HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
Washington, DC

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

Bulletin
Sunday, 25 February 2007
First Sunday of Lent

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday, February 25, 2007
9:00 Lucietta Monaco
10:30 Mario & Carmela Pasquini
12:00 Padre Pio Prayer Group
Monday, February 26, 2007
12:05 Michele Ronca
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
12:05 Walter Fuehrlbeck
Wednesday, February 28 2007
12:05 Edoardo Ferriol
Thursday, March 1, 2007
12:05 Piero Cipriani
Friday, March 2, 2007
12:05 Eleanor H. Franke
Saturday, March 3, 2007
11:00 No Mass
Sunday, March 4, 2007
9:00 For the Sick Members of the Sodality of Mary
10:30 Leonardo Sauro
12:00 Dean Calabrese

The collection of February 18 was $2,114.00

LECTORS THIS SUNDAY
9:00 Willie Meaux
10:30 Adriano Romano and Enzo Brunitto
12:00 Alex LoBianco

PRIMA DOMENICA DI QUARESIMA
Gesù digiunò quaranta giorni nel deserto dove fu tentato da Satana. Nel deserto Israele aveva dovuto scegliere: Dio o gli idoli. Scegliendo la parola di Dio, Gesù afferma in che modo egli intende di essere “figlio” di Dio. Venir tentato non è semplicemente rischiare d’essere sedotti dal male; significa essere messi alle strette per una scelta decisiva: o la sicurezza di una vita pianificata, o la fiducia in Dio, senza neppur sapere dove vorrà portarci.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
In today’s readings St. Paul draws on Moses’ last words to the people when he says, “The Word is near you, and in your mouth and in your heart.” In the Gospel story Jesus trades scripture quotes with the devil. Paul invokes the Lord’s name “now” in relation to the Word that saves. And Jesus’ perseverance in the desert looks ahead to his ministry. The story of our salvation is interwoven throughout scripture, and this Lent we can commit ourselves to weaving into our lives.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. - Lk 4:1-2

THE LITURGICAL SEASON OF LENT

Lent is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting, special prayer and almsgiving in preparation for Easter, the feast of all feasts.

• Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2007:
  “They shall look on him whom they have pierced” (Jn.19:37). This is the biblical theme that this year guides our Lenten reflection. Lent is a favorable time to learn to stay with Mary and John close to Him who on the Cross, consummated for all mankind the sacrifice of His life. With a more fervent participation let us direct our gaze, therefore, in this time of penance and prayer, at Christ crucified who, dying on Calvary, revealed fully for us the love of God….
  May Lent be for every Christian a renewed experience of God’s love given to us in Christ, a love that each day we, in turn, must “regive” to our neighbor, especially to the one who suffers most and is in need. Only in this way will we be able to participate fully in the joy of Easter. May Mary, Mother of Beautiful Love, guide us in this Lenten journey, a journey of authentic conversion to the love of Christ. I wish you, dear brothers and sisters, a fruitful Lenten journey, imparting with affection to all of you, a special Apostolic Blessing.”
   

• Archdiocesan Lenten Initiative:
  “The Light is On For You” is an archdiocesan initiative to allow all Catholics to avail themselves of the sacrament of reconciliation. Confession is a wonderful opportunity to set aside our sinful ways and to draw closer to Our Lord. Confessions will be held every Wednesday during Lent from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in every Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Washington.
  “… We might well reflect that the deepest spiritual joy each of us can sense is the freedom from whatever would separate us from God and the restoration of our friendship with so loving and merciful a Father who receives each of us with all the forgiveness and love lavished on the prodigal son. Renewed, refreshed and reconciled in this sacrament, we who have sinned become a “new creation.” Once more we are made new. It is this newness of spirit and soul that I hope all of us experience this Lent.” (Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl)
   

WE WELCOME INTO THE CHURCH Samantha Kay Pizzi, daughter of Matthew Anthony and Donna Marie (Borror) Pizzi, who was baptized in our Church on February 18, 2007.

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO OUR ANNUAL DAY OF RECOLLECTION, sponsored by the Sodality of Mary in conjunction with the Holy Name Society. The Retreat begins TODAY at the noon Mass, followed by a light lunch ($5.00 each). A conference given by Msgr. Francis Tiso, Associate Director of the Committee on Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The day will conclude with Rosary and Benediction in Church at 3:00 pm.

OUR PARISH LENTEN MISSION FROM Monday through Friday, Feb. 26-March 2, consists of a noon Mass with a meditation preached by Franciscan Father Francis Russo. The weekday noon Mass is regularly attended by government workers. All parishioners are welcomed to join them during the Mission.

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

CONFESSIONS will be held Wednesdays during Lent, Feb. 28-April 4, 7:00 P.M.-8:30 P.M. in every Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Washington.

HOLY ROSARY CHURCH FAMILY DAY IDEAS: Holy Rosary is a growing family! All parishioners are asked to help plan and participate in a successful “Family Day.” Examples of ideas would include: a day trip to an amusement park, a baseball game; a dinner theater, or even a picnic! Please give your input to Sergio and Maria Fresco at 301-262.3150 or e-mail: sfresco@hotmail.com by March 18.

LASAGNA DINNER, BAKE SALE & BAZAAR: Holy Rosary Parish Annual Fundraiser will be held at Casa Italiana on Sunday, March 25th from 11:30 A.M. to 4:00 PM. The menu includes homemade lasagna, homemade meatballs, salad, Italian bread, desert, orange drink, coffee & tea. Price: Children 5 & under – Free: children 6-12 $6; adults: $15. All are welcome!

FESTA ITALIANA: Mark your calendar for this year’s Festa Italiana 2007, to be held July 8, 2007, at Casa Italiana and Holy Rosary Church. The Festa this year will feature the delicious food and culture of the Emilia-Romagna Region. The event promises to be an exciting cap to the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Some of the things you will be able to enjoy are authentic Emilia Romagna food, beer, wine and other beverages, gelato, cultural presentations, and entertainment for adults and children. You will also be able to purchase food to enjoy at home. The grand raffle prize will be a beautiful villa for one week in Italy that sleeps 11 people for the winner. There will so be many other fine prizes raffled off. You do not have to be present at the drawing to win.

DIAMO IL BENVENUTO NELLA CHIESA a Samantha Kay Pizzi, figlia di Matthew Anthony e Donna Marie (Borror) Pizzi, che fu battezzata nella nostra Chiesa il 18 febbraio 2007.

TUTTI SONO INVITATI AL NOSTRO RITIRO SPIRITUALE ANNUALE, organizatto dalla Sodality of Mary e la Società del Santo Nome Il ritiro comincia OGGI con la Messsa di mezzogiornoo, seguita da un leggero lunch ($5.00). Una conferenza data da Msgr. Francis Tiso, co-diretttore del Comitato per Affari Ecumenici della Conferenza Americana dei Vescovi Cattolici. Il Ritiro si conclude col Rosario e la Benedizione in Chiesa alle 15:00.

LA MISSIONE QUARESIMALE nella nostra parrocchia avrà luogo da lunedì a venerdì, 26 febbraio – 2 marzo e consiste della Messa a mezzogiorno con predica fatta dal Padre Franciscano Francis Russo. Questa Messa è regolarmente frequentata da impiegati del governo, ma tutti i nostri parrocchiani sono invitati a parteciparvi.

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

CONFESSIONI saranno ascoltate tutti i mercoledì della quaresima dalle ore 19 alle ore 20:30 in tutte le chiese dell’arcidiocesi di Washington.

I VOSTRI SUGGERIMENTI PER UNA GIORNATA DELLA FAMIGLIA: Tutti i parrocchiani sono invitati a inviare i loro suggerimenti di come organizzare una “Giornata della Famiglia” (per esempio, una gita a un amusement park, una partita di basesball, cena e teatro, un picnic, etc.) a Sergio e Maria Fresco, 301-262.3150 or e-mail: sfressco@hotmail.com entro il 18 marzo.

IL PRANZO DELLA LASAGNA & BAZAAR: Questo popolare evento annuale della Parrocchia del Santo Rosario avrà luogo Domenica, 25 marzo dalle 11:30 fino alle 16.
Il cibo squisito è tutto fatto in casa e i prezzi sono modici: bimbi sotto i 5 anni: gratis; Babini tra i 6 e 12 anni: $6; adulti: $15! Tutti sono benvenuti!


FESTA ITALIANA: Segnate il vostro calendario per la Festa Italiana 2007 che si terrà l’8 luglio 2007 a Casa Italiana e nella Chiesa del Santo Rosario. La Festa quest’anno metterà in risalto i deliziosi cibi e la cultura della regione Emilia Romagna. Tra le cose che si potranno godere saranno cibi autentici dell’Emilia Romagna, birra, vini e altre bevande, gelato, presentazioni culturali e divertimenti per adulti e bambini. Si potrà anche comprare cibi da portar via. Il grande premio della lotteria sarà una Villa in Italia per una settimana che può acccomodare undici persone. Altri premi interessanti saranno pure sorteggiati. I vincitori non devono essere presenti al sorteggio.