual message and
personal healing service.
SUNDAY COLLECTION
- Last Week's Collection (March 14, 2004) was $18,848.50.
- Last Week's Tithe of $1,734.06 was for our sister parishes in Cavaillon
& Gros Marin, Haiti.
- This Week's 2nd Collection is for the American Bishop's Overseas
Appeal.
- Next Week's Tithe is for the ACAP Senior Transportation Program.
