Dear Members of St. Charles,
I will be travelling to our Diocesan Mission in the Dominican Republic this coming week. As many of you know, I had the privilege of founding the Mission in Banica and Pedro Santana on the Frontier with Haiti. Bishop Keating had asked me to provide ongoing support to the Mission. Our Youth Minister is a graduate of a volunteer program I help sustain. We also assist with educational, health and social projects for 15,000 poor campesinos. Our parish helps as part of our tithing program. The Mission lost about 300 houses to Hurricane Georges and our sister Diocese lost an estimated 3,000 people. I will also visit Bishop Grullon and his chancery to receive an update on their needs.
I ask your prayer for my uncle Connie Patrick Creedon who died suddenly last week. He was like my father's twin brother. While he was living, we all felt that my father was still alive. Remember him and our family in a time of loss. I hope that my own priestly ministry reflects some of "Connie Pa's" generosity, faith, unconditional love and joy.
P.S. Next week I visit Haiti. Upon my return, I will welcome parishioners who wish to accompany me on the Catholic Advocacy Day in Richmond. Check the Bulletin and/or call Brigid Doherty at the Parish Office for details.
PARISH DIRECTORIES ARE FINALLY HERE!
If you are a registered member of the Parish, please stop by the Parish Office to pick-up your copy of the directory. The number of copies are limited so please, only one copy per household.
WORLD MARRIAGE DAY
Have YOU been married 25 years or more? St. Charles is celebrating World Marriage Day on February 6th. The Saturday evening Mass will be devoted to all married couples to renew their vows. We will also recognize those couples married 25 years or longer. Come join us for a potluck dinner and cake after Mass. Please call Tony & Janet Ramos at 941-2889 if you have been married 25 years or longer. (For Potluck: A thru I - Main Dish; J thru R - Side Dish; S thru Z - Beverages.)
NEIGHBORHOOD D BIBLE STUDY
All interested in participating in the Winter/Spring session of the Neighborhood D Bible Study are invited to an organizational meeting on Monday, January 11 at 7:30 PM at 3800 Fairfax Drive, #1710. We will choose a book of the Bible as the topic for our next study which will begin in late January or early February. For more information, please call Sylvia Teem at 841-1114 or Carol Wear at 524-6133.
CAFE
The CAFE Committee is beginning work on a Lenten '99 prayer, reflection, action booklet. We hope to have input from parishioners who have not previously written in our Advent '97, Pentecost '98 books. Please call Giselle Dupuis at 522-0565 or 522-6925 for more information.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 1999:
- 7:30 Parishioners
- 9:00 Angelo Nocera by Louise Montavon
- 11:00 Pam Bon Frisco by Mario D'Ambrosio
- 1:00 Lola Zurita by Susana Moncayo
- Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17
Monday, January 11:
- 9:00 Frank Capasso by Catherine Colby
- Readings: Hebrews 1:1-6; Mark 1:14-20
Tuesday, January 12:
- 9:00 Roger P. Marquis
- 7:30 (at the Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
- Readings: Hebrews 2:5-12; Mark 1:21b-28
Wednesday, January 13:
- 9:00 Angelo Nocera by Frank & Cheryl Lushe
- Readings: Hebrews 2:14-18; Mark 1:29-39
Thursday, January 14:
- 9:00 John Murphy by Bertha Maguire
- Readings: Hebrews 3:7-14; Mark 1:40-45
Friday, January 15:
- 9:00 Bessie Hanover by Joe & Diane Boyle
- Readings: Hebrews 4:1-5,11; Mark 2:1-12
Saturday, January 16:
- 9:00 Soy Angeles by Mary Ellen
- 5:00 Mary DiLorenzo by Camille Burruto
- Readings: Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 2:13-17
Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Virginia Higginbotham, Dolores Guzman, Kathy and Mike Burke, James Kern, Lena Cafferina, Hazel Hagarty, Mennensa Fernandez, Flo Seguin, Waldo and Myrna Ruiz, Lillian Healy Orr, Eileen and Ralph Bruno, Jimmy Clark, and Juanita Whetzel. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Judge Nazar U. Charles and Pastor Sanchez.
SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER...
THANK YOU FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE: As a result of your generous response to the "Home for the Holidays" card-writing campaign, all of our Delegates and our Senator have agreed to "co-patron" the amendment for homeless prevention (HIP). Stay tuned... the budget amendment faces a tough fight because it is not part of the Governor's budget package. Also: during the many meetings that were part of the Arna Valley redevelopment approval process, St. Charles community was well represented. The Board voted last weekend to approve the new site plan, but much work remains to be done to ensure that the displaced families find housing.
CATHOLIC LOBBY DAY - January 25th: Monday, January 25th is Catholic Lobby Day in Richmond. Members of the St. Charles Social Justice Committee will carpool - if interested in joining us, please call Mary Rouleau at 527-1063.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our special thanks to Philip A. Gentry, DDS & Jeanette Coutin Gentry, DDS for supporting our Parish.
Ministry
We must be a people who see the value of a human life that others might think to be worthless.
- Louisiana's Bishops
YOUTH NEWS!
WAY will meet tonight in the Youth Center from 7-9 PM. Bring a friend along and start off the New Year with an evening full of fun, friendship and faith!
On The Way will meet tonight in the Upper Room from 7-8:30 PM. We invite all 7th and 8th graders, both old and new members, to this evening of faith-sharing and friendship as we kick off the New Year!
Attention ALL YOUTH! Hoop it up with George Mason University Men's Basketball. If you're a basketball fan or just want to hang out with other great teens from St. Charles, then join WAY and On The Way for a special Catholic Youth Ministry Night at the Patriot Center on Saturday, January 30, 1999 at 4:30 PM. Tickets are only $4.00 each! We will meet at St. Charles at 3:30 PM and carpool over to the Patriot Center. Reservations must be in by Friday, January 15. To sign-up or for more information, call Anne Marie at 527-5500 ext. 19.
Also, stay tuned for plans to see the George Washington University Women's Basketball Team in action the following weekend on Sunday, February 7!
Next TEEN MASS in two weeks -- Sunday, January 24, 1999 at 6:00 PM in the Chapel. If you wish to help the choir with your musical talents -- your voice or musical instrument -- sign-up with WAY or On The Way or call Anne Marie at 527-5500 ext. 19.
ESSAY CONTEST! The Youth Apostles Institute is holding its sixth annual pro-life essay contest. The theme is "A World Without Abortion." Entries may be typed, handwritten, or sent by fax and are to be no more than 400 words long. each entry must indicate name, address, phone number, and grade level. There are two divisions of competition: junior (grades 7-9) and senior (grades 10-12). A first and second place winner will be selected in each division; first place winners will each receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, and second place winners will each receive a $50 U.S. Savings Bond. Winning entries will be published in The Apostle, the magazine of the Youth Apostles Institute. All entries must be mailed to John Iekel at the Youth Apostles Institute, 1600 Carlin Lane, McLean, VA 22101 or faxed to 703-556-9455 by Friday, January 22, 1999. If you have any questions, please call 703-556-0914.
MOM & ME
Bring your children and a few toys to the first meeting of Mom & Me for 1999. Plans for 1999 meetings will be discussed and a few exercises with children will be tried. Beat those January blahs and join us for coffee/tea and juice, Thursday, January 14 at 10:00 AM in the Parish Library. For more information, contact Lisa Rasch at 241-4135 or Marilyn Krause at 527-5500.
FROM THE PARISH OFFICE ...
Please note that the Parish Office will be closed on Monday, January 18th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
IN OUR PARISH...
PARISH COUNCIL NEWS
The St. Charles Parish Council convened on Wednesday, January 6, 1999. Genie Norris and Jim Murphy attended the meeting and presented a report on the parish's annual and strategic planning processes. The Parish Council also reviewed the Parish Neighborhood's Advent activities and discussed plans for St. Charles' Lenten program.
ST. CHARLES SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
St. Charles School Open House will be on Sunday, January 30th. From 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the school cafeteria. Come and meet the teachers in their classrooms. Those interested in school registration for the 1999 - 2000 school year are invited to attend.
POLKA! POLKA! POLKA!
Our annual Polka Party Dinner Dance to benefit the Dina Ryan-Jane Houston Scholarship Fund of St. Charles School will be held on Saturday, January 30, 1999, at the American Legion Post 139, 3445 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington. Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM and includes Kielbasa, sauerkraut laced with white wine, pirogi in sour cream sauce, roast beef, cakes, coffee and tea. Dancing will begin at 8:15 with music provided by Syd Kowalczyk's Gang. Tickets are still at a bargain price of $15 a person. Please make your reservations early by calling Laura at 703-421-0118.
WEB TEAM MEETING THIS TUESDAY
This Tuesday, January 12, the parish Web Team meets to set our goals for the coming year. We will meet at 7:30 PM in the Memorial Room of the Church. Anyone who is interested in shaping the parish web site should attend. Call Mark D. Alves (641-7968) with your questions. Don't forget to visit www.stcharleschurch.org next time you're on-line.
LITURGY COMMITTEE MEETING
Just a reminder that the Liturgy Committee will meet this Tuesday in the Parish Library at 7:30 PM. Committee members are asked to find a replacement from your group if you are unable to attend as important plans for 1999 will be discussed. Regrets only to Michael Hartford.
- Last Week's Collection: $13,476.50
- Last Week's Tithe of $1,347.65 was for our sister parishes in Cavaillon & Gros Marin, Haiti.
- This Week's Tithe is for St. Charles Outreach.
