Bulletin for February 7, 2010

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

FROM OUR PASTOR Dear Parishioners, This weekend we are all asked to pledge our support to the Diocese of Arlington through the Bishop's Lenten Appeal. Emergency assistance requests to Catholic Charities have increased fourfold over the past year. Our Diocesan Mission in the DR frontier with Haiti deals daily with the consequences of the earthquake. These and many other ministries of the diocese call for our support. You have been very generous with St. Charles and I know you will extend the same generous help to our diocese. On the weekend of February 13-14, our Bishop invites you to join him in a postcard campaign to our legislators to support a fair and just immigration policy . Ash Wednesday, Feb 17 ushers in the Lenten Season. On Ash Wednesday we will take up a collection for VOICE, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement. St. Charles has joined 50 other congregations of Moslem, Jewish and Christian traditions to promote justice in the areas of health care, immigration and housing. Through our efforts dental services not covered by insurance have been provided to needy Northern Virginians and housing projects have been upgraded. "This is the fasting I ask; share your bread with the hungry" On Tuesdays we will host a soup supper to benefit our DR Mission and a justice education series that focuses on our core parish values of Welcoming, Serving, Empowering, Celebrating, and Nurturing. On Wednesday night we will join a diocesan project "The Light Is On for You". We ask people to come home for Lent. Bring back a friend who has been inactive or unchurched. We will provide the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 6:30 and 8 pm. During that time we will also celebrate the Stations of the Cross in Spanish and English. This is an opportunity for our Latino and Anglo Community to pray together. We will also provide an opportunity for intercultural conversation in order to build closer ties in our community and to share experience and challenges. Let us repent and believe the good news, Gerry Creedon

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FEBRUARY 7 - 21

• See Mass, Confession and other Sacramental information
• Mon Feb 8 - CCDI: :Jesus, Word Made Flesh"
• Tue Feb 9 - Tai Chi; Tuesday, 10am, Benedict Hall.
• Sat Feb 13 - Haiti Carnaval, 6pm, Benedict Hall
• Sun Feb 14 - Young Adult Book Club; 7pm, Room 101
• Mon Feb 15 - OFFICE CLOSED - PRESIDENTS DAY
• Wed Feb 17 - Ash Wednesday - Masses at 9am, Noon, 5:30pm, 7:30pm (bilingual). Seniors' Tea after 12pm Mass, Benedict Hall
• Fri Feb 19 - 40+Adults Movie Night; 6pm, Benedict Hall.
• Sun Feb 21 - Young Adult Book Club; 7pm, Room 101.
• Sun Feb 21 - 7:15pm Conversation with Creedon: How to Talk with the Inactive Catholics, Upper Room.

See the Parish online calendar for more details and the list of highlighted events.

+ MASS SCHEDULE, READINGS AND INTENTIONS + (Daily Readings from US Bishops' website) Sunday, February 7, 2010: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30am Parishioners 9:00am Amandio Conceicad by Belimira Santos 11:00am Gregorio B. Cater by Family 1:00pm Daniel Pinedo Asto by Julia Newman 6:00pm Dora Pandolfi by Gina, Alfonso, Alex Readings: Is 6:1-2a,3-8; 1 Cor 15:1-11; LK 5:1-11 Monday, February 8, 2010: St. Jerome Emiliani 9:00am Margaret McManus by Joanne McGlinchy 7:30pm (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates Readings 1 Kgs 8:1-7,9-13; Mk 6:53-56 Tuesday, February 9, 2010 9:00am Ernest Gumenuk by William Bradley Readings: 1 Kgs 8:22-23,27-30; Mk 7:1-13 Wednesday, February 10, 2010: St. Scholastica 9:00am John Ingram by Carol & John Shottes Readings: 1 Kgs 10:1-10; Mk 7:14-23 Thursday, February 11, 2010 9:00am Stephen Alexander by Florence Alexander Readings: 1 Kgs 11:4-13; Mk 7:24-30 Friday, February 12, 2010 9:00am Lutgarda Martin by B. McEvilly Readings: 1 Kgs 11:29-32;12:19; Mk 7:31-37 Saturday, February 13, 2010 9:00am Aileen Gately by Torry Piper Readings: 1 Kgs 12:26-32;13:33-34; Mk 8:1-10 Vigil for Sunday: 6th Sunday In Ordinary Time 5:00pm Elizabeth McIvor by Mary Martha McNamara Readings: Jer 17:5-8; 1Cor 15: 12,16-20; Lk 6:17,20-26 PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR Pray for those who are sick in our community, especially: Michael Foster, Philip D'Andrea, Jennifer Moire, Angie Fazio, Margaret Canali, Marty Smart, Jennifer Rellick, Connor Cozoli, Marcia Rachy, Margaret Finocchiaro, Margie Barba, Thomas Crisp, For those who have died, especially: Frank Beam, Jacinta Zambrana Nick DeCarlo and Claudio Espinoza.

TAX STATEMENTS
The Tax Statements for your contributions to St. Charles for the year of 2009 have been sent out. We appreciate your contributions very much. If you have not received the statement or have any questions, you may call Mrs. Lucia Hittle at the Parish Office at (703) 527 5500, ext 127. Thank You.

LENTEN FAITH SHARING GROUPS
Lenten Faith Sharing groups will be starting the week of Ash Wednesday February 17. See this week's bulletin insert for signups! Or, contact Cathy Dante, Director of Adult Faith Formation, at 703-527-5500, x115 or adultfaith@stcharleschurch.org

FOOD PANTRY
Our Food Pantry is currently low on cereal, rice, dry beans, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, jelly, powdered milk and canned fruit. Thank you so much for your continued generosity to those in need.

UPCOMING CONVERSATIONS WITH CREEDON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21: HOW TO TALK WITH THE INACTIVE CATHOLICS IN YOUR LIFE Join Fr. Gerry, Anna LaNave, Regional Director for Landings, and Melanie Rigney for a conversation about welcoming inactive Catholics. Anna and Melanie recently coauthored When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics and work with returning Catholics as part of the Landings program here at St. Charles. SUNDAY, MARCH 7: INTERFAITH PANEL Join Fr. Gerry and guest panelists from other faith traditions for discussion and conversation on: Developing Understanding Among Abrahamic Faiths: Opportunities for Cooperation in the Local Community. Sponsored by St. Charles Interfaith Committee. SUNDAY MARCH 14: SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Due to snowy weather, this past Sunday's Conversations with Creedon has been RESCHEDULED. Have you ever wondered what happens during the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Come here Fr. Gerry and Cathy Dante, Director of Adult Faith Formation, discuss this important Sacrament of Healing.

HAITI CARNAVAL
Come to St. Charles Saturday, February 13 at 6pm to the Haiti Carnaval. The Carnaval will feature Haitian food, music and a silent auction. Proceeds will be used for earthquake relief and recovery. We appreciate all your contributions. There are still many needs to be filled! Tickets are sold after each Mass and at the door. Contact: Lynnette LeMat; lhlemat@gmail.com.

URGENT VOLUNTEER NEED: LITURGY WRITER
Do the Prayers of the Faithful/Intercessions stir your heart and call you to action? Do you have a penchant for poetry and a passion for patterns? Do you love the Mass? If so, Liturgy Writing may be a ministry for you.
Liturgy Writers prepare a presider's guide in outline format for Sunday and Holy Day Masses. These guides are prepared from various resources each week and placed in a three-ring binder in the sacristy before the 5pm Vigil Mass. The liturgy writer needs to know the general Order of Mass, be familiar with the Church's liturgical calendar, and have word-processing, e-mail and internet access skills. Liturgy writers also compose Prayer of the Faithful intentions for the needs of the Church, our nation and the parish. Training can be provided.
Time Requirement:
With existing volunteers this is a once a month assignment. Once you are trained, Mass outline preparation will take about four to six hours each time you are the assigned writer. Volunteers should be willing to commit for at least a year of service after training. Please call Mike Doyle at 703-528-2743 for more information or email mdoyle@gmail.com.

OFFENDER AID & RESTORATION FAITH BASED SUPPORT TEAMS
St. Charles has two teams that serve as mentors for those returning to our community fro jail or prison. This is done in collaboration with Offender Aid & Restoration in Arlington (OAR) and they provide they provide training and support. We are currently looking for additional team members. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Jo-Ann Duggan in the Parish Office or at jduggan@stcharleschurch.org.

BISHOP LENT APPEAL
This weekend every parishioner will have the opportunity to support the 2010 Bishop's Lenten Appeal (BLA). During Mass you will be receiving information and a pledge card for you to fill out. Please prayerfully consider your gift amount for the BLA.
The BLA helps to support diocese offices and ministries that serve tens of thousands of people each year. From support of seminarians, to the training of your catechists, to helping our youth grow in their faith, to teaching respect for the sanctity of life. Your support to the BLA impacts the lives of many people that reach beyond the scope of any individual parish.
As you reflect on your blessing this year, we ask you to consider making a sacrificial pledge to help sustain the ministries and programs that are funded by the BLA. By making a pledge, your gift becomes intentional, representing a promise to give not from your leftovers, but from your fist fruits. From all that we have received, let us make a proper return to God, Our Heavenly Father, the source of our life and all blessings.

Rebecca A. Kobar
Director of Development
St. Charles Borromeo

ASH WEDNESDAY SENIOR TEA
Ash Wednesday is approaching quickly. The Circle of Caring will have a Senior Tea after the noon Mass and talk about how we can get ready for Lent. Our menu will include soup and quiche. As part of the Marymount Nursing partnership, we will offer hearing screening before having and after Mass. If you are interested in having your screening, you must RSVP to Norma as soon as possible since there will a limit to the number of people we can screen. You can call Norma at 202-531-8189 or email her at njjcanales@cox.net. We look forward to seeing you on Ash Wednesday, February 17.

COLLECTION INFORMATION Last Week's Collection for Sunday, January 31, of $17,180.50. Last Week's Tithe of $1,580.61 was for our Sister Parishes in Haiti. This Week's Tithe is for Project Lazarus. This Week's 2nd Collection is for our assessment to the Catholic Herald (Please be generous and help defray this cost!). Next Week's Tithe is for "A Woman's Home" Next Week's 2nd Collection is for our Parish Building Fund. Thank you for your generosity!