HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
Washington, DC

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

Bulletin
Sunday, 29 November 2009
First Sunday of Advent

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday, November 29, 2009 – First Sunday of Advent
9:00 St. Gabriel Society
10:30 Umberto Gambone
12:00 Bruna Lancellotti
Monday, November 30, 2009 – St. Andrew, Apostle
12:05 Antonia D’Ascoli & Giuseppe D’Ascoli
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 – Advent Weekday
12:05 Macia & Michelutti Families
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 – Advent Weekday
12:05 Ponfilio Ventresca
Thursday, December 3, 2009 – St. Francis Xavier
12:05 Famiglie Carannante & Lubrano
Friday, December 4, 2009 – First Friday
12:05 Giuseppe & Margherita Mariggio
Saturday, December 5, 2009 – Advent Weekday
No Mass
Sunday, December 6, 2009 – Second Sunday of Advent
9:00 Aldo Polles
10:30 Dean Calabrese
12:00 Leonardo & Fiorentina Cascioli

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

 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The season of Advent celebrates three comings of Christ: his first coming in human history, his coming to us in sacramental mystery, and his final coming in divine majesty. Our waiting for the festival of Christmas serves to deepen our preparation for Christ’s return in glory. But Advent is also God’s time to waiting. God waits for us to prepare our hearts for the coming of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, in the Eucharist of Christmas and at the end of time.

Advent is an opportunity to renew ourselves as God’s dwelling place. This is the task that God inspires and brings to fulfillment on the way to Christmas.

PRIMA DOMENICA DI AVVENTO

Vegliare è la parola d’ordine del Signore. Ma la vigilanza che richiede non è più quella che gli antichi profeti reclamavano. Noi non dobbiamo più sognare un paradiso perduto nè un avvenire lontano: il regno di Dio è già qui. Vegliare significa leggere il presente e scoprirvi l’eternità. Si può essere attenti a tutto; ma vi è sempre qualcosa d’inatteso; si è sempre un pò addormentati e alienati. Il regno di Dio si trova spesso dove noi, nella nostra povera saggezza umana, non avevamo previsto.

"Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." - Lk 21:36

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Readings for the Week of 29 November 2009
Sunday: Jer 33:14-16/1 Thes 3:12---4:2/Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Monday: Rom 10:9-18/Mt 4:18-22
Tuesday: Is 11:1-10/Lk 10:21-24
Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a/Mt 15:29-37
Thursday: Is 26:1-6/Mt 7:21, 24-27
Friday: Is 29:17-24/Mt 9:27-31
Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26/Mt 9:35---10:1, 5a, 6-8
Next Sunday: Bar 5:1-9/Phil 1:4-6, 8-11/Lk 3:1-6

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HOW TO CELEBRATE ADVENT

Advent is the season in which we prepare for the great celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. During these four weeks, we are invited to contemplate the richness of God’s gift to us in Christ, as we, along with the entire Church:

• Wait: We remember humanity waiting for the coming of the Savior. We wait and pray for the second coming of Jesus as our Lord and Judge.
• Convert: We examine our lives and listen to the call of John the Baptist, to make the ways of our hearts ready for forgiveness and love.
• Hope: We remember how God has fulfilled his promises in the grace and salvation through Jesus, and we pray and celebrate in hope for ourselves and for all God has made.

We mark the time leading up to Christmas with the Advent wreath – a circle of evergreen symbolizing God’s eternal love – which holds four candles, three violet (the traditional penitential color) and one pink (symbolizing joy). As we light the four candles one by one, we’re reminded of how God’s light has gradually illumined the world’s darkness through history, culminating in Jesus, the light of the world and the Sun of Justice.

Unfortunately, the Advent journey to hope can often be overshadowed by repeated trips to the mall! Pressure to celebrate Christmas according to the norms of the secular culture can be enormous. But however we deal with this pressure, it’s important to do whatever we can to live out Advent as fully as we can; Christmas is all but empty if we have not really let our hearts be formed by the profound realities of waiting, expectation, repentance, and hope.

WE WELCOME INTO THE CHURCH Harold Richard Brent Kennedy, Jr., son of Harold Richard Brent and Rosemary Cecilia (Pellegrino) Kennedy; and Jessica Pearl Skinner, daughter of Daniel and Anna (Flaim) Skinner, who were baptized in our Church on Sunday, November 22, 2009.

THE SECOND COLLECTION NEXT SUNDAY is for the Restoration Fund. Our next ambitious project is the renovation of the Lower Church Hall.

WE WELCOME Father Crescencio Balino of Cross International Catholic Outreach who is speaking today at all Masses on behalf of the poor in developing countries. This ministry was founded to create a meaningful link between parishes in America and the priests and nuns working in the Church overseas in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Please be generous in your response to Father’s appeal. Brochures will be provided if you wish to support this worthy Catholic ministry.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION: Holy Rosary Church is resuming its course for Adult Faith Formation TODAY from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. The course is coordinated by Ron Maturani and moderated by Father John Rossi. All adults are most welcome to attend.

CHRISTMAS DINNER: The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception will provide meals for those who are alone this Christmas and those who are in need: The National Shrine Cafeteria (400 Michigan Ave., NE), Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 12:15-2:30 PM.

If you know of individuals who cannot get out and would like a Christmas dinner delivered to their home on Christmas Day, please call (202) 526-8300 x101 or fax your request to (202) 526-8313, Attention: Christmas Dinner, by Thursday, December 10, 2009.
Driver volunteers call (202) 526-8300.

A WORLD OF THANKS to Nick Ferrante and Vince Marinucci for their professional tile work during the recent renovation of Casa Italiana kitchen.

LEAVE A LEGACY: Your church has been there for you throughout your lifetime; you can be there for your church’s future. Leaving a bequest in your will to the Church allows you to leave your legacy to an institution that has meant so much to you and thousands of others. Bequests permit you to make a gift without any loss of comfort or security during your lifetime, while allowing you to take advantage of estate tax savings.

DIAMO IL BENVENUTO NELLA CHIESA a Harold Richard Brent Kennedy, Jr., figlio di Harold Richard Brent e Rosemary Cecilia (Pellegrino) Kennedy; e Jessica Pearl Skinner, figlia di Daniel e Anna (Flaim) Skinner, che sono stati battezzati nella nostra Chiesa domenica, 22 novembre, 2009.

LA SECONDA COLLETTA la settimana prossima sarà per il Fondo Restauri. Il nostro prossimo ambizioso progetto è il rinnovamento della sala sotto la Chiesa.

DIAMO IL NOSTRO BENVENUTO a Padre Crescencio Balino di Cross Internatioinal Catholic Outreach che predicherà oggi a tutte le Messe in favore dei poveri nei paesi sottosviluppati. Questo ministero fu fondato per creare un rapporto positivo tra parrocchie in America e sacerdoti e suore che lavorano nella Chiesa all’estero nei Caraibi, Africa, Asia, Sud e Centro America. Siete pregati di rispondere generosamente all’appello del Padre. Volantini saranno distribuiti a quanti desiderano sostenere questo lodevole ministero cattolico.

ISTRUZIONE RELIGIOSA PER ADULTI: La Chiesa del Santo Rosario resume OGGI il corso di istruzione religiosa per adulti dalle 10:30 alle 11:30. Il corso è coordinato da Ron Maturani e moderato da Padre John Rossi. Tutti gli adulti sono benvenuti.

PRANZO DI NATALE: La Basilica del Santuario Nazionale dell’Immacolata Concezione provvederà pranzi per coloro che sono soli questo Natale o che sono bisognosi: The National Shrine Cafeteria (400 Michigan Ave., NE), Christmas Day, December 25, 12:15-14:30.

Se conoscete individui che non possono muoversi e che vorrebbero ricevere il pranzo di Natale nella loro abitazione, favorite chiamare (202) 526-8300 x101 o fax la vostra richiesta a (202) 526-8313, Attention: Christmas Dinner, prima di Giovedì, 10 dicembre. Autisti volontari chiamare (202) 526-8300.

TANTISSIME GRAZIE a Nick Ferrante e Vince Marinucci per il loro lavoro professionale di piastrelle durante il recente rinnovamento della cucina in Casa Italiana.

ASSICURATI UN’EREDITÀ: La Chiesa è stata lì per te per tutta la tua vita. Tu puoi essere lì per la tua chiesa nel futuro. Lasciando un lascito nel tuo testament alla tua Chiesa ti permette di lasciare la tua eredità a una istituzione che significa così tanto a te e a migliaia di persone. Lasciti ti permettono di fare un regalo senza nessuna perdita durante la tua vita mentre ti permettono di evitare tasse sulla tua proprietà.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: Mark your Calendar!