The feast of the Assumption is a celebration of Mary’s sharing in the fullness of God’s love in her death. More importantly, though, the feast points to the promised future for all. Mary reminds us of our own desire for completion and union with God. She also reminds us that the fulfillment of that desire can only come when we live lives that are faithful to God’s values as proclaimed by Jesus. Mary, because of her obedience to God’s ways, now lives in the fullness of life with God: what we all will be in Christ.

The Gospel text today highlights these values of God. Mary’s canticle of praise is a proclamation of God’s unending love and compassion that calls us to justice, reconciliation, love and community. It is a recognition that in Jesus the reign of God has begun. This reign of God will be fully realized when all creation is drawn up into the fullness of God’s embrace, this experiencing reconciliation, transformation and redemption. We, the followers of Jesus, participate in this reign of God by our witness through our lives of justice and compassion.

Jesus has redeemed us fully. Mary shares in the fullness of this redemption because of her active obedience to God’s life in her, the demands of the reign of God. Mary becomes a symbol of hope for our future.

VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED

The Parish Center Committee is seeking parishioners with professional development experience, especially in Capital Campaigns, to fill the position of Chair of the Fundraising Subcommittee as well as serve on the committee. Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineers are also needed. To volunteer, please call or e-mail Monica Craven at 703-524-4526; arlocs@mnsinc.com.

LISTEN TO YOUR DREAMS

What are your dreams telling you? Where does the dream information come from? There are “big” and “little” dreams, but nearly all dreams -- even the scary ones -- come to help us be more in touch with our interior lives, and tell us more than we already know. August 21, 10 AM to 11:30 AM for five weeks (first session in the Parish Library), $8.00 per session. Facilitated by Sylvia Teem who, for 15 years, has studied dreams in groups, seminars and workshops. Do you want to learn more? Or if this is new to you - welcome. Limited Registration. Call the Pastoral Counseling Office at 527-5500 x15 to register.

1999 MARRIAGE JUBILEE MASS

The 1999 Marriage Jubilee Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, October 17 at 2:30 PM at St. Mark’s Church, Vienna. Bishop Paul S. Loverde will be principal celebrant and will preside over renewal of marriage vows. All are welcome. A reception will follow the Mass. If you are celebrating your 50th or 25th wedding anniversary during calendar year 1999 and would like to attend and receive a commemorative certificate, please make reservations through our Parish Office

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 1999:

The Assumption of Mary Into Heaven

• 7:30 Parishioners
• 9:00 Catherine Gradoville Westphalen by Savery Gradoville
• 11:00 Nena & Pepe Perez by Joe Perez & family
• 1:00 Virgen de Urkupiña
• Readings: Revelations 11:19a;12:1-6a,10ab; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56

Monday, August 16:

• 9:00 Angeline Mooney by Ken & Marie Milow
• Readings: Judges 2:11-19; Matthew 19:16-22

Tuesday, August 17:

• 9:00 Jack Gallagher by Jimmy & Carey Fagan
• 7:30 (at the Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
• Readings: Judges 6:11-24a; Matthew 19:23-30

Wednesday, August 18:

• 9:00 Madeleine Thomas by the Anhut family
• Readings: Judges 9:6-15; Matthew 20:1-16a

Thursday, August 19:

• 9:00 Elliott I. Pallock by Savery Gradoville
• Readings: Judges 11:29-39a; Matthew 22:1-14

Friday, August 20:

• 9:00 Verda Marie Morrissey Morgan by Betsy Moyer
• Readings: Ruth 1:1,3-6,14b-16,22; Matthew 22:34-40

Saturday, August 21:

• 9:00 James Macary by Laura Fitch & family
• 5:00 Eduardo Fernández & Petronila Montes
• by Juana Fernández & family
• Readings: Ruth 2:1-3,8-11;4:13-17; Matthew 23:1-12

Please remember to keep in your prayers, those who are sick and those who suffer, especially: Juanita Whetzel, Kathy & Mike Burke, Jill Hasty, James Kern, Robert Westbrook, Ralph & Eileen Bruno, Ian McGowan, Mary Fitzpatrick, Eugene Johnson, Berta Rosales, and Andrea Walker. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Sheila Cagney and Beatrice Ethelbert.

PARKING NOW AVAILABLE AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Effective immediately, George Mason University is making available to St. Charles parishioners, 75 parking spaces on their surface lot during Sunday Masses. The parking lot entrance is located on Kirkwood between Fairfax Drive and Washington Blvd. Please note that George Mason also uses the lot during these times and cannot be responsible for any property loss or damage. In the spirit of cooperation, we thank them for their consideration.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER...

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HAITIAN CHILDREN: On August 1st, a special collection was taken at the Spanish Mass to support scholarships for Haitian children. With the amount collected, the Latin American Community has adopted two Haitian children for the 1999 - 2000 school year.

Ministry

The central task of the Church and the lay faithful, is to discover, and help others rediscover, the inviolable dignity of every human person.

- NCCB

NEW ARRIVALS FOR PASTORAL COUNSELING

Loyola College in Maryland will once again provide St. Charles with seasoned interns from the Pastoral Counseling graduate program to help extend both our counseling hours and our sliding scale fees. Lisa Zager grew up in a small town in northern Michigan, graduating with a BA in Humanities from Michigan State. She and her husband live in Arlington. She sings at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More where she also draws on her professional background as a loan officer/originator for the parish credit union which she describes as “helping friends pool resources to help each other.” Lisa has co-facilitated Hospice groups for grieving adults, worked with survivors of sexual abuse and done children’s bereavement work. For some years, she has also done work on body image and presence and enjoys working with others who wish to be “at home” with their own body - no matter the size. Lisa will present a short workshop “Moving Through Transition” on Sept. 11, at 9:30 - 11:30 AM in the Upper Room. Lisa will be in the office on Wednesday late afternoon and evenings, and Saturday mornings. Ken Telesca was raised by a widowed mom in the NYC area, went to Notre Dame for his finance degree and received his masters from State University NY in business. University teaching in NY and VA in the fields of finance, and 26 years of private banking, consulting, export-import banking. In recent years, staff training positions allowed him to develop effective coaching strategies to help employees become successful in achieving their goals both at work and at home. As a one time member at St. Mary’s in Fairfax with his wife Peggy, Ken has been involved in family, youth and adult retreat work and programs. They have four grown children. His commitment to counseling grows out of his coaching experience in the business world, his own intuitive-feeling type (Myers-Briggs scale), and from his listening to those who sought him out to help them deal with the concerns of daily life stress, as well as, he says, “his own journey as a husband, father, professional, and son of aging parents.” Ken will be in the office late Monday afternoon and evening and early on Friday mornings. CALL JEAN at 527-5500 x15 to set up appointments for September.

CALLING ALL C’YA MEMBERS, NEW AND OLD:

Here’s your reminder to come and take part in the C’YA (St. Charles Young Adults) Town Hall Meeting and Ice Cream Social, this Sunday, August 15, 1999. We will be discussing the future of C’YA along with setting goals which will better define the group as a community building ministry here at St. Charles. The meeting will be preceded by an ice cream social beginning at 7 PM in the School Cafeteria. If you are interested in getting more involved, now is the time! This evening is very important for the continuing success of C’YA and I encourage all concerned to attend this meeting, and oh yes, there will be ice cream. C’YA there! For more information, please contact Marcie Williams at 979-8651.

IN OUR PARISH...

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

Recently, we inaugurated the “St. Charles Church - Parish Neighborhoods Crisis Prayer Tree,” a network of parishioners who pray for intentions, particularly in crisis situations, i.e. a friend or relative is rushed to the hospital and must undergo immediate surgery, etc.

To complement this network (linked via telephone), the Parish Council, in cooperation with Circle of Caring and the St. Charles Web Team, is pleased to announce that the “E” (electronic) network, called the “Crisis E-Prayer Tree” is now on-line. Visit www.stcharleschurch.org. Click on “Circle of Caring Crisis E-Prayer Tree” on the home page. Follow the instructions on how you can join a list to receive prayer intentions via e-mail. Reach out and register today!

PARISH COUNCIL SEEKS NOMINEES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD B REPRESENTATIVE

The Neighborhood B seat on the Parish Council is currently vacant. If you live in the Rosslyn-Courthouse area and would like more information about this opportunity, please call Carolyn Gretzinger at 243-5653.

PARISH NEWS ANY TIME YOU NEED IT

Want to check the parish calendar during lunch? Do you wake up at midnight wondering what the young adults are up to? The parish is on-line at www.stcharleschurch.org whenever you need to find some answers. Visit our web site to learn about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities or the latest parish news. This week, dare to share your faith - tell a friend to click on www.stcharleschurch.org.

ST. COLETTA SCHOOL COLLECTION

This weekend, members of Porto Caravan No. 104 Order of Alhambra will be conducting their annual collection for the St. Coletta School. St. Coletta’s is a Diocesan sponsored school offering academic, religious, and vocational training for mentally disadvantaged but educable children and young adults. All funds collected are donated in their entirety to support the school operating expenses. This year’s collection is dedicated in the memory of St. Coletta Founder Hazel Hagarty. Please be generous in your support.

PARISH SUPPORT

• Last Week’s Collection: $13,707.50
• Last Week’s Tithe of $1,370.75 was for AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center).
• This Week’s Tithe is for St. Charles Outreach.

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