Third Sunday of Lent                 ---   March 19, 2006

Third Sunday of Lent
March 19, 2006

And to those who sold doves He said, "Take these out of here, and stop making My Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of scripture, "Zeal for your house will consume Me." 
- Jn 2:16-17 

Fasting —

One of the tools offered for us during Lent is fasting. Yet, many are confused by the term. It simply means that the main meal of the day is no greater than the sum of the other two meals. However, the spirit of fasting is what is important. I fast in order to create an awareness, through my discomfort, of the Lord. The awareness of God in my life leads me to the possibility of growth and union with the Lord. I make use of the desire for food, drink or of other senses to recollect on the desert experience of the Lord, of John the Baptist or Moses on Mt. Sinai. In so doing, I allow the Holy Spirit to direct me ever gradually to the building up virtue, the strengthening of my faith, and the fostering of a greater awareness of others. I begin to free myself from being controlled by urges and desires, the virtue of moderation is cultivated. Think in terms of leftovers. How many times have we not finished what was on our plate? How many partially full glasses of milk, water, soda etc. have we left on the table? How much food simply gets spoiled in our refrigerator or pantry? The application of this tool is not just for Lent, but should be part of our daily living (however, I do not advocate going to extremes).

Welcome to the following new parishioners of St. Marys: Doug Mannka, Mary Beall, Nicole Galloway, Mr. & Mrs. Golanowski, and Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie Rounds.

“You shall not covet” is perhaps a difficult commandment to keep in our consumer society. But as Christian stewards, we know that we are the recipients and caretakers of God’s many gifts. May this understanding that all is a gift help us be less resentful of the gifts of others.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

St. Mary’s Annual Spaghetti dinner will be held on Sunday, March 26th from 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the parish hall. Tickets: adults, $10; children under 13, $5; children under 3, free. For more information, please contact Georgette Weiss (301) 292-8112.

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!

New parishioners should fill out a registration form found in either the gathering place of the Main Church, Chapel or at the parish office. If you have a new address, phone number, e-mail address or a new member of your family, please contact Susan at (301) 292-0527 or parish@stmaryspiscataway.org. Thank you!

Quilters Wanted: St. Mary’s piece makers will be starting the new quilt for 2006. The group meets 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.

 

Please help prepare our Churches for Easter! A cleaning day will be scheduled for Saturday, April 8th at St. Mary’s from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. Bring a bag lunch, cleaning gear such as rakes, gloves, plastic bags, sponges, window cleaner, stepladders, buckets, soap, scrapers, power washers etc. and lots of elbow grease! You may call Bill Keimig at (301) 292-0527 for further information.

Liturgical Publications, Inc., our bulletin publisher, had to reschedule their week at St. Mary’s due to the illness of their representative. They have rescheduled their visit to the week of April 24th. The new representative, Jim Schneeman, will be glad to help anyone interested in placing a new ad or renewing their ad. Thank you for your patience!

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

 

OUTSIDE OF PARISH EVENTS

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS’ JOB FAIR

Catholic Schools’ Job Fair will be held on Saturday, March 25th from 9:00 a.m to Noon at the Trinity University’s Trinity Center, 125 Michigan Ave., NE. Bring your resume and meeting representatives from over 70 Catholic schools in the District, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, please call Fran Scango at (301) 853-4552 or visit their website at www.catholicschoolswork.org.

FAMILY RENEWAL RETREAT

A Family Renewal Retreat will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 1st and 2nd at the Montgomery College, Globe Hall, 20200 Observation Drive, Germantown, MD from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Augustine Vallooran, V.C., Director of Retreats, Divine Retreat Center, Kerala, India will be leading this retreat.

MOUNT CARMEL MINI-RETREAT

The Restorers of Mt. Carmel are sponsoring a mini-retreat at Mt. Carmel Monastery in La Plata on Saturday, April 22nd. The mini-retreat is open to everyone. The retreat theme is Divine Mercy. For more information, please call Suzanne Carr at (301) 645-5203.

PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY

Pilgrimage to Italy for 9 days (September 27th through October 5th). Please join us for an unforgettable journey through Italy, including Florence, Assisi and Rome. Our itinerary includes a special trip to the North American College (American seminary) in Rome and a papal audience with Pope Benedict XVI. Package includes round-trip airfare aboard Air France, breakfast and dinner daily, superior hotel accommodations and land transportation. The cost is $2,699 per person, double occupancy. Please call St. George Catholic Church (301) 994-0607 for full-color brochure and itinerary. 

HOME SCHOOL FAMILIES 

If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic home school support group, Traditions of Roman Catholic Homes (TORCH) in Charles County, please contact Lori Laughrey at (301) 705-6542.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION

The Office of Family Life offers marriage preparation to assist parishes in fulfilling their responsibility to prepare engaged couples for marriage as a supplement to any parish-based marriage preparation. The engaged couples’ meetings with their priest are essential. Also, for a truly effective preparation, engaged couples are encouraged to take a pre-marriage inventory and meet with a mentor married couple. For more information about training, mentor couples and marriage inventory evaluations, please contact Peter Murphy at (301) 853-4546 or pmurphy@adw.org.

Be kinder then necessary for everyone you  meet is fighting some kind of battle.

 

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. We are also in need of regular adorers and substitutes. Please contact Joan Yates if you have questions or would like to be an adorer. 

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.

Natural Family Planning Classes will be held at the Keimig’s home (1500 Schall Road, Accokeek) on the following Sunday afternoons: April 2nd, 23rd, May 21st, and June 18th from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Please contact Heather at (301) 203-9293 to pre-register.

Hearts Aflame* Course will meet on Mondays, March 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 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.  

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!  

 

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

St. Mary’s Holy Name Society is looking for new members. Holy Name Society is a group of Catholic men that promote reverence for the name of God and sanctification of members, supports the clergy and works for the good of the Parish. Come and join us every 1st Tuesday of the month (April 4th) from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the parish office conference room for good fellowship and for the betterment of the larger church community. Please contact Frank Kane if you have any questions.

SODALITY Mrs. Mary Parker (301) 292-6656

Sodality is a group of Catholic women willing to work together in service of Christ’s Church and the world in every area of life: family, work, professional, civil and ecclesial. Sodality meets every 1st Sunday of the month after the 9:30 a.m. Mass in the school hall. New members are welcome to attend! For further information, please contact Mary Parker at (301) 292-6656 or Vicki Burton at (301) 292-9012.

The Sodality Mother/Daughter Brunch will be held on Sunday, May 21st in the parish hall. The time will be announced.

YOUTH GROUP Youth Group Director: Mrs. Paola Carts (301) 283-0167

St. Mary’s Youth Ministry Calendar

Friday, March 24th 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 
Pizza Night: 8th Grade Classroom

Sunday, April 2nd 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Planning Meeting: School library. All are welcome to attend. 

Saturday, April 8th 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Service Opportunity: Parish Clean-up

Friday, April 21st 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Pizza Night: 8th Grade Classroom

Many thanks to Father Gary for the wonderful spaghetti dinner! 

084,868,097 viewed and updated since 04/05/05