Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 3411 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20032
Rev.Gregory Shaffer, Pastor Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 pm Sunday Mass: 10:00 am Daily Mass: Monday thru Saturday 12:10 pm Eucharistic Adoration: Monday,Wednesday, Friday 11:00-12:00 noon Confessions: Saturday 3:30-4:15 pm, Wednesday 11:00 12:00 noon or anytime by appointment Address: 3401 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20032 Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Pastor: Father Greg Shaffer 202-561-4178 Cell 240-463-9960 Email: frgreg@assumptiondc.org Secretary: Mrs. Cheryl Hamlin-Williams Phone: 202-561-4178 Fax 202-561-0336 Email: info@assumptiondc.org Pope Francis Outreach Center : Food Pantry and Clothing Room Director: Ms. Mildred Brown Assistant Director Ms. Brenda Hare Hours of Operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 noon Phone: 202-561-5941 Fax 202-561-4024 Website: www.assumptionchurchdc.org/outreach Email outreach@assumptiondc.org
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity May 22, 2016 Liturgically, we have returned to Ordinary Time. Most of the liturgical year is spent in ordinary time which means that most of our time spent with the Lord in life is in ordinary, daily life. The Church gives us back-to-back solemnities on these Sundays in Ordinary Time: Most Holy Trinity (today) and Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (next Sunday). With especially today s feast of the Holy Trinity, I thought it would be good to offer insights from someone more skilled than I am theologically. The following reflection, A Share in the Life of the Trinity (September 28, 1997) comes from the late Msgr. Thomas Wells, a former priest of Washington. As you ll notice, he actually combines our feasts by merging the Eucharist with the Trinity. Great stuff! May you know the peace of Christ, Fr Greg Humanity reflects the life of the Trinity. This, I think, is one of the things meant by Scripture s saying that we are made in the image and likeness of God. The better we know God, the better we know ourselves. Think about this, for example. From all eternity, it is the nature and role of the eternally begotten Son to love the Father. From all eternity, the Son responds to the Father whose love begot Him. The Holy Spirit, of course, is the love that eternally is exchanged between the Father and the Son.
It is the nature, then, of the Son to respond to the love of the Father. The Incarnation the word we give to describe that God became man in the womb of Mary is so extraordinary because it means that our brother in humanity, Jesus, not only continues to be in a relationship and intimate union with the Father, but He also enables us to participate in that same relationship. Now, St. Paul makes the crucial distinction that what belongs to Jesus by nature (His Sonship) is ours only by adoption. In other words, because of the death and Resurrection of Christ, we are the adopted sons and daughters of God. In the Spirit of Jesus, we can cry out, Abba, Father, and know that we are heard as dearly beloved children. Our challenge is to unite ourselves with Jesus. Again, St. Paul uses images like, Clothe yourselves in Christ, or, Put on the armor of God, to illustrate our potential to be remade in Christ. The reality, of course, is that because our potential is to live the life of Christ, like Him we have freedom: we are not forced to live the life we are given in Baptism. Inevitably, we fall short. This is why the Eucharist is so central to God s Plan for us. The great human act of love for the Father is the sacrifice of Jesus. Until time is no more, Jesus, our brother, continues to give Himself in love to the Father for us, and the Father continues to say, Yes, to the prayer of His Son and our brother. The incredible miracle of the Mass is that, through the sacramentality of the priesthood, we can join with Jesus in that most perfect and pleasing act of praise. Insofar as we unite ourselves with Jesus, we are caught up in the very life of the Trinity.
Healing Prayers for: Jean Sultzer, Lillian Savoy, Gisele Best, Lezeal Rorie, Corinne Bachiller, Lillian Taylor, Calvin Best, Tracy Stachitis, Veronica Brown, Deacon McBurnett Smith, Marsha Carlson-Meyers, Dr. Dee Jones Adams, Barry Robella, Father Dan Vitz, Eleonora Best, Jane Rhyne, Faye Lyon, Abby Fargo, Mildred Selmar, Heather Wooten-Rollins, Brenda Newman, Malek Elloit, Kennedy Wood, Courtney Barlow, LaVerne Lane, Christine Jones, Benjamin Davis, Ronald Horton, Madison McKenzie, Jamil McKenzie, Samuel James Guadalupe, Shawntrice Moore, Bridget Barlow, Veronica Harris, Teresa Wilkinson, Sherri Ewing, Pauline Haggins, Dorothy Sylvester, Tiffany Jacobs, Darlene Jones, Paul Higgins, Audrey Saunders, Pauline Johnson, June Murphy Our Homebound Parishioners: Mary Cooke, Sybil Depeazer, Muriel Dunmore, Louvenia Gray, Fr. Charles Green, Pauline Johnson, Yvonne Samuel, Audrey Saunders, Joan Shields, Elizabeth Smith, Viola Walker Feast of the Most Holy Trinity Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us Thy servants grace by the profession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and, in the power of Thy Divine Majesty, to worship the Unity; we beseech Thee, that by our steadfastness in this same faith, we may evermore be defended from all adversities. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Pt 1:3-9 Mk 10:17-27 Tuesday: 1 Pt 1:10-16 Mk 10:28-31 Wednesday: 1 Pt 1:18-25 Mk 10:32-45 Thursday: 1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12 Mk 10:46-52 Friday: 1 Pt 4:7-13 Mk 11:11-26 Saturday: Jude 17, 20b-25 Mk 11:27-33 Next Sunday: Gn 14:18-20 1 Cor 11:23-26 Lk 9:11b-17
CONGRATULATIONS REVEREND GREGORY MARIA PINE, O.P. On The Ordination of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ And And for your First Mass of Thanksgiving Here at Assumption
Next Sunday For the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) We will have a brief Eucharistic Procession to show our full reverence for this awesome feast of the Eucharist. Those in the congregation at Mass will be invited to follow our Eucharistic Lord in the monstrance from the church to the chapel of the outreach center. Memorial Day, Monday May 30 th Mass will be at 10:00 am The church office will be closed. Catholic Charities' Behavioral Health Services (formerly Anchor Mental Health) Are you living with depression, addiction, or just too much stress? Anchor Counseling Services, part of Catholic Charities free-standing mental health clinic, is here to help. The staff can assist with: depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, selfesteem, grief and loss, anger management, substance abuse, trauma/ptsd, relationship/intimacy, family dynamics, and stress management. For more information call 202-635-5953 or email at Counseling@CatholicCharitiesDC.org If you are interested we have the Word Among Us Please see one of the ushers Come out tomorrow night for Revival at 7:00 pm Our young people will help with the Mass celebration next Sunday
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, June 12 th We will celebrate ALL FATHERS Our own Father Greg Shaffer s 10 th anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood, we will also celebrate all the fathers of the church: fathers, grand-fathers, stepfathers, godfathers, young fathers old fathers and fathers- to- be. Wednesday, June 22 nd Join us in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at the Holy Hour for the intentions of the Ordinandi Most Holy Trinity May 22 Admitting when we are struggling and need help is difficult and scary. It requires putting our trust in someone else, praying that God s mercy will flow through them. Consider Cate s story: For years she silently suffered from mental illness, afraid to tell anyone else about her struggles. Over time, she found the courage to seek counseling from a Catholic therapist. The therapist was so accepting, understanding, and merciful that Cate opened up for the first time. Cate has experienced both mental and spiritual healing through her time in counseling. Now, Cate knows that her illness is right where God desired to meet her, and that in fact God s mercy has been with her for her whole life. Find ways to experience mercy and healing through the ministries of the Church at mercy.adw.org May 22, 2016