Mass Times ~ Presider Schedule. Inside This Issue December 14, This Weekend

Transcription

1 Mass Times ~ Presider Schedule Saturday, December 13 5:30 p.m. ~ Father Justin Sunday, December 14 7:30 a.m. ~ Father Ron 9:00 a.m.*~ Father D Silva 10:30 a.m. ~ Father D Silva (Church) 10:30 a.m. ~ Father Ron (Gym) 12:30 p.m. ~ Father Justin 5:30 p.m. ~ Father Justin *American Sign Language interpreted Mass Weekday & Saturday Masses Monday - Friday: 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m., 11 a.m. Filipino Mass in Tagalog every 4th Sunday at 4 p.m. Holy Day Masses Eve of the Feast: 5:30 p.m. Day of the Feast: 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Adoration Of The Blessed Sacrament* Exposition: Monday-Friday, 3-5:15 p.m., in the church Thursday before first Friday of each month, 6-8 p.m., with Holy Hour from 7-8 p.m. *No adoration on federal holidays Saturday, December 20 ~ Father O Sunday, December 21 ~ Father D Silva ~ Father Ron ~ Father Ron ~ Father Justin ~ Father O ~ Father D Silva Inside This Issue December 14, 2014 Blessed Sacrament s Christmas Tree Sale 3 Family Movies For Advent + Christmas 4 Parish Penance Service This Monday 5 Parish Council + Commissions Reports 6 This Weekend 3630 Quesada Street, NW Washington, D.C Phone Fax Blessed Sacrament School 5841 Chevy Chase Parkway, NW Washington, D.C Second Collection For the Retirement Fund for Senior Religious, which supports the day-to-day care of thousands of elder sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Collection By Little Sisters Of The Poor The Sisters will be at the doors of the church after each Mass to accept voluntary gifts of support. Thank you for your kindness to them. Second Sunday Lecture Series Continues Sunday, 9 a.m. in the parish chapel; refreshments at 8:30 a.m. in the parish center on the main level. Talking Past Each Other: The Church in Dialogue with the Modern World will be presented by Father Justin Huber. Father Justin s presentation will explore the answers to the perplexing question: Why do the Church and world have such a hard time understanding one another? Host and Chalice Ornament Sale Sunday, after the 9, 10:30, and 12:30 Masses in the parish center. Second in a series of ornaments commissioned by the Sanctuary Sodality, these ornaments are beautiful representations of our church s stained glass windows. The cost is $20. Giving Tree Gift Collection Sunday, after all Masses. If you took a star for the Giving Tree Program, please drop off your gift in the school auditorium Sunday. All gifts must be received by 2 p.m. Sunday.

2 Third Sunday of Advent Pastoral Staff Rev. Ronald A. Potts, Pastor Rev. Justin Huber, Parochial Vicar Rev. Msgr. Maurice V. O Connell, Retired Priest moconnell@blessedsacramentdc.org Rev. Percival L. D Silva, Retired Priest pdsilva@blessedsacramentdc.org Deacon Donald Mays dmays@blessedsacramentdc.org Assistants on Weekends Rev. Regis Armstrong, OFM Cap, Catholic University Seminarian Deacon David Kruse, Theological College dmgkruse@gmail.com Seminarian Cody Ford, Theological College codycford@gmail.com Duffy Parish Center Main Office (Monday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) In an Emergency , Ext (to page priest on duty) Facilities Pius X Library Ray Manning Adult Center Mr. John Navolio, Business Manager , jnavolio@blessedsacramentdc.org Mr. Jay Rader, Director of Liturgy and Music , jayrader@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Therese Recinella, Director of Religious Education , trecinella@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Rosalie Days, Sacramental Preparation Coordinator , rdays@blessedsacramentdc.org Mrs. Patricia Kavanaugh, Social Concerns Minister , pkavanaugh@blessedsacramentdc.org (Office open Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., and by appointment) Ms. Emma Voelzke, Special Needs Coordinator , evoelzke@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Kathy Gillespie, Director of CYO , kgillespie@blessedsacramentdc.org Blessed Sacrament School Mr. Chris Kelly, Principal , ckelly@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Nancy Ryan, Director of Admissions , Ext. 6110, nryan@blessedsacramentdc.org Sacraments Baptism Baptismal preparation is required of all parents prior to the baptism of their child. We recommend preparation take place before the child is born. For more info: Father O, moconnell@blessedsacramentdc.org or Matrimony All couples who are to be married at Blessed Sacrament must complete our parish marriage preparation program. Please contact one of the parish priests six months in advance of your marriage date. Reconciliation Friday and Saturday after the 11 a.m. Mass (if no funeral); Saturday, 4-5 p.m. and after the 5:30 p.m. Mass, or anytime by appointment. Parish Services & Information Care Of The Sick & Homebound If you or someone you know is hospitalized or homebound and would like a priest to visit, contact the parish office at New Parishioners Welcome to Blessed Sacrament! Please register by stopping in at the parish office, located in the Duffy parish center, and filling out a registration form. Forms also available in the pamphlet rack at the Quesada Street entrance to the church and on the parish website. Bulletin Announcements Due 10 a.m. Send announcements to: bulletin@blessedsacramentdc.org. Newsletter Content Send articles, photos and other content to: newsletter@blessedsacramentdc.org. Website Postings Send requests for postings for the Blessed Sacrament Parish website to: website@blessedsacramentdc.org. Church Bulletin Boards The parish secretary maintains the church bulletin boards. Please drop off any flyers for posting to Joan Ward in the parish office, Duffy parish center. Inclement Weather Policy The parish center/office follows Montgomery County Schools for delays and closings. All evening activities are cancelled those days the schools are closed. Pastor s Column Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete comes from the Latin word, gaudere, to rejoice. We are at the midpoint of our Advent season and the theme of our readings is one of joy. In today s first reading from the Prophet Isaiah, we find two passages: the announcement of the prophet sent by God to bring good news to the poor and to proclaim a year of favor. The Hebrew word for poor means bowed down, an attitude of humble submission. God s people are in Exile and are about to be freed. They have stood before God, whose benevolence and kindness they recognize, whose mystery they adore, and for whom they have awaited with utter confidence. It is the cry of these poor the persecuted, afflicted, and unfortunate that has been heard. As friends and servants of God, they have been pardoned for their iniquities and reassured that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. As they are rescued by God, they are filled with joy. God s people are no longer strangers held captive in a strange land but are ready to return to their home. For this reason, the images of the robe of salvation, mantle of justice, diadem, and jewels are used to describe the restoration of their dignity and as they return to their homeland. In St. Paul s first letter to the Thessalonians, we find the exhortation, Rejoice always. Paul in no way diminishes the sorrow and anguish of our lives but he speaks of one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: joy. Christian joy is rooted in hope, and is indestructible even in the midst of suffering. Paul admonishes us to, Pray without ceasing. It is an easy step to go from constant joy to constant prayer, and vice versa, because the one is based in the confidence and hope that the other expresses. Paul also teaches us to, Refrain from every kind of evil. He recognizes the call to Christian holiness is comprised of works of charity, joy, and prayer. This sanctification requires us to cooperate with the grace that God gives to us. True joy flows from living our lives as God has commanded us: by loving Him and our neighbor nothing more, nothing less. In our reading from the Gospel of John, we find John being interrogated about who he is by the priests and Levites sent by the authorities in Jerusalem. He quotes the Prophet Isaiah, I am the voice crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord. Thus he is placed in Rose stained glass window in the relation to someone else, whose cathedral of Notre Dame de Pari Source of Image: servant-precursor he is Jesus. John acted as an authentic precursor: he prepared himself through prayer and fasting to recognize and receive the Lord, while allowing the Lord to reveal Himself. We admire and strive for the humility exemplified by John to allow Christ to increase in us while we with our own selfishness and self interests decrease. As we celebrate the joy of this Sunday, may we deepen our prayer life and draw closer to the Lord Jesus and reduce the distance that always exists between the little that we are and all that God has in store and prepares for us. God bless you, Father Ron 2

3 Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament December 14, 2014 Youth Corner Question For The Week John tried to help people prepare their lives for the coming of the Messiah. What do you need to change about your life to be ready for Jesus coming? (Source: Poor Box Donations Donations collected during the month of December will benefit Christ House, a facility that provides comprehensive medical care for sick, homeless men and women. Patients also receive case management, addictions treatment, and pastoral care. In addition, Christ House offers permanent housing to formerly homeless men with chronic illnesses. Blessed Sacrament s Christmas Tree Sale Now Underway Your purchases will help Blessed Sacrament support a wide variety of worthy causes in the parish and the community. The sale is open 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. Play Reading This Week Tuesday, December 16, 7:00 p.m. The Long Christmas Dinner by Thornton Wilder is the choice for this month s play reading in the parish library. One family s holiday over ninety years takes place in just one act and the generations appear from young adulthood to old age. It s a subtle blend of humor and pathos in which we ll all participate, with wine and a discussion led by John Dluhy to celebrate this brilliant play. For more information, call Robert Andary Theresa Szot Anderson Al Andreine Marty DePoy Liz Egloff School News Admissions Deadlines Current Blessed Sacrament School parents: the deadline for admissions of siblings to the school is December 19, The deadline for new students who are not siblings is January 16, If you have any questions about admissions, please contact Nancy Ryan at nryan@blessedsacramentdc.org. Blessed Sacrament Gym Mass Christmas Pageant The pageant will take place at the 4 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve in the gym. All children of the parish are welcome to participate. There are two mandatory rehearsals: Saturday, December 20, 9:30 a.m. and Sunday, December 21, after the 10:30 Mass. Contact: Linda Pietrucha at urbanmef@gmail.com. Share Your Nativity Set Would you like to share your nativity set with parishioners and friends at Epiphany? The library will again have an Epiphany open day, January 3-4, to highlight how craftsmen from different parts of the world have told the Christmas story. Please loan your crèche! Bring it to the library on the second floor of the parish center any time after Christmas with your name and where it comes from. For further information, call Please include our sick in your prayers that they may experience healing and comfort Mike Gretschel Marian Fleming Judith Ann Szot Janice Thompson Hope Elena Katz-Zogby Faith Formation School Of Religion Christmas and New Year Break: December 21/23 and 28/30. School of Religion classes resume January 4/6, Adult Confirmation Preparation for adult Confirmation at The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Pentecost Sunday will take place after Easter: April 12, 19, and 26, 2015; 10:30 a.m. to noon in the parish center library. Registration is required. The registration deadline is March 26, For more information, contact Therese Recinella at /trecinella@blessedsacramentdc.org. Sunday Readings/Questions For Reflection... from the Faith Formation Commission Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11: Sinful as we sometimes are, Pope Francis says our main purpose as Church is to live and bear witness to Jesus... bring glad tidings to the poor... set at liberty those who are oppressed.... Discuss how you might do that in crisis areas like Ferguson, MO, a suburb of St. Louis, and in the Sudan where there is little clean water. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24: How can you ensure actively that the Spirit has opportunities to work in you? How can anyone rejoice always when they are suffering? Do you know people who seem to do that? Do you find that all things work together for you if you love God? Could that be a response to Paul s pray without ceasing? John 1:6-8, 19-28: In the First Reading The Lord sends Isaiah with a message. In the Gospel God sends John to testify to the light of Christ. Does God send you? How can you testify to the light in some way? (Source: Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University) Alternative Gift Giving List: Give The Gift Of Sharing The alternative gift giving list designates organizations identified by the Social Services office at Blessed Sacrament who have specific needs. Copies of the 2014 list are available in the parish center and at the church entrances. Donate by December 19. Questions? Contact Michele Bowe: or Michele.bowe@verizon.net. Did You Know?? The DisAbilities Ministry will hold an Epiphany Prayer Service on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the parish center. This quiet, reflective prayer service is designed for people with DisAbilities to experience faith without an abundance of language and words. After a busy holiday season, who wouldn t benefit from some quiet reflection and prayer? All in the parish are invited to attend, as are parents, caregivers, siblings and grandparents! Join us afterward for fellowship and food at a light reception. We hope to have many attend to close out the holiday season in a prayerful way. For more information about how Blessed Sacrament is becoming a more inclusive community, contact Emma Voelzke at evoelzke@blessedsacramentdc.org or Rest in Peace Claire Ann Breckon Carl Tibery 3

4 Third Sunday of Advent Visit Your Parish Library Family Movies for Advent and Christmas The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Box of 5 DVDs). Smashingly stylish adaptations commented USA Today about this set of DVDs from the Granada Television series. Thirteen episodes include The Speckled Band, The Dancing Men, and The Red Headed League ; they star Jeremy Brett as Sherlock and David Burke as Dr. Watson. The Nativity Story (DVD, 1 hour 40 minutes). This DVD was widely praised on its release as a movie. The director, Catherine Hardwicke, evokes realistic and beautiful settings of the Holy Land and the everyday lives of its people at the time of the coming of Jesus. It begins with the fear of King Herod of the prophetic challenge to his authority, leading to the slaughter of the innocents (the reason why the film is rated PG ). We then go back to the story of the young Mary, played by Keisha Castle-Hughes, and her betrothal to Joseph (Oscar Isaac). The film follows the biblical account of Mary s visit to her cousin Elizabeth and Joseph s acceptance of Mary as his betrothed. The main part of the film is a vivid depiction of the journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. Amazing Grace (DVD, 2 hours). An inspiring story of Henry Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffud), whose courage and perseverance in 18th century Britain helped to end the slave trade decades before it ended in the U.S.; at first, however, he was defeated by a hostile Parliament. His passionate character attracted both enemies and great friends such as future Prime Minister William Pitt, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Another supporter was John Newton, a Protestant pastor, a reformed slave ship captain, and the writer of the hymn, Amazing Grace. Please call if you wish to borrow these and other DVDs. Year-End Giving First, we would like to thank all of our parishioners for their generous giving throughout this year and for all that you do to serve our parish family. Here are a couple tips to keep in mind to maximize your tax advantage for your year-end contributions: Donations charged on a credit card before the end of 2014 will count for 2014 regardless of when you pay the credit card bill. Check donations count for 2014 as long as they are mailed in Taxpayers who itemize their deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A can claim deductions for charitable contributions. You can find more information on key tax provisions in this regard at If you have any questions, please contact John Navolio at jnavolio@blessedsacramentdc.org or Sponsor Of The Week We would like to thank Pat Richitt, Entertainment Exchange, for placing an ad in our weekly bulletin. The Adult Center All parishioners, 39 and holding, are invited to gather in Apt. 1 in the Chevy Chase apartment building next to the church for fellowship after the 11 a.m. weekday Mass. Bring a sandwich and join the activities. For more information or for transportation, call Rita Killian at Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Learn Sudoku We ll teach you at the Adult Center. Fill the blank squares with the digits 1-4 or 1-6, depending on size of puzzle one of each digit in each row, column, and small box contained within the larger one. Chimes Chatter True or False? Christmas Party & Luncheon Strong Seniors: Strength & Balance Exercises Watercolor Art Class with Dick Swartz Bridge for Bridge Lovers Closed Our bells in the belfry are tubes (chimes) not bells. T or F System is electrically operated by converting to DC power. T or F Our system operates based on clock control. T or F The system always runs 24/7. T or F There are sixteen notes that can peal. T or F One note can peal over 50,000 times each year. T or F The Angelus is the first tone played in the morning. T or F Originally, Angelus was played at 6:00 in the morning. T or F The Angelus peals at three different times during each day. T or F The system is seventy-nine years old. T or F The manufacturer is John C. Deagan Company of Chicago, IL. T or F John C. Deagan started out as a one-man operation. T or F Deagan was nationally recognized concert performer on clarinet. T or F Our system was installed when Deagan Company was 55 years old. T or F There were over 400 similar systems installed in this country. T or F Installations were found in Canada, Mexico and South Africa. T or F Answers: All True puzzle solution Photo by Joe Bozik Chime-in with your story contact 1RetroJoe@gmail.com. 4

5 Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament December 14, 2014 Outreach Be A Secret Santa In 2014 The Social Concerns Committee and the Home and School Association are collecting donations to purchase grocery store gift cards for the needy in our sister parish, St. Thomas More, in southeast Washington. Please make checks payable to Blessed Sacrament with the notation Secret Santa on the check. Checks may be delivered to the parish office, the school office, or dropped into the collection baskets at Mass. Donations may also be made via the parish website, Please donate by Monday, December 22. For more info, contact Pat Kavanaugh: or pkavanaugh@blessedsacramentdc.org. Join Us In The Fight For Persecuted Christians Operation Saint George, founded by our own Deacon David Kruse, is our grassroots effort to bring spiritual and material aid to persecuted Christians in Iraq and the Middle East. The military unrest in Iraq and Syria has resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The local organizations are overwhelmed. We need your help. OSG has partnered with Aid to the Church in Need to provide critical winters supplies for our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ. Click here to give a tax deductible donation to our current project: To join us as a volunteer or to learn more about our meetings, please contact Deacon David at dkruse@opstg.org. Christian Family Movement Ministry A Prayer For Help In Ending Violence Jenny Chesky, an active member of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church and particularly dedicated to the eradication of gun violence, died on October 27 and was memorialized on November 14. She is remembered for supporting Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and was responsible for the development of the church lawn tee shirt project displaying the names of those killed by guns in the District, Northern Virginia, and Prince Georges County in That her legacy will be the end of gun violence, let us pray to the Lord: Loving and faithful God, through the years the people of our archdiocese have prayed in times of war, disaster and illness. We come to you Father and ask you to help us in the battle of today against violence, murder and racism. We implore you to give us your wisdom that we may build a community founded on the values of Jesus, which give respect to the life and dignity of all people. Bless parents that they may form their children in faith. Bless and protect our youth that they may be the peacemakers of our time. Give consolation to those who have lost loved ones through violence. Hear our prayer and give us the perseverance to be a voice for life and human dignity in our community. We ask you this through Christ our Lord. Jesus bless us that we may become a holy family. Christmas Masses Christmas Eve 4 PM ` Church & Gym (CHILDREN S PAGEANT) 6 PM ` Church 8 PM ` Church 12 MIDNIGHT ` Church Christmas Day 7:30 AM ` Church 9:00 AM ` Church 10:30 AM ` Church 12:30 PM ` Church New Year s Eve 5:30 PM ` Church New Year s Day 8:00 AM ` Church 11:00 AM ` Church Confession Schedule During Advent Saturdays: December 6, 13, and 20, at the regular time from 4 to 5 p.m. Confessions will also be heard on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, from noon to 1 p.m. In addition, the Parish Penance Service is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Monday, December 15. Happy Gaudate (or Rejoice!) Sunday! Parishes across the Archdiocese of Washington continue to celebrate Advent through Find the Perfect Gift. This Advent we encourage you to share the Perfect Gift of Jesus with someone in your life who may be searching for meaning or friendship. As we encounter others we offer a glimpse of the love and joy of Jesus through our words and actions. Visit FindthePerfectGift.org to see our Find the Perfect Gift commercial and a listing of Christmas events across the Archdiocese of Washington to help us share joy with others! 5

6 Third Sunday of Advent Blessed Sacrament Parish Council & Commissions Reports November 11, 2014 The Parish Pastoral Council held its third meeting of the year on November 11. The Council continued its assessment of the parish s lay leadership structure, assigning ministries to the appropriate commissions. The ministry lists on the parish website will also be adjusted as necessary. With Father Ron s approval, the Council authorized the Worship Commission s distribution of reflection materials for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. The Council also affirmed commission plans to edit and update the Parish Ministry Book, to make better use of the parish website and Facebook page, and to develop a Lenten program inviting neighborhood families to gather weekly for prayer and Scripture study. Council Secretary John Navolio reported on a parish audit that is nearing completion. He recommended that the commissions take a step-by-step approach to developing their projects; and Council President Dave Byers distributed a model project outline. Kate Monahan reported for the Sanctuary Sodality on its new recruiting initiative, which includes discussions with the M.O.M.S group. The Council strongly encouraged this dialogue, since both women s groups are important for advancing the parish s mission, and they can offer one another critical support. Half the proceeds from the very successful Sodality bazaar benefit the parish, while half goes to a range of charities. Finally, Colleen Molloy reported on the regular fundraising projects the 535 students of Blessed Sacrament School undertake on behalf of local charities, including the Gabriel Project. Administration Commission The Administration Commission continues to work on phase 1 of the parish wayfinding project which is moving along slowly. This is truly only a workin-progress at this time. This past month, commission members spent time inspecting the church entrances and some of the interior spaces in the church. During this tour we realized that Blessed Sacrament has extensive deferredmaintenance issues. For example, all entry doors to the church are in very bad physical condition, with the main entry door being the worst, and the walls and ceilings in all four entrance areas need to be painted. Past studies have noted these issues, some of which date back many years. A church Master Plan was done in 2009 and a more recent study in The Buildings & Grounds Committee has not operated since 2011 and is sorely needed if we are to improve our facilities for the safety of our parishioners and the integrity and beauty of our church. If you are interested in serving on the Administration Committee or the parish Buildings and Grounds Committee, please contact Patty Myler at pwmyler@gmail.com or at Communications Commission The Communications Commission met on November 6. Members of the commission reviewed and discussed the current challenges facing our parish regarding the sharing of information about our Ministries with parishioners as well as how we can better communicate our mission to the community and the archdiocese. The commission s priorities are: (1) To review and update the Ministry Book so that parishioners have access to a version with current, accurate information both in print and online; (2) To review the contents of the parish website and work with commission and ministry chairs to update contents so that more current, useful information is available to our parishioners and to the community who access our website (This process will also feed into the process of updating the Ministry Book); (3) To explore various ways of maintaining a more up-to-date parish calendar online either on our website or our Facebook page or both; and (4) to review the status of our parish Facebook page and research ways that we can better utilize it to share information with our parishioners and the community. We have determined the page is not currently published and has remained inactive for some time. Community Life Commission The Community Life Commission received updates from the Filipino Community Committee, the Sodality, and the school. The Filipino Community is planning an Advent Day of Recollection on November 30 and a Christmas Novena Mass at 7 p.m. on December 15. Although the final fundraising results were not available, the Sodality Bazaar was a big success. The discussion centered on the need to attract new members to the Sodality. A meeting will be set up with the leadership of Sodality and the M.O.M.S. ministry to discuss possible alliances between the two groups. In addition, the Sodality held a reception for potential new members in November. Faith Formation Commission What life have you, if you have not life together? There is not life that is not in community, and no community not lived in praise of God. T.S. Eliot The Faith Formation Commission is working to create a special opportunity for Lent, by drawing on the house churches of the Early Church. The idea is for parishioners to be invited to a neighbor s house for five Sunday nights during Lent for pot-luck dinners, prayer, and conversation centered around selected readings. At these gatherings a dozen or so adults of all ages will discuss the reading apportioned to that week, while the children watch a selected movie in another room. If you would like to help design and/or create this new approach to appreciating Scripture, or would just like to participate, please contact Milton Grenfell: or Outreach Commission The position of Chair of the Outreach Commission is presently vacant. The commission coordinates parish ministries of social service (e.g., Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive, Soup Kitchen, Helping Hands, etc.), and of peace and justice (e.g. Pro-Life, Environmental Action, Archdiocesan Legislative Network). Its scope includes outreach to both the parish membership and the larger community. If interested in serving or in learning more, please contact Dave Byers, Council President, at or dbyers4@verizon.net. Worship Commission The Worship Commission meeting on November 9 included representatives form lectors, ushers, and music ministries. The commission recommended, and the council and pastor approved, our providing Keeping the Seasons material from Liturgy Training Publications for parishioners to take home from all the weekend Masses during the four weeks of Advent and the three weeks of the Christmas season. These attractive one-page handouts are designed to help people celebrate these liturgical seasons at home, as well as at church. Recruitment and formation for communion ministers is a continuing need, as well as making the communion minister schedule easily accessible to all ministers. From The Community Christmas The National Shrine A Christmas dinner for those who are alone this Christmas and for those who are in need will be held on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 12:15-2:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC (Metro Red Line: Brookland/CUA Station). Volunteer drivers are needed for home delivery requests. To volunteer, call