FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear Members of St. Charles:

Too often we celebrate Labor Day as a closing of the pools or a beginning of school and forget its purpose, to celebrate the dignity of work. Our U.S. Bishops write: “In a marketplace where too often the quarterly bottom-line takes precedence over the rights of workers, we believe that the economy should serve people, not the other way round. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation”. The church has always supported the right to a just wage. The minimum wage cannot qualify in most areas, certainly not in ours, as a living wage. In a time when government has promoted welfare to work programs, it is urgent that we do not create a new category of poverty, “the working poor”. I ask people who come to St. Charles from Alexandria to give consideration to Alexandria’s living wage campaign supported by many Alexandria faith institutions.

Let us also redouble our efforts to do the work of the church. In September, we will offer a Volunteer Fair. Please reflect on how you may make time and skill available to our ministries this year. I would love to meet a bi-lingual lawyer to work with me on human rights issues affecting our Latin-American Community. Call me at the office. Our finance committee also seeks a fund-raiser!

Bless O Lord the work of our hands,

VOLUNTEER FAIR

“Share the Spirit” is the theme of this year’s Volunteer Fair which will be held after all Masses on September 25 & 26. Come by the cafeteria to explore the many ways you can share the Spirit with others in the parish community. Sharing is easy and takes on many forms, from offering your time to pray for others, to singing in the choir, to helping with special Liturgies, to working with the parish youth, to visiting a sick parishioner. Come, join us, and become a part of something very exciting and rewarding ... Share the Spirit!.

C’YA OPEN HOUSE

Here’s your friendly reminder to join the members of St. Charles Young Adults next weekend for their annual Open House. Come and chat with current members and get a sneak preview of upcoming events. Parishioners in their 20’s and 30’s are encouraged to stop by the Upper Room after the 5 PM Mass on Saturday or on Sunday after the 9 and 11 AM Masses outside of the School Cafeteria. Hope to C’YA there!

PASTORAL COUNSELING OFFICE NEWS

A workshop on MOVING THROUGH TRANSITIONS for any who want to explore some tools for getting through the “stuck places of life” will be held on September 11 from 9:30 - 11:30 AM in the Upper Room with Lisa Zager. Call Jean Sweeney at 527-5500 x15 to register. Counseling appointments with Lisa or Ken Telesca, our new interns, are being set up now. Call Jean.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1999:

7:30 Delma Horan by Andrea Lydon

9:00 Parishioners

11:00 James Jenkinson by Lisa Romagnudo & Gerard Guidi

1:00 Rev. Ricardo Seidel by Lat. Am. Comm. of St. Charles

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

Monday, September 6:

9:00 Eleanor Werthman (L) by Marissa Yatco

Readings: Colossians 1:24-2:3; Luke 6:6-11

Tuesday, September 7:

9:00 Ann Parks by Stephen Lanigan

7:30 (at the Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates

Readings: Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 6:12-19

Wednesday, September 8:

9:00 Harry Kirby by Ellie & Kerry Mack

Readings: Micah 5:1-4a; Matthew 1:1-16,18-23

Thursday, September 9:

9:00 Flora Andres by Marina Taverner & Theodore

Readings: Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 6:27-38

Friday, September 10:

9:00 Ludwig Hakspiel by Teresa Moreno

Readings: 1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14; Luke 6:39-42

Saturday, September 11:

9:00 Ben Absalom by Marina Taverner & Theodore

5:00 John F. McQuillan by Marcia Rachy

Readings: 1 Timothy 1:15-17; Luke 6:43-49

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, Berta Rosales, Andrea Walker, Jean Howe, Josephine Cuthie, Lorraine Gardner, Leslie Zolbe, Sandy Brown, Nicholas Prescott, and Grace Frontera. Let us also pray for those who have died, especially: Ruby Cousin and Eileen Horneman.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER...

COMMUNITIES OF SALT & LIGHT - You are the Salt of the earth...you are the light of the world...your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Mt. 5:13-16) The Communities of Salt and Light Formation Program is coming to St. Charles. Kristi Schulenberg, Director of Parish Social Ministry at Catholic Charities USA and Brigid Doherty, our Social Justice Minister, will present this program in leadership in parish social ministry. come learn more about the social teachings of our church, and how you can help to build Christ’s Kingdom of justice and peace. We will be meeting Tuesday nights, starting September 21 and continuing through October 26. Registration is required in advance. Please all Brigid in the Parish Office at 527-5500 for more information and to register. Brochures are available a the church entrances.

THANK YOU! Our special thanks to all our sponsors for supporting our Parish.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER SHARE CIRCLE

All Marriage Encounter Couples are invited to join a Share Circle now forming at St. Charles. Come meet other couples who experienced the same terrific weekend and who are sharing ways to enrich their dialogue and marriages. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, September 14 at 7:30 PM in the Upper Room. Snacks and baby-sitting will be provided. Call Marc and Lisa Michaels for more information (237-1895; mmichael@aol.com).

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Catechetical Sunday is September 19. At Mass, we will recognize and honor all parishioners who are involved with this important ministry. This year’s theme, “God Our Father, God of Love”, reminds us that God is the source of our lives and the reason for our being. As we commission our catechists for the coming year, we will celebrate God’s gifts in our lives. Spaces in some Atrium classes are still available. Contact the R.E. Office for more information.

YOUTH NEWS

Calling all youth to gather in worship for this year’s opening Youth Mass next Sunday, September 12 at 5:45 PM in the Chapel.

Attention all 7th and 8th graders...Mark your calendars for the opening night of On The Way next Sunday, September 12 beginning at 5:45 PM in the Chapel and ending at 8:30 PM in the Upper Room.

All high school youth are invited to the first night of WAY on Sunday, September 12 from 5:45 PM to 9 PM. Join with other youth of the parish for an evening of faith, fellowship, food, and fun. Don’t miss this chance to learn more about the impact WAY can have on your life!

Diocesan Youth Rally for all high school youth on Saturday, September 25 from noon - 10 PM where inspirational speakers, great entertainment, and live music might just bring you closer to God!! Sign-up deadline is Sunday, September 12. To sign-up or for more information, call Anne Marie at 703-527-5500.

PRAYER CONCERT

Back by popular demand! Guitarist/singer/songwriter Michael John Poirier will make his fifth appearance at St. Charles on Monday, September 13 at 7:30 PM to lead us in prayer and Eucharistic Adoration. Michael has a special way of reaching the human heart with God’s tender and merciful message of love. Please plan to attend and bring friends and family with you. This unique Catholic prayer experience is a great way to introduce or re-introduce love ones to Jesus and the Church. For more information, check out the web site at www.stcharleschurch.org/mjp.htm or call Jen Cole at 703-525-6925.

NO HEAVY LIFTING

There’ll be no heavy lifting this Labor Day when all you have to do is click on www.stcharleschurch.org to find parish news, photos and volunteer opportunities. Relax and spend some time on the parish web site this week. Happy Labor Day from the parish Web Team.

IN OUR PARISH...

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

The Parish Council encourages you to participate in these upcoming events:

“Share the Spirit” Volunteer Fair - Visit the school Cafeteria after all Masses on September 25-26 and learn more about St. Charles and its activities.

Parish Neighborhoods Mass, Canned Food Drive and Pot-Luck Party - All Are invited to a special liturgy and party on Saturday, October 2 at 5 PM. All the parish’s neighborhoods will participate. In connection with the Mass, the neighborhoods are sponsoring a food drive to benefit St. Charles’ pantry.

To ensure variety, each neighborhood is asked to contribute particular foods: Neighborhood B: Cereal; Neighborhood C: Rice/beans; Neighborhood D: Canned meat/fish; Neighborhood E: Canned fruit/vegetable/soup; Neighborhood F: Pasta/Tomato Sauce.

Thanks for your support. We look forward to seeing you at these events!

GATHERING - TASTE AND SEE

Are you new to the parish, or perhaps not-so-new, but looking for to get involved in the Parish? If so, you will want to come to the Parish Library at 7:30 PM on September 23. That evening, the Gathering Team plans to provide a “sample” or “taste” of the Gathering faith-sharing experience as well as information about other parish activities. For further information call Glenn or Monica Lazarus at 703-351-0889 or Mary Jean Davidge at 703-522-0546.

CROP WALK

HELP STOP HUNGER: Get some exercise and enjoy a beautiful fall morning while helping to eliminate hunger! Join the 1999 Arlington Crop Walk which will be held on Saturday, October 16th. Crop Walk is a 10K stroll through North Arlington to raise funds for Church World Services’ global and local hunger relief efforts. 25% of the money raised is given to the Arlington Food Assistance Center, the remaining 75 % is used for global hunger relief projects. Can’t walk? Consider sponsoring a walker! Look for the colorful T-shirt by the Crop Walk table in the cafeteria after the 9 and 11 AM Masses and register to walk. For more information, check out the link to the parish calendar on the web site or call Carol Brown at 524-6133.

PARISH SUPPORT

• Last Week’s Collection: $12,014.00
• Last Week’s Tithe of $1,201.40 was for Offender Aid & Restoration (OAR) and Virginia CURE.
• This Week’s Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon & Gros Marin, Haiti.
• Next Week’s Tithe is for Borromeo Housing, Inc.

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