HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
Washington, DC

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

Bulletin
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Ascension of the Lord

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

May 4, 2008 – Ascension of the Lord
9:00 Sodality of Mary
60th Wedding Anniversary of Francis & Helen Garden
10:30 Rosa Cascioli & Concetta Cascioli
12:00 Rosetta Rende
Monday, May 5, 2008 – Easter Weekday
12:05 Erol Hagemeier
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 – Easter Weekday
12:05 Saint Maria Goretti
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 – Easter Weekday
12:05 Maria Cantoni
Thursday, May 8, – Easter Weekday
12:05 Renato Cervini
Friday, May 9, – Easter Weekday
12:05 Anthony Chrysakis
Saturday, May 10, 2008 – Easter Weekday
9:00 First Communion Confessions
10:00 First Communion Rehearsal
4:30 Wedding of Patrick McDonald & Martine Combal
May 11, 2008 – Pentecost Sunday & First Holy Communion
9:00 Anna Vanni Valdrighi
10:30 Maria Santillo
12:00 Maria DeSantis
 

LECTORS THIS SUNDAY
9:00 Geraldine Oliveto
10:30 Marco Randazzo and Adriano Romano
12:00 Alex LoBianco

The collection for Sunday, April 27th was $2,514.00
The 2nd collection for Catholic Home Missions was $695.00
 

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

The ascension of Jesus reminds us that Jesus is not with us in his physical body. But Jesus is very much with us in his Mystical Body, which is the church. He is the head of that body and we are its members. Jesus is with us in his sacramental body of the Eucharist. At Communion we receive not the dead body of Jesus but his risen and ascended body, his living, loving and glorified presence.

Today we once again give praise and thanks to Jesus who is not only with us but within us.
 

ASCENSIONE DEL SIGNORE

Dopo un'esistenza discussa e contraddetta, perseguitato dall’infanzia sino alla morte, Gesù manifesta chi è veramente: “il cielo e la terra” sono nelle sue mani. Da ora in poi il mistero di quest'uomo appartiene a tutte le nazioni. Gesù affida ai discepoli il compito di renderne testimonianza, e ad ogni persona fa sperimentare la sua presenza sempre nuova.
 

Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
- Mt 28:18-20

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Readings for the Week of 4 May 2008
Sunday: Ascension of the Lord: Acts 1:1-11/
Eph 1:17-23/Mt 28:16-20
Monday: Acts 19:1-8/Jn 16:29-33
Tuesday: Acts 20:17-27/Jn 17:1-11a
Wednesday: Acts 20:28-38/Jn 17:11b-19
Thursday: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/Jn 17:20-26
Friday: Acts 25:13b-21/Jn 21:15-19
Saturday: Morning: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31/Jn 21:20-25
Next Sunday: Vigil: Gn 11:1-9 or Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b or Ez 37:1-14 or Jl 3:1-5/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39

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DISCOVERING GOD

For us Catholics it is important to explore the differences within Christianity as well as between the major religions of the world at this time when we are preparing to dialogue with Muslim and other oriental religions.

According to Darrell Turner, Rodney Stark’s latest book offers a good basis for such a task. This book, Discovering God: A New Look at the Origins of the Great Religions and the Evolution of Belief (HarperCollins, 484 pages, $25.95) is breathtaking in its scope. It illustrates not only the amazing varieties of religious beliefs that have marked the journey of humankind but also the often contradictory variety of sociological explorations of those beliefs. Dr. Stark suggests that the three great monotheistic faiths of the West – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – are more in keeping with the dictates of reason than are other belief systems. Also, his study will provoke readers to reexamine what they may have considered to be the essential aspects of a religion.

Using the Roman Empire as a setting for examining the origins of religious conflict, Dr. Stark says Jews and Christians faced persecution not primarily for rejecting polytheism but because of their closely knit congregational organization. At the same time, Dr. Stark says, monotheistic movements also tend to generate internal conflicts as subgroups claim to be the most authentic expression of the movement’s core beliefs.

In examining the varieties of Islamic belief, Dr. Stark notes that one problem is the issue of free will versus predestination. The Quran sometimes affirms one and sometimes the other, giving rise to the Shiite belief that humans can choose between doing good and evil and the contrasting belief of the Sunni majority that God is responsible for both good and evil and that all human actions are predetermined. Add to this the fact that there are many different kinds of Shiites in Iran alone, and the difficulties of understanding Islam seem overwhelming. A good method for such exploration, Darrell Turner suggests, is to set aside time for careful study of such books as Discovering God – and to use a good deal of humility while doing so.

CONGRATULATIONS! Francis and Helen Garden, who were married on May 2, 1948, celebrate today their 60th wedding anniversary. Ad multos annos!

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

THE SODALITY OF MARY meets today after the 9:00 AM Mass in the Lower Church hall. New members are welcome!

THE SUPPLICA TAKES PLACE TODAY at the 10:30 AM Mass; which will conclude with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by refreshments in Casa Italiana donated by Biagio Carannante.

THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY will meet next Sunday, May 11, 2008, after the 9:00 a.m. Mass in the Lower Church Hall.

2008 ARCHBISHOP APPEAL: a second-mailing was recently sent to members of our parish that have in previous years made a gift to the Archbishop’s Appeal but have not yet made a gift in 2008. A gift to the Archbishop’s Appeal will touch the lives of many people throughout the Archdiocese of Washington in a very positive way. If you received your pledge form in the mail, please complete it and mail it back to the Archdiocese. For those of you that did not receive a mailing, complete information is available by visiting the Archdiocese of Washington web site at www.adw.org and clicking on “Archbishop Appeal”. Please contact the Archbishop’s Appeal office at (301)853-5376 if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you for your prayerful consideration and generous response.

FIRST RECONCILLIATION AND REHERSAL FOR FIRST COMMUNION will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 9:00 AM in our Church. Parents of children receiving these two sacraments are expected to be present and lead their children with their example.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION will take in our church on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at the 9:00 AM Mass. We wish to congratulate the 2008 First Holy Communion Class:
Arturo Amaya, Alessandro Brunelli, Michael DeThomasis, Kristin Kane, Viahna Lamarra, Celia Liberace, Allan Phillips, Gina Pronio, Derek Siegrist, Ruben Stann, Haley Tonizzo, and Gabriele Tripi.

CONGRATULAZIONI! Francis e Helen Garden, che si sposarono il 2 maggio 1948, celebrano oggi il 60mo anniversario del loro matrimonio. Ad multos annos!

LA SECONDA COLLETTA OGGI è per il Fondo Restauri. I progetti per quest’anno sono fare accessibile agli endicappati i servizi di Casa Italiana, allargare la cucina e restaurare la sala sotto la chiesa. Siate generosi.

IL SODALIZIO DI MARIA si riunisce oggi dopo la Messa delle ore nove nella sala sotto della Chiesa.

LA SUPPLICA viene recitata oggi alla Messa delle 10:30 che si concluderà con la benedizione col Santissimo, seguita da un rinfresco nella Casa Italiana donato da Biagio Carannante.

LA SOCIETA’ DEL SANTO NOME si riunirà la prossima domenica dopo la Messa delle nove nella sala sotto la chiesa.

L’APPELLO DEL VESCOVO PEL 2008: una seconda lettera è stata inviata recentemente ai parrocchiani che contribuirono gli anni precedenti ma che non hanno ancora contribuito nel 2008. Un contributo all’Appello del Vescovo toccherà tante persone nell’Arcidiocesi di Washington in un modo molto positivo. Se avete ricevuto la richiesta nella posta, favorite completarla e rispedirla indietro all’Arcidiocesi. Coloro che non avessero ricevuto la lettera possono trovare l’informazione completa nel sito dell’Arcidiocesi, www.adw.org. Favorite contattare l’ufficio dell’Appello dell’Arcivescovo al (301)853-5376 se avete domande o bisogno di ulteriore informazione. Grazie per la vostra gentile considerazione e generosa risposta.

PRIMA CONFESSIONE E PRATICA PER LA PRIMA COMUNIONE avrà luogo sabato, 10 maggio 2008 alle ore nove nella nostra Chiesa. I genitori dei bambini che riceveranno questi due sacramenti devono essere presenti e dare il buon esempio ai loro figli.

LA PRIMA COMUNIONE avrà luogo nella nostra Chiesa l’11 maggio 2008, alla Messa delle ore nove. Vogliamo congratulare la classe della Prima Comunione del 2008:
Arturo Amaya, Alessandro Brunelli, Michael DeThomasis, Kristin Kane, Viahna Lamarra, Celia Liberace, Allan Phillips, Gina Pronio, Derek Siegrist, Ruben Stann, Haley Tonizzo, and Gabriele Tripi

PRIESTHOOD DISCERNMENT DINNER

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Mark your calendar!