Bulletin for February 21, 2010

1st Sunday in Lent

FROM OUR PASTOR Dear Parishioners, The first weekend of Lent is a great time to renew faith. St Charles invites you to fast. We have a soup supper on Tuesday evenings followed by a talk on one of the parish's core values. We also encourage the use of the Rice Bowl. Money saved by eating less supports CRS development efforts and the parish's outreach in the Dominican Republic. We encourage prayer and learning. On Wednesday evenings we will celebrate a new program: The Light Is On for You. This is a time to be reconciled. Confessions will be available from 6:30 - 8pm. At 7:30 a bilingual Stations of the Cross will bring together the various cultural groups of the parish. The Stations will be followed by conversations that will strengthen the spirit of community between groups and cultures. In addition we offer Scripture and faith sharing groups. Contact Cathy Dante for information at adultfaith@stcharleschurch.org, or see the bulletin insert for more information. I lead a Scripture reflection each Saturday 8-9am. All are welcome. We also encourage households to pray together using the Lenten Booklets you will find at the entrances. Important adult education opportunities are available: Conversations with Creedon will focus on "Returning Catholics" on Feb 21 and March 7 on Interfaith Understanding between Moslem, Jew and Christian. Lent is also a time for almsgiving. Please drop off your pledge to the Bishops Lenten Appeal at the Parish Office. Rebecca Kobar has more information on this important diocesan project. Do not forget to bring your parish envelopes to the offertory collection, including the Snow Sundays' envelopes. Through prayer, learning, fasting and almsgiving let us prepare with our catechumens for the renewal of our baptismal commitment at Easter. Peace, Gerry Creedon PS Come to the Spring Fling at Sullivans on Sunday afternoon Feb 28 and to the Youth Cabaret on Sunday evening.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FEBRUARY 21 - 28

• See Mass, Confession and other Sacramental information
• Sun., Feb. 21 - Young Adult Book Club; 7pm, Room 101.
• Sun., Feb. 21 - 7:15pm Conversation with Creedon: How to Talk with the Inactive Catholics, Upper Room.
• Tue., Feb. 23 - Lenten Soup Supper Series: St. Charles Core Values. 6:30pm Soup Supper, 7:00pm Speaker. Marisa Vertrees, mvertrees@stcharelschurch.org
• Wed., Feb. 24 - WAY Cabaret rehearsal. 6:30pm, Gym. Germaine Leahy leahyhome@aol.com.
• Sun., Feb. 28 - WAY Cabaret. 7:15pm, Gym. Germaine Leahy.
• Sun., Feb. 28 - Pre-Cana for engaged couples. Registration required Tricia Clark 703-527-5500

See the Parish online calendar for more details and the list of highlighted events.

FOOD PANTRY
Our Food Pantry is currently low on cereal, rice, dry beans, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, jelly, powdered milk and canned fruit. Thank you so much for your continued generosity to those in need

+ MASS SCHEDULE, READINGS AND INTENTIONS + (Daily Readings from US Bishops' website) Sunday, February 21, 2010: 1st Sunday of Lent 7:30am Parishioners 9:00am Ute Danforth (L) by Katie McIntire 11:00am Dino Hernandez by Friends Cater Family 1:00pm Claudio Espinoza by The Espinoza Family 6:00pm Gertrude Mary Washa by The Donovan Family Readings: Jer 17:5-8; 1Cor 15: 12,16-20; Lk 6:17,20-26 Monday, February 22, 2010: The Chair of St. Peter 9:00am Pete Wood by George MacDonald 7:30pm (Arlington Detention Center) for the Inmates Readings 1 Pt 5:1-4; Mt 16:13-19 Tuesday, February 23, 2010: St. Polycarp 9:00am Dennis Walsh by George & Janice MacDonald Readings: Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15 Wednesday, February 24, 2010: 9:00am Mike and Jeane Merrill by Linda Lacot Readings: Jon 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32 Thursday, February 25, 2010 9:00am Dolores Rehula by Victor A. Rehula Readings: Est C:12,14-16,23-25; Mt 7:7-12 Friday, February 26, 2010 9:00am Alejandra & Vincente Crisostomo by Agusto & Maria Crisostomo Readings: Ez 18:21-28; Mt 5:20-26 Saturday, February 27, 2010 9:00am Robert Reiners by Parick McMahori Readings: Dt 26:16-19; Mt 5:43-48 Vigil for Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Lent 5:00pm Elizabeth McIvor by Mr. & Mrs. William H. Marlow Readings: Gn 15:5-12,17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28b-36 PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR Pray for those who are sick in our community, especially: Michael Foster, Carol O'Neil, Philip D'Andrea, Jennifer Moire, Margaret Canail, Con Creedon, Marty Smart, Connor Cozoli, Marcia Rachy, Margaret Finocchiaro, Margie Barba, Muriel Dreswick, Lisa Ackerman McCrohan and Magaly Espinoza. For those who have died, especially: Angie Fazio, Rodrigo Canadas.

SACRED WELL YOGA STUDIO HIGHLIGHTS BORROMEO HOUSING
Sacred Well Yoga Studio in Falls Church has begun offering free Friday evening yoga classes as an effort to raise awareness for area nonprofits and to help our community get fit. The month of February Sacred Well is highlighting the work of Borromeo Housing. Yoga classes are free, but a suggested donation of $10 will go directly to BHI for their services to homeless young mothers and infants. Classes run from 6:00pm to 7:15pm at Sacred Well Yoga Studio, 450 West Broad St, suite 319-320 in Falls Church. For more information call 703-989-8316.

WELCOME RETURNING AND INACTIVE CATHOLICS!
If you are a Catholic who has been away, we invite you to be an active part of us again. "LANDINGS" is an eight week small group discussion series, a place to ask questions and update your faith as an adult. We begin our next session at St. Charles on Wednesday, March 10. If you are interested, please contact Anna LaNave at 703-455-2951 or returning-catholics@stcharleschurch.org for more information.

We extend sincere appreciation to all those who attended and to the local restaurants and friends of St. Charles School who have donated the splendid array of international foods served at our International Dinner Dance. Please add your thanks by patronizing these restaurants. Ireland's Four Provinces Joe's Place Pizza and Pasta Lebanese Taverna O'Sullivan's Irish Pub El Pollo Rico Sangam Indian Restaurant Ireland's Four Courts The Italian Store Benedict's Brigade St. Charles Filipino Community St. Charles Latin-American Community St. Charles School Parents St. Charles Parish Hospitality Committee And thanks those who have donated auction items: Item #1 Dinner with Pastor and the Principal-Courtesy of Felicia Russo & Friends Item #2 Park and Pew -Courtesy of Fr. Creedon and Parishioners Item #3 Framed Oil Painting - Courtesy of George MacDonald Item #4&5 Williamsburg Get-A-Way - Courtesy of Tanya Hileman Item # 6 Haitian Artwork - Courtesy Marisa Vertree

 

KID'S STUFF CONSIGNMENT SALE BENEFITING BORROMEO HOUSING! What: Kids Consignment items (gently used toys, clothes, furniture, etc); When: Saturday, March 6th from 9-12 noon (drop off: Friday 5-8pm); Where: Benedict Hall Who Will Benefit?: Everyone involved! Consignors make 50% of their sold items, while Borromeo Housing benefits from the other 50% of the proceeds. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers are needed to help accept and sort items on Friday night and help selling the items on Saturday. All questions can be directed to marciamarciamarcia@att.net.

 

WAY - HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY
Weekly meetings for all high schoolers resume on Sunday, Feb 21 at 7 pm in the community center, upstairs next to the gym; questions, contact Frank Calivia: frankcalivia@gmail.com. Also, a weekend-long retreat open to all high school students will take place from the evening of 3/5 through the afternoon of 3/7; questions, contact Paul Bevins: paulbevins@gmail.com.

BISHOP'S LENTEN APPEAL (BLA)
Thanks to all who responded to the Bishop's Lenten Appeal at last weekend's Masses. BLA funds support programs for Vocations, Family Life, Catholic Charities, Religious Education, Youth, and many parish outreach programs. If you have not yet made a BLA pledge it's not too late! Please bring your pledge to the Parish Office next week. These envelopes should NOT be mailed but, returned directly to the Parish Office. Your Lenten Sacrificial gift supporting this year's theme of "Charity is Faith in Action" is greatly appreciated.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: Our Thanks to Advent Funeral Home for their support.

Dear St. Charles Parishioners,
Thank you for making stewardship a part of your lives. It is through your time, talent and treasure that our Centennial Campaign: A Pledge for The Future continues to bring in new and needed pledges. To date we have reached $1,046,115. of our 1.5 million dollar goal. We ask that all of those who have not already made a pledge to please prayerfully consider doing so. This very important and historic campaign is critical to the future of St. Charles. Campaign brochures with pledge cards can be located in the vestibule in the back of the church. Or, to make an appointment with Rebecca A. Kobar, Director of Development please call 703-527-5500 Ext. 201.

WORKCAMP & CABARET TALENT SHOW
Mandatory WorkCamp meeting for all high schoolers considering attending the service week in June, on Sunday, Feb 21 at 4:30 pm in the community center, upstairs next to the gym; questions, contact Mary Pletcher: mary.pletcher@gmail.com. Also CABARET will be next weekend, 2/28 following the 6 pm Mass in the gym; please support this WorkCamp fundraiser and join us to share in the parish's talent & some great food. For ticket information, please email waycabaraet@hotmail.com; for information on participating in the talent show, please email leahyhome@aol.com.

SOME (So Others Might Eat) EMPTY BOWLS EVENT
Please join SOME (So Others Might Eat) for our annual Empty Bowls soup supper on Thursday, March 11th at St. Charles Borromeo Church from 6pm-8pm. SOME's Empty Bowls is held each year to promote awareness of the growing issue of hunger in Washington, DC and to provide meals for hungry and homeless. For more information, please contact Megan Gannon at (202) 797-8806 ext. 1010 or mgannon@some.org. or look online at http://some.org/events_emptybowls.html.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY
Please join us for our annual parish St. Patrick's Day Dance/Party! Come celebrate and enjoy delicious Irish food and music! Event is on Saturday, March 20th, at 6pm will be held at Tiffany Werthmann Gym. Tickets are $15 per person, $25 per two adults and $5 for kids, age 5 and under free. Tickets will be on sale after each Mass. We also would like to get as many people as we can to bring their favorite Irish dessert…if you would like to sign up to bring something, please contact Rebecca at 703-527-5500 ext 201. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

 

COLLECTION INFORMATION · Last Week's Combined Collections for Sunday, February 7th and 14th were $34,141.50. · Last Week's Tithes of $3,141.50 were for Project Lazarus and A Woman's Home. · Last Week's 2nd Collection of $2,342.00 was for our Parish assessment to the Diocese for the Arlington Catholic Herald. · This Week's 2nd Collection is for Black and Indian Missions. · Next Week's Tithe is for Project Lazarus. · Next Week's 2nd Collection is for our Parish Building Fund. Thank you for your generosity!