Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
Advent is here! As the scripture says; "Therefore you also must
be ready!"
St. Charles offers Advent
booklets to our households and to our children to assist them in
reflection on the scriptures. I suggest that you make
an Advent wreath and as you light each weekly candle take time out
before grace once a week to read the Sunday Gospel and share the scripture.
This will enrich your prayer and your faith vision.
As part of the Advent emphasis on reconciliation I invite you to the
upcoming Conversation
on the topic "Religion, a source of conflict or peace?" on
Sunday December 5, 7:00 PM in Benedict Hall, when I will host a discussion
with Richard Rubinstein, professor of public affairs from George Mason
University
With Advent Hope,
MISSING FROM THE PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office is missing two items. One is an 8½" x
11" paper-bound book entitled. "Faith Sharing for Small Communities."
The second item is a white binder containing "Diocesan Publications"
software and documentation. Both items were "removed" from
the Front Desk. We would greatly appreciate their return.
Please Read: Please turn off your cellphones and beepers when you come
to Mass. Perhaps you can leave them on silent instead of ringing.
"CALLED BY NAME"
Next weekend the diocese will be participating in the Called By Name
Vocation Program. All parishioners are asked to offer prayer and reflection
in order to recommend individuals (high school age and older) whom they
feel have the qualities, gifts, and talents needed to serve the Church
as future priests, brothers or sisters. Completed forms should be returned
to Fr. Brian Bashista at the Office of Vocations, Diocese of Arlington,
200 N. Glebe Road, Arlington VA 22203 by December 20, 2004. Those recommended
who are college age and older will be invited to participate in our
diocese's Men's or Women's Discernement Groups. Those recommended who
are still in high school will be invited to join our diocese's Vianney
Vocations Club for high school boys, or Faustina Vocation Club for high
school girls.
MISSING BIBLE STUDY VIDEO
Will whoever removed the VHS video entitled "ISRAEL BECOME A PEOPLE,"
please return it to the Bible Study Shelf.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to AMERICAN REALTY GROUP for
their support.
THIS WEEK'S INTENTIONS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28 2004:
7:30 Parishioners
9:00 Howard Stone
11:00 Harold Maloney by Cecilia Maloney
1:00 Cesar Ugaz by Rhina Ugaz
6:00 Janet L. Brett by Albertine Ponce
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14a; Matthew 24:37-44
Monday, November 29 2004:
9:00 Albert G. McCarthy, Jr.
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: Isaiah 4:2-6; Matthew 8:5-11
Tuesday, November 30 2004
9:00 Henrietta Smith by Mary French
Readings: Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
9:00 Mildred R. Marquis
Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37
Thursday, December 2, 2004
9:00 Madelon Kilkeary by Mary & Jack Sirotniak
Readings: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21,24-27
Friday, December 3, 2004:
9:00 Florence & Virgil Holtgrave by Jane Vranich
Readings: Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31
Saturday December 4, 2004:
9:00 Leo S. Newmann by Michael W. Newmann
5:00 Scott Hallahan by Helen Jakubowski
Readings: Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26; Matthew 9:35-10:1,5a,6-8
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and
those who suffer, especially: Celia Coronado, Katie Spasarro, Eileen
Bruno, Mary Tasker (daughter of Fran Hobbs), Bert Sweigart, Mary Catherine
Kern-Herdoiza, William Frederick Anhut, Belmira Santos, Maruja de Villamizar,
Margaret Finocchiaro, Diane Herbst, Dorothy Henderson, Dick Munly, Thelma
Sierra, Nick Penning and Edward Bugaj. Let us also pray for those who
have died especially: Vivian Bond, Emma Virginia Kelley, and Agnes Vitolo.
SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS
Well, we're at it again, and we need your food! 20 families will receive
warm complete Thanksgiving dinners, turkey, pumpking pie, taters, and
all the fixings' thanks to Fran Hobbs and your generosity! Meanwhile,
the food pantry needs Thanksgiving food to help out other families in
our area! Send our food pantry your potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned
corn, pie mixes, meats, gravy, stuffing, and other NON-PERISHABLE FOOD
you want to give a poor family for Thanksgiving dinner! God bless you
all. Call the Office with any questions.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
"Priests, religious, catechists, Catholic school teachers,
family life ministers and theologians all share, each in their appropriate
way, in the Church's task of forming the Catholic faithful in a reverence
for the sanctity of life." -- USCCB's "Living the Gospel of
Life"
Pregnant and need help? Assistance is just a telephone call away. Please
contact Gabriel Project
Arlington at 1-866-444-3553 any time for a friend who can point you
toward the best assistance.
Youth News/ High School Workcamp
It's that time of year again...time to find out more about WORKCAMP
2005. Next summer, July 3-9, youth from St. Charles and around the country
will gather in Muncie, IN to help repair homes for those unable to do
so themselves because of physical and/ or financial limitations. This
will be the best week of your summer as you serve God through serving
others. An informational, kick-off meeting will be held this Tuesday,
November 30 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Room 203 (off the gym) in the Parish
Center. For more information, check out www.groupworkcamps.org or contact
Melissa at 703 465-517 or Melissa_raphael@hotmail.com.
C'YA NEWS
The annual C'YA Christmas Party is Saturday, December 18, 8PM-12AM,
at Benedict Hall!!! Tickets are $15 and are available after the December
5, 6PM Mass, and on event night, at the door. Profits will benefit a
local charity; soon to be announced. Please send questions to cya@stcharleschurch.org
or call 703-622-6272.
COPING WITH GRIEF DURING
THE HOLIDAYS
Is grief weighing you down? Do you feel you are at odds with all the
holiday hoopla? If so please join fellow parishioners on December 1,
at 7:30 in the library. Together we will share our grief and tips on
dealing with bereavement in this holiday season. Contact Jean Sweeney
in the Parish Office x115, to RSVP or for additional questions. (Sponsored
by Circle of Caring).
IN OUR PARISH
COMMUNITY LIFE
A Festival of Lessons and Carols will be offered here at St. Charles
Church on Thursday, Dec. 9th at 7:30 p.m. by Trinity School at Meadowview.
Please come for an evening of Scripture readings and reflections on
the story of Christ's birth, a rich variety of beloved Christmas carols,
and more. Lessons and carols will be followed by fellowship and refreshments
in Benedict Hall with a visit from St. Nicholas of Myra. This evening
is Trinity School's gift to the broader community. Come, accept the
gift, and be inspired!
BE A SUPERHERO
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) provides a great opportunity for
Federal employees to contribute to local organizations which are integral
to our efforts at St. Charles to build Christ's Kingdom of justice and
peace! Among worthy recipients of your hard-earned dollars are the Arlington
Food Assistance Center (AFAC, No. 8354), the Arlington Partnership for
Affordable Housing (APAH, No. 8403), the Arlington Street People's Assistance
Network (A-SPAN, No. 8404), Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless
(No. 8353), Borromeo Housing Inc (BHI, No. 8412), Catholic Charities
of the Diocese of Arlington (No. 8055), Catholics for Housing (No. 8382),
and Friends of Clarendon House (No. 6003). And don't forget the St.
Charles School (No. 9197)!!
MAKE THE PARISH WEBSITE YOUR GUIDE TO ADVENT
Jesus is coming and your parish website can help you get ready. Visit
www.StCharlesChurch.org for the complete list of parish Advent events
and a selection of prayer resource to help make this your best Advent
ever. This year's theme focuses on the light of Christ as described
in Matthew's Gospel. We also have an interview
with Fr. Jack O'Hara to brighten our site this week so you can get
to know our new associate pastor better.
STEWARDSHIP
- Last Week's Collection for Sunday, November 21, 2004 was $16,733.00
- Last Week's 2nd Collection was for the Campaign Human Development
of $5,181.50
- This Week's Tithe is for our Sister Parishes in Cavaillon &
Gros Marin, Haiti.
- Next Week's Tithe is for Project Lazarus.
- Next Week's 2nd Collection is for our Building Fund.
