Parish Staff Laura Bell Head of School 703.759.4129 Maggie Radzik Head of Pedagogy 703.759.4129 Anson Groves Dir. of Religious Ed. 703.759.3530 Sharon O'Donnell Religious Ed Secretary 703.759.3530 Anson Groves Dir of Catholic Youth Org 702.759.3530 Nancy Caro Sacristan Rick Webb Gen. Mgr. Financial Dir. 703.759.4350 Dr. Kimberly Hess Director of Music 703.759.4350 Judy Wood Parish Secretary 703.759.4350 Jackie Fox Bulletin Editor 703.759.4350 Guillermo DeLeon Director of Facilities 703.638.4301 Email address: deleonscs@gmail.com Emiro Soto Maintenance Rosa Hernandez Support Staff Stephen Dolenc Web Master stephendolenc @gmail.com Mass Intentions Sunday, November 22 8:00 a.m. Virginia Stimson V 10:00 a.m. Pro Populo 12:00 Rita Homberg V Monday, November 23 9:00 a.m. Evelyn LaPlante V Tuesday, November 24 9:00 a.m. James D. MesserV Wednesday, November 25 9:00 a.m. Joseph Kraus Thursday, November 26 9:00 a.m. Virginia Stimson V Friday, November 27 9:00 a.m. Florence Dzamba V Saturday, November 28 9:00 a.m. Jackie Fox 5:30 p.m. Special Intention READINGS AND CELEBRATIONS FOR THE WEEK Sunday - Our Lord, Jesus Christ the King Dn 7: 13-14, Ps 93, Rv 1: 5 -8, Jn 18: 33b - 37 Monday - The Last Week in Ordinary Time Dn 1: 1-6, 8-20, (Ps) Dn 3, Lk 21: 1 - 4 Tuesday - Weekday in Ordinary Time Dn 2: 31-45. (Ps) Dn 3, Lk 21: 5 -11 Wednesday - Weekday in Ordinary Time Dn 5: 1 -6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28, (Ps) Dn 3, Lk 21: 12-19 Thursday - Weekday in Ordinary Time Sir 50: 22-24, Ps 138, 1 Cor 1: 3-9 Friday - Weekday in Ordinary Time Dn 7: 2-14, (Ps) Dn 3, Lk 21: 29 - 33 Saturday - Weekday in Ordinary time Dn 7: 15-27, (Ps) Dn 3, Lk 21: 34-36 Parish Stewardship Thank you for your generous offerings of November 14/15. The regular collection brought in $12,222 and the Poor Box yielded $608. Faith Direct Contributions Contributions for the month of November are $19,942/. Those interested in contributing automatically through Faith Direct please go to www.faithdirect.net St. Catherine CODE is VA129. Please note: The Parish Offices will be closed on November 26th and 27th in observance of Thanksgiving. Our Lord Jesus Christ the King "My Kingdom is not of this World" Christ the King is one of the names of Jesus derived from various scriptures. It is a name used by all Christians and celebrated as the Feast of Christ the King. The name is found in various forms in Scripture: King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17), King of Israel (John 1:49), King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11), King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16), King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3), Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5) Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews is the inscription which the Gospels report was placed on the cross by the Romans and which is found on many crucifixes. The ideological movement of Christ's Kingship was addressed in the encyclical Quas primas of Pope Pius XI, published in 1925. The Pontiff's encyclical quotes with approval Cyril of Alexandria, noting that Jesus' Kingship is not obtained by violence: "Christ, he says, "Has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped, but his by essence and by nature." Pope Benedict XVI has remarked, as did his predecessor, John Paul II, that Christ's Kingship is not based on "human power" but on loving and serving others. A Gift of Music The St. Catherine Choir CD, From Glory to Glory: A Celebration of the Church's Spring, will be available in the Narthex after all Masses in the season of Advent for a donation of $25.00. The CD is a live recording of the concert presented by the choir this past May. Works by Lassus, Tallis, Haydnn, Vaughan Williams, Stanford and Nestor can be heard on this recording. The CD would make a great Christmas present for family as well as friends who enjoy beautiful music and would also help to support the music program. Thank you, Dr. Kimberly Hess, Director of Music. Pray for the Sick and Homebound of our Parish Elaine Elizabeth Abraham, Joshua Basile, Bryan Cox, Flora DeLeon, Betsabe de Soto, Marjorie Dolak, Christa Drummond, Larry Dublin, Marilyn Flynn, Danny Frey, Brian Hack, Elizabeth Hooten, Marjorie Horan, Carol McCarty, Susan McQuade, Canon Craig Merkel, Peter Michaki, David Murphy, Fr. Paul Richardson, William Schrepel, Murray Schooner, Lien Shinta, Cris Ternisky, Abby Trepacz, Ana Laura Valdez, Anthony Yantiss Pray for Those Who have Fallen Asleep in Christ James Anthony, Maryann Barron, Philip Calanchini, Joe Cassella, Bill Corr, Joseph Dunne, Bill Hale, Mary Elizabeth Jones, Cynthia Randall, Victor Wouters Pray for our Armed Forces Personnel Patrick Bouchoux, Jordan Bowren, Brendan Dunne, Mark Falcon, Christopher Frediani, Michael Holtz, 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 7:00 p.m. Please note: Adoration is canceled for the following days: Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve. Communion and Blessings A very common liturgical abuse of our times happens during the reception of Holy Communion when persons who cannot receive Communion nevertheless line up with their arms crossed over their chest, as a "message" to the priest that they want a blessing instead of Communion. This is liturgically incorrect on a number of levels. First and foremost, the time for Communion is the time for Communion. The Communion line is not, and should not be, the blessing line. Secondly, the liturgical actions of the priest during Mass are highly regulated, and quite specific of what to do and when to do it. The actions of a good liturgist may seem spontaneous, but they are not and should not be. Unfortunately, owing to the confused time in which we live, some people are instructed to present themselves, arms crossed, before the priest at Communion time for a blessing. To make things even more confused, some people present themselves with crossed arms as a sign that they wish to receive on the tongue! Children who have not yet made their first Communion may come up with their parents who are receiving, but should not present themselves individually for a blessing. Others, who cannot receive, for whatever reason, should remain seated. The proper time for the blessing follows the prayer after Communion, which blessing all receive together. 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. PRO-Life Christmas Green Sale The annual PRO-Life Christmas Green Sale in support of A Woman's Choice will be held following all Masses the weekend of November 28th & 29th. Decorate your home and doors with beautiful and fragrant large wreaths ($20- $25), Advent table wreaths ($10.00) sprays of mixed greens ($5.00), candleholders and candles will be available. A Woman's Choice is a non-profit pro-life organization that provides many services to women concerning their pregnancy, e.g. information on abortion, adoption and pregnancy; providing infant clothing/supplies; counseling for women of past abortions. So, beautify your home and at the same time support one of the Church's most important ministries. Office of Religious Education Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it - Proverbs 22:6 The Office of Religious Education is closed on Fridays Catechist Corner Confraternity of Christian Doctrine CCD Class Calendar November 23, 24 All classes in session 30 All classes in session December 1 All classes in session Other Important CCD Dates January 5 All forms for first Holy Communion and Holy Confirmation due February 20 First Holy Penance at 9:00 a.m. March 13 Boys retreat for Holy Confirmation 20 Girls retreat for Holy Confirmation May 15 Mass of First Holy Communion at 10:30 a.m. An Immediate Need for a Volunteer!! The Religious Education program is in need of a 4th grade teacher for Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. If you are able to volunteer for this position, please contact Anson Groves, Director of Religious Education at 703..759.3530 or REOffice@saintcatherineschurch.org. 2009 - 2010 Adult Bible Study Series Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. We will meet in Bishop Justs H all Fall 2009 - September 30 to December 16 The Gospel of St. John - The Glory of Jesus Christ! Join us as we read and study the gospel written by St. John: the beloved disciple. Through this Bible study you will learn: - What is the Holy Bible, and how do we read it? - Who was St. John? - Basic theology and doctrine about Our Lord, Jesus Christ. - What it means to be a child of God, how God loves you and wants to glorify you! Bring a Bible; bring a friend; save a soul! A light breakfast will be served. Winter 2010 The Epistles of St. John & Pope Benedict's "God is Love" Spring 2010 Revelation, The Apocalypse of St. John The Women's Association News All women of the parish are cordially invited to belong and participate in our monthly social, business, informative activities. We have great camaraderie and encourage you to come and join us. Christmas Ornament Exchange Party When: Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00 p.m. The Women's Association invites all women (members and current non-members) to attend our annual Christmas Exchange Party. Please bring an appetizer, side dish, or dessert to share and a wrapped religious ornament (if possible valued at $10.00) so that you can participate and join in the fun, as we play our ornament exchange game. For further information email or call ail Donna Borrelli at 703.577.9264. or donnaborrelli@aol.com. Christ House Food Donation Drive St. Catherine's continues its efforts to support the work of Catholic Charities. Please help us to help others. The following non-perishable food items are requested: Canned meats (corned beef, spam, chicken), canned tuna, canned fruit and vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, pasta, instant potatoes, macaroni & cheese kits. Please be so kind as to limit contributions to these items, and please check the expiration dates. Labeled bins will be placed in the narthex of the church. Gift cards from Giant or Safeway are another option that you might find more convenient. Please place gift cards in an envelope marked "Christ House" and place in the collection basket at Mass or drop off at the Parish Office. The Padre Pio Council of the Knights of Columbus holds their Business Meetings every first Tuesday and their Social Meetings on every 3rd Tuesday of the month. Membership is open to all Catholic men 18 years or older. Please join us in serving to Fr. Drummond and the St. Catherine of Siena Parish. For further information contact Grand Knight, Kevin Trissell at 703-789-4639 or trissellkofc@verizon.net. The Knights of Columbus News Consider This Opportunity to Serve! The Knights of Columbus are the largest Catholic Men fraternal organization - are you a Knight? For information please contact Kevin Trissell at 703.464.8393 or trissellkofc@verizon.net. Keep Christ in Christmas! Christmas cards with the focus on Christ. The joyous Christmas season is once again approaching. The Knights of Columbus are offering, for sale, our beautiful, "Keep Christ in Christmas" cards. The cards will be available after all Masses or through Kevin Trissell at 703.464.8393, or trissellkofc@verizon.net. Annual Christmas Tree Sale The Knights of Columbus is holding their annual Christmas fresh-cut tree sale beginning Sunday, November 29th. A beautiful selection including trees up to 12 feet tall. As always local delivery is free. Shop early!! Proceeds help support the Knights Charities. Please contact Grand Knigh Kevin Trissell at trissellkofc@verizon.net or at 703.464.8393 with any questions. 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. Parent Coffee The following parent coffee will be held in Bishop Justs Hall beginning at 9:30 a.m. Parishioners are welcome! Tuesday, December 1st - Erica Walter will speak on How to Choose Animated Films for Children. eScrip Do you shop online for Christmas presents? If so, please support Siena Academy (ID number: 500003075) by using the eScrip Online Mall. Shop at over 1,000 of your favorite online merchants and earn up to 16% for Siena Academy. Enroll with www.escrip.com., click on Online Mall logo at www.escrip.com and then shop at your favorite brand name store and automatically donate to our group. Vendors include eBay, Nordstrom, Barnes and Noble, The Home Depot, Toys R Us and Disney among others. Recycle Your Old Cell Phones Do you have old laptops, ipods, or cell phones? Printer toner cartridges or inkjet cartridges? You can donate these at the conveniently located eScrip bin in the Narthex of the Church. Please make sure the laptops are bootable and have the power cords with them if we want to get credit. Accessories such as external drives are not needed or accepted. Thanks for your support! If there are questions please contact Betsye Richardson at betsyer@verizon.net. The Over Fifty Club 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. Religious Art Show When: November 28th & 29th St. Catherine's will host an exhibition of religious oil paintings that will be offered for sale after all Masses. In the Diocese & Other Events Website: www.arlingtondiocese.org Some white-collar jobs are more challenging than others From the Office of Vocations "My kingdom is not from this world." Are you being called to proclaim the glorious reign of Christ the King as a priest, deacon or in the consecrated life? Call Father Brian Bashista (703) 841-2514, or write: b.bashista@arlingtondiocese.org. All students in 8th grade interested in attending any Catholic High School in the Diocese of Arlington need to take a placement test. The date, time and locations are listed below: Test Date: Saturday, December 5th (snow date: December 12) Test Sites: Bishop Ireton H.S., Alexanderia Bishop O'Connell H.S., Arlington Paul VI - H.S., Fairfax Pope John Paul the Great H.S.,Dumfries Test Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12 Noon - Fee: $30.00 Eligible students are any 8th grader attending public school, non-Catholic private schools or Catholic schools outside the Arlington Diocese. Students must fill out a High School Placement Test Registration Form available under "School Forms" at http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/php. The registration form must be submitted to the test site no later than Wednesday, December 2, 2009, along with the fee of $30.00. For students who are prevented from taking the test on December 5th, there will be one additional testing date as noted below: Saturday, January 9th Winter HSPT at Bl. DJO PVI and JPG Saturday, January 23rd Snow Date at Bl. DJO, PVI and JPG Test Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12 Noon This test is required for placement in these five high schools: Bishop Ireton, Bishop O'Connell, Pope John Paul the Great, Oakcrest School. Thanksgiving: Mirror Unto the Soul of a Nation Thanksgiving is the only American holiday in which an act of prayer is front and center. On Thanksgiving Day the President of the United States will lead the nation in a prayer. This happens at a time when the nation is deeply divided over the appropriate connections between politic and piety, church and state. It happens at a time when the law forbids a public school principal from doing exactly what the President is doing, and if he or she did try to lead such a prayer, the same government which the President heads would step in and forbid it. Meantime, the Supreme Court continues to wrestle with the place of prayer in our public schools, and Congress passionately debates legislation designed to circumvent prior court decisions. Ironically, in countless local communities across the United States, people of different faith traditions will gather in a common act of prayer on Thanksgiving Day.