Bulletin
for December 24, 2006
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Bulletin Inserts:
- List
of Those
Contributing to
Christmas Flower
Offering
(The parish staff
wants you to come
in person if you
want to see who
contributed)
Bulletin Forms
for submitting
bulletin articles
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Bulletin Cover:
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
FROM OUR PASTOR
Let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.
This was our theme for Advent. Christmas announces Christ is born.
The word is made flesh and dwells among us!
Fr Charles in his farewell address to the congregation he leaves on
Dec 31 spoke beautifully to the priests, staff and especially the people
of St Charles, testifying; "I found Jesus alive in your welcome
and in your community!" We will miss Fr Charles, his warmth, his
contagious laugh and his Christ oriented preaching. May he return to
Nigeria with our prayer and solidarity as we broaden through him our
outreach to the continent of Africa.
We welcome Fr Clement as his successor. He pursues doctoral studies
in conflict resolution at George Mason University. He has served in
leadership roles in his home diocese in Ghana, Africa.
Priests, religious and laity alike make the parish of St Charles exemplify
the trust placed in us and become as a community an ever clearer sign
of Jesus dwelling in our midst.
Merry Christmas,
Gerry Creedon
WELCOME BACK FOR NEW YEARS! CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
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CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
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Sat Dec 23
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Vigil for 4th Sunday of Advent Mass
at 5pm
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Sun Dec 24
Christmas Eve starts at sundown
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4th Sunday of Advent
Masses at 7:30am, 9am, 11am (English)
& 1pm (Spanish) No 6pm Mass--see below
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Sun Dec 24
(no 7:30pm or 10pm)
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Christmas Eve
5pm Mass in the Church (English)
5pm Mass in the Gym (English)
9pm Mass in the Church
(9pm Mass will incorporate some Spanish)
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Mon Dec 25
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Christmas Day
Masses at 10am (English) & 1pm (Spanish)
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Sat Dec 30
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Vigil for Sunday: Mass at 5pm (English)
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Sun Dec 31
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Feast of the Holy Family (reg
Sunday Mass Schedule)
Masses at 7:30am, 9am, 11am and 6pm (all in English)
& 1pm (Spanish)
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Mon Jan 1
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Feast of Mary the Mother of God - 9am
Mass only
(obligation has been lifted for the Arlington Diocese)
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| If you are a Catholic who has been away
from the Church, we invite you to be an active part of us again.
"Landings" an eight week discussion series, a safe landing
place for returning/inactive Catholics to ask questions and update
your faith as an adult. We begin our spring session on February
28. Contact Anna LaNave 703-455-2951 returning-catholics@stcharleschurch.org. |
See the Parish online calendar for more
details and events or a list of
highlighted events
(Daily
Readings from US Bishops' website)
MASSES INTENTIONS OF THE WEEK
SUNDAY, December 24, 2006: 4th Sunday of Advent
7:30am Parishioners
9:00am Sirotniak family by Sirotniak family
11:00am Cpt. Stephen R. Bixler by Patricia Brozek
1:00pm For the Latin American Community
Readings: Mi 5:1-4a; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45
Christmas Eve
5:00pm Church Maro A & Maruja Villamizar
5:00pm Gym John & Mary Butara by Miller Family
Readings: Is 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17,22-25; Mt 1:1-25
9:00pm Church James C. Dean by Margaret Dean
Readings: Is 9:1-6;Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
Monday, December 25, 2006: The Nativity of the Lord
10:00am Margaret Niland by The Clark family
1:00pm Esther Mayorga by St. Charles Staff
7:30pm (at the Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings: Is 9:1-6; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
Tuesday, December 26, 2006: St. Stephen
9:00am Johnson family by Sirotniak family
Readings: Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22
Wednesday, December 27, 2006: St. John
9:00am Lucile M. Phelan by John Phelan
Readings: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:2-8
Thursday, December 28, 2006: The Holy Innocents
9:00am Michael Gallagher by Mary Biddle
Readings: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Mt 2:13-18
Friday, December 29, 2006: St. Thomas Becket
9:00am Mildred R. Marquis
Readings: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35
Saturday, December 30, 2006: 6th Day in the Octave
9:00am Michael Gallagher by Ed & Mary Biddle
Readings: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2:36-40
Vigil for Sunday: The Holy Family
5:00pm Ralph Pagano by Paula Pagano
Readings: Sir 3:2-6,12-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52
Pray for those who are sick: Mai Vu, Baby Abigail Prikockis, Janice
Prisco, Eileen Speorl, Edgar Vallejo, Maria Cristina Dixon, Michael
and Mary Catherine Kern Herdoiza, Riz Samora, Ron Kolstad, The Teem
Family, Josefina de la Viña, John Shirley, Didier Chesneau, Margaret
Finocchiaro and Diane Herbst. Let us also pray for those who have died,
especially: George D. Rudy and Kate Fleming.
MAKE THE 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, 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 such a special
community. Merry Christmas and a blessed 2007.
CATHOLIC INQUIRY SESSION
For those looking to learn more about the Catholic faith. Tues Jan 16
and Jan 30 at 7:30pm in the Upper Room. All are welcome. adultfaith;stcharleschurch.org
PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Office will be closed at Noon on Friday,
December 22nd through Tuesday December 26th in observance of Christmas.
The Office will re-open on Wednesday December 27th.
REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTMAS… This may be one of the most difficult
weeks to be reflective throughout each day. This weekend may be quite
full for many of us. Others of us may be alone, apart from the faith
community we will join on Sunday and Monday, perhaps daily this week.
While some of us have had guests staying with us and a house to clean
this week, others of us will be reviewing memories and struggling, even
a little, with being alone.
Whether this week is full or slow, it is a treasure filled opportunity
for reflection. Even on Christmas eve or Christmas day we can wake up
surrendering to anxiety by letting the anxiety of these days take us
to the scene of our Lord's birth. We can imagine the anxiety that filled
the experience of Mary and Joseph. We can keep in our consciousness
their trust in God. The Christmas music on the radio or at our church
services and liturgies can bring the faith of these hymns and songs
into our hearts. And, once it is there, these songs of faith will remain
in the background all day long. When we are tempted to worry or complain,
to be hurt or angry, to be frustrated or exhausted, the hymns can draw
our hearts to rejoicing and gratitude. We can ask ourselves, what generosity
can come from the gratitude I have in my heart after celebrating the
gift of redemption? Who in my world needs more love?
All of us can imagine Jesus, Mary and Joseph going home. We can imagine
their daily life. We can ask for the grace to live in God's presence,
just as they must have done, and for the grace to be sensitive to each
other and care for each other as they must have. We can ask that we
might imitate their busy lives, trusting and dependent on God. Looking
on their hidden life together, we can grow in a desire to be more humble,
in a peace with greater simplicity, in a courage to let God take care
of us. Whether we experience the poverty of that holy stable or the
ordinary simplicity of daily routine, we can enjoy this week as a special
opportunity to be drawn to a greater closeness with Jesus. (From of
the office Collaborative Ministry Office at Creighton University. www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Prayer)
BAPTISMAL PREPARATION
The next baptismal preparation meeting will be held on January 8, in
room 103 of the Parish Center. Pre-registration is required. Please
call the Parish Office to register or for more information.
DOMINICAN RETREAT HOUSE OFFERINGS
Dec 31 - New Year's Eve Overnight
Jan 9-11- Midweek Retreat for Women of A.A.
Jan 12-14 - Weekend for Women of A.A. This retreat is full - Wait List
Only
January 19-21 - Weekend for Men, Directed by Fr. Bill Wert, O. Carm.
Theme: Peace, "It is I; do not be afraid"
January 23 St. Thomas Aquinas: The Virtuous Life & Divine Friendship
Directed by Fr. John Corbett, O.P. 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The first
in our Faith Formation Series.
January 26-28 - Weekend for Women, Directed by Msgr. Paul Dudziak Theme:Peace…"It
is I; do not be afraid"
January 28 - Evening: Taizé Prayer 7:00 p.m. in our Chapel
7103 Old Dominion Dr. McLean, VA 22101-2799 info@dominicanretreat.org
(703) 356-4243
THANK YOU!
Many Thank You's to All!
…To the organizers of Breakfast with Santa
…To those who helped us celebrate the Immaculate Conception and
Our Lady of Guadalupe Fiesta
…To the many organizers of the family Posada event and its reception
…To the Mass Representatives and their helpers who hosted the receptions
in honor of Fr. Charles last weekend
…For Fran and all those who provide our Sunday hospitality each
week
…To all those who brought the gifts for the Giving Tree
…To all those who worked behind the scenes for the Giving Tree
and spent hours organizing and distributing gifts
…To our facility staff including Nelida Lopez who work tirelessly
during Advent and Christmas
…To the organizers of Simbang Gabi! Congratulations
…To Ray Watson the Parish Center Manager for all his hard work
this season
…To all those who made our Advent and Christmas Liturgies so lovely
…To all of our wonderful Sunday and Monday Counters
…A Special Thanks from the Finance Committee to thank the volunteers
for assisting with the Commitment Offertory program last weekend. Special
appreciation to those parishioners who pledged to share their treasures
with St. Charles. If you were not able to pledge that weekend, commitment
cards are available at the Parish Office.
SCRIPTURE COURSE OFFERED AT ST. CHARLES
"Contemporary Issues in Old and New Testament Interpretation"
By Dr. Joseph E. Jensen
Catholic Biblical Association of America
MONDAYS, 7:30-9:30pm starting JANUARY 8th
for 8 Weeks (1/8, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12)
COSTS: $ 290 +10% discounts for Seniors or Spouses
$20 Registration Fee
See the web or flyer for more info or call Bill Tobin
703-941-4329 CCDIofVA@aol.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Our Sunday Counters are looking for a few good people. As time and people
move on, we find ourselves short of help on Sunday after the 9:00 AM
Mass to assist in counting the Sunday collections. If you are interested
in helping our valued Counters on Sunday or would like more information,
please contact Mary Ann Aker at maker_59@yahoo.com.
PARISH
SUPPORT
Last Week's Collection (Dec. 17, 2006) was $31,797.75.
Last Week's Tithe of $2,925.40 was fro our Sister Parishes in Haiti.
Our Next Tithe will be on Sunday, Dec 31st for Bravo.
Thank you for your wonderful generosity throughout the year!
