4th Sunday of Advent
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FROM OUT PASTOR
Dear Parishioners,
Last weekend the Latin American community celebrated the feast
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with the presentation of Juan Diego
and the miracle of the roses and his cloak "tilma" where
the image of the Holy Virgin had been imprinted. After the 1 pm
Mass we had a lively party with music, dances and good food. I
thank all the leaders of our Latin American community for sharing
their tradition so beautifully with the parish.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent is a time
to pause before the celebration of the Coming of the Lord. Many
people have told me that their Advent Reflection Booklets have
provided an incentive for prayer and reflection around the supper
table.
Our Advent Reconciliation Service moves all of us, even those
who could not participate last Monday, toward the peace and forgiveness
of the season. Sometimes we need divine intervention to soften
angry hearts. Among all the gifts exchanged surely the renewal
of love remains the primordial gift of Christmas.
May His love and peace be apparent in all of our parish and family
festivities.
Merry Christmas.
Gerry Creedon
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Highlights at St. Charles December 20, 2009 - January
1, 2010
- See Mass, Confession and other Sacramental information
- Sun. - Young Adults Christmas Party - cancelled because of
weather
- Tue., Dec. 22 - Advent Evening Prayer, 7:30 - 8:30 PM in
the Chapel. All are welcome
- Thu., Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve:
Mass at 5 PM in Gym and 5 PM in Church with children's pageant in
both. 10 PM Mass, too (no Midnight Mass). All Masses in English.
- Fri., Dec. 25 - Christmas Day:
Mass at 10 AM in English and 1 PM in Spanish
- Planning ahead: : Vigil Mass for Jan 1 Feast of Mary Mother of God
will be Thu., Dec. 31 at 7:30 PM. Mass for Holy Day on Fri., Jan.
1 will be at 10 AM in English and 1 PM in Spanish.
See the Parish online calendar for more
details and the list of highlighted
events.
LET US MAKE ROOM IN THE PEW
During this busy Advent and Christmas season, please remember to extend
your generosity to your fellow parishioners and any guests by sharing
the Christmas pew. With some Masses being standing room only, let us
"regulars" make our guests feel welcome and consider offering our seats,
not saving them. Thank you for being helpful!
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+ MASS SCHEDULE, READINGS AND INTENTIONS
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(Daily
Readings from US Bishops' website)
Sunday, December 20, 2009: 4th Sunday of Advent
7:30am Scott Hallahan by Helen Jakubowski
9:00am Baby Linnea Bernadette Fagerstrom by Fagerstrom Family
11:00am Marco A y Maruja de Villamizar by The Hittle Family
1:00pm Carmen Milena Rivera by Liliana Velasquez
6:00pm Ian Rucker by James Drummond
Readings: Mi 5:1-4a; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45
Monday, December 21 2009: St. Peter Canisuis
9:00am Shiang Faa Yan by Diana Garrity
7:30pm (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates
Readings Sg 2:8-14; Lk 1:39-45
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
9:00am KC Dreswick (L) by KC Dreswick
Readings: 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56
Wednesday, December 23, 2009: St. John of Kanty
9:00am Justina Ocenar by Tito Farrales
Readings: Mal 3:1-4,23-24; Lk 1:57-66
Thursday, December 24, 2009: VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS
9:00am Tiffany Werthamann by Milt & Eleanor Werthmann
5:00pm Church Joseph Lamagna by Ed & Jo-Ann Duggan
5:00pm Gym Rita Farino by Ed & Jo-Ann Duggan
Readings: 2 Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Lk 1:67-79
10pm Familia Mejia-Cabal by The Hittle Family
Readings: Acts 13:16-17,22-25; Mt 1:1-25
Friday, December 25, 2009: The Nativity of the Lord
9:00am Dr. Biddle
Readings: Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18
Saturday, December 26, 2009: St. Stephen
9:00am Nina Marie Kane by Daughter & Family
Readings: Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22
Vigil for Sunday: The Holy Innocents, MARTYRS
5:00pm James A Gilray by Mary Ellen Gilray
Readings: Sir 3:2-7,12-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52
Pray for those who are sick in our community, especially:
Alexandra Lamanna, Margaret Canole, Nick DeCarlo, Paul Steinmetz,
Connor Cozoli, Marcia Rachy, Brian McCrohan, Margaret Finocchiaro,
Margie Barba, Thomas Crisp, Concordia Aoanan.
Pray for those who have died, especially: George Abdalla,
Edward Sullivan.
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DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES
Help decorate the Church and Gym for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Masses!
Church: Tues. and Wed., Dec. 22 and 23, from 9:30am-7pm
Contact Meredith: kaditny@verizon.net
or 703-627-1046
Gym: Thurs. Dec. 24, 8am- 1pm
Contact Germaine: leahyhome@aol.com
or 703-525-3250
COME HOME IN THE NEW YEAR!
If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, we invite you
to be an active part of us again. "Landings" is an eight week
discussion series, a safe landing place for returning Catholics to ask
questions and update your faith as an adult. We begin our next session
in the spring. If you are interested, please contact Anna LaNave at
703-455-2951 or returning-catholics@stcharleschurch.org.
ST. CHARLES SCHOOL
St. Charles School invites you once again to our annual International
Dinner/Dance to benefit the Ryan- Houston-Smith Memorial Scholarship
Fund. The party will be held Saturday, January 23, 2010 in our parish
center's Tiffany Werthmann Gym. Dinner will include a variety of international
dishes. DJ by Sabra will provide a variety of dance music from 8:15
to 12:00. Ticket price for dinner and dancing is $25. Invite your friends
and reserve a (or two) roundtable for eight or ten. The event is always
a sell-out and great fun. Call Wendy at 703 403-8673 for questions and
reservations. Tickets will also, be available after Mass at the parish
center door and at donuts and coffee.
WAY COMMITTEE
The annual WAY Christmas Party will be held on Sunday, December 20.
The party will be held in the school cafeteria after the 6:00 p.m. Mass
and will go until 9:30 p.m. Dress is semi-formal and all high schoolers
are welcome.
The Arlington Diocese WorkCamp, a weeklong service week for high school
youth, is in June 2010. We are in need of adult volunteers who have
some home repair skills. Please contact Mary Pletcher at mary.pletcher@gmail.com
PLAN NOW TO BE STILL FOR ADVENT
Mark your calendars now for weekly Advent Evening Prayer on Tuesday
December 22, 7:30-8:30pm in the Chapel.
2010 WAY CABARET NEEDS YOUR TALENT & TIME!
Sunday, Feb 28, 2010, 7:15-9pm, Gym, Rehearsal: Wed. Feb. 24, between
6pm-8pm. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR TEENS ATTENDING WORK CAMP BY…Sharing
Your Talents: You are never too young or too old! Come & share your
song, dance, music, poetry/drama reading/acting, etc. Purchase Dinner
Tickets & Enjoy the Show. Pizza, soda & assorted cookies will
be available. Contact Germaine, leahyhome@aol.com
or 703.525.3250
CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN
To date we have raised a total of $1,030,570 million dollars in pledges
for our Centennial Campaign. At the same time however we still have
a difference of $469,430 dollars remaining in order to meet our goal
of $1.5 million.
If you have any questions about the campaign or would like to make a
pledge, please contact Rebecca A. Kimball, Director of Development at
703-527-5500 Ext. 201 or by email: rkimball@stcharleschurch.org.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES BALL 2010
"All that Sparkles" Friday, February 5, 2010 at the Ritz Carlton,
Tyson's Corner, VA - Black Tie
Consider enjoying the evening with your fellow parishioners by reserving
a Parish Table. For information and donation opportunities please e-mail
Barbara Caudle ccball2010@yahoo.com
or call 703-937-3988
TOILETRIES DRIVE - ARLINGTON WINTER SHELTER
Do you have unused hotel shampoo bottles in your cabinets? Personal-sized
toiletries, especially soap and shampoo, are needed at the Arlington
Winter Shelter. Collection boxes will be located at the two main entrances
to the church throughout the month of December. If you have any questions,
please contact Christine Ng at chrisbng@gmail.com.
FOOD PANTRY
Many thanks for your generous and continued support of our food pantry.
We are currently in need of the following items for our homeless clients:
pop-top cans of tuna & pasta; juice boxes; and snacks (cookies,
chips). We can also use small bags of rice, dried beans, pancake mix
complete and syrup. Christmas Blessings to you all.
BORROMEO HOUSING
BHI Needs Your Help to Assist More Young Mothers and Babies! Please
remember BHI in your prayers and end-of-year giving. We are desperately
trying to grow to serve the many young moms who call for our help each
day. But we cannot do this without your support and your donations.
In this season of giving, please remember Borromeo Housing and or mission
to help homeless, young mothers find a safe home and a brighter future.
For more information, contact Joy Myers at 703-847-0139 or borromeohousing@gmail.com.
CHRISTMAS PARKING
As you plan for Christmas Mass, remember that parking in the St. Charles
lot is limited. Additional parking is available at the black GMU building
at the corner of Wash Blvd and Kirkwood. You can park either on the
surface parking deck entering on Kirkwood or under the building by entering
on Washington Blvd.
