Current Week's Mass Schedule

St. Anthony

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St. Fabian, St. Sebastian

St. Agnes

Next Weekend's Mass Schedule

Vigil Mass

Note: *Regular Mass hours are Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Summer hours (June thru Labor Day) are Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

The names listed next to a specific Mass indicate an act of love for the living or the deceased member of a family or a friend. If you would like to schedule a Mass for a specific date/intention, please contact Susan Angelini at the parish office. Mass intentions are filled on a first come/first serve basis. Customary offerings are as follows: Mass – $10; flowers: main church – $50, chapel – $35; Sacristy candle – $10/week; tree memorial including a plaque – $500. 

SCHOOL NEWS
Principal: Mr. Patrick Hanus
Vice Principal: Mrs. Kathleen Pfaff
(301) 292-2522

School Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Early Dismissal: 12:15 p.m.
Before Care: 6:45 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
After Care: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Is your child happy at his or her school? We have a few openings left at St. Mary’s School; however, we are being selective with applicants. Please call Cathy Wall at (301) 292-2522 to schedule an appointment. Call to schedule a private tour and testing for your child. 

To Parents of Second Graders: Relevant Dates for First Penance/First Communion Program:

Monday, January 9th: Parents’ meeting for First Penance (7:30–9:00 p.m.) in the Main Church.
Saturday, February 4th: Sacrament of Penance followed by Confessions (10:00 a.m.) in the Main Church.
Monday, April 3rd: Parents’ meeting for First Communion (7:30–9:00 p.m.) in the Main Church.
Saturday, May 6th: Retreat and Rehearsal for First Communion Students and Parents (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) in the parish hall.
Sunday, May 7th: Sacrament of the Eucharist (2:00 p.m.) in the Main Church.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Director of Religious Education: Bill Keimig
(301) 292-0527 Ext. #104

Book Discussion Group

St. Mary’s Parish School of Religion (PSR) is held every Sunday from 10:45–11:50 a.m. in our school. Children can still register for PSR; fees are $85 for one student; $105 for two students or $120 for three or more students. 

Baptismal Classes for parents wishing to have their child baptized will be on the 4th Sunday of the month after the 12:00 p.m. Mass. Please contact Bill Keimig if you would like to attend or for further information.

Hearts Aflame* Course will meet on Sundays, January 29th, February 5th, 12th and 19th from 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Mondays, February 6th, 13th, 27th, March 6th, 13th and 20th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the school library. 

*Hearts Aflame is the Archdiocesan program designed to inform, train, and enable lay parishioners to understand, communicate, and teach the Catholic Faith to others. Hearts Aflame courses are open to parishioners from any parish, and are taught by a faculty of Master Catechists. Bill Keimig, DRE at St. Mary's, serves as the Hearts Aflame instructor for this region.

Spiritual Play on The Divine Mercy and St. Faustina will be performed on Sunday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Church. Tickets must be purchased at the door: adults, $5; children under 12, $3. 

Catholics Coming Home is an apostolate for those considering returning to their Catholic faith, needing help with an annulment, a divorce situation, or just wanting to talk about their struggles with the Church. We will meet on Monday evenings from 7:30–9:00 p.m. (except major holidays) in the school library. New participants are welcome at any session.

Mom’s Fellowship and Prayer Group will meet at 2312 Floral Park Road on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for playtime and for prayer at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel. Contact person: Heather Keimig (301) 203-9293.

Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) will meet on Tuesday evening from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. in the school library through June. All are welcome who are considering becoming a Catholic or just want to find out what the Catholic faith is all about.

Bible Sharing on the Book of Romans with Deacon George Ames will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the conference room of the parish office through May 17th. Contact person: Deacon Ames (301) 292-0527 Ext. 105 or Gbamesjr@cs.com.

Living in the Spirit: St. Mary’s Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) prayer group meets weekly on Thursday nights from 7:30–9:30 p.m. at 1305 Christopher Lane in Ft. Washington. Join us for singing, strong fellowship and new friendships! Please call Bob Ryan at (301) 203-8203 for directions.

The Life of St. Teresa of Avila, a beautiful video series on the dramatic life of the great Carmelite mystic and Doctor of the Church, will be shown on Friday evenings, April 21st through June 2nd from 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the school library. The discussion afterwards will be facilitated by Father Gary Villanueva.

Cenacle Prayer Group meets Friday evenings (except for the 1st Friday of the month) from 8:00–9:00 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel to pray for our priests and parish families. Children of all ages are welcome! Contact person: Joan Yates (301) 283-2206

ARISE-Women of Prayer will meet every 2nd Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady’s Chapel. Find out how much your life needs prayer and great fellowship. Receive encouragement as we seek to follow Mary’s example, and allow Christ to change the world through us! Contact person: Marti O’Neill (301) 609-6032 

PARISH NEWS
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bulletin articles must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Friday for publication two weekends later. Bulletin inserts must be in the parish office on the Tuesday prior to the weekend that the insert will be used. Inserts and articles for the bulletin must be approved by the pastor and arrangements for the organization to stuff the bulletin with the secretary. 

Quilters Wanted: St. Mary’s Piecemakers will be starting the new quilt for 2006. We meet once a week and can really use the extra help! Previous experience is not necessary. If you’d like to join us, please call Pat Seaquist at (301) 843-2082.

ADORATION
Mrs. Joan Yates (301) 283-2206

 Can YOU watch with me 
for just one hour? 

Adorers and visitors are welcome to attend any hour of adoration. Our hours of greatest need are: Tuesday 4:00–5:00 p.m., 5:00–6:00 p.m.; Wednesday 6:00–7:00 a.m. and Thursday, 6:00–7:00 p.m. We are also in need of substitutes, who could come anytime, sometimes on short notice. Please contact Joan Yates at (301) 283-2206 if you have questions or would like to be an adorer. NOTE: There is an hour of adoration the first Friday of every month prior to the evening Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel.

RIGHT TO LIFE

January 2006

“The ‘healing arts’ are moving beyond the field of healing and into an ethical minefield, where technical knowledge can be used as much to demean life as to serve it.” Cardinal William H. Keeler, (Respect Life statement, 10/2/05).

Note: Free CD on Redemptive Suffering at Mass on Saturday, January 7th and Sunday, January 8th.

Baby Bottle Campaign for the Forestville Pregnancy Center will start the weekend of January 14th and 15th.

The Novena for Life begins the weekend of January 21st and January 22nd.

Family Night for Life will be held at St. Mary’s on Sunday, January 22nd starting with Mass at 5:00 p.m. in the Main Church. The Divine Chaplet will follow at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be held in the Hall to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society at 6:30 p.m. and Adoration at 8:00 p.m. until midnight in Our Lady’s Chapel.

Rally for Life and Youth Mass will be held on Monday, January 23rd at the MCI Center. Buses will depart from St. Mary’s at 7:00 a.m. The Rally for Life will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the MCI Center. Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal McCarrick at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will follow and the March for Life will start at 12:00 a.m. Buses will return to St. Mary’s around 3:00–4:00 p.m.

A Mother’s Vow to Her Unborn

by Adriana Kaufman

I did not numb my hand the first time your father held it.
I did not numb my lips the first time he kissed them.
I did not numb myself when we loved each other so much that God created your precious life
and I will not numb myself when you come into this world.

I will experience your presence in every possible way.
I welcome the pain your birth will bring for I know that it will teach me many lessons,
about rewards that come after long hard work,
about submission, surrender, sacrifice,
about devotion, commitment, and faith.

My love for you will be stronger and deeper than my desire to feel well. I would do anything for you my dear precious child. And when it is all over, and I am blessed with your beautiful, perfect, slippery little body, I will hold you to my breast and give you the most perfect food you could ever have, 
and will give it to you for as long as you need it,
and as often as you would like.
I will treasure you my dear one.
I will always hold you when you cry,
give you all I have,
kiss your boo-boos away, give you the biggest cookie, 
the last glass of milk,
watch your silly cartwheels, 
read the story again,
let you sleep in my bed,
and make time to watch shooting stars.

Your laugh will be my music,
your joy will be my light.

And what do I want in return?
Simply love and respect yourself as much as I do you,
and make this same vow when God decides the time has come
for you to make a sweet child of your own.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY
Mr. Frank Kane (301) 292-1409

Men’s Retreat

I am the St. Mary’s retreat captain and have been attending this retreat for the past seven years. I really look forward to the end of January each year. First of all, you could not ask for a better natural setting to experience God’s beauty. The retreat house is located on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by woods, and overlooking the Potomac River. The staff at Loyola is wonderful and always has a great weekend planned. My philosophy concerning this retreat is that the staff provides you the tools to build a stronger relationship with Jesus, and then you can decide on what tools to use to build and strengthen that bond. 

The weekend (Friday, January 27th thru Sunday, January 29th) starts with an opportunity to participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation before Mass, scheduled for 6:00 pm. The signature Crab Cake dinner is served around 7:30 p.m. One comment about the cuisine at Loyola—if you go home hungry—it is your own fault! Activities throughout the weekend include conferences, morning prayer, rosary walk, faith sharing, healing Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and appointments with the priests for spiritual direction and guidance. Additionally, the schedule allows time for reflection, hiking in the woods, listening to spiritual tapes, sitting by the fire, or reading. The weekend really allows me to slow down and reflect on the past year and set spiritual goals for the upcoming year. I feel an exceptional closeness to Jesus, and I do not want the weekend to end. I have asked the staff if they could bottle this feeling and closeness that I have with Christ so I can take it with me. The late Father Miles said to me, “If we bottled that feeling for people to take with them, we would be out of business.”

He also informed me that Loyola offers retreats year-round. I would like to invite each man of the parish to
pray and consider joining us for this year’s retreat.

Chuck Johnson

This year’s theme is Praying from St. John’s Gospel, “Life, Light, Love and the Way.” The cost for the retreat is $160.00, with an $85.00 deposit due at registration. If anyone would like to attend and is experiencing financial challenges, please see Father David. No one is ever turned away from Loyola. You may register at www.loyolaretreat.org, or email reservations@loyolaretreat.org. Please contact Maria Colonna at (301) 392-0819 or Chuck Johnson at (301) 758-7278 for further information.

SODALITY
Mrs. Mary Parker (301) 292-6656

Sodality will be selling raffle tickets to benefit the James Cardinal Hickey Scholarship Fund after all Masses through Sunday, February 26th. The 1st place prize will be $500, 2nd place $300, and three 3rd place prizes at $100 each. One half of the proceeds go to support St. Mary’s School. The other half goes to the Sodality Union of the Archdiocese of Washington to support the Mass for shut-ins. Tickets are $2 per book. For further information, please call Dorothy Jones at (301) 372-8922.