Dear Members of St. Charles,

We have a new bishop, Most Rev. Paul Loverde. While in Canon Law school in Washington, he served at Holy Family Dale City. The priests and people there who served with him have warm memories of his pastoral sensitivity. I call on you to join me in prayer for him and for our Diocese. He wants to be “a good shepherd in the likeness of Jesus Christ”. May this selection signal a new movement of the Holy Spirit as we attempt to build God’s Reign in our local Church.

This weekend we celebrate the renewal of marriage vows. May our families grow in faith and mutual affection as we make signs of God’s faithful love.

Last week I returned from a visit to our Diocesan Mission in Banica, Dominican Republic and our Parish Mission in Haiti. It was a breath-taking experience of faith and outreach. Our solidarity with these Caribbean parishes has supported growth in faith and community development. The new high school in Cavaillon stands as a clear sign of what can be accomplished together. Thanks. A Carnival (a Caribbean Mardi Gras) will be hosted by our Haiti Committee on Feb. 13. It will be a time of “joie et foi” and an opportunity to learn more about our sister parishes.

With renewed hope,

PARISH DIRECTORIES ARE FINALLY HERE!

Have you picked-up your Parish Directory? If not and you are a registered member of the Parish, please stop by the Parish Office to pick-up your copy. The number of copies are limited so please, only one copy per household.

IT’S NOT TOO SOON TO PLAN FOR LENT!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday evenings during Lent. Beginning February 23rd, we will hold our Soup Suppers in the School Cafeteria, followed by a Jubilee Justice lecture series. Details will follow in upcoming bulletins. For now, please mark your calendars and plan to join us!

USHERS NEEDED!

The Ushers at the 9:00 AM Mass are looking for 1 to 2 individuals to help with the collection. Regular (though not perfect) attendance at the 9:00 AM Mass is desirable. Please consider participating in this important ministry. See one of the Ushers after Mass, or call Mike Urban at 516-9729 (h) or 202-414-1716 (w).

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1999:

• 7:30 Bishop Vincent J. MacCauley, CSC
• 9:00 Parishioners
• 11:00 Meg Donovan by Anne B. Biedscheid
• 1:00 Jose Jimenez & Juan Palacios by Maria Jimenez

Readings: Zephaniah 2:3;3:12-13;1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a

Monday, February 1:

• 9:00 Gwendoline Gradoville by Savery Gradoville

Readings: Hebrews 11:32-40; Mark 5:1-20

Tuesday, February 2: PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

• 9:00 Thanksgiving by Marissa Yatco
• 7:30 (at the Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates

Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40

Wednesday, February 3:

• 9:00 James Damian Roberts

Readings: Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15; Mark 6:1-6

Thursday, February 4:

• 9:00 Thomas McCrossan by Rita McGinley

Readings: Hebrews 12:18-19,21-24; Mark 6:7-13

Friday, February 5:

• 9:00 Cornelio Fernandez by Patricia Fernandez

Readings: Hebrews 13:1-8; Mark 6:14-29

Saturday, February 6:

• 9:00 Adam Smith by Kitty Smith
• 5:00 Tony Burruto by Camille Burruto

Readings: Hebrews 13:15-17,20-21; Mark 6:30-34

Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Teresa Cifuentes, Fausto Rios, Ward Johnson, Ed Dervan, William T. Most, Bertha Rosales, Carolyn Gardner, Virginia Higginbotham, Dolores Guzman, Kathy and Mike Burke, James Kern, Lena Cafferina, Mennensa Fernandez, Waldo and Myrna Ruiz, Lillian Healy Orr, Eileen and Ralph Bruno, and Jimmy Clark. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Susie Gonzales.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER...

In “The Right to a Decent Home: A Pastoral Response to the Crisis in Housing” by our bishops say: “The Catholic Church in this country has a long tradition of providing services to those in need. Our concern must also extend to the shelter needs of people....Our Faith tells us that men and women are called by God to continue to the work of creation, to fashion a better, more just society as we wait for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Effective action for decent housing is an essential dimension of this continuing creation.” Affordable housing in Arlington is disappearing! The redevelopment of Arna Valley means an additional 500+ families will be seeking affordable housing in Arlington and surrounding communities. Should we at St. Charles be doing more than advocating to preserve affordable housing? What can we as a parish do to help families in more concrete ways? If you are interested in helping to answer that question, please contact the housing subministry of the Social Justice Committee. Call Mary Rackmales at 525-6586 or Brigid Doherty, Social Justice Minister in the Parish Office at 527-5500.

Ministry

The family celebrates the Gospel of life through daily prayer, both individual and family prayer. But the celebration which gives meaning to every other form of prayer and worship is found in the family’s actual daily life together, if it is a life of loving and self-giving.

- John Paul, II Evangelium Vitae (no. 93)

ST. CHARLES SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

St. Charles School Open House starts today, Sunday, January 31st. 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.

SCHOOL REUNION

St. Charles School in Arlington invites all Graduates, Former Teachers, and Priests to a Grand Reunion on April 24, 1999, to celebrate 77 years of Excellence in Education. For further information, please call the School Office at 703-527-0608.

ADULT CONFIRMATION

Calling ALL Adults (age 18 +) who desire confirmation. Pentecost confirmations will take place at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More on Sunday, May 23rd. In preparation for this event, a series of evening reflections will begin, Monday, January 15th at 7:30 PM in the Parish Library. Please bring a recent copy of your Baptismal Certificate and Marriage Certificate (if applicable). For further information, contact Marilyn Krause at 527-5500.

MOM & ME

The next meeting of Mothers and Children will be February 11th from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in the Parish Library. Bring your child, a few toys and the name of the last good book you’ve read. Refreshments will be served.

COME CELEBRATE TEN YEARS WITH THE HAITI COMMITTEE!

The St. Charles Haiti Committee invites you to a lively evening of food, fun and Haitian music on Saturday, February 13, 1999 beginning at 6:00 PM in the School Cafeteria to celebrate the Committee’s ten year anniversary. $6.00/person, $10.00/couple, under 12 free.

We hope you will join us and learn more about the Haiti Committee, our sister parishes in Cavaillon and Gros Marin, and the community projects we support on health, education, liturgical support and economic development. See you there!

IN OUR PARISH...

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

The St. Charles Parish Council hopes to see you at upcoming parish events, including the Polka Party on January 30 and the Haitian Carnival on February 13. We are grateful for your prayers and appreciate your continued support and enthusiasm.

ST. CHARLES YOUNG ADULTS (C’YA)

Did you every think about the fact that Jesus was a young adult when he began his public ministry? If you are in your 20’s or 30’s (we won’t ask :-) and want to get involved with social service or spiritual activities, check out C’YA. You can find our monthly newsletter/calendar at the back of the Church, visit us on-line at www.stcharleschurch.org/cya, or contact our co-chairs Dave (294-6861) and John (908-0107).

ON SUPER BOWL WEEKEND...

...visit our super parish web site! Read the story behind the church’s stained glass windows as you look at the photos taken by Mike McMahon. Or, read a bulletin you missed or find out how to try something new for Lent. Go to www.stcharleschurch.org. and see what’s waiting for you.

Dear John (Oczytko),

May the angels lead you into paradise dear friend of ours. We’re sorry you had to leave but it appears that God had other plans for you. We want to thank you for all the toys and Giant register tapes you brought us over the years. We thank you for your visits to say “Hi!” to Sister B and to tell her how much you cared for us. We pray for your wife Vina, whom you visited in the nursing home. This was not an easy thing for you to do but you did it faithfully. What an example you were to us. It was good that you and Vina celebrated your 50th Wedding Anniversary a couple of months ago. You made a special trip to school to thank us for the Mass Father Hilary celebrated for the two of you. We will not say good-bye, but we’ll count on your continued help from a higher place. Heaven will be a richer place because you are there. The school is a better place because you enriched our lives with outstanding generosity, dedication and love. Dear John, so long for now. We’ll be waiting to hear from you. -- Sister B, Staff and Students.

PARISH SUPPORT

• Last Week’s Collection: $12,882.00
• Last Week’s 2nd Collection of $3,447.00 was for the Church in Latin America.
• This Week’s tithe is for Gabriel Homes & Literacy Council of Northern Virginia.
• Next Week’s tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon & Gros Marin, Haiti.
• Next Week’s 2nd Collection is for the Catholic Herald.

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