Church of the Assumption of the Blessed 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: [email protected] Secretary: Mrs. Cheryl Hamlin-Williams Phone: 202-561-4178 Fax 202-561-0336 Email: [email protected] 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 [email protected]

Second Sunday of Lent February 21, 2016

While the following article from the National Black Catholic Congress was written for Black Catholic History month (November), it is fitting for us during February, Black History month in the U.S.:

Some people lambast Christianity as "a white man's religion." Worse yet, there have been Christians, Black and White, Protestant and even Catholic, who regard Catholicism as a "white church." Amazingly enough, these myths and misconceptions remain entrenched in some people's minds… Some people forget that Christianity did not originate in Europe and even express surprise when they learn that Black Catholic History began in the Acts of the Apostles (8: 26-40) with the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch by Philip the Deacon. This text is important for several reasons. First, it chronicles the conversion of the first Black African in recorded Christian history. Second, the text suggests that the man was a wealthy, literate, and powerful emissary of the Nubian Queen and also a faithful, practicing Jew prior to his baptism. Clearly, he was not an ignorant heathen. Third, the Ethiopian Eunuch's conversion predates the conversions of Paul and Cornelius. Most significantly, many cite this conversion as the very moment when the church changed from a Hebrew and Hellenist community to the truly Universal and . Black Catholics trace their faith history back to Christian antiquity long before other nations heard the "Good News." Christian Africa was indeed a "leading light" in early Christendom. Black Catholics point to three who were born in Africa: Saints Victor I, Melchiades, and Gelasius I. All three shepherded the early church through tough and tumultuous times in history. Black Catholics claim many Black Saints like Saints , Zeno, Anthony of Egypt, the Black, Pachomius, Maurice, Athanasius, Pisentius, Mary of Egypt, Cyril of , Monica of Hippo,

Augustine of Hippo, Perpetua, Felicitas, and . Some of these mystics, monastics, ands, and martyrs literally made the church what it is today. Not many people know that King Nzinga-a-Nkuwu Mbemba (Afonso the Good) of the Kongo and his subjects made their profession of faith thanks to the work of Portuguese missionaries one year before Christopher Columbus made his famous voyage in 1492, or that Pope Leo X consecrated the king's son, Henrique, Titular of Utica in 1518 which was one year before Martin Luther nailed his list of ninety-five theses to the Church in Wittenberg. Bishop Henrique was the first native bishop of West Africa. However, he died in 1531. The Congolese Church and the hopes for an indigenous clergy died with him. Finally, the genocidal slave trade killed true evangelization in sub-Saharan Africa for several centuries. Notwithstanding the moral crimes of chattel slavery, the French and Spanish missionaries ministered to their free and enslaved African population within their respective colonies. This ministry laid the foundation for Black Catholic communities within the United States, i.e. Mobile, Alabama; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Augustine, Florida. It is important to note that many African-American Catholics cherish a certain Peruvian Dominican, Saint , the only Black Saint from the Western Hemisphere to date. Tragically, the American Catholic Church did not seriously commit its time and resources to minister to the African-American population during the ante-bellurn or post-bellum periods. However, God made a way!!! In spite of insuperable obstacles and opposition, African-American Catholics created a remarkable movement of faith and evangelization. Many courageous people played pivotal roles within church history like Mother , Mathilda Beasley, Rudd, and the Reverend . They witnessed their faith, ministered to their people, and left lasting legacies in the face of prejudice, ignorance, and indifference. One cannot read their stories without feeling tremendous joy, sorrow, and inspiration. They are truly heroic accounts! Black History Month provides opportunities to learn and share the whole history and rich heritage of Christian Catholicism. Ubi Victoria Veritas! The Victory of Truth!

Fr. Greg

Healing Prayers for: Arlene Watkins, Corinne Bachiller, Lillian Taylor, Calvin Best, Tracy Stachitis, Veronica Brown, Taylor, Deacon McBurnett Smith, Marsha Carlson- Meyers, Juanita Thomas, Margaret Ross, Dr. Dee Jones , 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, James Guadalupe, Shawntrice Moore, Bridget Barlow, Veronica Harris, Teresa Wilkinson, Sherri Ewing, Pauline Haggins, Dorothy Sylvester, Adrena Taylor, Tiffany Jacobs, Darlene Jones, Paul Higgins, Audrey Saunders, Pauline Johnson

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

Prayer for the Second Week of Lent Dearly beloved, let us, having such a cloud of witnesses over us, put away every encumbrance and sin entangling us, and run with patience to the fight set before us; looking towards the author and finisher of faith, Jesus, who for the joy set before him, endured a cross, despising shame, and sit at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him... that you may not grow weary and lose heart. For you have not yet resisted unto blood in the struggle with sin. Grant us, O God, that through the spiritual renewal of Lent, we may grow in our understanding of the mystery of Christ. This we ask of you through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Pt 5:1-4 Mt 16:13-19 Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20 Mt 23:1-12 Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20 Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Mt 7:7-12 Friday: Ez 18:21-28 Mt 5:20-26 Saturday: Dt 26:16-19 Mt 5:43-48 Next Sunday: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18 Phil 3:17—4:1Lk 9:28b-36

DISCOVER THE RICHES OF

THE MASS

Do You Pray the Mass or do you attend Mass? There is a difference.

Mass is offered Monday-Saturday at 12:10 pm Here at Assumption 3411 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, S.E. Washington, DC 20032

Embracing the Lenten Journey

Please join us for Community Sunday following the 10:00 Mass. ______

Confessions are being heard on Wednesdays from 6-7 pm in the church.

We will have Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent, once after the 12:10 Mass and in the evening at 7:00 pm. ______

Next Friday evening after Stations of the Cross we will have dinner.

If a name can be removed from the prayer list, please call the rectory. Thank you.

2016 March for Life On Monday, March 7, hundreds of pro-life Marylanders will gather in Annapolis for the Maryland March for Life—a powerful public witness to our commitment to building a culture of life! Keynote speakers will be Ramona Trevino and Wayne Cockfield. Mass will be concelebrated by Bishop Martin Holley and Bishop Mario Dorsonville. Youth through the college-aged are invited to attend a youth rally at 4:30pm. Mass begins at 5:15pm at St. Mary’s Church 109 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD and will be followed by a March, Rally at Lawyer’s Mall, and Chick-fil-A and fellowship immediately after.

2016 Annual Jubilarian Mass Cardinal will celebrate the annual Jubilarian Mass honoring couples married 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 51+ years on Sunday, June 19 at 2pm at the Basilica of the National of the . Please call the office or use the sign-up forms in the back of church to register. Names of Jubilarians need to be turned in to the parish office by Monday, April 11.

Archdiocese of Washington Black Catholic Convocation 2016 The theme will be “Still I Rise, With the Mercy of Our Lord” Convocation will be at the Merrick Center on the Campus of St. Catholic Church, 4275 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20032, on April 29th and 30th Guest Speakers: Sr. Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN “How the Church Engages Our Community” Rev. Maurice Nutt, C.Ss.R. “Let’s Get Serious About Evangelization” Rev. A. Brown, S.J. “The Mission of the Church to Strengthen the Family Structure” Cost $50 per person includes meals, conference materials, and supplies.

February 21, 2016