FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
Lent is a season of Reconciliation. We will celebrate a Community
Penance service on Monday, April 5 at 7 30 PM. We have invited a number
of neighboring priests, some of whom also speak Spanish. Come and make
peace with God and one another before we celebrate Easter.
On Sunday April 4th after the 6 PM Mass in Benedict Hall, I will hold
a "Conversation with
Creedon" to focus on a renewed understanding of sin and forgiveness.
"Why have many Catholics dropped confession? How can we make it
a renewing experience?"
Peace,
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."
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.
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.
MASS INTENTIONS
SUNDAY, March 28, 2004:
7:30 Elizabeth Paulos by Alicia Pohl
9:00 Parishioners
11:00 Rose & Frank D'Ambrosio by Mario D'Ambrosio
1:00 Emilia Cortez y Socorro Gomez by Ana Maria Gomez
6:00 Charles William Thompson by Thomas J. Herbst
Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:8-12; John 8:1-11
Monday, March 29, 2004:
7:30AM Al Nihill by Pat McDermott
9:00 George V. Clark by Jay McCann & Ann Clark
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62; John 8:12-20
Tuesday, March 30, 2004:
7:30AM Sean Sullivan by Sheila Carmody
9:00 M/M Fallenstein by Blair & Kristin O'Connor
Readings: Numbers 21:4-9;John 8:21-30
Wednesday, March 31, 2004:
7:30AM Antonio & Isabel Moreno
9:00 Pat Linkowitz by Rick Kelly
Readings: Daniel 3:14-20,91-92,95; John 8:31-42
Thursday, April 1, 2004
7:30AM Chris Moran by Joanne McGlinchy
9:00 Paul Mallin by Greg & Susie Cahill
Readings: Genesis 17:3-9; John 8:51-59
Friday, April 2, 2004:
7:30AM John & Karen DelGuidice (L) by Jack & Kathy Metzler
9:00 Fr. Tran Van Hieh Minh
Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
Saturday April 3, 2004:
9:00 Conrad Rehill by Katherine Boyle
5:00 Teresa Burruto by Camille Burruto
Readings: Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
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.
"OPEN HANDS" IN CONCERT
On Sunday, April 18, the Philippine Jesuit Band Bukao Palad, or "Open
Hands, " will perform at 4:00 PM at Northern Virginia Community
College Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria. Tickets will be on sale
outside the church, and you can call Gilda Ordoñez at 703-698-0898
for information. Proceeds will benefit St. Charles' Philippine
Medical Mission and other local ministries.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to Murphy Funeral Homes for
their support.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
Life is a gift that God has given us. That life is present even in the
unborn. A human hand should never end a life. I am convinced that the
screams of the children whose lives have been terminated before their
birth reach God's ears.
-- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
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.
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.
MARRIAGE CIRCLE
The Marriage Circle will meet from 7:30 - 9:30 PM on Friday, April 2.
All married couples are welcome! For more information, contact marriagecircle@stcharleschurch.org.
IN OUR PARISH
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.
DON'T BE AN APRIL FOOL!
It would be plain foolish if you missed the annual April Fool's edition
of your parish website later this week on www.stcharleschurch.org. Of
course, if you're looking for something more serious, you'll also find
the parish's Lenten schedule, reflections
and the April celebrant's schedule.
Share your faith with a friend or coworker this lent by mentioning our
website. It would be foolish not to!
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.
"FROM OUR COUNTERS…"
St. Charles is extremely blessed by the generosity of our parishioners
evident every week in the collection baskets. There is no special equipment
used to count all the contributions received - just the dedicated volunteers
who donate their time on Sunday and Monday to unfold, sort, count, and
tally. You can assist these volunteers though, as well as the Parish
Manager and Accountant, by following a few "helpful hints".
Try not to Fold (unfolding bills and checks, whether in an envelope
or not, can take more time than the actual counting). Try to Mark
(marking all collection envelopes with the amount enclosed is a real
time saver. It also ensures that the correct amount will be credited
to your account). Also, remember to note on any envelope if your contribution
is meant for something other than the collection in which it was received.
This is the only way to ensure that your donation is separated correctly.
And finally, please, No Tape (it makes opening the envelope very
difficult). MANY THANKS FOR HELPING OUR COLLECTION HELPERS!
- Last Week's Collection (March 21, 2004) was $19,065.50.
- Last Week's 2nd Collection of $4,930.00 was for the American Bishop's
Overseas Appeal.
- This Week's Tithe is for the ACAP Senior Transportation Program.
- Next Week's Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon &
Gros Marin, Haiti.
