Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
This coming Friday night we ring in the New Year. The Pope dedicates
January 1 to pray for peace in these words:
"The inner logic of Christian love, which in the Gospel is the
living source of moral goodness, leads even to the love of one's enemies:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink" (Rom 12:20). To attain the good of peace there
must be a clear and conscious acknowledgment that violence is an unacceptable
evil and that it never solves problems. "Violence is a lie, for
it goes against the truth of our faith, the truth of our humanity. Violence
destroys what it claims to defend: the dignity, the life, the freedom
of human beings" The one way out of the vicious circle of requiting
evil is to accept the Apostle's words: "Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:21)." Let the love that
unites our families flow out to the who human family in 2005,
P.S. Fr. Gerry Creedon will reconvene the Saturday 8:00 AM Scripture
Sharing Group on January 15 in the Chapel.
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!
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.
BAPTISMAL PREPARATION
Baptismal instruction in English will be offered on Tuesday January
11th, at 7:00 PM in the Parish Library. To register, please call the
Parish Office at 703-527-5500.
MARRIED AND ENGAGED
Save Saturday, February 12, for an afternoon reflection, at 5:00 PM
Mass, and dinner. (Babysitting included). Look for upcoming details.
MOM'S MINISTRY
Mom's Mixer. Thursday January 13, Room 104 Parish Center Candles, color,
wine, cheese, dessert, coffee-come lets meet and greet each other at
7:30 PM. RSVP moms@stcharleschurch.org,
or 703-527-5500 x115.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our thanks to AMERICAN REALTY GROUP for
their support.
THIS WEEK'S INTENTIONS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2004:
7:30 John Kelly by Marian Hughes
9:00 Parishioners
11:00 Mr. Austin Hogan, Jr. by Carolyn Gretzinger
1:00 Angela Campbell by Susana Moncayo
6:00 Antonio Reese by John Cornnell
Readings: Sirach 3:2-7,12-14; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
Monday, December 27, 2004:
9:00 Dick Munly (L) by Joanne Munly
7:30 (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: 1 John 1:1-4; John 120:1a,2-8
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
9:00 Mike Gallahar by Mary Biddle
Readings: 1 John 1:5-2:2; Matthew 2:13-18
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
9:00 Mary Cahill by Greg Cahill
Readings: 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35
Thursday, December 30, 2004
9:00 Max Santana by Mr. & Mrs. Don Goff, G.L. Lamb, III & Family
Readings: 1 John 2:12-17; Luke 2:36-40
Friday, December 31, 2004:
9:00 Forest Williams by Jan Macdonald
7:30 PM Bert Sweigart by St. Charles Staff
Readings: 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18
Saturday January 1, 2004:
9:00 Kathleen O'Donovan by Bill Powers
5:00 Patrick & Pristic Family by Bob & Michele Patrick
Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
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.
RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY
"Proportionate reason [the prerequisite for any Catholic support
of 'pro-choice' political candidates who support elements of church
social teaching] does not mean that each issue carries the same moral
weight; intrinsically evil acts such as abortion or research on stem
cells taken from human embryos cannot be placed on the same level as
debates over war or capital punishment...." Bishop Loverde
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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
CATECHISTS
Catechists are needed for our Sunday morning Grade Based Classes. If
you love God and wish to share your faith with children, please consider
this important ministry at St. Charles. Classes meet Sunday mornings
from 10-11 AM During the school year. In particular we need lead and
assistant catechists for Kindergarten and Grade 3. Both classes are
very full and we would like to create a second class for each. For more
information or to volunteer, please contact Anne Marie Kaufmann, at
703-527-5500 x119 or akaufmann@stcharleschurch.org.
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 or returning-catholics@stcharleschurch.org.
MAKE THE PARISH WEBSITE PART OF YOUR NEW YEAR
You're invited to make www.StCharlesChurch.org, part of you New
Year by visiting us each week. Keep in touch with parish news, see photos
from events, read Fr. Creedon's
homilies and find volunteer opportunities.
And if you're a newcomer, our website can help show you what makes St.
Charles a special place and how you can get involved. The Web Team wishes
you a blessed 2005. If you'd like to be part of our team by helping
to create webpages or to take digital photos events, contact webteam@stcharleschurch.org.
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.
PARISH COLLECTION
- Last Week's Collection for Sunday, December 19, 2004 was $22,02.00.
- Last Tithe of $2,042.58 was for Hogar Hispano.
- This Week's Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon &
Gros Marin, Haiti.
- Next Week's Tithe is for Pax Christi.
- Next Week's 2nd Collection is for our Building Fund.
