Mass Intentions

Sunday, May 24

7:30 a.m. Charlie Kernan

8:45 a.m.  Fran Chronowski

      10:30 a.m. Pro Populo

      1:00 p.m. Jessica Majzoub 

Monday, May 25  

      9:00 a.m. John Collins V

Tuesday, May 26

      9:00 a.m.  Amanda Nugent 

Wednesday, May 27 

      9:00 a.m.     Tom Thompson V

Thursday, May 28

      9:00 a.m. Peter Kraus V 

Friday, May 29

      9:00 a.m. Patricia Dillon V

      Saturday, May 30 

      9:00 a.m.  Margaret Murray V

      5:30 p.m. Patricia Dillon V    

READINGS AND CELEBRATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday – The Ascension of the Lord

Acts 1: 1-11, Ps 47, Eph 1: 17-23, Mk 16: 15-20

Monday – Weekday in Easter

Acts 19: 1-8, Ps 68, Jn 16: 29-33

Tuesday – Weekday in Easter

Acts 20: 17-27, Ps 68, Jn 17: 1-11a

Wednesday – Weekday of Easter

Acts 20: 28-38, Ps 68, Jn 17: 11b-19

Thursday – Weekday of Easter

Acts 22: 30; 23: 6-11, Ps 16, Jn 17: 20-26

Friday – Weekday in Easter

Acts 25: 13b-21, Ps 103, Jn 21: 15-19

Saturday – Weekday in Easter

Acts 28: 16-20, 30-31, Ps 11, Jn 21: 20-25 

Parish Stewardship

Thank you for your generous offerings of May 16/17. The regular collection brought in $17,176 and the Poor Box yielded $234. The Poor Box offerings for the month of April will go to benefit Holy Family Food Bank. 

St. Catherine of Siena Website

For everything you ever wanted to know about

St. Catherine of Siena Parish, but forgot to ask during office hours, you may visit the parish Website at

saintcatherineschurch.org. 
 
 

 

A Word from the Pastor

An argument put forward by some to justify President Obama speaking at Notre Dame University, despite his rejection of one of the most basic teachings of the Catholic Church, (the unacceptability of abortion) is that President George W. Bush spoke at Notre Dame despite his acceptance of the death penalty, which is also argued to be against Catholic teaching.  It is widely accepted that the Catholic Church opposes the death penalty and so Catholics who oppose abortion, but not the death penalty are denounced as hypocrites.  And why were not all those Catholics who are upset by a vehemently pro-abortion President Obama speaking at Notre Dame not equally upset by a vehemently pro-death penalty President Bush addressing the same university?

   This line of reasoning does not stand up under scrutiny.  First of all, Catholic teaching does not flat-out reject the death penalty.  The Tradition of the Church, in fact, allows for the death penalty in certain cases.  Section 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

“Assuming the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.”

   The Catechism continues, citing Evangelicum Vitae that such cases are rare, if not non-existent.  That still leaves open the question whether or not some people are just too dangerous to be left alive, being a threat not only to fellow inmates, but also guards, and even the general population if they made an escape.  At any rate, the Catholic Catechism does not simply rule out the death penalty as so many suppose.

   Even were the Church to definitely rule out the death penalty – which it has not done – the gravity of the act of imposing the death penalty on a person who has committed terrible acts of harm, including death to others, is not in any way comparable to the taking of an absolutely innocent Human Life.  One of the great paradoxes of our time is that there are so many people who vehemently oppose the taking of a guilty person’s life, either as an act of justice, or to protect the common good, at the same time favor the taking of an absolutely innocent Human Life because it is still in utero.

   The makers of the film Dead Man Walking claim that they tried very hard not to take a stand for or against the death penalty.  However, they actually made a rather subtle argument in favour of the death penalty, in so far as they showed the murderer, played by Sean Penn, to finally take responsibility for his actions, admit his guilt and express contrition, exactly because he was going to die, and thus he had a shot at Salvation and everlasting life. But, of course only those who truly believe in God and divine justice would get that. 
 

 
 

               

Pray for the Sick and Homebound of our Parish

Elaine Elizabeth Abraham, Maryann Barron,

Joshua Basile, Philip Calanchini, Jose Campos,

Joe Cassella, Betsabe deSoto, Marjorie Dolak,

Christa Drummond, Larry Dublin, Danny Frey,

Brian Hack, Elizabeth Hooten, Marjorie Horan,

Carol McCarty, Baby Peter Michalski, David Murphy, William Schrepel, Lien Shinta, Abby Trepacz,

Baby Anthony Yantiss

 

Pray for Those Who have Fallen Asleep in Christ

Lila Brown, Joseph Cerroni, Sr., Irene Corrado,

Joseph Dunne, Joseph Gartlan, Maria Keran,

William Bud Ko, Nicholas Lippis, Rita Lippis,

Margie McBee, Steve Saunders, Adele Spauer,

Thomas Vander Woude, Victor Wouters, Angel Zavala

 

Pray for our Armed Forces Personnel

Douglas Beer, Patrick Bouchoux, Jordan Bowren, Brendan Dunne, Mark Falcon, Christopher Frediani, Brian Horn,  Kathleen Mahoney, Josh Moore,

Matthew O’Neil, Mathew Rowell, Justin Smallwood

           

                 The Blessed Sacrament

      THIS IS MY BODY – THIS IS MY BLOOD

 

A Holy Hour is simply an hour set-aside totally for the Lord; an hour consecrated to God.  It is a time to recollect our mind, heart and spirit in order to focus them on God and more specifically our Eucharistic Lord.  To make a Holy Hour is to make a decision to spend one hour with our friend, our Savior and Lord who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.

Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Hour

The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic worship.  Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love.  Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in oration and in contemplation that is full of faith, and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world.  May our adoration never cease.

– John Paul II

To sign up for adoration or for information regarding adoration please contact Diane Cieslak 703.678.3919.  

24 hour Eucharistic Adoration begins after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Wednesday and ends with reposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 8:55 a.m. on Thursday. 

24 hour Eucharistic Adoration also begins after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on every First Friday of the month and ends with reposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 8:55 a.m. on Saturday.

Holy Hour is every Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.

 
 
 
 

Electronic Offertory Giving with Faith Direct

Recently, we have introduced a new and exciting way for you to support our parish offertory and second collections: Faith Direct.  With Faith Direct, you can make regular automatic contributions to St. Catherine using your credit/debit card or bank account, the same process that you may use to pay utility bills or make car payments.  Making your donations automatically means relief from the hassle of locating your offertory envelopes as you run out the door on Sunday morning, and guarantees that the church will receive your gifts even if you are unable to attend Mass.  There is no fee to you, the parishioner, associated with use of the Faith Direct program.  Automatic contributions greatly benefit St. Catherine by providing a predictable cash flow as well as decreasing the time and money the church expends dealing with the envelope system.  Faith Direct will provide you with personalized offertory cards that you may place in the basket and a year-end tax statement.  We find Faith Direct a “win-win” for both parishioners and our parish.  Please enroll in this program by picking up an enrollment form from the parish office, or by visiting www.faithdirect.net to enroll securely on-line.  Our parish code is VA129.  Please do not hesitate to contact me for any additional information.  God bless you,  Father Drummond.

 

Call to Holy Orders

Seminarian, Mick Kelly received the call to Holy Orders from Bishop Loverde who will ordain Mick a transitional Deacon at St. Thomas Moore Cathedral on Saturday, the sixth of June.  Mick was assigned to St. Catherine’s for the summer of 2006 and has since spent his Christmas and Easter’s here with us, assisting in all the special, and often complicated holiday Masses.  It is a great honour for me personally, and for our entire Parish that the newly ordained Deacon, Mick Kelly will serve at our Vigil Mass on the sixth of June – his dealconal ordination day and will also preach for the very first time!

St. Catherine’s will host a reception for Mick immediately following the Vigil Mass in Bishop Justs Hall.  Everyone is invited! 

  The Women’s Association News

 
 

The Women’s Association of St. Catherine’s wishes to thank you for your support in its many activities throughout this past year, and cordially invites you to its

      Mother/Daughter Tea

      June 7^th from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. to be held in

      The Pastor’s Garden*

Come spend a lovely afternoon in camaraderie with fellow members of the Association, and enjoy a selection of home-made delicacies.

Kindly RSVP to Christiane at 703.377.6618.

*In the event of rain, we will relocate to Padre Pio Hall.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

The Saint Catherine of Siena Choir

presents

A Concert of Sacred Music

From Glory to Glory:

A Celebration of the Church’s Spring

 

featuring works by

Bach, Vivaldi, Haydn, Byrd, Lotti, Bardos, Vaughan Williams, Stanford, Piccolo, & Nestor

 

Sunday, May 31

3:00 p.m.

St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church

 

Join St. Catherine’s Conductor-in-Residence Leo Nestor, Justine Bayard Ward, Professor of Music & Director of the Institute of Sacred

Music at Catholic University, along with Parish Music Director &

award-winning organist Kimberly Hess, as they lead the resident choir

of professional voices in sacred song … to the Greater Glory of God!

 

Adults: $25.00     Children: $10.00

Suggested Donation

 

Proceeds benefit the Parish Music Program

 

for further information, call 703.759-4350

 
 
 

Choir Fundraiser Update

As of May 18, 2009, the choir fundraiser has raised $12,255.00.  Tickets for the choir concert and pledge cards will be available after each Mass throughout the month of May.  Please help us to make our goal of 30K by making a pledge, helping to sell tickets, attending the concert, or ordering a CD of the concert.  This promises to be a beautiful concert.  Your help and generosity will be greatly appreciated.

 

Graduating this Year?

We are looking for the names and schools of all our high school and college graduates.  All graduating students are encouraged to submit their names and school for a special bulletin insert to recognize their accomplishments.  Please sign-up (print you name and school in block letters) on the church bulletin board in the narthex.  The deadline to submit your information is June 19^th.

 

The Pro-Life Committee

The Pro-Life Committee invites you to join us the last Saturday of the month, from 7:00 – 8:30 a.m.  We will pray the Rosary outside the Falls Church Abortion Clinic located at 900 S. Washington Street.

 

Bereavement Support Group

When:  May 28^th at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Padre Pio Hall

St. Catherine of Siena Bereavement Support Group

welcomes people at all stages of the grief journey, whether their loss is recent or years past.  Please join us to hear guest speaker, Terri Kampos speak on Life After Death: Choosing To Go On With Your Life After Losing Loved Ones.  For further information please call Nancy Tanner at 703.757.0045. 

Food Drive for Christ House Continues

Christ House in Alexandria is in urgent need of food items for families in our diocese who are suffering during this economic downturn.  St. Catherine’s will be collecting food items to help alleviate this need. Marked collection bins will be placed in the narthex of the Church. Please be generous.

The following items are urgently needed:

boxed instant potatoes, boxed rice, canned fruit

But the following items are in constant need of re-supply:

canned tuna, jars of spaghetti sauce, dried pasta, as well as canned pasta, canned vegetables, cereal, peanut butter, jellies/jams, bags/boxes of cookies, complete pancake mix, syrup, sugar, ice tea mix, bottled water, liquid laundry soap, sandwich bags.  Thank you for providing for those less fortunate, and may God bless this effort.

 

Please Do Not Park on the Grass

We have spent a great deal of money repairing the asphalt at the Church as well as planting new grass.  Parking on the grass not only damages the grass but the edges of the asphalt as well.  More to the point: it is a violation of the posted Fire Lanes.  There are plenty of parking spaces for all, but yes, if you are late you will have to walk a few more feet.  Arrive five minutes early and there will be no extra walking.  If you see someone parking on the grass, please ask them to move; this is your Church.  We do not want to have to resort to towing the offenders.  Thank you for your cooperation.

 

From The Office of Religious Education

 
 

                 Catechist Corner  

Confrater

 

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)

Class Calendar

July

13 – 17 The Week of Graces 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

A week-long summer enrichment program for children ages 5-10 years old.

Please contact the Office of Religious Education with any questions.  Anson Groves, Director of Religious Education 703.759.3530 or cyostcatherine@gmail.com

 

Papal Blessings and Papal Audiences

      If you are interested in receiving a papal            blessing    for an anniversary, birthday or other special occasion, or plan on visiting Rome and would like to attend a general papal audience, please contact the Parish Office at least three   months in advance of the event or visit to Rome.  Note that the papal audiences are only on Wednesdays and are subject to the Holy Father’s health, travels and weekly schedule.  Call 703.759.4350.

The Over Fifty Club of St. Catherine of Siena

Extending an invitation for any Senior to join our Social Club.  We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month in Bishop Justs Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  There are interesting speakers, trips, special luncheons and a fun social time to meet new people.  We also have a social bridge group that meets the 1st Friday of the month at 10:00 a.m.  Single’s or couples are warmly welcomed.  For more information contact Mary Ann at 703.404.8677, or Madeline at 703.759.2605.

 
 

   Siena Academy News

 
 
 

Mission Statement

Siena Academy is the parish school at St. Catherine of Siena.  Its mission is to give glory to God and to assist parents in the role as primary educators of their children by offering specially prepared environments founded upon the principles and discoveries made by Dr. Maria Montessori in regard to the unique spiritual and developmental needs of the child from birth to adulthood.

Siena Academy – School Year 2009-2010

Parent/Toddler Class

We are currently accepting applications for our Parent/Toddler Class.  This class is for children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, and will be held for two consecutive days per week, Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.  Please call the school office at 703.759.4129 for applications and further information. 

Parent/Infant Class

This fall we will be offering a Parent/Infant Class, ages  0-10 months.  This class will be four consecutive Friday’s, 2 hours per class. This class is offered six times throughout the year.  If you are interested please call the school office to have your name placed on our list.  The schedule of sessions and registration forms will be available at a later date.

eScrip Recycling Program

Through the eScrip (Electronic Scrip Incorporated) Fundraising Program, Siena Academy hopes to raise money while recycling your old electronics.  We are collecting old ipods, cell phones, ink-jet and toner cartridges, and laptops.  Laptops must have enough charge to power-up, the power cord must be included, and the hard drive must be removed.  If you wish to recycle and at the same time help your parish school, please contact Betsye Richardson at betsyer@verizon.net or place your item(s) in the eScrip collection box at the top of the school stairwell.  This project is a win-win for all!  Thank you for your support.

 
 
 

To all Non-Registered Parishioners

You are encouraged to register. There are several advantages to registering, such as:

•   Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Mass is offered up for you.

•   Receive periodic letters from our pastor.

•   Receive an accounting of your contributions.

•  Your name will appear in our next parish directory,         unless you tell us that you do not wish your name          printed.

•   In most cases it is necessary to be registered to take      part in some of the sacraments.

•   You become a real member of the parish.

If you have further questions, please call our parish offices at (703) 759-4350.

 

2009 Over 50 Club Scheduled Senior Trips

Membership in the Club and Senior Status is not required. Early Registration is Suggested!

uJune 9 – “Spirit of Baltimore”  – Day cruise out of Baltimore.  Delicious buffet, D.J. for dancing or music to listen to.  A 1 hour cruise around the harbor, then stop at the Inner Harbor, shop or visit the Aquarium or f\view the ships USS Constellation & the Torsk submarine. $78

u September 9 – “Broadways Best” at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster.  You’ll enjoy works and music of great composers like Gershwin, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Leonard Bernstein.  The production features memorable moments from Cats, Jersey Boys, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera and more!  Enjoy lunch on your own at Cracker Barrel, Roby Tuesday or Olive Garden.  There will be time for outlet shopping.  $82.

u September 16 – Annapolis – A historic tour of Annapolis State House, World Was II Memorial, lunch at the Officers Club at the Naval Academy and a cruise on the Harbor Queen, where you’ll see the Bay bridge and the Naval Academy from the boat. $89.

u October 12 – St. James The Greater & The Bavarian Inn.  Day trip with Father Drummond.  We’ll have Mass at St. James and lunch at the Bavarian Inn. $61 includes motor coach, lunch and drivers tip.

You do not need to be a senior to join us, or a member of the Club.  Please call the following for more information and/or registration.

Mary Ann at 703.404.8677 or Connie at 703.759.2939.

 

In the Diocese & Other Events

Website: www.arlingtondiocese.org

Vocations Awareness

 

Some white-collar jobs are more challenging than others

 

Christ House Needs Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to work at Christ House as receptionists for the Emergency Assistance Hotline.  Come and volunteer one 4-hour shift in the morning or afternoon. Training will be provided.  A desire to serve those in need is required!  Volunteers are also needed to help with running/organizing the evening meal at Christ House.  Greet diners; help with set-up, clean-up.  Sign-up to work one 4 to 7 p.m. shift a week.  Please call Catholic Charities at 703.941.3835 or Christ House at 703.549.8644.

The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

 

 

History

The observance of this feast is of great antiquity. Although no documentary evidence of it exists prior to the beginning of the fifth century, St. Augustine says that it is of Apostolic origin, and he speaks of it in a way that shows it was the universal observance of the Church long before his time. Frequent mention of it is made in the writings of St. John Chrysostom, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and in the Constitution of the Apostles. The Pilgrimage of Sylvia (Peregrinatio Etheriae) speaks of the vigil of this feast and of the feast itself, as they were kept in the church built over the grotto in Bethlehem in which Christ was born (Duchesne, Christian Worship, 491-515). 

Customs

Certain customs were connected with the liturgy of this feast, such as the blessing of beans and grapes after the Commemoration of the Dead in the Canon of the Mass, the blessing of first fruits, afterwards done on Rogation Days, the blessing of a candle, the wearing of mitres by deacon and sub-deacon, the extinction of the Paschal Candle, and triumphal procession with torches and banners outside the churches to commemorate the entry of Christ into heaven. Rock records the English custom of carrying at the head of the procession the banner bearing the device of the lion and at the foot the banner of the dragon, to symbolize the triumph of Christ in His ascension over the evil one.

In the liturgy generally the day is meant to celebrate the completion of the work of our salvation, the pledge of our glorification with Christ, and His entry into heaven with our human nature glorified.