Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
Come this Sunday afternoon to Benedict Hall to celebrate Christmas
at St. Charles. During our Open House, we will present awards for outstanding
volunteers in 2004.
May our liturgical celebrations of Christmas and our family gatherings
bring home to all of us the joyful presence of the Prince of Peace.
I thank you for the gifts you bestow these days on the poor and on
your parish community,
With Advent longing,
PLEASE READ: During this busy Advent and Christmas season, please remember
to extend your generosity to your fellow parishioners by sharing the
Christmas pew. Please don't save a seat for someone who is not present
and allow those looking for a place to sit to join you. Thank you for
being helpful!
PLEASE NOTE.... The Deadline for Bulletin Article submissions
for Sunday January 2nd are due no later than 9 AM Tuesday December 21
(instead of Friday the 26th). The Parish Office will be Closed December
24, and at noon on the 31st. Thank you.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY
The National Alliance for the Mentally ILL (NAMI), Arlington group,
has started a new monthly support group for individuals who have a parent
or a sibling with serious mental illiness. Call Christina Kozyn at 703-892-2197
for details.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to AMERICAN REALTY GROUP for
their support.
THIS WEEK'S INTENTIONS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2004:
7:30 Henrietta Smith by Mary French
9:00 Parishioners
11:00 Rose & Frank D'Ambrosio by Mario D'Ambrosio
1:00 Felix Daza & Justina Dias by Diana Daza & Family
6:00 Frances Brekhus
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24
Monday, December 20, 2004:
9:00 Scott Hallahan by Helen Jakubowski
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
9:00 Roger P. Marquis
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Luke 1:39-45
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
9:00 John Biddle by Mary & Ed Biddle
Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56
Thursday, December 23, 2004
9:00 Dr. Earl Biddle by Mary & Ed Biddle
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24; Luke 1:57-66
Friday, December 24, 2004:
9:00 Anne Millard by Joanne & Dick Munly
5:00 PM Vincent D. & other family members by Jose Dominguez
7:30 PM Tiffany Werthmann by Werthmann Family
10:00 PM Kathryn Ruggiero by Barbara Smith
Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17,22-25; Matthew 1:18-25
Saturday December 25, 2004:
10:00 AM William Newman by Michael Newman
1:00 PM Martha Briseño & Mario Garcia (L) by Mario Garcia
Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18
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,
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.
LAST CHANCE FOR THE GIVING TREE!
On December 19, after the 1 PM Spanish Mass, we will distribute all
the Giving Tree gifts for families. This week, we will get out all the
shelter gifts, so make sure you get all your gifts & donations in
by Sunday the 19th at noon! Please call the Office at 703-527-5500 with
any questions. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL
All are invited to 45th New Years Eve gala at Edw. Doug. White Council,
Knights of Columbus Council @ 5115 Little Falls Rd., N. Arlington. Open
bar/hors 6:30 PM; dinner 7:30-9:00 PM; live band 9-12:30 AM; door prizes,
champagne & cont'l breakfast. All for $75 per couple. Call 703-536-9656
ext. 6, for reservations and entree selection.
SPRING COURSES AT NOTRE DAME GRADUATE SCHOOL
Christendom College's Notre Dame Graduate School is now registering
students for spring semester (January 10 - April 23) at its convenient
Alexandria (VA) Campus. Study for an MA in Theology or for personal
enrichment, for catechist certification or for teacher re-certification.
Rev. Daniel Mode is teaching Church History on Friday evenings, and
Dr. Pia F. deSolenni is leading a seminar on Pope John paul II's Theology
of the Body on Tuesday evenings. Other courses include Schools of Spirituality,
Virtue and the Moral Life, Fundamental Moral Theology, Ecclesiastical
Latin, Liturgy and the Sacraments, philosophical Erros, Fathers of the
Church, Christology, and Introduction to Scripture. We have low tuition,
a friendly, welcoming community, and discounts for catechists and seniors.
Call for information (703-658-4304) or visit www.christendom.edu/graduateschool.
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.
IN OUR PARISH
COME HOME FOR NEW YEARS!
If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, we invite you
to be an active part of us again. Please join us for our Coming Home
discussion series, hosted by Father Gerry Creedon. This two part series,
to be held on Sunday January 16 and 23 after the 6 PM mass in the Chapel,
will give you the opportunity to ask questions about your Catholic faith
and talk with other returning Catholics. Please extend this invitations
to friends and family members. No registration is required. For more
information, see the flyer at the back of the church, or call Anna LaNave,
at 703-455-2951.
PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Join us the celebrate Christmas at the annual St. Charles Open House
for the 1st time in our new parish center. Benedict Hall from 2 PM to
6:00 PM Sunday, December 19, share in the joy of congratulating the
Glynne Goodrich and St. Charles Borromeo awardees. Award presentation
at approximately 3:00 PM.
HAITI GODPARENTS
Because of the current turmoil in Haiti, we are not sure when we will
be able to get Christmas cards to our students, but if you would leave
cards in the Haiti box at the Rectory, we will send them as soon as
we can. Thank you!
PARISHONERS' CD TO RAISE MONEY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
Looking for an inexpensive Christmas gift or a relaxing treat for yourself?
Parishioners Stan Stepnowski and Tom Poff and have created a CD of sacred
instrumental music to benefit St. Charles. The CD is just $10 and 100%
of each sale goes to support the social justice ministries. They will
be for sale outside the church's main entrances this weekend after all
Masses.
ONLINE REFLECTIONS FOR A MORE MEANINGFUL FINAL WEEK OF ADVENT
Jesus is coming and your parish website, StCharlesChurch.org, is
ready to help you prepare. What's the week ahead look like for you --
are you counting how many shopping days are left or is it time to celebrate
the fourth week of Advent? If you feel called to take a break from the
commercial pressures of the season, try some of our parish
reflections. Connect to Christ by taking a moment to reflect on
your relationship with our Savior through an online prayer. Or catch
up on a Fr. Creedon homily or
see which priest is saying which holiday
Mass so you can finish with your best Advent ever.
PARISH COLLECTION
- Last Week's Collection for Sunday, December 12, 2004 was $19,350.50.
- Last Week's 2nd Collection of $7,623.50 was for the Catholic Charities
Christmas Collection.
- This Week's Tithe is for Hogar Hispano.
- Next Week's Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon &
Gros Marin, Haiti.
