FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear Members of St. Charles:

On Wednesday at First Baptist Church Clarendon at 7:30 PM and here at the 9:00 AM Liturgy on November the 25th, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Join us in thanking the Lord for his blessings.

Your support to the Campaign for Human Development this weekend and your ongoing support through our parish tithing strengthen the sense of solidarity we feel with the poor. By “stuffing Fran’s Turkey” so well, you share your thanksgiving meal with many.

Our thanks in a special way go to our staff. Brigid Doherty, Social Justice Coordinator and Marilyn Krause, our Minister of Religious Education and coordinator of children’s activities, have decided to leave their positions to pursue other goals. They have given generously of themselves in building the kingdom at St. Charles in spreading the word and doing justice. Our best thanks will be our continuing effort to build on the strong foundation they have laid.

Sr. Benedict, our School Principal credits the parish’s prayer for her ongoing and steady recovery from a heart attack.

In gratitude,

HELP WANTED

St. Charles has a position available as Social Justice Minister. The position requires skill and experience in the areas of human services and social justice. Knowledge of Spanish a plus. Please send resumé to Rev. Gerry Creedon, Pastor, St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3304 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 or drop it by the Parish Office.

THANKSGIVING SERVICES

This year our Ecumenical Service will be held at First Baptist Church in Clarendon at 7:30 PM on Thanksgiving Eve. Fr. Gerry and our own Folk Group will be part of the service. Ron Crocker, the Pastor of neighboring St. George’s Episcopal Church will preach. Come and enjoy! On THANKSGIVING DAY, Mass at St. Charles will be held at 9:00 AM with the Choir. Our Offertory will go to Parish Outreach. You may also bring canned goods for the Food Pantry. Come, let’s be grateful together.

THE GIVING TREE

The traditional St. Charles Giving Tree will be placed in the Church on Saturday, November 27th. The Giving Tree affords the opportunity to share our blessings with those in need right here in our own community. Tags will be placed on the tree with the name of a child or adult who might not have a gift without your help. There will also be tags for a “Shoebox Gift” which may be filled with such items as toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, knit hat, gloves, scarf, socks, and other miscellaneous items needed by those who are without shelter. As you begin your shopping for the season, please remember that there are many who are so much less fortunate than most of us here at St. Charles. More details to come. If you have any questions, or would like to help, please feel free to contact Pat Tuccio at 534-6844, or Ann and John Breslin at 525-0041.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1999: Christ the King

7:30Timothy Herlihy by Patricia Weth

9:00Parishioners

11:00Mary Jane Charlene Riguera (L) by the

Atmosfera-Riguera family

1:00Jose Cruz, Jr. by his parents

Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28;

Matthew 25:31-46

Monday, November 22:

9:00James Damian Roberts

Readings: Daniel 1:1-6,8-20; Luke 21:1-4

Tuesday, November 23:

9:00Family Reconciliation by Mario D’Ambrosio

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

Readings: Daniel 2:31-45; Luke 21:5-11

Wednesday, November 24:

9:00Julia Muller by Viola Muller

Readings: Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28; Luke 21:12-19

Thursday, November 25:

9:00Parishioners

Readings: Daniel 6:12-28; Luke 21:20-28

Friday, November 26:

9:00 Femila A. Riguera (L) the Riguera family

Readings: Daniel 7:2-14; Luke 21:29-33

Saturday, November 27:

9:00 Kathleen Gorman & Aileen (L) by Pat Niner

5:00 Virginia Rua by Marcia Rachy & Sandra Utter

Readings: Daniel 7:15-27; Luke 21:34-36

Prayer Requests

SOCIAL JUSTICE CORNER

THANKSGIVING DINNER AT RPC SHELTER: The RPC Shelter located on Columbia Pike needs our help Thanksgiving Day. No cooking required! If you can volunteer some time to warm and serve food from 3-6 PM, please call Pat Zimmerman at 486-0160. “When I was hungry, you gave me to eat” … let us not forget our blessings! In thanksgiving for all we have, let’s consider giving of our time to those in need of our love and support. God bless you! Happy Thanksgiving.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our special thanks to Whitlow Chiropractic Center for supporting our parish. Thank you!

PLEASE NOTE: The Parish Office will be closed on Thursday, November 25th and Friday, November 26th. HAPPY THANKSGIVING from everyone in the Parish Office!

Ministry

Parents and families of the whole world, let me say to you: God calls you to holiness! He himself has chosen you “before the creation of the world,” St. Paul tells us, to “be holy and blameless before him … through Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:4). He loves you passionately, he desires your happiness, but he wants you to be always able to combine fidelity with happiness, because one cannot exist without the other. Do not let a hedonistic mentality, ambition and selfishness enter your homes. Be generous with God.

-- John Paul II, Homily in Rio de Janeiro

ST. CHARLES SCHOOL

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN: If you are a Federal Employee, your Combined Federal Campaign contribution can be directed to St. Charles School. Our number is 7564. Your continued support enables us to provide an excellent and affordable Catholic education for all our students. Thank you!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

ADVENT WREATH MAKING PARTY: Come make Advent Wreaths in the School Cafeteria on Saturday, November 27th from 3-5 PM. The cost will be between $15-$20. All the Materials you need will be provided along with carols to get you in the mood. Seating will be limited. Reserve your place be calling the Religious Education Office at 527-5500 x19.

THE LITURGY PLANNING TEAM is looking for additional members. Volunteers could contribute for one particular season, i.e., Advent & Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter, Paschal Time, or by being a full-time member of the planning team. For further information, please call Gail Goodridge at 703-271-9436 or gg2@erols.com.

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY SERIES

Two sessions exploring the deeper meanings of Christmas, facilitated by Mark Andersen of the St. Charles’ Young Adults group.– (C'YA) THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN: Jesus and Authority in the Gospels (Wednesday, December 1, 1999; 7:00 PM; Upper Room) – The theme of “radical reversal” runs through Jesus’ teachings, suggesting a profoundly transformed approach to social organization, leadership, economics, and authority. To examine this scriptural theme, explore how it helped provide the basis for phenomenon as diverse as the Diggers of 17th century England, modern anarchism, and the Catholic Worker movement, and to see how it challenges us as we approach the Jubilee year, please come to this Bible Study. THE CHRISTMAS STORIES: Finding God In Unexpected Places (Thursday, December 16, 1999; 7:00 PM; Upper Room) – Modern scholarship has yielded startling insights about the historicity and deeper meanings of the Christmas stories recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. To learn more about this, and the astonishing appearance of God on earth, arriving not amidst the rich and powerful, with imperial pomp and glory, but in a humble manger, born to a homeless peasant woman, come to this special holiday Bible Study.

IN OUR PARISH...

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

The St. Charles Parish Council wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for the many blessings that each of you brings to our parish. Thank you for your support!

SENIOR TEA WITH THE PASTOR

Seniors – December 8th, Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Mark your calendars for our next visit with Fr. Creedon. Join us for Mass at noon and then visit in the Parish Library afterwards. We look forward to seeing you there!

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

The Parish Office is now accepting donations for Christmas Flowers. If you wish to have a loved-one remembered, please include his or her name with your donation. For your convenience, there are envelopes available at the Church entrances or you may place your donation and the name of your loved-one in a plain envelope. Both may be dropped in the Sunday collection basket or you can stop by the Parish Office. The list of those remembered will be published on Christmas Day, so please have your donations and names to the Parish Office by Monday, December 20th. Thank you.

CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

This Sunday, Catholics across the country are asked to take their stand beside our Nation’s poor. Your generous contribution to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) will go to support self-help projects owned and operated by the poor and low-income communities. The projects you support are helping to create decent housing, improve the quality of education for young people, secure affordable health care and create decent paying jobs. Please use your envelope today and contribute generously. Thank you.

• Last Week’s Collection: $13,820.00
• Last Week’s Tithe of $1,382.00 was for St. Charles Outreach.
• This Week’s 2nd Collection is for the Campaign for Human Development.

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