THE NEWS BEE
Volume 1, Issue 1 May 1998 of the St. Charles Neighborhood B Newsletter
News Bee Buzz
Neighborhood B launches newsletter
Welcome to the inaugural issue of The News Bee. Through this forum,
we hope to keep you informed of our neighborhood activities and
parish events. Let us know what you think and what articles you
would like to see. If you are interested in working on future
editions on or off line, send an e-mail to
Carolyn Gretzinger.
The Bee Line…
Here's the latest word on our neighborhood activities, organized
in response to the needs identified by residents through the RSVP
cards, our Advent Open House (December 16) and our Home Mass (March
18).
Hospitality/Activities Committee (The Neighborhood Bees):
This Committee plans and coordinates our neighborhood events,
such as the picnic and the Home Mass. In 1998-1999, the Committee
also aims to establish a network of 15 individuals/families who
can serve as points of contact ("Captains") in their
apartment or condo complexes. These "Captains" will
help welcome new parishioners who move into their buildings through
telephone calls and/or home visits. If you would like to serve
as the Captain for your building/street, send an e-mail message
to Pam Michalegko.
Outreach Team: Chaired by Mark Pando, this group oversees
our neighborhood's charitable programs, such as our Lenten food
drive and T-Shirt fund-raising campaign. It also identifies worthwhile
national projects, such as Christmas in April and the Fannie Mae
Walk-a-Thon for the Homeless, and organizes teams of Neighborhood
B residents to participate. A third aspect of the Outreach Team's
work involves the development of a plan to provide vital services
to homebound parishioners, such as transportation to/from Mass,
shopping, etc. Examples of Neighborhood B outreach currently underway
include: one volunteer visits a blind parishioner and reads to
her once a month; another brings her cat to visit with the residents
of Arlington Manor. More volunteers are needed! The Outreach Team
meets monthly. Contact: Mark Pando.
Guided Meditation Group: Kathy Rafferty, a graduate student
at Washington Theological Union and the St. Charles Church Coordinator
for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), leads this
group in contemplative prayer and meditation. New members welcome.
Contact: Mary Kalfatovic.
Book Club: At its monthly meeting in April, the Book Club
decided to read Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone. The group met on
May 26 to discuss it and chose the next book to read. Contact:
Chris Markus.
Tutoring Services: We are compiling a list of Neighborhood
B residents who are interested in tutoring local students. This
information will be made available to Sr. Benedict Kesock, Principal
of St. Charles School, and it will be posted on the Rectory Bulletin
Board. Send an e-mail to Marcia Basler for more information.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Web Enthusiasts
News Bee Reporters
Apt./Condo/Street Captains
Provide an occasional ride to Mass
Read to a blind parishioner once a month
Neighborhood Bees (Activities/Hospitality)
NEIGHBORHOOD B PICNIC
Sunday, June 21, 1998
3:00 - 6:00 PM
Colonial Village II
(in the yard behind 1713 N. Troy Street)
In case of rain,
we will meet in the
Colonial Village II Community Room
1913 Wilson Boulevard
"T's for Tuition"
Fund-Raising Project to Support Haitian Students
Recognizing that education and outreach are the two priority needs
identified by our neighborhood, our Outreach Team is sponsoring
the "T's for Tuition" campaign to raise money to send
a student from our sister parish in Haiti to school. We are selling
Hanes T-shirts (50 percent cotton/50 percent polyester) emblazoned
with our neighborhood logo for $10 per shirt ($4.50 is tax deductible!).
Shirts come in three sizes-medium, large and extra large.
This is a unique opportunity for our neighborhood to reach beyond
our immediate area and help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Tuition to send one student to school in Haiti for one year is
$100. Thus, the first $100 after costs will be donated to our
"adopted" student. Let's cover more than one year of
school tuition. Place your T-shirt order today! Make checks payable
to St. Charles Church. Note in the memo section of your check,
"Neighborhood B: T's for Tuition." Bring your check
to the June picnic and receive your T-shirt and a receipt for
your donation. If you cannot attend the picnic but would like
to order a T-shirt, send an e-mail to Carolyn Gretzinger.
Congratulations to Fr. Gerry Creedon
on the 30th Anniversary of his
ordination into the priesthood!
St. Charles Parish Info
Did You Know That…
- There are 79 different Ministries (activities) at St. Charles
and that they are organized into six core ministries, namely Community
Building/Hospitality, Education, Latin American Community, Liturgy,
Social Justice and Stewardship?
- The newest St. Charles Ministry is the Web Team whose members
have been working over the last several months to develop the
parish Web site? The new site stcharleschurch.org
was unveiled on June 6?
- There are six parish neighborhoods whose mission is (in part)
to "…endeavor to share in Christ's mission through Hospitality,
Outreach, Meditation/Prayer/ Liturgy and Education…."?
- An elected representative from each neighborhood and each
Core Ministry sits on the Parish Council? (Note: The seat for
Neighborhood A is currently vacant since no nominations were put
forward. It is hoped that as a result of the current outreach
effort the seat will be filled in the Fall of 1998).
- The agendas and minutes from each monthly parish council meeting
are available in the Parish Library?
- The Parish Directory will be distributed in June?
- The St. Charles Pastoral Team has 11 members who provide countless
hours of dedicated service to our community? The members of Pastoral
Team and their core Ministry responsibilities are:
Fr. Gerry Creedon (Stewardship),
Fr. Francisco Mendez (Liturgy),
Tricia Clark (Stewardship),
Andy Drance (Social Justice),
Lucia Hittle (Community Bldg./Hosp.),
Sr. Benedict Kesock (Education),
Marilyn Krause (Education),
Natalie Le (Liturgy),
Susana Moncayo (Latin American Community),
Mark Ohnmacht (Liturgy)
Jean Sweeney (Community Bldg./Hosp.).
Neighborhood B Mini Directory
Carolyn M. Gretzinger, Parish Council Rep.
Marcia Basler, Tutoring Services
Mary Kalfatovic, Guided Meditation
Chris Markus , Book Club
Pam Michalegko, Neighborhood Bees
Mark Pando, Outreach Team
