St. Louis Church - Bulletin Board / Special Announcements

BULLETIN BOARD / SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

New at St. Louis | Group Meetings | Religious Education |
Devotions at a Glance | Adult Formation at a Glance | In the Area

NEW AT ST. LOUIS

NO 6:30 AM Mass from July 26 - September 1.

Feast of St. Louis of France: Saturday, August 28, we will celebrate the Feast Day of St. Louis. Join us for a special Mass at 8:45 am, followed by a procession to McClunn Hall where we will have pastries and refreshments for all.

Child Protection Program: New to volunteering at St. Louis? Thinking about volunteering in the fall with the school or parish? All employees and all volunteers interacting with children must complete the Child Protection Program. This diocesan mandated program consists of 3 parts: paperwork, class training and continued training.

Protecting God’s Children for Adults Training Session will be held at Saint Louis School on Tuesday, September 14th at 6:00 PM in McClunn Hall. The seminar will start promptly at 6PM and last until 10:00 PM.   If you cannot arrive on time, or if you must leave early, you must select an alternative session that you can fully participate in. Children may not attend this seminar and child-care is not provided. Please go to www.virtusonline.org to register for this training session. Make sure that you register using your full legal name. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy in the Parish Office at 703-765-4421.

Reminder: If you attended your Virtus training session in 2009 or viewed the Refresher DVD last September, it’s almost that time of year for thecontinued training. The annual Refresher DVD Keeping the Promise Alive will be shown on September 2nd at 7:00 PM and September 16th 7:30 PM. Both viewings will be in McClunn Hall. Please mark your calendars now. Please note: ALL requirements must be met before volunteering. Please start this process now to avoid possible complications.

Celebrating a Silver or Golden Wedding Anniversary this Year? Were you married in 1960 or 1985? Then join Bishop Loverde for the 2010 Marriage Jubilee Mass to be celebrated on Sunday, October 24 at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Contact Nancy at, 703-765-4421 ext. 15, in the parish office to register no later than September 24.

Remembering 9/11: To commemorate the tragedy of September 11, 2001 with dignity and hope, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council - at its 122nd annual meeting in 2004 - resolved that September 11th be observed each year as a World Day of Prayer for Peace. This day seeks to unite Knights, Catholics and all people of good will - regardless of their religious faith - in prayer for peace. In observance of World Day of Prayer for Peace, the Knights of Mount Vernon Council # 5998 will assemble for Mass at St. Louis Catholic Church, 2907 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306 on Saturday, September 11, at 8:45 AM. At the conclusion of the Mass, a Rosary, invoking the name of Mary, Queen of the Knights, will be recited. A reception in Walsh Hall will follow. All members of St. Louis parish are cordially invited to participate. In the evening, the Mount Vernon Council will host A Salute to America Dinner & Dance at the Council home, 8592 Richmond Highway, in Alexandria, beginning at 6:00 PM. The event will feature a program celebrating the history of our Church, our Country and our Council and will include a special tribute to veterans. Dancing to the sounds of the Swing Command will conclude the evening. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $15.00 per person or $35.00 per family. Reservations may be made by calling 703-360-1964, ext 1, before September 6th. For further information, please contact Marvin Spychaj at 703-380-2970 or via email at marvinspychaj@msn.com.

United Community Ministries (UCM) Food Drive
Thank You So Very Much!!! United Community Ministries (UCM) would like to thank those St. Louis parishioners who participated in our August 2010 Food Drive. Just over 1,000 lbs of groceries were donated to UCM’s Food Pantry. We also received a monetary contribution of $125.00. Your generosity enables UCM to help “feed the hungry” in the Mount Vernon area. The next UCM Food Drive will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 18th and 19th. As in previous months, we are asking each St. Louis family to donate at least one bag of dry goods (pasta, rice, beans, cereal, crackers, mac & cheese) and/or canned goods (fruit, veggies, soup, meat, fish, pasta sauce). Monetary contributions also are welcome. If you have any questions about the Food Drive or UCM’s Food Pantry, please contact Marvin Spychaj at 703-380-2980 or E-mail him at marvinspychaj@msn.com.

Altar Servers Needed : As summer comes to a close and a new school year approaches it is time to recruit a new group of altar servers. If you have made your First Communion and are in at least the 3rd grade you may be qualified (application and teacher recommendation are needed). If you would like to become an altar server or just want more information please contact the parish Altar Server Coordinator, Mr. David Miller, at: lawless4u@aol.com.

GROUP MEETING

The St. Louis Mothers' Group will be meeting as usual this Wednesday, August 18th, from 9:45 am to noon in Walsh Hall. Guest speaker Joana Allen, an occupational therapist and mother of five, will be talking about Sensory Processing Disorder and how sensory processing issues affect children. All mothers are welcome. Babysitters are available at the meeting to help with the children. Please contact Theresa Talavera at 703-313-8782 or tatalavera@yahoo.com for more information.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

CCD Registration

Look for a Letter with Class information soon.
Last CALL for CCD REGISTRATION!
                Please register for CCD classes if you have yet done so.
CCD CLASSES START THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12!
                Weekly classes are offered for:
                Grades K-12 on Monday nights from 4:45—6:00pm
                Grades K-8 on Wednesdays from 6:45—8:00pm

                A special class is also held on Wednesday nights for students behind in receiving the sacraments.

To register your child for these classes please submit a completed registration form to the Religious Education Office.

Registration Forms are available in the vestibule of the church, at www.saintlouisparish.org, in the parish office, or via e-mail. Forms are also available in Spanish.

CCD Registration Deadlines
Aug 1—Aug 31      $20 Late Fee added to Registrations

Teachers & Aides

Teachers & Aides    Have you ever considered being a catechist or aide for CCD classes? Materials provided. Please contact the Religious Education Office to learn more.

Opportunities Available:
                Teacher or Co-Teache; Classroom Aide, Substitute Teacher or Aide; Office Helper or Hall Monitor

Important Dates for CCD Teachers:
                September 2—Virtus Refresher DVD Screening;     7:00pm in McClunn Hall

                September 2– Catechist Orientation; 7:30pm in McClunn Hall

                September 12—First week of class

                September 14—Virtus Class at Saint Louis

                September 16—Virtus Refresher DVD Screening; 7:00pm in McClunn Hall

                September 19—Catechetical Sunday (8:45am Mass)

                October 23—Diocesan Catechetical Conference

Confirmation 2010 (9th grade in 2010-11)    Look for a letter with Confirmation information soon.
Dates to Remember:
                Now: All 8th grade requirements

The opportunity to attend the retreat will depend upon the completion of all other requirements.
                Sept 8: Summer Mass Project Due
                Sept 11: Confirmation Retreat, 8:30- 4:30pm.

                Sept 28: Confirmation Mass, 7:30pm

Confirmation 2011 (8th grade in 2010-11)
            Sept. 15: Sponsor Interview Project Due

ARE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC? Perhaps you're not sure, but you want to find out what the Catholic Church actually teaches? A class is being formed right now called "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" - RCIA. Our first meeting will be on Monday, September 13. The class is free (babysitting provided if needed) and there is no obligation or pressure to convert. The classes will be taught by the priests and a few lay members of the parish. For more information, please call Mary Claire Hayes at 703-336-3524.

DEVOTIONS AT A GLANCE

Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass offered for a loved one, living or deceased, or for a special intention, please stop by the Parish Offices or call 703-765-4421.

First Saturday First Saturday devotions will be prayed following the 8:45 Mass each First Saturday.

Weekly Adoration is from 7am Monday morning through 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Please sign up to spend one hour with the Lord by calling Princess Fermin, Adoration Coordinator, at 703-778-2727.

“Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples saying: ‘This is My Body.’ No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it.    (St. Augustine)

An Invitation From the Lord - Can You Spend 1 hour with me? Adoration has five openings that need to be filled immediately: Monday 4 -5PM Thursday 4 – 5AM, 5-6PM, Friday 3 -4PM, 4-5PM

Labor Day is September 6th - There will be NO Adoration from 7:00 AM Friday, September 3rd to 7:00 am Tuesday, September 7th

Prayer Line If you are in need of prayer and would welcome the support of our parish family, our prayer line is available to you. Call Amy at 703-765-0761.

THE NEW TRANSLATION OF THE MASS
For the last several years, Church-appointed scholars have been making a new translation of the words of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. All of the prayers of the Mass - the prayers which we say at every Mass as well as the prayers that change with every Mass - have been newly rendered into English, as called for by our late Holy Father, John Paul II. In order to understand why a new translation is needed, and to prepare ourselves for praying the Mass in it, Fr. Mark Carrier will give two talks this Fall, on Thursday, October 7 and 14, in the church. The first talk will focus on the definition of the Holy Mass and on its history and development through the centuries. The second talk will include practicing with the new translation of the Mass prayers. The Holy Mass is the central activity of the Church as it is the perfect worship of almighty God in offering him the Body and Blood of His Son. By preparing ourselves properly, we will offer Him this worship in an even more befitting way, and receive the benefits that come from a clear understanding of what we are doing at Mass, and why we are doing it.

THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS, sometimes referred to as the “Tridentine Mass”, will be offered at 7:30 PM, at St. Louis Catholic Church, on the following Fridays: September 3, September 10, and September 17. Missalettes are provided. On September 3, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope; and on September 17, we will commemorate Saint Robert Bellarmine.

THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS is now being celebrated at Saint Rita Catholic Church on Thursday evenings at 7:30 PM. Missalettes will be provided. Saint Rita Church has a traditional altar rail constructed of Italian stone! Saint Rita is located at 3815 Russell Road in Alexandria. (Between West Glebe Road and Mt. Vernon Avenue) For more information, please call Joanne at 703-836-1640, ext. 10.

ADULT FORMATION AT A GLANCE

Bible Study: Wednesdays, 7:30 pm; Walsh Hall. No Bible Study during the months of July and August.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ THE BIBLE?
The Bible is the recorded story of how God created and then saved the human race. It is composed of two parts: The Old Testament, containing forty-six books of history, poetry, and prophecy, describing God’s dealings with mankind and his promise of salvation from sin; and the New Testament, which contains twenty-seven books of stories about Jesus the Savior and his early followers, letters of his Apostles, and an account that describes the end of the world. Most Catholics are familiar with various parts of these Holy Scriptures, but how many of us have actually read the Bible from cover to cover? It seems like a daunting task, since it cannot be accomplished in a day or even in a few weeks. In addition, many passages of the Scriptures seem dense and hard to follow. But with a few explanations and a little perseverance, ANYONE can read the Bible. Think about it: if your copy of the Bible has 1,400 pages in it, and you read just twenty pages a week, you can read the entire Bible in a little over a year. If you read only thirty pages a week (about seven or eight pages per day), you can read it through in under a year. Starting this Fall, the Bible Study will be devoted to reading the Holy Scriptures from beginning to end. We will be concentrating on reading as far as we can in about an hour and fifteen minutes per Wednesday evening session, with the aim of completing the entire Bible in about a year. For an incredible, life-changing experience, bring your Bible and join us this Fall, beginning on September 15, at 7:30 PM, in Walsh Hall. Any Catholic edition of the Bible will do. Study guides, bibliographies, maps, and other materials will be provided on a week to week basis to increase our knowledge of what we are reading.

Latin Class: Saturdays: 10:30-11:30 am; Library
Fr. Carrier teaches a Beginners Latin Course! Please call Fr. for details.

CATHOLICS COME HOME! If you or someone you know would like to return ot the Catholic Church, learn more about the Faith, or strengthen your love for the Church, please visit www.catholicscomehome.org. This excellent website provides resources that will help you understand the fullness of Truth found in the Church and its teachings. "Our lives on earth should be a wholehearted search for God and His Truth."

IN THE AREA

Marriage Encounter Weekend: Husbands, give your wife a special gift and register for a weekend away for the two of you. The next local Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is September 10-12. Early registration is highly recommended, as dates fill up quickly. For more information call John and Lorie Scali 703-631-5289 or visit http://wwme-nova.org (en español http://www.seccion16emm.com/)

Upcoming event at the Center for Family Development: Three to Get Married Marriage Preparation Weekend - Upcoming weekend: Sep 16-19. You’re not just planning a wedding, you’re preparing for a lifetime!  Our marriage preparation course is an intensive preparation experience true to the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Convenient one-weekend schedule.  $275 per couple.  FOCCUS Inventory included!   Registration required; On-Line registration is available! www.bethesdacfd.org.  The CFD is located at Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center, 7007 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda MD.

Marriage Help - Retrouvaille (pronounced retrō-vī) has helped tens of thousands of couples at all stages of disillusionment or misery in their marriage. This program can help you, too. For confidential information call (703) 351-7211 or visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com.

Save the Date: Catholic Heritage Festival, Saturday, October 2, 2010 - The second annual Catholic Heritage Festival will be held at Bull Run Regional Park on Saturday, October 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More details to come!

Join Father Pokorsky and Fr. Kleinmann on the Footsteps of John Paul II Pilgrimage to Poland and Rome, featuring Divine Mercy Shrine, St. Faustina and the Canonization of Blessed Brother Andre Bessette in Rome on October 10 - 18, 2010. Limited spaces still available. Additional information can be found at the website jmjtours.com. Please call 703-425-5400 to receive a full color brochure.

The Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Arlington Diocese promotes the Catholic faith among Scouts in such ways as diocesan and parish Scout Masses, finding priests to celebrate Mass and prayers at campouts, conducting retreats, promoting religious awards and including devotions in Scout gatherings. We are looking for two or three people to fill key positions on the Committee. If you are interested, please contact the Chairman Pat Berney at 703-255-2445 or pmberney@hotmail.com or the Chaplain Fr. Edward Horkan at 703-532-8815 or frhorkan@gmail.com. You can find out more about the Committee from the website arlingtondiocesescouting.org.

Education for Parish Service - Back-to-school time is not just for kids! Adult Catholics who want to learn more about their faith can head back to the classroom at Education for Parish Service (EPS), which is offering The Birth of the Church, an exploration of the development of the early Church from the apostles through the fifth century, Wednesdays, Sept. 1 – Oct. 6, from 10:30 AM – 1:15 PM, at St. Ann Parish, 5300 N. 10th St., Arlington. Rev. Patrick McMahon, O.Carm., Ph.D., is instructor. See more upcoming courses at http://eps.trinitydc.edu or contact Gregory Byrne, M.A. at byrneg@trinitydc.edu or 202.884.9031. EPS, an independent non-profit organization, operates with the blessing of the bishop in each of the dioceses it serves. It relies solely on tax deductible donations from its students, graduates, friends, parishes and dioceses.

Ignatian Volunteer Corps:   The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) is a national organization of men and women who volunteer in their local community two days a week. They share their talents and life experiences with organizations that directly assist the materially poor or that address structural issues related to poverty. Interested parishoners are invited to contact the IVC/Northern Virginia Regional Director at 703-533-1897 and see www.ivcusa.org. Info sessions will be organized at your convenience.

Parish Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9:30am - 7:30pm
Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Closed for Lunch Monday through Friday from 1:00-1:30pm

Inclement Weather: St. Louis School, Parish Activities, and Adoration follow Fairfax County for inclement weather. St. Louis Parish Office follows the Federal Government. Mass and Confessions will continue as scheduled regardless of inclement weather.

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