August-Sept 2019 Maneline
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Volume 41 Number 6 August/September 2019 M aneline ST. MARK Catholic Community Preparing for the Season of Creation: September 1–October 4 By Annette Kane, Co-Chair, Care for Our Common Home Team he “Season of Creation” may prayers of gratitude for the abundance not be a household phrase of life and for renewed respect and care Tamong Catholics. That is be- for Creation. Words from Pope Francis cause the observance of the Season is n The Blessing of Animals on the t is not enough to think of relatively new. In 1989, the Patriarch Memorial feast day of St. Francis of different species merely as of the Orthodox Church proclaimed Assisi on October 4 will offer praise and “I a Day of Prayer for Creation that was gratitude to God for all created beings. potential ‘resources’ to be exploit- embraced by the other major Christian n ed, while overlooking the fact that churches in 2001 and by Pope Francis A Family Nature Walk will be held on for the Roman Catholic Church in September 15 at 2:00 p.m. at the Walker they have value in themselves. Each Nature Center in Reston; the focus will 2015. The Day of Prayer was expanded year sees the disappearance of into a Season of Creation that extends be on the diversity of life in our com- from September 1 to October 4, the mon home. See future Bulletins for more thousands of plant and animal spe- information. Memorial feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. cies that we will never know, which n A reflection on “Climate Change, During the Season of Creation, Christians our children will never see, because on six continents participate in communi- Conflict, and Migration in the light of ty events to deepen their love for Creator, Catholic Social Teaching” will be pre- they have been lost forever. The Creation, and one another. The theme sented on September 22 at 1:00 p.m. by great majority becomes extinct for Walter Grazer, who served at the U.S. of the 2019 Season of Creation is the reasons related to human activity. “Web of Life”, which reflects both the Bishops Conference as Manager of the Environmental Justice program and role that all people have as stewards of Because of us, thousands of species creation and the urgent need to protect as Deputy Director for Migration and biodiversity. According to the United Refugee Services. will no longer give glory to God by Nations, an estimated one million species n Activities at the Fall Festival on their very existence, nor convey their are under threat of extinction, primarily September 29 will focus on recycling message to us. We have no such right.” due to “our way of life”. options for households. Source: “Laudato Si,” 33-34 The 2019 initiative was put forth in a In a letter addressed to Christian com- letter signed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, munities worldwide, faith leaders who the head of the Vatican’s Development have endorsed the Season of Creation dicastery; Archbishop Job of Telemessos, write: “We are part of a single, wondrously on behalf of Ecumenical Patriarch complex web of life woven by God. Each Bartholomew; Archbishop of Canterbury year from September 1–October 4, the Justin Welby; and Reverend Olav Tveit, Christian family celebrates the good gift the General Secretary of the World of Creation…. This season of Creation Council of Churches. we offer our reflections on the web of life itself, in the hope that they might ST. MARK will participate in the Season provoke richer contemplation and deeper of Creation through prayer, reflection, responses among us. We do it in an ecu- and action. menical spirit and in acknowledging that n Prayers for Creation will be offered Creation is given as a gift to all of us and through intercessions at Mass. Individuals that we are called to shared responsibility and families are encouraged to offer for its protection”. October is Respect Life Month! ctober is Respect Life Month, the blockbuster film UNPLANNED of the Body of Christ in a spirit of unity and Sunday, October 6, is saved lives, changed hearts, and brought to join in repentance and ask God’s grace Respect Life Sunday. The more new prayer warriors to the streets to turn hearts and minds from a culture O of death to life and end abortion”. ST. MARK Pro-Life group is final- in front of abortion facilities than ever izing plans for ways in which the before. There were 30 percent more 40 Days for Life campaigns have three Parish can celebrate Life. volunteers, 94 abortion workers ex- complementary elements: pressed interest in quitting, 4 mothers n Participate in the Fall 2019 40 Days 1. Prayer and Fasting: People of faith for Life Campaign from Wednesday, chose life, abortion clients decreased by and conscience unite in prayer and fast- September 25, to Sunday, November 25 percent at some locations, calls to the ing, knowing that “with God, all things 3. ST. MARK will be praying at the abortion pill reversal hotline increased are possible”. Falls Church Healthcare Center at 900 by 30 percent, and Vigil participation increased by 15 percent. 2. Community Outreach: The pro-life S. Washington St., Falls Church. The message is taken to local communities. n Contribute clothing, diapers, blan- hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You 3. Peaceful Vigils: Peaceful public prayer kets or other baby items to the can sign up at https://40daysforlife. ST. events, often outside of abortion facili- Baby Shower on October 12- com/local-campaigns/falls- MARK ties, provide opportunities to witness 13. The Shower will be held before and church/. This schedule will let you to the inherent value of all human life. after the Masses to support A Woman’s know when other people will be pre- Specific prayer requests include the fol- Choice in Herndon. sent. Signs for use by participants will lowing groups: Women at risk of having be available by the mailboxes outside 40 Days for Life an abortion; innocent children at risk of Parish Office. Please return the signs. September 25–November 3 perishing; men and women carrying the n Come and see the movie, The Vision Statement of 40 Days for Life pain of a past abortion experience; work- UNPLANNED, in the Cassidy states that the group is “a focused pro-life ers at Planned Parenthood facilities and Activities Center on Friday, October campaign with a vision to access God’s abortion centers; local, regional, and na- 4. Wine and cheese will be served at power through prayer, fasting, and peace- tional leaders; revival and renewal in our 7:00 p.m, and the movie will start at ful Vigil to end abortion”. The 40-day churches; and repentance and healing 7:30 p.m. The March 2019 release of campaign brings together the members throughout our nation. THE SACRED Participate in the HEART OF JESUS Matthew 25 Collection! he Heart of the Good ST. MARK began the Matthew 25 “TShepherd tells us that Collection about 15 years ago in re- His love is limitless; it is never sponse to the many requests from lo- exhausted and it never gives up. cal agencies that help provide for the There we see His Infinite and needs of the poor living in our area. We boundless self-giving; there we publish a list of the basic needs to help find the source of that faith- the poor, so you can keep it in mind ful and meek love that sets free as you go about your regular shopping and makes others free; there we routine. If you see an item on sale, you constantly discover anew that can pick up an extra one to share. Jesus loves is ‘even to the end’ (John 13:1), without ever being There is a container located just outside imposing.” of the Narthex area in which you can place these items. At times, the “con- tainer” is not sufficient to hold the con- Source: Pope Francis, Homily at the Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, tributions, as the photo shows. Thank Vatican Radio, 2016 you for your generosity and support of this outreach effort. 2 Prision Ministry: I’m Already Free By Carol Dieterle ow the Lord is the Spirit, and where up in difficult circumstances. Growing up and yes, to pray for me. And I for him. I the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the Bronx, he never met his father. When thank God for sending Lawrence my way. Nfreedom. he was eight, the Department of Social Services came and took his brothers and 2 Corinthians 3:17 sisters and him away from his moth- [Editor’s note: Carol Dieterle works with er. The younger children were adopted A Dream Come True the Welcome Home Re-Entry Program of out, and he and his brothers were sent Lawrence Peter Medici Catholic Charities. This program helps prison- to an orphanage—St. Agatha Home for ers who are leaving incarceration and returning Children in New York. His mother died ain and problems knocked to their communities. She has also worked in four years later; that is when all that was Pme down and off to sleep I Fairfax County jails, teaching Microsoft Word, good within Lawrence seemed to also went. PowerPoint, and Excel through the nonprof- die. He wrote: it, OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives and And in this broken life of mine, I was always bad, from my youth, there was this dream I dreamt. Resources), which helps to break the cycle of violence with offenders.] Court records will show that’s the truth.