HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
Washington, DC

Serving Italians and all Catholics on the move in the Greater Washington DC Area since 1913

Bulletin
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

February 3, 2008 – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9:00 Angela Ventresca
10:30 Salvatore, Maria, John, Joe & Tom Riccobene
12:00 Pat Noto
Monday, February 4, 2007 – Weekday
12:00 Nunzio DiPerna
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 – St. Agatha
12:00 John D. Valenti
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 – Ash Wednesday
8:00 St. Maria Goretti
12:05 Special Intention
5:00 Maria Balducchi Weekday
Thursday, February 7, 2008 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Vittorio Lovisa
Friday, February 8, 2008 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Pietro & Udilia Gobbato
Saturday, February 9, 2008 – Lenten Weekday
No Mass
February 10, 2008 – First Sunday in Lent
9:00 Nick Catucci
10:30 Michele Santillo
12:00 Flaim Family

The collection for Sunday January 27 was $2,263.50.
 

LECTORS THIS SUNDAY
9:00 Anne Giese
10:30 Adriano Romano and Enzo Brunitto
12:00 Alex LoBianco

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Today’s gospel is the center piece of our preparation for Lent. Nine times the word “blessed” rings out in this opening section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Nine times Jesus rings out the old ideas that it is the wealthy, the proud, the powerful, the self-satisfied and the war mongers and war makers who are the blessed ones. Nine times Jesus rings in the new idea that it is the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted – in general, it is the have-nots who rejoice and are glad that what may seem to be the worst can be the best in this upside-down an inside-out kingdom of God where the fist shall be last and the last shall be first.

QUARTA DOMENICA DEL TEMPO ORDINARIO
Attraverso la porta d’ingresso al regno di Dio, vi possono passare solo i poveri, gli umili, gli ultimi, gli oppressi, i semplici. Per gli sventurati di ogni tempo è giunto il liberatore. Le beatitudini, che sono la carta del regno, proclamano che la grande speranza dell’esodo è sempre attuale: non è scomparso infatti il lungo corteo dei poveri. Cercare il Cristo significa unirsi a loro, prendere le loro difese, servire la loro speranza.

 

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Mt 5:7-9

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Readings for the Week of February 3, 2008
Sunday: Zep 2:3; 3:12-13/1 Cor 1:26-31/Mt 5:1-12a
Monday: 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13/Mk 5:1-20
Tuesday: 2 Sm 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3/Mk 5:21-43
Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18/2 Cor 5:20-6:2/Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Thursday: Dt 30:15-20/Lk 9:22-25
Friday: Is 58:1-9a/Mt 9:14-15
Saturday: Is 58:9b-14/Lk 5:27-32
Next Sunday: Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7/Rom 5:12-19
or 5:12, 17-19/Mt 4:1-11

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HOW TO OBSERVE LENT AS A CATHOLIC

Before he began his public ministry, Jesus spent forty days in the desert. He prayed, fasted, confronted temptation, and prepared for the journey that was to come. During the 40-days of Lent, we pray, fast, and give alms.

The building blocks of Lenten spiritual growth are fasting, praying and almsgiving. Lent begins with ashes – a way for Christians to publicly mark their sorrow for sin and to symbolically ready themselves to cast that sin away and open themselves to God during the weeks to come.

During Lent, Catholics are required to fast (eating one regular-sized meal and two small meals) and abstain (refraining from eating animal flesh) as an expression of solidarity with the poor of this world.

In prayer, we turn to God, listen to His voice, and let Him fill our hearts and guide us. Many find useful to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and attend Mass during the week.

Being mindful of the poor is not an option for Christians, in fact, Jesus tells us, when we feed the hungry, visit the imprisoned, and clothe the naked, we are encountering Him. So, along with fasting and praying, almsgiving has been a traditional Lenten practice. Jesus poured His life out for others. As His disciples we are called to do the same in our everyday lives, as well as in the extra steps, we take outside our ordinary lives and routines.
Lent as a whole is all about: finding a quiet space and listening to the Lord’s call, committed to following Him wherever He leads, and wherever we might encounter Him in guise of the poor or needy.

THE SECOND COLLECTION TODAY is for the Renovation Fund. Projects for this year include making handicapped-assessable restroom facilities in Casa Italiana, enlarging its kitchen, and restoring the Lower Church Hall. Please be generous!

THE SODALITY will today after the 9:00 a.m. Mass in the Lower Church Hall.

THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY will have HERO/SUBMARINE SANDWICHES to be picked up TODAY in Casa Italiana after all Masses. These are the sandwiches that were pre-ordered.

ARCHBISHOP’S APPEAL 2008: Many thanks to all of you who have given to the Archbishop’s Appeal, whose 2008 goal is $11,750,000. Last Sunday our parish contributed and/or pledged $6,255. Our 2008 parish goal for the Archbishop’s Appeal is $12,861. If each household of our community will pledge $50, we will be able to reach again our parish goal. The Archdiocese will send reminders for ten monthly payments. Also, pledge envelopes can be picked up at the Church entrance. The funds you give help to provide valuable ministries, programs and services throughout the Archdiocese and in our parish as well. Thank you for your gift to the Archbishop’s Appeal!

THE PARISH COUNCIL will meet tomorrow, Feb. 4, in the Lower Church Hall at 7:00 PM. The meeting is open to all parishioners.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6, IS ASH WEDNESDAY: Masses in our Church are at 8:00 AM., 12 noon and 5:00 PM. Ashes will be administered at each Mass. Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE ANNUAL DAY OF RECOLLECTION: Next Sunday, Feb. 10, sponsored by the Sodality in conjunction with the Holy Name Society and Padre Pio Prayer Group. It will begin with the noon Mass, followed by a light lunch, ($5.00 offering) and then a conference given by Rev. Francis Tiso, Ph.D., from the Ecumenical Office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The day will conclude with the Rosary and Benediction in Church at 3:00 p.m. For reservations, call Gay Ferrante at 301.384.0985.

CARNEVALE 2008 AT CASA ITALIANA brought to you by Lucchesi nel Mondo-Tuscany Club and Holy Rosary Church: February 10, 2008, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Casa Italiana. Dinner, dancing to DJ, games and prizes for children, best costume competition. Lucchesi nel Mondo members $45.00, non members $50.00, children 6-14 $20.00, and children under 6 free. For more information email obarsi@verizon.net or call 240-893-2498 or go to www.lucchesitoscani.org.

LA SECONDA COLLETTA OGGI è per il Fondo Restauri. Tra i progetti in corso ci sono quelli di rendere accessibile agli endicappati i servizi di Casa Italiana, di allargare la cucina e di restaurare la sala sotto la Chiesa. Siate generosi.

IL SODALIZIO si riunirà oggi dopo la Messa delle ore 9 nella sala sotto la Chiesa.

LA SOCIETÀ DEL SANTO NOME distribuirà oggi i HERO/SUBMARINE PANINI , prenotati in anticipo, nella Casa Italiana dopo tutte le Messe.

L’APPELLO DELL’ARCIVESCOVO 2008: Mille grazie a tutti coloro che contribuirono all’Apppello dell’Arcivescovo, il cui ammontare da raggiungere quest’anno sono $11,750,000. Domenica scorsa la nostra parrocchia contribui’ o promise di contribuire $6,255. Per l’Apppello dell’Arcivescovo pel 2008 la nostra parrocchia fu richiesta di contribuire $12,861. Se ogni famiglia della nostra comunità contribuisse $50, saremmo in grado di raggiungere anche quest’anno la nostra quota.L’Arcidiocesi vi ricorderá una volta al mese di dare il vostro contributo. Buste apposite si trovano pure all’entrata della chiesa. I fondi che voi date aiutano a mantenere preziosi ministeri, programmi e servizi in tutta l’Arcidiocesi come pure nella nostra parrocchia. Grazie per il vostro dono all’Appello del’Arcivescovo!

IL CONSIGLIO PARROCCHIALE S'INCONTRERÀ lunedì, 4 febbraio, nella sala della Chiesa alle ore 19. L’incontro è aperto a tutti i parrocchiani.

MERCOLEDI, 6 FEBBRAIO, È MERCOLEDI DELLE CENERI: Messe nella nostra Chiesa sono alle ore 8, 12 e 17. Le ceneri verranno distribuite dopo ogni Messa. Il Mercoledì delle Ceneri è un giorno di digiuno e astinenza. Tutti i venerdì di Quaresima sono giorni di astinenza.

TUTTI SONO INVITATI AL RITIRO ANNUALE, domenica prossima, 10 febbraio, sponsorizzato dal Sodalizio insieme alla Società del Santo Nome e al Gruppo di Preghiera di Padre Pio. Comincerà con la Messa di mezzogiorno, seguita da un leggero lunch ($5.00 offerta) e da una conferenza data da Padre Francis Tiso, Ph.D., del’Ufficio Ecumenico della Conferenza Americana dei Vescovi Cattolici. Il Ritiro si concluderà col Rosario e la Beneddizione in Chiesa alle ore 15. Per prenotazioni, chiamare Gay Ferrante al 301.384.0985.

CARNEVALE 2008 A CASA ITALIANA è sponsorizzato da Lucchesi nel Mondo-Tuscany Club e La Chiesa del Santo Rosario, 10 febbraio 2008 dalle ore 15 alle ore 19 a Casa Italiana. Pranzo, ballo con DJ, giochi e premi per bambini, competizione di costumi. Membri $45.00, non-membri $50.00, bambini da 6 a 14 anni $20.00, e libero per i bambini sotto 6 anni. Per informazione contattare per email obarsi@verizon.net o chiamare il 240-893-2498 o visitare il sito www.lucchesitoscani.org.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Mark your calendar!