HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
Washington, DC

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

Bulletin
Sunday, 1 March 2009
The First Sunday in Lent

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

March 1, 2009 – First Sunday in Lent
9:00 Carmela Puglisi
10:30 Dean Calabrese
12:00 Antonia Sciarra
Monday, March 2, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Carannante & Lubrano Famiglie
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Ponfilio Ventresca
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Leonardo Sauro
Thursday, March 5, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Sebastiano Suffoletta
Friday, March 6, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Saint Maria Goretti
Saturday, March 7, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
4:00 Wedding of Michael Burrill & Giuseppina-
Alessandra Spadafora
March 8, 2009 – Second Sunday in Lent
9:00 Living Members of the Holy Name Society
10:30 Umberto & Erminia Romano
12:00 Nicolangelo & Carmela Pasquini

The collection for Sunday, February 22nd was $2,512.00

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

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

The covenant that is described in today’s first reading is between God and us and all of creation. God pledges divine loyalty forever and requires our loyalty in return. Our response to the covenant is to follow the “ways of the Lord” described in the responsorial psalm.
God assures us that we can always count on God’s friendship and loyalty. God’s willingness to be loyal to the covenant led to Christ’s death on the cross. Our part of the covenant is to be loyal to our baptismal promises as God’s people.

PRIMA DOMENICA DI QUARESIMA

Appena investito della sua missione, Gesu’ si ritira nel deserto e si misura con Satana. Il suo ministero sara’ caratterizzato da una serie di ritiri. Il suo precursore, dopo averlo indicato alle folle, viene condannato a morte, e Gesu’ si assume tutti i rischi del cambio di guardia. Lo Spirito lo annuncia come il “servo” di Isaia, la cui vita sara’ offerta in sacrificio per la salvezza di tutti.

 

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." - Mk 1:14-15

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Readings for the Week of 1 March 2009
Sunday: Gn 9:8-15/1 Pt 3:18-22/Mk 1:12-15
Monday: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/ Mt 25:31-46
Tuesday: Is 55:10-11/ Mt 6:7-15
Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10/Lk 11:29-32
Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Mt 7:7-12
Friday: Ez 18:21-28/Mt 5:20-26
Saturday: Dt 26:16-19/Mt 5:43-48
Next Sunday: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/ Rom 8:31b-34/Mk 9:2-10

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INACTIVE CATHOLICS ARE INVITED TO RECONNECT

According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University in Washington, only 23 percent of adult Catholics in the United States attend Mass once a week or more often; 32 percent of Catholics rarely or never attend Mass, and 24 percent attend only a few times a year.

This Lent and Easter, inactive Catholics across the Archdiocese of Washington are invited to reconnect with their Catholic faith, to come back to the spiritual home of the Church and celebrate Mass on Sunday. In his pastoral letter, “Belonging to God’s Family,” Archbishop Wuerl informs us that we “may see over the next few weeks billboards and signs across the Archdiocese that read, “What are you longing for? Maybe it’s God.” With these advertisements we want to remind ourselves that we are all always longing for God, and that the search for fulfillment and peace ends only in God.

“Each one of us knows someone, perhaps many, who have simply drifted away from the practice of the faith. They might be members of our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, people we regularly meet and deal with in all types of situations. To be a Catholic is to share the joy of our faith with them by inviting them once again to reconnect with their Church and with the life-giving sacraments.”

Starting this Sunday and continuing throughout this holy season of Lent, invitations will be available for you to take with you after Mass. They are meant for you to give to inactive Catholics with a simple message, “If you have been away, please come back. You are an important part of our family and we miss you.”

May this Lenten season be a time of fruitful and caring outreach to those we know and whom we invite back to a place at the Eucharistic table to share richly in God’s great love.

WE WELCOME INTO THE CHURCH Antonio Michael Iarossi, son of Giuseppe and Izabella (Khachikyan) Iarossi, who was baptized in our Church on Saturday, February 21, 2009; and Lucia Casella Gillin, daughter of Kevin Galway Gillin and Susan (Elter) Gillin, who was baptized in our Church on February 22, 2009.

THE SECOND COLLECTION TODAY is for the Renovation Fund. This money will be used to upgrade Casa Italiana and the Church Hall. Thank you for your support.

PARISH MISSION: March 2 - 6, 2009, preached by Father Francis Tiso, Ph.D., associate director of the Committee on Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, at the weekday 12:05 p.m. Mass. All parishioners and friends are invited.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO JOIN US AT MASS?
Faith is a shared experience. This week, Archbishop Wuerl’s new pastoral letter reminds us that our Faith family, like all families, doesn’t feel complete when one member is missing. In fact, many studies show that one reason people have a hard time returning to church is that they feel that they were never missed. Let them know that they are welcome by giving them one of the invitations available at the back of the church. For more information, visit www.maybe-its-God.org or pick up this week’s Catholic Standard to read Archbishop Wuerl’s new pastoral letter, Belonging to God’s Family.

2009 ARCHBISHOP’S APPEAL: As you know, this is the time of the year that we are asked to offer our financial assistance to support the work of the Archdiocese of Washington by responding to the annual Archbishop’s Appeal. We want to thank all those who have responded by mail or during our in-pew solicitation Sunday. If you did not receive a pledge form, you can find pledge envelopes and pencils at the Church entrance. It is essential that ALL active households in our community participate in order for us to reach our 2009 Parish goal of $15,668.70. Please prayerfully consider a pledge to the 2009 Archbishop’s Appeal.

LASAGNA DINNER, BAKE SALE & BAZAAR: Holy Rosary Parish Annual fundraiser will be held at Casa Italiana on Sunday, March 29th from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The menu includes homemade lasagna, homemade meatballs, salad, Italian bread, desert, orange drink, coffee & tea. Price: Children 5 & under: Free; 6-12: $8.00. Adults: for tickets sold in advance: $17.00; at the door: $20.00. For further information, call Gay Ferrante at (301)384-0985. All are welcome!

THE SECOND COLLECTION NEXT SUNDAY is for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. The Catholic Church in these areas is still recuperating after many years of persecution under communist rule. Please, be generous.

DIAMO IL BENVENUTO NELLA CHIESA ad Antonio Michael Iarossi, figlio di Giuseppe e Izabella (Khachikyan) Iarossi che fu battezzato nella nostra chiesa Sabato 21 febbraio 2009; e Lucia Casella Gillin, figlia di Kevin Galway e Susan (Elter) Gillin, che fu battezzata nella nostra chiesa il 22 febbraio 2009.

LA SECONDA COLLETTA OGGI è per il fondo restauri. Questi soldi sono usati per il restauro di Casa Italiana e la sala della chiesa. Grazie per vostra generosità.

MISSIONE QUARESIMALE: 2 – 6 marzo, 2009, predicata da Padre Francis Tiso, Ph.D., co-direttore del Comitato per gli Affari Ecumenici e Inter-religiosi della Conferenza Episcopale Americana, alla Messa feriale delle 12:05 p.m. Tutti i nostri parrocchiani e amici sono invitati.

PERCHÈ È IMPORTANTE INVITARE PERSONE A UNIRSI A NOI PER LA MESSA?
La fede è una esperienza participata. Questa settimana, l’Arcivescovo Wuerl nella sua ultima lettera pastorale ci ricorda che la nostra famiglia di fede, come tutte le famiglie, non è completa quando un membro è assente. Tanti studi indicano che una ragione che la gente trova difficile ritornare in chiesa è che non si sente la loro mancanza. Informateli che sono benvenuti dando loro un invito che si trova all’entrata della chiesa. Per ulteriore informazione visitate www.maybe-its-God.org o prendete copia del giornale cattolico di questa settimana e leggete la nuova lettera pastorale dell’Arcivescovo Wuerl, “Appartenendo alla Famiglia di Dio”.

APPELLO DELL’ARCIVESCOVO 2009: Come sapete, ora è il tempo quando ci si richiede di contribuire all’Appello dell’ Arcivescovo, i cui fondi sono necessari per il lavoro dell’ Arcidiocesi di Washington. Il nostro grazie a quanti hanno già contribuito o hanno promesso di contribuire. Se non avete la forma per rispondere all’Appello, buste speciali si trovano all’ entrata della chiesa. Quello che è essenziale è che TUTTE le famiglie della nostra parrocchia partecipino in modo di raggiungere la somma assegnata quest’anno alla nostra parrocchia di $12,668.70. Favorite considerare una donazione all’Appello dell’Arcivescovo.

IL PRANZO DELLA LASAGNA & BAZAAR: Questo popolare evento annuale della parrocchia del Santo Rosario avrà luogo domenica, 29 marzo, 11.30 alle 16.00. Il cibo squisito è tutto fatto in casa e i prezzi sono modici: bimbi sotto i 5 anni: gratis; bambini tra i 6 e dodici anni: $8; adulti: per biglietti comprati prima, $17: per i biglietti comprati alla porta, $20. Tutti sono benvenuti!

LA SECONDA COLLETTA LA PROSSIMA DOMENICA è per l’aiuto alla chiesa in Europa Centrale e Orientale. La chiesa Cattolica in quest’area è ancora in fase di ricupero dopo tanti anni di persecuzione sotto il comunismo.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Mark your Calendar!