HOLY COMFORTER MARCH 22, 2015

SAINTS TO REMEMBER NEXT WEEKEND’S READINGS

MARCH 21 - Blessed John of Parma PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD 22 - St.

23 – St. Turibius of Mogrovejo First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7 24 – St. Catherine of Genoa Isaiah describes the pain and insults of the Servant of God. Yet 25 – Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord he sounds hopeful when describing God as his help, knowing he 26 – Blessed Didacus Joseph of Cadiz will not be disgraced. 27 – Lazarus 28 – St Catherine of Bologna Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Paul exults Christ’s great sacrifice of humbling himself to 29 – Blessed Ludovico of Casoria become human and die on the cross. He explains that this is why

we should now realize the importance of honoring both his PARISH NEWS name and memory.

Gospel: Mark 14:1—15:47 NEW PARISHIONERS: Jessica Stewart, Dominic DeVito, Ronald & Mark describes the events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion. The Sylvia Davis, and Gabriela Zabalua Last Supper is described, explaining where the Eucharist began. ANNIVERSARIES: Judas betrays Jesus and his suffering at the hands of the April 26, 1958: Judy & John Putalik Sanhedrin (Council) is detailed.

RECENT WEDDINGS:

March 7, 2015: Megan Lacy & Kellen Dwyer March 8, 2015: Victoria McNamee & Brendon Lill March 14, 2015: Jennifer Ramacciotti & Michael Omegna PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ______

UPCOMING WEDDINGS: May 16, 2015: Grace Rinehart & Matthew Semanik Parishioners: Frank Pologruto, Al Bracuti, Norman Bednarcyk, May 24, 2015: Bridget Mason & Jordan Musselman Nicholas Sisman, Mary Ann Williams, Rose Bowker, Hermann Ortmann, Katherine Russo, Al Shotwell, and Dawn Aberg. June 13, 2015: Anne Rowell & Mikael Horissian June 27, 2015: Jessica Zareno & Gerrit “Kees” Boogaart Friends And Relatives: Josephine Nampijja, Gloria Aberg, Grace June 28, 2015: Jessica Stewart & Dominic DeVito Dawn Wicke, Melyssa Dove, Nicole Carpenter, Beth Mauk, Evan

Dotas, Dave Halley, Cullen McQuhae, Bill & Marie Jones, Christine Bentéjac, David Rumpf, Mrs. Jessica Viglietta, Pam D. MASS INTENTIONS Goines, Charlie Previtali, Jessica Viglietta, Nicole Shaw, Jean

Clayton, Rich Hawkins, Grace R. Salvetti, Kimberly Hasenfus Saturday, March 21 Hulick, Kristin Fagan, June Atherton, Natalie Potter, Harper 5 PM – Donald Curtis (Judy & Bill Harmon) Grace, J. Sloan, Paul Hillard, Dale Evans, Marie Johnston, Suzanne Lank, Stanley Lank, Diane Schmidt, Earl Scheetz, Shirley Sunday, March 22 O’Rourke, Bob Spann, Xavier Van Bastelaer, Mary Griffin, Makala 8:30 AM –Jimmy Wallace (The Allen Family) Thomas, Sibylle Llewellyn, Duncan Nixon, John Patrick Dennison, 11 AM – Members of the Parish Christine Russo Carpenter, Lisa Light, Elaine Roberti, Benedict Monday, March 23 Pax, Jerry Colgate, Timothy Lee Smith, Gabriela Sabatino, Ned 12 PM – Recovery of Matthew Leonard (Betty Huebner) Foss & Jennifer Rinehart, Janet Dunham, Susie Jackson, Fr. Michael Hann, and Fr. Joseph Torretto. Saturday, March 28 5 PM – Deborah Thorsell (Eileen Foster) Military: Brian Fagan, Jamie Torbet, Mike Eiermann, David Alvey,

Sunday, March 29 Charles G. Ellison, Eric Emmott, and Matthew Mickiewicz. 8:30 AM – Christopher Britt (Kiernan Family) 11 AM – Members of the Parish STATIONS OF THE CROSS

The weekly Stations of the Cross led by Fr. Joseph Mary are Gifts for God on Friday at 6:30 PM. Weekly needs are a Cross Bearer and Offertory – March 14/15: $5,886 two candle bearers. Families are urged to volunteer. Catholic Relief Services: $1,760 Catholic Virginian: $79.50 Training will be provided. Total time involved is less than Justice & Peace - $261 one hour. A sign-up sheet is on the credenza. Easter Flowers: $392

HOLY COMFORTER CATHOLIC CHURCH MARCH 22, 2015

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

FATHER LOUIS A. ROWEN COUNCIL 3670 SATURDAY (3/21) 8 AM– MASS Lenten Soup Supper: The Knights of Columbus will host a Lenten 10 AM - 5 PM: Lenten Retreat with Reconciliation Soup Supper this Friday night, March 20th at 5:30 PM in the 5 PM – Vigil MASS basement at Holy Comforter. Please join us for soup, bread, SUNDAY (3/22) refreshments, and fellowship. A free-will offering will be received 7 - 7:45 AM: Reconciliation with gratitude. Stations of the Cross will follow the supper at 6:30 8:30 AM – MASS PM. Everyone is invited, and there is no charge. Thanks for joining 9:45 – 10:45 AM: Christian Formation Classes us for this Lenten gathering. 9:45 – 10:45 AM: 1st Reconciliation Class [Chapel] Ultrasound: The Knights of Columbus Council 3670 is 11 AM - MASS spearheading an initiative to buy a new ultrasound machine for MONDAY (3/23) the Pregnancy Centers of Central Virginia to replace out-of-date NOON –MASS technology at their downtown Charlottesville location. Please

TUESDAY (3/24) support the amazing pro-life work of the Pregnancy Centers to 10 AM – NOON: Food Pantry save lives in our community. More information is online at NOON –MASS www.virginiapregnancy.org. To donate, send a check made out to "K of C Council 3670" with "Ultrasound Initiative" in the memo line WEDNESDAY (3/25) to POB 7251, Charlottesville 22906. 10 AM – NOON: Food Pantry NOON –MASS NOON - AA Meeting NEWS FROM HAITI 6 PM - Medjugorie Rosary Prayer Group Anne Knasel (STA): [email protected] 7 – 8:30 PM: Choir Practice Ginny Zeller (HC): [email protected] www.saltadere.org THURSDAY (3/26) 8 AM –MASS NOON - 1 PM: Soup Kitchen Travelers to Haiti: Our travelers report that their trip was remarkable and productive. They enjoyed working on the art and FRIDAY (3/27) computer projects at the school and seeing the craft work of the 10 AM – NOON: Food Pantry ladies of Saltadere and the area. 12 PM – Monthly MASS for Deceased Members of the Parish 12 PM - AA Meeting St. Michel Needs Update: We have received requests from Father 5:30 PM – Simple Soup Supper Ilric for a printer for use at the school—cost $400 and for repairs 6:30 PM: Stations of the Cross to the rectory generator - cost $1000. If you can help with these extra expenses, use the green envelope in your packet marked for SATURDAY (3/28) Haiti. 8 AM– MASS 3:30 - 4:30 PM: Reconciliation Bi-Parish Haiti Committee: The committee’s next meeting is 5 PM – Vigil MASS March 22nd at St. Thomas Aquinas at 1 PM in the Library room. All are welcome. To learn about the committee, you can e- SUNDAY (3/29) mail Anne Knasel or Ginny Zeller. Contact us to join our email 7 - 7:45 AM: Reconciliation update list. Also visit www.saltadere.org. 8:30 AM – MASS 9:45 – 10:45 AM: Christian Formation Classes 9:45 – 10:45 AM: 1st Reconciliation Class [Chapel] CHARLOTTESVILLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 11 AM - MASS www.cvillecatholic.org

JUSTICE & PEACE Thanks! Thank you to everyone that supported Charlottesville Catholic School during our 19th Annual Gala Auction on Saturday

Have you been sometimes frightened during the recent cold and evening! We greatly appreciate the support of our communities snow? What if you only have a part time job and you aren't surer as we continue to further the growth and education of our there will be work? Your children aren't in school to get a free students.

Lunch. Our food pantry can't solve all these problems, but it can A Few Spots Left: Have you enrolled your child for the 2015-2016 help. Your donations are a big help. Thank you. school year yet? There are only a few spots left, and we don’t want you to miss out on an opportunity for your child to have an exceptional experience focused not only on strong academics but also growing in our faith! To set-up a tour today, please contact Katrina Kuhn, Admissions Coordinator with Charlottesville Catholic School, at 434-964-0400 or [email protected]

HOLY COMFORTER CATHOLIC CHURCH MARCH 22, 2015 Spiritual Direction Institute: The Charlottesville section of the ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF INTEREST Spiritual Direction Institute (SDI), established by the late

Monsignor Chester Michael in 1989, will hold an informational "What Is Religious Liberty?" The St. Thomas More Society at UVA meeting on Sunday, Apr.12, 2015, from 2-4pm at the Church of Law will host Anthony Picarello, Associate General Secretary & the Incarnation in Charlottesville, Va. This 2-year ecumenical General Counsel USCCB, on Monday, March 23rd at 5:15 PM in adult formation program covers more than 50 tools that enhance Caplin Pavilion on the UVA Law School campus. Mr. Picarello is the our individual spiritual journey and help us accompany others on chief American lawyer in the Catholic Church and will theirs. Meetings are on the first Saturdays of the month, except discuss pressing legal issues facing the Church today. Prof. summer, with 2 week-end retreats/year. Through group Benjamin Spencer, the STM advisor, will deliver the intro. The discussions, lectures, personal daily prayer, and study, we cover event is open to the community, and refreshments will be served. such topics as the wisdom of the spiritual masters, prayer and For more info, contact Jonathan Amgott at [email protected]. temperament, the MBTI, journaling, lectio divina, personal growth plans, etc. For more information, contact Bev Casa Alma and Pax Christi Walking Stations: All are welcome to Mirmelstein - [email protected], or call 434-996-9178. join Casa Alma Catholic Worker and Pax Christi Charlottesville on Saturday, March 28th for a walking stations of the cross focused Women’s Cursillo Retreat Weekend April 23-26: Catholic on justice and peace. This ecumenical pilgrimage on the Women, spend an inspiring long weekend with God and other downtown mall will include scripture, reflection and song as we women who want to deepen their relationship with God and consider our own participation in unjust systems and the ways in enrich the way you live out your faith each and every day. The which we can stand as signs of hope. We will meet at 3 PM at the engaging weekend, to be held at Camp Overlook near Federal Courthouse and conclude our journey at the free speech Harrisonburg, will be led by a team of lay Catholic women who wall. Contact [email protected] or 202-2221 for more info. are active with Valley Cursillo, along with Fr. Dan Bain and Ms. Patty Huffman participating as spiritual directors. Mass and Lighthouse Media: New arrivals continue to come in. Take a few prayer will be held each day, along with engaging talks on specific minutes to check out the many new CD's and books. Keep Holy issues of Catholic Christian living. Cost is $60 (donations will be the Sabbath (CD) by Dr. Timothy Gray. Dr. Timothy Gray is the accepted at the end of the weekend to allow others to go on a president of the Augustine Institute and is a well-known Scripture Cursillo Weekend). For information and downloadable scholar and Catholic Speaker. Dr. Gray discusses the profound applications, visit the Valley Cursillo website at importance for individuals and for modern society of properly www.valleycursillo.com or call Rob & Ann Michel at 978-3954. observing Sunday as the Lord's Day by exploring God's gift of the Sabbath in the Old Testament. Dr. Gray helps us to reclaim our Marriage Encounter Weekend: In the first reading it says “I will Sunday from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. be their God, and they shall be my people.” God wants to be

Vocations Chalice Program: Francis has dedicated 2015 to invited into your marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage a "Year of Consecrated Life". As part of your response to the Encounter Weekends are 17-19 Apr in Fredericksburg or 26-28 Pope's call, you are encouraged to sign up for the Vocations Jun in Richmond. For more information or to apply, visit www.renewmarriage-vasouth.org or contact us 757-483-3209 Chalice. It can only take 5 to 10 minutes a day to pray for lifelong vocations in front of the beautiful consecrated Chalice. Without IMPACT Assembly, March 23 at Incarnation: It's time for the priests, deacons, religious vocations, marriage vocations, single IMPACT Annual Assembly, the meeting at the Church of the vocations, where would our blessed Catholic Church be? What Incarnation where we will learn what the proposal will be for the could be easier than to sign up on the calendar on the assistance for incarcerated women. If you've attended before, credenza? Instructions are attached to the clip board. you will remember that this is sort of a 'pep rally' that will inspire

Lenten Soup Supper: The Office for Black Catholics Young Adult us to get ourselves and our THREE PEOPLE to the Nehemiah Ministry will host Lenten Soup Suppers with guest speaker Deacon Action on April 30 at the John Paul Jones Arena. You will receive Art Miller, Archdiocese of Hartford. All young adults are invited to tickets that night to distribute to friends, family and attend this free event as we break bread together and have a parishioners. These serve as reminders and to make counting discussion on Equality & Forgiveness. Join us on March 25th at 6 the crowd oh, so easy. PM at the Basilica of St. Mary in Norfolk or on March 26th at 6 PM Holy Comforter did really well last year and we hope to have at Holy Rosary in Richmond. To register, call Pam Harris at (804) 125+ representatives there again this year. Also as usual, the 622-5104 or email [email protected]. Holy Comforter IMPACT Team invites you and your family to a parish dinner prior to the event. Chicken, eggplant parmesan, Medjugorje Rosary Prayer Group: Lent is here. What better way green beans and salad will be served at 5:30 PM. For planning to prepare for Easter than to pray the rosary during this Lenten purposes we'd love to know if you can join us. Please send an Season. Come join us at 6 PM in the Chapel every Wednesday. email to [email protected] if you are able to attend the Our Blessed Mothers message given to Ivan on February 23, 2015, dinner at 5:30 PM. The meeting begins at 6:30 PM and will finish "… I desire to call you, in this time of grace which is coming, pray at 8 PM. more in your families. Renew prayer in your families. Especially pray, dear children with the children ..." Volunteers Needed: The Parish office is looking for volunteers on The history of the Rosary - Section 8 - The prayers of the Rosarium Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from noon to 3 PM. were later broken out into sets of 10 and these groups became Volunteers mainly greet visitors and answer any phone calls. known as decades. Each decade of ten "Hail Mary" prayers would Please call the office at 295-7185 if you are interested. Free be preceded by one "Our Father”. WiFi!!!!

HOLY COMFORTER CATHOLIC CHURCH MARCH 22, 2015

OUR WEEKLY COLLECTION

The First Collection each week supports the spiritual and physical operations of our parish and is vital for our continued growth. Please be as generous as your means allow. Parishioners sometimes ask about the various methods of contributing money to Holy Comforter. Of course, the envelope system with your check or cash is tried and true. We are noticing more parishioners are instructing their bank (via web “bill pay” and similar services) to automatically send a fixed amount to the church every week or once a month. We certainly record the donor information on these automatic checks for the annual tax deduction letter. Also, some parishioners donate stock periodically as this has extra tax benefits for donors. For this it is important that the donor contact the parish office so that proper procedures are followed and the donor gets the correct tax deduction. In the near future we will be investigating the use of direct debit from your checking account, the ability to use a credit card, and the capacity to incorporate online giving for donations as well. Please let us know if any of these would interest you by emailing us at [email protected].

FROM THE PASTOR LENT OUR JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM CONTINUED

"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished.” Lk. 18:31

Continuing on our Journey to Jerusalem by seeking the will of God, I highly recommend that; if you want to know the will of God, be a friend of God. How do you become His friend? You talk to Him—all the time. When the angels were on their way to destroy Sodom, they stopped by to visit Abraham. God asks, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (Gn. 18:17). Friends talk about their plans together, so spend time praying and talking to the Lord. And that is one of the pillars of lent on this journey to Jerusalem. God reveals His will to His friends and servants as they lift up their minds and heart to Him. We should walk so closely with God that we discern His guidance as we live in obedience to His Word, in dependence on His Holy Spirit. It is said, to discern the will of God, you must write God a blank check with your life. It is futile to speculate about God’s will for your life unless you are 100 percent committed to obeying it. God isn’t a travel agent who arranges your itinerary and then asks, “What do you think?” You say, “I like the week in Hawaii, but I’d prefer not to go to that Muslim country as a missionary. Could you change that to a few years in Tahiti, please?” He is the Lord, and it is true that He loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life! But you must yield your entire life to Him, trusting that His will for you is good, acceptable, and perfect (Rm. 12:1-2).

To discern God’s will, you must grow to know Him intimately through praying His Word. Paul had known the Lord and walked closely with Him for years. Paul’s aim for many years had been to know Christ (Phil. 3:9-10). He knew God’s Word well, and he walked by the Spirit, not by the flesh (Gal. 5:16). I think that as best as he could discern, he sought to obey the Lord by going to Jerusalem. To discern the will of God, analyze your gifts, motives, and desires in light of God’s sovereign purpose of being glorified in your life with whatever you do. Taking the Example of St. Paul again, he was admirable in his commitment to be willing to suffer and die for the name of Christ. In addition to our gifts and how we can best be used, we need to examine our motives and desires. Am I truly seeking God’s glory and not my own? Is my heart open before Him, with no secret sins? If I can honestly answer yes, then I should ask, “What are my desires? What do I enjoy doing?” If I am delighting in the Lord, then I can trust Him to give me the desires of my heart, either by fulfilling my current desires, or by changing those desires to be in line with His purpose (Ps. 37: 4). After prayerfully following all of the above, in dependence on God, you must follow your own sound judgment, conscience, and convictions, submitting to the consequences. You can’t blame others for the decisions that you make. In a marriage, the husband is accountable to God for family decisions, but any wise husband will only go against a godly wife’s counsel after much deliberation and prayer. What if you make a mistake in discerning the will of God? If you come to realize that your mistake was due to stubbornness, self-will, or pride, confess it and ask God to overrule your mistake. I do not think that Paul sinned by going to Jerusalem, to face death and God used Paul’s prison years for His glory, and He can use our mistakes and even our rebellion if we submit to Him and seek to please Him.

Remember, the process begins when you trust Jesus as He leads the way to Jerusalem and when you write Him that blank check with your life, being willing to do whatever He calls you to do, embracing conversion repent your sins trusting Jesus, you are clearly in the will of God, the God who is not willing that any should perish, but desires for all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). TO BE CONTINUED