FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear Members of St. Charles:

Advent prepares us for a Millennial Christmas. The Birth of Christ this year inaugurates a new era in history. Let it be a rebirth of hope. I invite you to join me on Saturday, December 4th at 8 AM in the Chapel for Scripture Reflections for Advent, and 6 PM in the Chapel for Advent and the Millennium, a presentation and dialogue.

Mark your calendars for a special celebration of life on December 8th at 7:30 PM and a Mariachi Mass on December 11 for Our Lady of Guadalupe with a Fiesta in the Cafeteria.

Open wide the doors for Christ!

P.S. Make the Neighborhood celebrations a must on your December schedule!

THANK YOU!!!

Dear Fr. Gerry, Fr. Francisco, and all Parishioners: Thank you for your concern, gifts, notes and continued prayers for my complete recovery. Please be assured of my prayers and love for each of you. Sr. Benedict Kesock, O.S.B., Principal, St. Charles School.

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.

MEMORIAL MASS

A Memorial Mass for Juanita Whetzel will be held on Friday, December 10th at 7:00 PM. Frs. Creedon and Grinell will preside. A reception in the School Cafeteria will follow.

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 703-534-6844, or Ann and John Breslin at 703-525-0041.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

All parishioners are invited to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday, December 11th. Join us for the bi-lingual Mass at 5:00 PM followed by a FIESTA in the Cafeteria with Latin food, songs and dances. A highlight of the evening will be a Mariachi band that will play during the Mass.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1999:

7:30 Candida More by Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Glodowski

9:00 James Macary by Laura Fitch & family

11:00 Parishioners

1:00 Lucia Fuentes de Espinosa by Raul Espinosa & family

Readings: Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b;64:2b-7; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9;

Mark 13:33-37

Monday, November 29:

9:00 Albert G. McCarthy, Jr.

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 8:5-11

Tuesday, November 30:

9:00 Victoria Haydock by Mary Hardiman

& Michael Conynshau

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

Readings: Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22

Wednesday, December 1:

9:00 Lucia Carmen Clements by Joe & Diane Boyle

Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Matthew 15:29-37

Thursday, December 2:

9:00 Rosina by Luisa & Riccardo Lojacono

Readings: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21,24-27

Friday, December 3:

9:00 Louis Pellecchia by Valoentino DAgostino

Readings: Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31

Saturday, December 4:

9:00 Vincent DAmbrosio (L) by Mario DAmbrosio

5:00 Living Members of the Burruto family

by Camille Burruto

Readings: Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26; Matthew 9:35-10:1,6-8

NEW YEARS 2000 MILLENNIUM CELEBRATION

Wondering where and how to welcome in New Year 2000. Its not too early to plan your celebration. The EDW Knights of Columbus will host a special 40th New Years Eve Ball in the main ballroom. A special gourmet meal and celebration starting with horsdeouvres, open bar, and dinner with a choice of entrees. Live dance music will be provided by Symmetry and after champagne at midnight, there will be a continental breakfast. Tickets are $130 per couple and $65 for singles. Dont procrastinate. You wont find a better value for your New Years Eve celebration. For more information and reservations, call EDW K of C at 536-9656.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our special thanks to Arlington Auto Care/GOODYEAR for supporting our parish. Thank you!

Ministry

God makes us capable of giving ourselves, even sacrificing ourselves for the sake of the common good. Part of our self-sacrifice is to create a culture worthy of people made in God's image and likeness.

-- Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., Entering the Millennium as a People of Life

YOUTH NEWS

Entertainment Books If you have not yet bought your Entertainment Book, a few still remain. This book contains coupons for local restaurants, movie theaters, retail stores, and much more for only $35.00. All money raised will support WAY, St. Charles High School youth program. To buy your book, call Anne Marie at 527-5500, ext. 26.

Attention all 8th graders: if you are interested in attending one of the Catholic high schools and currently are not enrolled in Catholic school in the Arlington Diocese, you must take a placement test on Saturday, December 4 at 8:30 AM or Saturday, January 8 at 8:30 AM at one of four testing sites. A registration form must be submitted by Wednesday, December 1, 1999 for the December test date and Wednesday, January 5, 2000 for the January test date. Registration forms and more information on testing sites are available at the Parish Office.

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY SERIES

Two sessions exploring the deeper meanings of Christmas, facilitated by Mark Andersen of the St. Charles Young Adults group. 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.

POPE JOHN PAUL II ON THE JUBILEE

The jubilee year was meant to restore equality among all the children of Israel, offering new possibilities to families which had lost their property and even their personal freedom. On the other hand, the jubilee year was a reminder to the rich that a time would come when their Israelite slaves would once again become their equals and would be able to reclaim their rights. At the times prescribed by law, a jubilee year had to be proclaimed to assist those in need.

--As the Third Millennium Draws Near

IN OUR PARISH...

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

The St. Charles Parish Council will convene on Wednesday, December 1 at 7:30 PM in the Parish Library. Agenda items include: reports on parish finances and the recent Town Halls and a discussion on plans for upcoming events, such as the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass and Fiesta (December 11) and the Parish Christmas Party (December 18).

Also, Advent activities in your parish neighborhood begin this week. Neighborhood Cs event takes place on Thursday, December 2. Call Anne Breslin at 525-0041 for details.

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.

FALL FLAG FOOTBALL

Be part of a C'YA fall tradition by joining the gang for an afternoon of Flag Football. What better way to work off that Thanksgiving Dinner? Meet at Washington and Lee High School at the corner of Quincy and Washington Blvd. at 10 AM on Saturday, November 27, come rain or shine.

LIVING YOUR FAITH IN THE WORKPLACE--Cancelled

ATTENTION: We have had to CANCEL the December 4 parish retreat on this theme. We hope to do one later next year.

Last Week's Collection: $13,807.20

Last Week's 2nd Collection of $5,708.80 was for the Campaign for Human Development.

Next Week's Tithe is for our sister parishes in Cavaillon & Gros Marin, Haiti.

Bulletins from other weeks