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February 23, 2020 THE LORD IS MY ROCK! hope to see a full church for our LENTEN PEN- ANCE Service at 6:45 pm MONDAY MARCH 16 "THE LORD IS MY ROCK, my fortress, my savior, (when we will have 12 ). Mark your MY GOD, MY ROCK OF REFUGE, my shield! calendars! PRAISED BE THE LORD! "(Psalm 18:3-4). This coming Wednesday, ASH WEDNESDAY, we enter Why is so central to our life? We into the beautiful pilgrimage of 40 DAYS OF LENT, need to be RECONCILED WITH GOD. We need to and on that first day of Lent we will give each one be READY for the day the Good Lord will call us of you a small ROCK with the number 40. Our back to HIM! This can happen at any time. It can young children (FIAT, Faith in Action) painted the happen TODAY! Unless our sins are forgiven by number 40 on each of these 1,600 rocks: 40 God, we cannot be at PEACE; we cannot be recon- HOURS of Adoration this Lent (April 1st-2nd), 40 ciled with our brothers and sisters. For us DAYS before EASTER in this 40th Season of Lent Catholics, our grave sins are forgiven ONLY at OLHOC; they could have painted 40-40-40, but through CONFESSION TO A and only there was not enough space on each rock! You can when we are sorry and promise to God to avoid carry this rock during the entire 40 days of Lent or future sin with His Help. UNLESS WE ARE IN A you can put it on your desk as a reminder that STATE OF GRACE, WE SHOULD NOT RECEIVE IS YOUR ROCK! THE EUCHARIST! We should all go to regular confession, followed by the EUCHARIST, THE The focus of our Lenten Journey is not a little "40" BODY OF CHRIST, is essential to NOURISH OUR rock. The little rock is simply to keep reminding us SOULS! of JESUS, of JESUS as OUR LORD, OUR SAVIOR, as the ROCK FOUNDATION AND SALVATION OF Last Lent, over 100 people attended the GIFT OF OUR ENTIRE LIFE! The number "40" is simply to THE MASS. This Lent, we are going deeper into the remind us that we are celebrating the 40 days of mystery of the EUCHARIST, and its understanding our 40th Lent as a parish! It is also the first Lent in the context of both the OLD and NEW that we will have the special 40 hours of Adoration! TESTAMENT. This Lent, you are all invited to You will recall that in the past our continuous attend THE GIFT OF THE EUCHARIST beginning hours of Adoration were one hour for each year of this week on Thursday (6:45 pm) and Saturday our existence as a parish: we began at 30 hours, (9:45 pm). You can choose either session. Like last then 31 hours and finally this year 40 hours! I year, this series will continue for 5 weeks of Lent. always said that once we go beyond 40 years, we We consider this series of the GIFT OF THE still stay at 40 hours (no 41, then 42, 43...). EUCHARIST AS OUR PARISH LENTEN MISSION. I can assure you that if you come you As your pastor, I propose that the LENTEN FOCUS will not be disappointed. You will obtain a new for everyone AT OLHOC WILL BE understanding of the EUCHARIST, the center of “RECONCILIATION AND UNITY IN THE EU- our LIFE IN CHRIST! To facilitate logistics, please CHARIST”: OUR SAVIOR, JESUS has given us the register online or use the sign-up sheet at the end two great SACRAMENTS, RECONCILIATION of Sunday Masses AND EUCHARIST, to help us on our daily journey toward Heaven! Fr. Ben and I have increased the Let us pray that this Lent, God will help our parish number of hours we are available in the to be renewed spiritually, reconciled and united in confessional. We have seen some increase in the the Sacraments of (Confession) and the number of confessions, but we are far from where Eucharist! we would like to be. On Wednesdays outside Lent (6 pm), we have few people coming to confession. On Saturdays (4 pm) and Sundays (6:45 pm), we MAY THE LORD BE OUR ROCK AND SALVATION have long lines at times and have been available for THROUGHOUT THIS 40th LENT AND BEYOND! confessions during the 5 pm and 7 pm Masses. We hope that this Lent (THE LIGHT IS ON) we will One in Christ, have long lines every Wednesday (6 pm till 6:45 Father Alain pm and 7: 45 pm till 8:30 pm) but also every Saturday (4 pm) and Sunday (6:45 pm). We also Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

~Pre-school News~

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of OLHOC, we are requesting any photos that you may have of your child or grandchild while he or she was enrolled at Our Lady’s Little Christians Preschool. Most especially we are looking for any photos of your child with any of our teachers, past or CCD Class Schedule present, or with the Our Lady Help of Christians sign out Feb 23/24– CCD Classes front. Photos may be scanned and emailed to [email protected] or brought to the office and Ms. Nieda March 1/2– CCD Classes will scan them for you. Look for our display as we get closer March 1/2– CCD Classes to the Feast Day in May. Thank you!! March 8/9– CCD Classes Preschool registration opens to the general public on March 6. Register now to reserve the class you want for fall 2020 classes. Send an email to [email protected] or call 301.645.7112 and ask for Nieda, the preschool director. Community Outreach The next Shepherd's Table sponsored by OLHOC will 2019 Tax Statements be April 16, 2020 at Good Shepherd Church. If you would like a copy of your donations to OLHOC The next Outreach meeting will be on March 4, 2020 at for 2019, please email the office at [email protected], or call (301)645-7112. 7 p.m. In the Fr. Martin Hall. Meetings last just 1 hour and all are welcome! ****************** Phase 3 The "Sharing Sunday" food collection box can be Narthex work is progressing well. All interior walls are found in the office lobby. All non perishable food up. HVAC unit on roof and inside units installed. donations go to the Food Bank and the Waldorf Sprinkler heads, ceiling tile and electrical approaching final Women's Shelter. Thank you! work. Chapel tiling done and Narthex tiling to start next

week as well as the new windows and doors ******************* We will continue using the office entrance for Mass, parking for the handicap is in the back parking lot. Ash Wednesday Thank you for your patience! ********** February 26 Pray for Our Seminarians Please take a moment today to stop by the “Vocations Mass times are 9 am, Tree” in the office foyer, where you’ll see cards for each of the seminarians of the Archdiocese of Washington. Choose one or more cards and pray for that seminarian 12 noon, 7 pm. each day during Lent. Make it a beautiful offering to the Lord this Lent to pray for those whom He calls to give *************** their lives in service of His Church in our archdiocese. ***************************** The Gift of the Eucharist Last Years Palms This Lent, commit to a sacrifice of time and invest The proper disposal of the Palms you in your spiritual life. Be renewed through a more received last year is to burn them. The comprehensive understanding of the biblical ashes can then be returned to the ground. roots of the Holy Eucharist.

If you do not wish to burn them, they can be “The Gift of the Eucharist” a five-week activity, is buried in the ground. this year’s spiritual exercise. Sessions are offered on Thursday evenings (6:45-9:00 pm) Thank you for disposing of blessed Palms from Feb. 27 to March 26, and Saturday properly! mornings (9:45-12 noon) from Feb. 29 to March 28. Childcare will be provided. We are asked to pray for: Tabitha Barton The Dixons P Sandra Barrientos Maria Townsend Grace dAlbrittain Brandon Mack Chrystal Beauregard Elaine Moses R Ana Maria Delmira Sibrian Escobar Sheryl Carter Yvonne Buford A Nestor Ermelindo Molina Alex Leon Karen Zimmerman James Thompson Sharketer Butler Lorrin Green Y Rebecca (Tess) Franch Steven Bowling Naomi Lilly Edna Yarngo E Sterling Greene Kathly Grimes R Aleli Puzon Sheny Padilla and all our military and civilians serving in Patricia Delgado Richard White harm’s way. Rosano Wheeler Victor Cordero Please let us know if any names should be R Larry McGraw Georgiana Norgren removed from the list. Ilene Custer Marie Marie Bottorf E Derrick Webster Dorian Webster Julie Davis Dionne Gause Q David DeMarr Patricia Sutton U Dunnie Proctor Trenia Price Amelia Vinceguerra Michael Sofield Jr. E Lorraine Celijewski Norm Green S Mary A. Dyson T S Mass Intentions this Week Saturday, February 22, 9:00AM: Sterling Green (+) & Saturday, February 22, 5:00 PM: Wayne Lloyd (+) Sunday, February 23, 8:30 AM: Yvette NicholMcGraw (+) Sunday, February 23, 10:00 AM: Theresa M. Lehman (+) I Sunday, February 23, 11:30 AM: Our Lady Help of Christians Parishioners N Sunday, February 23, 1:00 PM: Babies in danger of abortion T Sunday, February 23, 7:00 PM: Dr, Antonio Cardenas Alvardo E Monday, February 24, 9:00 AM: Arnulfo Montealegre, Innocencia N and Carmen Villanueva (+) T Tuesday, February 25, 9:00 AM: Eric Knapp I Wednesday, February 26, 9:00 AM: Souls in Purgatory O Wednesday, February 26, 12:00 PM: Souls in Purgatory N Wednesday, February 26, 7:00 PM: Souls in Purgatory Thursday, February 27, 9:00 AM: Lorrin Green S Friday, February 28, 9:00 AM: Those discerning Religious Life

Bible Study

We all need some encouragement during trying times. Paul’s letter of thanks and encouragement to the Philippians is his letter to you. With his words and the example of his life, Paul exhorts the Philippians to have the mind of Christ, to live a life worthy of the Gospel, and, by God's grace, to gain Christ. Come join in on this 6-week study on Philippians, which has begun in the Divine Mercy Room, at 9:30 am. All are welcome!

Tuesday Scripture Study - Join us on Tuesday mornings after the 9 am Mass to study the readings for the next Mass Readings for March 1, 2020 Sunday. Wednesday Scripture Study– The Friday night scripture study has First Sunday of Lent been changed to Wednesdays. They will be begin at 7:30, following the 7 pm Mass *First Reading First Friday– The first Friday of each month the evening Mass is said Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 in Latin. This Mass is dedicated to promoting the Priesthood. *Second Reading First Saturday—Join members of the Marian Group on the first Saturday of the month after the 9 am Mass. Learn more about Romans 5:12-19 consecrating your life to Jesus through Mary. *Gospel Divine Mercy– Join us on the first Saturday of each month as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet as a community at 3 PM. Matthew 4:1-11 OLHOC Prayer Chain If you have a prayer request, please call the parish office or send email to [email protected]. www.usccb.org

R E L I G Youth News I O Life Teen: high school youth ministry (meets most Sundays 5-6:30 pm, Dinner is provided, check website for U dates) S Edge: middle school youth ministry (meets monthly for All Youth Night - Feb. 16th )

FIAT: Faith in Action Team elementary school ministry (meets monthly for All Youth Night- Feb. 16th) For more info and an updated list of our events please visit www.olhoc.org/ymevents E D Shrove or Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner- February 25th - 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm U We invite you to join us for a feast and fellowship on before fasting for Lent. Delicious pancakes, C sausage, bacon, fruit and beverages will be served by our youth. Tickets are $5 each (under 2 eat free) and will be A available after all Masses or can be purchased in the office. All proceeds will benefit the Youth Fund. If youth in T Edge (Middles School) or Life Teen (High School) are interested in volunteering for the dinner, please visit www.olhoc.org/ymevents I O Attention current 8-12 graders - Summer Opportunities! N Steubenville Youth Conference - June 12-14, 2020 Join us this summer for Steubenville Conference at Fran- ciscan N University E in Steubenville, Ohio. A Steubenville Conference weekend is PACKED with dynamic speakers, worship music, Mass, Adoration and MORE! Come and encounter Christ with other teens from other states as we worship together and W grow in our Catholic faith! Limited spots available for more details & to register visit www.olhoc.org/steubie20 S Camp Covecrest - August 2-8, 2020 in Tiger, Georgia Join us for Life Teen summer camp - Camp Covecrest, in the North Georgia Mountains, for an amazing and transformative week of fun, activities, time with friends, prayer and growing in your faith (i.e. high ropes, messy games, obstacle course, zip line, white water rafting, team building experiences, music, talks, reflections, Mass, Adoration & personal growth). For more details, watch a video & to reg- ister visit www.olhoc.org/camp2020 Questions, please contact Marlen Coles [email protected] To Join Our Youth Core & Support Team, please visit our website or talk to Marlen Coles. Together we can help lead our youth closer to Christ!

Shrove or Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner

February 25th - 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm

We invite you to join us for a feast and fellowship on Shrove Tuesday before fasting for Lent. Delicious pancakes, sausage, bacon, fruit and beverages will be served by our youth. Tickets are $5 each (under 2 eat free) and will be Thank you to all who responded by mail or during the available after all Masses, online, or can appeal at Mass last weekend. We ask every family of our parish to complete a pledge form. No gift is too be purchased in the office. All proceeds small and we are not asking you to make a payment at will benefit the Youth Fund. this time. Envelopes are still available by the entrance.