Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
"The blind regain their sight." Jesus sent his followers
off to tell John what they hear and see, so that he will know that the
Messiah is at hand. Light has always been associated with Jesus coming:
the star of Bethlehem guides. The people who walked in darkness have
seen a great light. The children in our catechetical programs are studying
this light.
The parish is invited to celebrate the freeing light of God's forgiveness
on Monday the 13th of December in our communal reconciliation service.
Many priests will be at hand to assist with Christmas confessions. Let
us rid our relationships of those blind spots that dull our sensitivity
to one another.
We continued to reach out to the needy and the homeless through our
Giving Tree and through this weekend's Home for the Holidays Campaign.
This campaign advocates for the Commonwealth to provide rental assistance
that will enable homeless people to move into more permanent housing.
Let his light shine!
"CALLED BY NAME PROGRAM"
Please prayerfully consider responding to Bishop Loverde's Called by
Name letter and encourage those individuals (high school age and older)
whom you feel have the qualities, gifts, and talents needed to serve
the Church as future priests, brothers, or sisters. Please send the
names and addresses to Fr. Bashista at the Office of Vocations, Diocese
of Arlington, 200 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22203 by December
20, 2004.
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
The Parish Office is now accepting donations for Christmas Flowers.
If you wish to have a loved-one remembered, please include his or her
name with your donation. For your convenience, envelopes are available
at the Church entrances or you may place your donation and the name
of your loved-one in a plain enveloped marked "Christmas Flowers."
Both may be dropped in the Sunday Collection basket or you can stop
by the Parish Office. The list of those remembered will be published
on Christmas Day, so please have your donations and names to the Parish
Office by Sunday, December 19th.
NEIGHBORHOOD D
Neighborhood D will have an Advent Mass this Monday, December 20, at
7:30 PM in the party room at Randolph Towers (4001 N. 9th St.). Please
feel free to bring refreshments to share with your neighbors after Mass.
For more information, please contact Colleen Brennan at (703) 465-1966.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to AMERICAN REALTY GROUP for their
support.
THIS WEEK'S INTENTIONS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2004:
7:30 Parishioners
9:00 Jeanne Marie Howe by Michael McDonald
11:00 Gabriel Villamizar by the Hittle Family
1:00 Marianela Rodriquez & Josefina Teran by Ana Milan & Family
6:00 Pristic & Patrick Family by Bob & Michele Patrick
Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a,10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Monday, December 13, 2004:
9:00 Rafael A. Sandiego by Sandy
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: Numbers 24:2-7,15-17a; Matthew 21:23-27
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
9:00 Carl Good by the Good Family
Readings: Zephaniah 3:1-2,9-13; Matthew 21:28-32
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
9:00 Mary Helen Siemer by Nancy Siemer
Readings: Isaiah 45:6b-8,18,21b-25; Luke 7:18b-23
Thursday, December 16, 2004
9:00 Gene Biedscheid by Anne M. Biedscheid
Readings: Isaiah 54:1-10; Luke 7:24-30
Friday, December 17, 2004:
9:00 Sam and Elizabeth Dumas by Roger & Patti Dumas
Readings: Genesis 49:2,8-10; Matthew 1:1-17
Saturday December 18, 2004:
9:00 Regina C. Finan by Francis Finan
5:00 Pearl Walsh by Camille Burruto
Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those
who suffer, especially: Celia Coronado, Katie Spasarro, Andrew Niland,
Pablo Villamizar, Eileen Bruno, Mary Tasker (daughter of Fran Hobbs),
, 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: Agnes Vitolo Bert Sweigart
and Kathleen Vaca-Salinas.
PLEASE NOTE…. The Deadline for Bulletin Article submissions will
be by 12 noon on Wednesday December 15 (instead of Friday the 17th)
and submissions for Sunday January 2nd are due no later than 9 AM Tuesday
December 21 (instead of Friday the 26th). Thank you for your cooperation.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
"It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging
and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable
rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop."
(Evangelium Vitae)
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. And don't forget the annual
March for Life. January 24. Meet at St. Charles at 8:30 a.m. for inter-diocesan
rally at MCI Center.
YOUNG ADULT CHRISTMAS PARTY
C'YA, the St. Charles Young Adults group, invites all young adults to
our annual Christmas party. It will be held Saturday evening, December
18th starting at 8:00 PM. The theme is "It's a Wonderful Life,"
and in the spirit of the classic movie we will be raising funds for
a St. Charles-affiliated charity. The dress is semi-formal, all guests
must be 21 and older, and admission is $15. Join us for a night of dancing,
desserts, and holiday cheer. Newcomers are especially welcome. Call
703-622-6272 or email cya@stcharleschurch.org
for more information.
SALT "HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS" CAMPAIGN
Please help Action Linking Together (SALT) persuade the Virginia Legislature
to approve $2.3 million in rental assistance to working families. This
assistance will target families leaving welfare for work and/or working
families now unable to leave shelters due to the gap between their income
and their rent. It is estimated that this program could assist more
than 400 Virginia families gain independence through work. You can help
by writing a short letter to your state delegate and senator to urge
that they support the rental assistance amendment. Volunteers will be
at the back doors of the church after each Mass today to distribute
packets that include background information, a sample text to draw upon,
and a blank letter form on which to write. Let's make our voices heard
in Richmond! Thank You!
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR ADVENT
Will be on Thursday, December 16, at 7:30 PM in the Church. Music by
the C'YA Praise & Worship group. Contact Kelly Moon at kmoon98@yahoo.com
for more information. All are welcome!
IN OUR PARISH
THANK YOU TO ST. CHARLES BORROMEO COMMUNITY,
As we reflect on all we have to be thankful for in 2004, it is clear
that the kind and generous support of the St. Charles Borromeo Church
community has truly sustained us. Your gifts of time, energy, food,
money, clothing, and household items are blessings that make it possible
to continue this important work for the fragile families of Elizabeth's
House. By including our young mothers and babies in the church's community,
you show them what it means to be part of a family. Through your example,
you are offering them hope and encouragement for a brighter future.
Borrromeo Housing extends special thanks to Father Creedon and the parish
staff, Monica Perz-Waddington and the 6:00 PM choir, the Social Justice
Committee, C'YA, Mothers Play Ground, Respect Life, On the Way, St.
Charles School and all who participated in the 2004 Help the Homeless
Walkathon, and to every volunteer and friend of BHI. God bless you all.
THIS WEEK'S LETTER TO THE WEB TEAM EDITORS
The parish Web Team, which brings
you www.StCharlesChurch.org, recently heard from a parochial school
teacher in Ohio who incorporated our site's marriage advice into his
8th grade curriculum. He found a page that we had created a few years
ago featuring suggestions for a successful
marriage from parishioners married at least 25 years, So how will
you use the site this week? Whether it's Advent
reflections, Fr. Creedon homilies,
pictures from recent parish events or
volunteer opportunities, there's something
for each one of you online. Email webteam@stcharleschurch.org
to let us know what's most important to you.
PARISH COLLECTION
· Last Week's Collection for Sunday, December 6, 2004 was $22,510.00
· Last Week's Tithe of $2,070.92 was for our Project Lazarus.
· Last Week's 2nd Collection of $8,258.50 was for our Building
Fund.
· This Week's 2nd Collection is for the Catholic Charities Christmas
fund.
