First Sunday of Lent                 ---   March 5, 2006

First Sunday of Lent
March 5, 2006

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel." 
- Mk 1:14-15 

The Sabbath is a day for celebrating, rejoicing and for honoring God. What do we do to keep the day special for God? We need rhythms and changes in order to keep our sense of balance, perspective and growth. How do we spend time with the parish community and with our family on this holy day?

Will any of us survive Lent?

On Ash Wednesday, we were asked to embark on a private and communal journey. At the end of this journey we should gain a deeper appreciation of the saving love of our God. In order to assist us, the Church has invited us once again to make use of the ancient means for this journey. A spirit of self-denial nurtured by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving make up the discipline to fight off the real efforts of the Devil to lead us away from drawing closer to the Lord of Life. All of this makes sense if we are honest to admit our personal sinfulness. If we have been infected by the disease of moral relativism and have become our own personal arbiters of truth—then the season of Lent is of no real value to us. Yet, if we are opened to God’s grace and desirous of a conversion of the heart, mind, and body—our good God will not disappoint us. It will not be easy! However, with the support of fellow pilgrims, the journey through Lent becomes a pilgrimage leading us to the same destination that the Lord Himself, took so long ago to bring about our salvation. We need to draw strength and perseverance from the words of Saint Paul—“Now is the acceptable time.”

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Chuck E Cheese’s Family Night is scheduled for this Monday, March 6th. This event is meant to be a time for families to have fun and also a fund-raiser for our school. Please join us at the Festival Way Chuck E. Cheese in Waldorf from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

St. Mary’s School Family Picnic and Reverse Raffle will be held on Sunday, April 30th at 1:30 p.m. The raffle prizes will total $5000, with a Grand Prize of $2,500, a First Prize of $1,500 and a Second Prize of $1,000. Raffle tickets may be purchased from a school family for $100 each. The picnic will be held outside or in the hall in case of rain. Tickets may be purchased at the picnic for food and games. Come and have some fun!

Liturgical Publications, Inc., our bulletin publisher, will have a representative, Richard Bradley, come to our parish this week. For those interested in placing a new ad this is your chance. Please contact the parish office if you are interested!

Caregivers Support Group: If you are a grandparent or a significant other caring for a child/children (meeting their basic needs) and need help with child care, tutoring, resources, etc. you may want to join a new support group at St. Mary’s. You can discuss your common challenges and share your experiences. Call (301) 292-2365 if you are interested in joining. 

 

This year’s Jubilarian Mass will be held on June 11th at 2:00 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

 

MUSIC MINISTRY Music Director: Dr. Mickey Terry (202) 581-6304

This is an exciting time to join the St. Mary’s Contemporary or Traditional Choir! The Traditional choir practice is on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.; the Contemporary choir, on Sunday at 9:00 a.m.—both in the Main Church. Please call Dr. Mickey Terry at (202) 581-6304 if you are interested in joining. Come and share your talents while worshiping Him! Note: If your talent is playing a musical instrument, please let Dr. Terry know!

Sodality is a group of Catholic women

RUN FOR VOCATIONS

We are looking for a few good men and women to join the “Run for Vocations” team for the Marine Corps Marathon in support of priest vocations! Rookie or experienced runners and race walkers are most welcome. Come train with us. Fun, fitness and faith events are planned for our team. For more information and or to register, contact Carol Flannery at flanneryc@adw.org (240) 432-4340 or Mike Greaney at mikegreaney@comcast.net (301) 949-3699.

FORESTVILLE PREGNANCY CENTER

The Forestville Pregnancy Center will be holding training sessions for new volunteers on the first 2 weekends in March. Please call (301) 516-5201 for details.

Lent/Holy Week/Easter Schedule 2006

Mondays thru Thursdays in Lent: 8:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel. Fridays in Lent (3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7 except Good Friday 4/14): Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall followed by Stations of the Cross and Benediction in Our Lady’s Chapel. Fridays are a day of Abstinence.
 

Penance Services on 3/21 & 3/28 in the Main Church at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 8th 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday in the Main Church (Mass will begin with a Solemn Blessing of Palms and procession into the Church. Procession will begin by the crosswalk between the Chapel and Church.)

Palm Sunday, April 9th 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. & 12 p.m. Solemn Mass in the Main Church (Mass will begin with a Solemn Blessing of Palms and procession into the Church. Procession will begin by the crosswalk between the Chapel and Church.)

Holy Monday, April 10th 8:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Solemn Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel.

Holy Tuesday, April 11th 8:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Solemn Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel.

Holy Wednesday, April 12th 8:30 a.m. Solemn Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel. Tenebrae at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Church (Service of readings and songs to solemnly usher in the Holy Triduum.) Adoration ceases at midnight.

Holy Thursday, April 13th 8:00 p.m. Solemn Celebration of Our Lord’s Last Supper in the Main Church. (Christ’s mandate of love: washing the disciple’s feet. The Eucharist concludes with a Solemn candlelight procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Chapel followed by Adoration until midnight.)

Good Friday, April 14th (Holy Land Collection): 3:00 p.m. Outdoor Stations of the Cross (Outside behind the church, weather permitting.) 8:00 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy in the Church. Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence.

Holy Saturday, April 15th 8:00 p.m. The Great Easter Vigil in the Main Church (Blessing of the Easter Fire and the Baptismal Waters, reception of the Elect and Candidates, all within the celebration of our First Easter Mass.)

Easter Sunday, April 16th: 

8:00 a.m. Solemn Resurrection Mass in the Main Church.

9:30 a.m. Solemn Resurrection Mass in the Main Church.

12:00 p.m. Solemn Resurrection Mass in the Main Church.

 

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

Book Discussion Group meets every Sunday morning 10:45–11:45 a.m. in the faculty lounge or behind the school depending on the weather. Come for good fellowship, donuts and hot drinks! 

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.

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. 

Hearts Aflame* Course will meet on Mondays, March 6th, 13th and 20th and 27th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the school library.

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 on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for playtime and for prayer at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel. Moms with kids in tow or in school, grandmothers, home schoolers, any other ladies who desire to learn to love our Lord in the Holy Eucharist and our Lady through the rosary. Contact Heather Keimig at (301) 203-9293 for meeting location each week.

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. Family prayer focused on interceding on behalf of priests and petitioning Mother Mary to protect our 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. 

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