HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
Washington, DC

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

Bulletin
Sunday, 22 March 2009
The Fourth Sunday in Lent

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

March 22, 2009 – Fourth Sunday of Lent
9:00 Vittorio Puglisi
10:30 Antonio & Maria Falcone
12:00 Joseph Malia
Monday, March 23, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Ponfilio Ventresca
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Michele Ronca
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 – Annunciation of the Lord
12:05 Maria Orlando
Thursday, March 26, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Pasquale Carannante
Friday, March 27, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
12:05 Ponfilio Ventresca
Saturday, March 28, 2009 – Lenten Weekday
11:00 Mass - Padre Pio Prayer Group
1:30 Wedding Joseph Barrie & Christina Cassarella
March 29, 2009 – Fifth Sunday of Lent
9:00 The Gervasio Family
10:30 Ennio DeBandi
12:00 Isidoro, Liduina, & Oliva Flaim

The collection for Sunday, March 15th was $2,422.00

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

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as Laetare Sunday-laetare is Latin for “joy.’ In a season of fasting, prayer, and abstinence, it’s easy to forget that one of the liturgical prayers for Lent thanks God, saying, “Each year you give us this joyful season.” The Lenten project recalls the fact that God chooses to restore, heal, forgive, raise up, and save rather than what we might expect: punish for sin. God’s plan is “that the world might be saved through Christ.” All of Lent, then, is not our making up for the sins of the past (they are forgiven), nor persuading God to love us (we are loved beyond all telling), but a joyful preparation to celebrate and take in the freedom Christ has won for us. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God.”

QUARTA DOMENICA DI QUARESIMA
Nicodermo come tutti gli ebrei attendeva nel messia, l’uomo forte che avrebbe fatto giustizia e giudicato il mondo con potenza. Ma Gesù si presenta come un messia che accetta di essere giudicato anzichè giudicare; che viene dal cielo a salvare, non a condannare. Il giudizio vero, quello valido, non viene dal di fuori, neppure dalla chiesa, ma dal rapporto che ciascuno ha con la verità di Dio, ed è un rapporto personale, silenzioso, sconosciuto agli altri e alle istituzioni.

"For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God." - Jn 3:20-21

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Readings for the Week of 22 March 2009
Sunday: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23/Eph 2:4-10/Jn 3:14-21
Monday: Is 65:17-21/Jn 4:43-54
Tuesday: Ez 47:1-9, 12/Jn 5:1-16
Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/ Lk 1:26-38 (Annunciation)
Thursday: Ex 32:7-14/Jn 5:31-47
Friday: Wis 2:1a, 12-22/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Saturday: Jer 11:18-20/Jn 7:40-53
Next Sunday: Jer 31:31-34/Heb 5:7-9/Jn 12:20-33

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REAL FAITH IN A REAL WORLD

The role of religion in the public square has been sharply disputed by liberals and conservatives. Archbishop Chaput of Denver lamented that the Church in the United States has done a poor job in forming the faith and conscience of Catholics for more than 40 years, and accused non-practicing Democratic-friendly Catholic writers, scholars, editors and activists of a spirit of adulation boarding on servility in voting for the new President.

It is true that American voters did not give President Obama a mandate to retool American culture on the issues of marriage and the family, sexuality, bioethics, religion in public life and abortion. But it is also true, stated Archbishop Martin of Dublin, that “Faith cannot be imposed. Faith must be nurtured and protected but within real life. Faith cannot be relegated to the protective atmosphere of an isolated glasshouse. In today’s world a strong faith can only develop within the public square in a challenging debate and dialogue with the realities of life and progress, with the physical and human sciences, and indeed with the concrete realities and experiences of individuals and the interactions of individuals who make up society.”

The future of religion in the public square would be compromised if faith becomes an ideology. The danger is that the church might be tempted by a widely secularized society to being a type of religious veneer, a church which speaks of God but which would be tolerant of everything, a ‘feel-good religion.’

Jesus did not come to make people feel good but to challenge them about the good and the truth. The church’s greatest contribution to the world of Caesar will come through it being authentic and demanding and uncompromising in its presentation of the things of God.

WE WELCOME INTO THE CHURCH Anthony Vincent and Cristina Elizabeth Russo, children of Vincent Donald and Francesca (DiClemente) Russo, who were baptized in our church on Sunday, March 15, 2009.

ALL FRIDAYS OF LENT are days of abstinence. Catholics, 14 and over, must not eat meat as a form of penance.

THE ADULT FAITH FORMATION CLASS conducted by Deacon John Rossi, is held every Sunday from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. in the School Annex Lounge. All are welcome!

DO I KNOW ANYONE TO INVITE TO MASS? Think about it! You probably do: a friend who has had a rough time lately and is feeling alone; a sibling who stopped going to Mass; a neighbor or colleague who says he’s just gotten too busy; your spouse or child. Just pass-along Archbishop Wuerl’s invitation, available in the back of church and online at www.maybe-its-God.org, or quietly tell them you have found a great parish and would like them to come with you sometime. This Lent may be just the opportunity you and they have been waiting for!

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 and 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!

ANNUAL JUBILARIAN MASS: The annual Jubilarian celebration of marriage honoring couples married 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 50+ years will be held Sunday, June 7, 2009, 2 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Archbishop Wuerl will be the celebrant. Please call the parish office or use the sign up forms in the back of the church to register. Names of Jubilarians need to be turned in to the Archdiocese before April 27, 2009.

DIAMO IL BENVENUTO NELLA CHIESA a Anthony Vincent e Cristina Elizabeth Russo, figli di Vincent Donald e Francesca (DiClemente) Russo, che sono stati battezzati nella nostra chiesa il 15 marzo, 2009.

TUTTI I VENERDI DI QUARESIMA sono giorni di astinenza. Cattolici di 14 in sù devono astenersi dal mangiare carne come una forma di penitenza.

LA CLASSE DI RELIGIONE PER ADULTI sarà dopo la Messa delle 9.00 nell’Annex di Casa Italiana. Tutti sono invitati.

CONOSCO NESSUNO CHE POSSO INVITARE A MESSA? Molto probabilmente conosci qualcuno: un amico che recentamente è stato duramente provato; un parente che ha cessato di andare a Messa: un vicino o un collega che dice di essere troppo occupato; il tuo sposo o figlio. Presenta l’invito dell’Acivescovo che si trova nel retro della chiesa o nell’internet, www.maybe-its-God.org, o con calma dì loro che hai trovato una parrocchia ideale e che ti farebbe piacere se venissero con te qualche volta. Questa quaresima potrebbe essere l’opportunità che aspettavano!

IL PRANZO DELLA LASAGNA & BAZAAR: Questo popolare evento annuale della parrocchia del Santo Rosario avrà luogo domenica, 29 marzo, dalle 11.30 alle 16.00. Il menu include lasagne e polpette fatte in casa, insalata, pane italiano, dolce, bibite, caffè e te. I prezzi sono modici: bimbi sotto i cinque anni: gratis; bambini tra i sei e dodici anni: $8.00; adulti: per biglietti comprati prima, $17.00: per i biglietti comprati alla porta, $20.00 Tutti sono benvenuti!

MESSA GIUBILARE ANNUALE: La celebrazione giubilare annuale del matrimonio che onora coppie sposate 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, e 50+ anni avrà luogo domenica 7 giugno, 2009 alle ore 14:00 nella Basilica del Santuario Nazionale dell’Immacolata Concezione. Il celebrante sarà l’Arcivescovo Wuerl. Per favore chiamate l’ufficio parrocchiale o usate gli appositi formulari all’entrata della chiesa per registrarvi. I nomi dei giubilari devono pervenire all’Arcidiocesi prima del 27 aprile, 2009.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Mark your Calendar!