HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
Washington, DC

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

Bulletin
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Third Sunday of Advent

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday, December 13, 2009 – Third Sunday of Advent
9:00 Deceased Members of the Holy Name Society
10:30 Pietro Salvi
12:00 Sebastiano Del Borello
Monday, December 14, 2009 – Advent Weekday
12:05 Lucia & Felice D’Avella
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 – Advent Weekday
12:05 Vito Italiane & Angelo & Teresa Cevrain
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 – Advent Weekday
12:05 Famiglie Carannante & Lubrano
Thursday, December 17, 2009 – Advent Weekday
12:05 Nunzio DiPerna
Friday, December 18, 2009 – Advent Weekday
12:05 Jack R. Kelly
Saturday, December 19, 2009 – Advent Weekday
No Mass
Sunday, December 20, 2009 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
9:00 Nick Catucci
10:30 Josephine & Walter Peters
12:00 Angela Romolo Smith

The collection for Sunday, Dec 6th was $2,260.48.
The 2nd collection for the Renovation Fund was $705.

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

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Today is “Gaudete” Sunday, from the first word of the entrance prayer at Mass, which means rejoice! That is what the pink candle on the Advent wreath that we light today signifies. “Be glad! Christmas is almost here. It’s not too late to prepare.” Let the candle we light today remind you that children are a big part of this season. Allow yourself to get caught up in the anticipation the way a child does: with open hearts, wonder, delight and a firm belief that all things are possible.

TERZA  SETTIMANA DI AVVENTO

Giovanni non vuole essere che una “voce:” vuole orientare l’attenzione del popolo verso il messia. In avvento, la chiesa fa nuovamente propria l’attesa del mondo, della pace e della fraternità. E, come Giovanni, dev’essere umile e nascosta. “Cristo è già in mezzo a voi, nelle vostre speranze, nelle vostre lotte, nel vostro amore.” L’unica fierezza della chiesa consiste nel conoscere, nominare e annunciare colui che gli uomini attendono.

John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." - Lk 3:16

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Readings for the Week of 13 December 2009
Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18
Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a/Mt 21:23-27
Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Mt 21:28-32
Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25/Lk 7:18b-23
Thursday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Mt 1:1-17
Friday: Jer 23:5-8/Mt 1:18-25
Saturday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Lk 1:5-25
Next Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45

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SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

The Archdiocese of Washington’s Position on the Same Sex Marriage Bill

If you are following the news lately, you may have heard that the Catholic Church was giving “ultimatums” and “threatening” to walk away from serving the poor in the District of Columbia if same-sex marriage is legalized. It simply is not true. Sensational headlines sell, and they get repeated and soon become accepted as reality even if they aren’t true. The truth is that the Catholic Church and Catholic Charities are committed to continuing to serve the vulnerable in our nation’s capital, no matter what the D.C. Council does.

The Catholic Church has made its position clear from the onset. We oppose the bill to legalize same sex marriage in the District of Columbia. However, because this bill had 10 co-sponsors in a 13 member Council, we recognized it was likely to pass. What we asked of the Council was to enact legislation that would recognize and protect the free exercise of religion in a meaningful way.

Religious freedom is at the heart of this debate and it is the very principle we defend when we urged the Council to broaden the exemption contained in the bill for religious organizations whose teachings uphold marriage as between husband and wife.

No matter how the media may choose to spin it, this advocacy is an honest effort to uphold the right to exercise religion freely in pursuit of the church’s mission of service. No threats, no ultimatums, just service to those who need it the most.

For more information, visit www.MarriageMattersDC.org

WE WELCOME INTO THE CHURCH Luca Generoso Flaim, son of Bruno and Teresa (Floridi) Flaim, who was baptized in our Church on Saturday, December 5, 2009; and Peter Francesco Roberti, son of Fabio and Lara Elizabeth (Parkin) Roberti and Alessandra Toschi, daughter of Paolo and Jill (Brooks) Toschi, who were baptized in our church on Sunday, December 6, 2009.

THE SECOND COLLECTION TODAY is for the Retirement Fund for Senior Religious. Data submitted to the National Religious Retirement Office reveals that the average annual cost of care for women and men religious age 70 and over has more than doubled since 1989. Current statistics put this figure at $35,077 per person annually, with skilled care reaching nearly $55,000. Your donation to the Retirement Fund for Religious provides critical support to religious institutes in meeting the escalating costs of elder care. Please pray for all religious and give generously to today’s second collection.

THE OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR 2010 are now available and can be picked up at the entrance of Casa Italiana. Taking them personally saves the Church the expense of mailing them. Envelopes are also available for new users. Extra calendars can also be picked up in the same area. We have them both in English and in Italian.

THE 2009 CALENDARS HAVE BEEN MAILED OUT to all our parishioners and friends. Please, return your Christmas offering in the enclosed envelope. Needless to say, the Church depends heavily on this collection to meet its year-round expenses. Thank you!

AT THIS TIME WE ARE TAKING DONATIONS for the Christmas flowers that will adorn our Church during the holy days. Each flower pot costs $20 and can be donated in memory of a loved one or as an outright donation. Special flower envelopes are found in the back of the Church and can be placed in the regular collection basket.

THERE IS A CHRIST CHILD TREE IN CASA ITALIANA: adorned with paper stars showing the name, age, and gift suggestion for each child in the Tenants Empowerment Network, a program of Catholic Community Services of Washington, DC. Gifts must be new and wrapped. Please put the star ornament with child’s name on the outside of the wrapped gift. If giving a certificate, write the amount on the outside envelope. The last day to leave gifts under the “giving tree” is Sunday, December 20, 2009. Questions can be addressed to Kathy DiGiacomo or Sharon Hughes, 202.546-0707.

DIAMO IL BENVENUTO NELLA NOSTRA CHIESA a Luca Generoso Flaim, figlio di Bruno e Teresa (Floridi) Flaim,che è stato battezzato nella nostra Chiesa domenica, 5 decembre, 2009; e Peter Francesco Roberti, figlio di Fabio e Lara Elizabeth (Parkin) Roberti e Alessandra Toschi, figlia di Paolo e Jill (Brooks) Toschi, che sono stati battezzati nella nostra Chiesa domenica, 6 decembre, 2009.

LA SECONDA COLLETTA OGGI è per il fondo pensioni per i religiosi anziani. L’ufficio nazionale per la pensione dei religiosi informa che il costo medio annuale per l’assistenza ai religiosi di 70 anni è più che raddoppiato dal 1989. Le ultime statistiche calcolano $35, 077 per persona annualmente, mentre l’assistenza specializzata raggiunge quasi i $55,000. Il vostro contributo per il fondo pensioni per i religiosi anziani provvede un critico aiuto a istituti religiosi nell’affrontare le spese crescenti per l’assistenza agli anziani. Pregate per tutti i religiosi e contribuite generosamente alla seconda colletta di oggi.

LE BUSTE PER L’OFFERTA DOMENICALE PER IL 2010 sono ora disponibili all’entrata di Casa Italiana. Se le prelevate voi stessi, si risparmiano le costose spese di spedizione. Ci sono pure scatole di buste per nuovi utenti. Sempre all’entrata di Casa Italiana si posssono trovare extra calendari in inglese e in italiano.

I CALENDARI PER IL 2010 SONO STATI SPEDITI a tutti i nostri parrocchiani e amici. Favorite usare la busta allegata per mandare il vostro dono di Natale alla parrocchia. La vostra offerta natalizia è necessaria per poter andar incontro alle spese di tutto l’anno. Grazie!

FIORI PER NATALE: Si ricevono ora offerte per fiori che adorneranno la nostra Chiesa durante le feste natalizie. Il prezzo di un vaso e’ di $20 e puo’ essere donato in memoria di un familiare oppure solamente come donazione. Buste apposite si trovano all’entrata della Chiesa e possono essere messe nella colletta regolare.

C’E’ UN ALBERO DEL BAMBINO GESÙ IN CASA ITALIANA: E’ decorato con stelle di carta col nome e l’eta’ di un bambino del Tenament Network, un programma dei Servizi Comunitari Catttolici di Washington. Doni incartati (con attaccato l’ornamento della stella di carta) devono essere messi sotto l’albero di Natale prima di domenica, 20 dicembre. Chi offre un buono bancario deve precisare l’ammontare sulla busta o su l’ornamento. Per ulteriori informazioni, contattare Kathy DiGiacomo o Sharon Hughes, 202.546-0707.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Mark your Calendar!