Report to the Community of the Past Year

July 2006 - June 2007
From the Pastoral Planning Committee

The mission of St. Charles Borromeo Parish and its registered 3,214 households is challenging:

To be “a community of people with various cultural backgrounds united as a family of faith empowered by Christ. We call on all to offer their unique gifts in building the Reign of God’s love, as we proclaim the word of God, celebrate the sacraments, and promote education, hospitality, justice, and service.”

Fulfillment of the mission requires a wealth of resources: financial resources to be sure, but even more importantly, the time and energy of hundreds of dedicated individuals who make possible the parish’s vast array of programs and activities, and who make St. Charles a vital faith community.

On a recent evening, over 50 St. Charles leaders from the parish and school — staff members and volunteers — reviewed the record of pastoral efforts in the past year. Their enthusiasm about the year’s accomplishments and their pride in their community and its culture were manifest during the lively session. Participants produced an impressive body of evidence indicating that in the 2006-07 fiscal year, St. Charles made great progress in all areas of the parish mission.

Building Up Our Diverse, Hospitable and United Family of Faith

For years, all cultures, all races and all ages have found a warm and welcoming home at St. Charles. Diversity is the community’s hallmark. The tradition was strengthened last year. There was increased cooperation and coordination between our Spanish-speaking and our English-speaking communities. They jointly prepared for the sacrament of Confirmation with our teens and sang in a combined choir at several multi-cultural liturgies. In addition, bilingual Stations of the Cross services and bi-lingual Mass on Holy Days and special feasts were celebrated. The parish welcomed Latinos Unidos, the social justice arm of the Latino community, into the broader St. Charles ministry. Persons of other cultures joined Filipino parishioners at their traditional Advent Simbang Gabi early morning Masses and follow-on fellowship gatherings.

Special programs for young and elderly parishioners continued. There was increased participation in and activities for the junior high “On The Way” and high school “WAY” youth ministry programs and their involvement in the Summer Workcamp engages them to serve those in need. St. Charles' Young Adults (C’YA) gained new leadership and an increase in membership. Senior parishioners found fellowship in the Senior Luncheon Teas after the noon Mass on most Holy Days. The Circle of Caring program continues to improve its service to those homebound and sick as well as helping to plan funerals with the grieving families. Community celebrations were held at Oktoberfest, St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. After most Masses during the school year, refreshments and fellowship are held in Benedict Hall and hosted by our Hospitality members.

Proclaiming The Word and Celebrating The Sacraments

Sacraments at St. Charles 2006-07 Infant baptisms: 124 Children baptisms: 56 1st Communion (children): 131 Teen Confirmations: 85 Adult baptisms: 5 Adults previously baptized who joined the Catholic Church: 11 Adult Confirmations of Baptized Catholics: 12

Attendance at St. Charles Sunday liturgies reached all-time levels and seriously strained the church’s capacity. To accommodate unusual spikes in that attendance, simultaneous Masses were celebrated on Christmas and Easter and there were additional Masses on Ash Wednesday. The many talented singers and musicians in the parish choirs helped to make our liturgies true celebrations.
 
Large crowds from across the metropolitan area took part in St. Charles Reconciliation services. More than 100 couples participated in the parish Marriage Ministry including 12 new mentor couples. Parishioners celebrated the visitation of the icons of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Fatima and Divine Mercy.

Educating the Range of Parishioners and Forming Them in the Faith

Education Facts Number of students in St. Charles School: 175 Number of students involved in the parish religious education programs including English and Spanish communities: 443 Number of students involved in junior high and high school youth ministry: 65

At St. Charles School, the preschool program was expanded and received new classroom space; the grade school graduated 21 students; religious education for children with special needs was added; and the school earned its reaccreditations. The Adult Faith Formation (AFF) ministry offered a number of programs. Advent and Lent were particularly active periods. In both seasons, small faith groups around the parish held weekly meetings of reflection and sharing. Small groups were also offered in the fall and summer months. In Advent, there was weekly evening prayer in the chapel. Each week in Lent, adults had opportunities to attend Mass and a Tuesday evening Soup Supper, as well as a Wednesday series on the various methods of prayer. Inactive Catholics found in the Landings Program a source of welcome and a means for reconnecting with the Church. Meanwhile, the Adult Initiation/Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process prepared many for full initiation into the Church at the Easter Vigil, as well as various other times throughout the year.

Other continuing education offerings included a Summer Seminar Series and the monthly Conversations with Creedon program. Our Interfaith Committee was re-established — it will promote events aimed at increasing parishioner’s understanding of and appreciation for other faiths and cultures. A newly organized cross-generational program for deepening Catholic faith education and community is being considered.

Social Justice and Service Outreach to the Local Community and the World

The litmus test for the Christian and the Christian community is vividly portrayed in Christ’s depiction of the last judgment in the 25th chapter of St. Mathew’s gospel. The single criterion: Have we taken care of our neighbors in need? Through a plethora of programs, St. Charles strove to do so in 2006-07.

Within the Parish - In the summer of 2006, we were able to split our Social Justice position into two: one focused on social justice and advocacy, and the other focused on social services and emergency needs. This has proven to be very effective and helpful. Two publications in these areas were started: the monthly Social Justice newsletter and the other the monthly volunteer listings for the parish. A new Social Justice Education Committee led to more small faith groups and the first Simplicity Sunday. More than 100 parishioners promoted social justice by communicating regularly with legislators and other decision-makers through participation in the Advocacy List-Serve.

In the Community - St. Charles expanded its relationship with the Offender Aid and Restoration program (OAR) of Arlington County. Ministry to support the mentally ill is also starting to take shape. Borromeo Housing for unwed single young mothers and their children celebrated its 20th year of service. Participation in the annual Giving Tree Program continues to bring excitement during our Advent season. Our Respect Life ministry continues to promote the dignity of all human life. Last spring, parishioners learned more about many opportunities to serve the needy in Arlington at the first St. Charles Non-Profits Fair. This year also saw the start of a new Tithing Committee that will make the parish’s support for community service, advocacy, and educational organizations even more effective. In conjunction with Marymount University, the parish is developing a program that will provide health assistance to the underprivileged and uninsured in the community. Finally, St. Charles committed to participate in Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) which brings together members of local house of worship to address community social justice needs.

Outreach to World – The year saw improved communications with and continued support of our sister parishes in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Thanks to the Haiti Scholarship Sponsorship program, 700 Haitian children were able both to attend school and enjoy a nourishing lunch. A new Africa Outreach program will attempt to provide a similar service. St. Charles’ Philippine Medical Mission program distributed $60,000 to partner groups in that nation. This summer, in a single Sunday special collection, parishioners contributed $19,000 to support programs in the Diocese of Lagos, Nigeria.

THE FUTURE

Moving forward, as we prepare to celebrate our centennial in 2009, our hope is that communication and cooperation will be developed even further. Our new Development Committee can help us to be the best stewards of the many blessings of this community. We will focus on our core missions of proclaiming the word of God, celebrating the sacraments, and promoting education, hospitality, justice, and service. As Arlington’s oldest parish, we will celebrate our history of inclusiveness, and seek new opportunities to let the Holy Spirit work in our lives through ministry. We will continue to work on development of a long-term program to make the best use of our physical facilities for the coming generations. We will explore the ways in which existing and emerging technologies can help carry the good news to our community both locally and globally, and we will solicit ideas on how we may better serve our community’s spiritual needs. It is gratifying to look back and exciting to look forward. May the Spirit of God continue to make known to us how best to serve in the name of Jesus.

- The St. Charles Pastoral Planning Committee, November 2007