12-07-2014 - Saint John Neumann Catholic Community Reston

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH
RESTON, VIRGINIA
DECEMBER 7, 2014
PARISH STAFF
(NOTE: Please use the 703 area code for all numbers.)
CLERGY
Pastor:
Rev. Thomas E. Murphy, OSFS
860-8510 x143
Parochial Vicar:
Rev. Donald J. Heet, OSFS
Rev. Robert A. Mancini, OSFS
860-8510 x157
860-8510 x145
In Residence:
Rev. William N. Dougherty, OSFS
860-8510 x144
Permanent Deacons:
Deacon Dennis A. Holley
Deacon John A. Wagner
860-8510 x222
860-8510 x321
ADMINISTRATION
Administrative Assist.
Office Secretary
Office Secretary
Hispanic Coordinator
Bulletin Editor
Accountant
Parish Nurse
Facilities Manager
Custodian
Custodian
Patty Kwapniewski
860-6147
Beth Farmer
860-8511
Maria Tumolo
860-6140
Celia Sandoval
860-8510 x353
Ludy Rauber
390-2353
Email: [email protected]*
Pat Rau
860-8510 x142
Susan Infeld, RN
390-2349
Email: [email protected]
Mark Gosselin
860-8510 x343
Sylvia Payne
860-8510 x307
Douglas Alvarado
LITURGICAL MINISTRY
Director of Music
C J Capen
Coordinator of Liturgy Patty Bartnick
Secretary
Pat Gilbertson
FAITH FORMATION
Director
Pre K-8
Youth Minister 9-12
Secretary
Secretary
OUTREACH
Director of Outreach
Young Adult Ministry
COUNCIL CHAIRS
Pastoral Council
Finance Council
390-2352
860-6151
860-6150
Mary B. Lyons
860-2815
390-2340
Doug Johnson
Silvia Bustamante
Betsy Puzzanghero
860-6141
390-2348
860-6155
Sue Colyer
860-6149
Angela Davis
Email: [email protected]
Mickey Frank
860-8510 x312
Email: [email protected]
Patricia Maloney
860-6310
Email: [email protected]
PASTORAL CARE
INFANT BAPTISM: Call to register for the Baptism Class, offered
monthly. English 703-860-8510; Spanish 703-860-8510, x353.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS (RCIA):
Please call Mary Lyons, 703-390-2340, to inquire about becoming
Catholic.
MARRIAGE: Begin preparation with one or our parish priests at
least six months before the desired marriage date.
SICK: Please call the office if you know of someone who is
hospitalized, seriously ill, or home-bound.
*Please Note: Material for the bulletin must be submitted no
later than Thursday, ten days prior to the intended
publication date.
THIS WEEK AT SJN...
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7
Christmas Angels/Gifts For Kids Due
Crèche Display and Fair Trade Sale:
8:30am to 3:00pm
RE Classes
RCIA Dismissal: 10:00am; Conference Room
Family Mass: 11:30am; de Sales Chapel
Shawl Ministry: 2:00pm; Conference Room
High School Teens (Agape): 6:15pm; Auditorium
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Holy Day of
Obligation - see Mass Schedule on page five
RE Classes
Boy Scout Troop 124: 7:00pm; A1/A2
Hypothermia Prevention Team: 7:00pm; Conference Room
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9
RE Classes
French Conversation: 9:30am; A2
Pax Christi: 7:00pm; Conference Room
RCIA Catechumenate: 7:30pm; A1/A2
RCIA Inquiry: 7:30pm; Library
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10
RE Classes
Mothers’ Group Play Group: 10:30am; Early RE Room
Angel Choir: 5:00pm; Music Room
Children’s Choir: 5:30pm; Music Room
Legión de María: 7:00pm; B4
RCIA Team: 7:00pm; Bridal Room
Spanish Young Adults: 7:00pm; B2
Social Justice: 7:30pm; Conference Room
Taizé: 7:30; de Sales Chapel
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11
RE Classes
Centering Prayer/Meditation: 10:00am; de Sales Chapel
Exposition and Adoration: 3:00pm; de Sales Chapel
First Reconciliation Q and A with Father Don; 7:00pm;
Auditorium
Legion of Mary: 7:00pm; B4
Life After Sunday: 7:00pm; B1
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12
Zumba For Divine Love Chapel at Niño Jesús: 6:00pm; A1/A2
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
Knights of Columbus Red Cross Blood Drive: 8:00am; A1/A2
Prayer Vigil For Peace: 4:00pm; de Sales Chapel
Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration: 6:00pm
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass: 7:00pm; Church
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14
RE Classes
ARE Adults: 8:30; Auditorium
Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast: 8:30am; Auditorium
RCIA Dismissal: 10:00am; Conference Room
Young Adults Camden Retreat Interest: 12:45pm; Youth Room
Boy Scout Medal Workshop:1:00pm; B4
High School Teens (Agape): 6:15pm; Auditorium
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
DEAR PARISHIONERS:
This coming Saturday evening, December
13th, we will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady
of Guadalupe, who Pope John Paul II declared the
patroness of all the Americas. Obviously, this is a very
important feast for the people of Mexico and many of the
other Spanish-speaking nations. Our continually growing
Hispanic community will gather Saturday for Mass to
commemorate this feast, with their native dress and
customs being a part of this celebration. We encourage you
to come and share this feast with our Spanish-speaking
brothers and sisters. Mass will begin at 7:00pm in the
church.
We attempt to acknowledge the accomplishments of our
parishioners when we are made aware of them and I have
been remiss in acknowledging Bob Scott, one of our
esteemed parishioners. The National Association of Federal
Credit Unions named Bob the Association’s Volunteer of
the Year to acknowledge the thirty years he has spent on
the Board of Directors of the Pentagon Federal Credit
Union. Although this acknowledgement comes a little late,
we salute and congratulate Bob on this specific honor given
to him.
I remind you that a good way to truly prepare for Christmas
is the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Various
parishes in surrounding communities join us in offering the
possibility of receiving this at a parish-wide Reconciliation
Service. It begins this week at St. Joseph’s in Herndon. In
this week’s bulletin there is a listing of several other parish
celebrations in subsequent weeks, but this is the only
possibility this week. Perhaps you could look at the
schedule of services to be sure your schedule
accommodates your attendance at one of them.
Happy Advent,
Father Tom
HEARING IMPAIRED?
Amplification devices are
available for anyone having difficulty hearing the Mass. If
you would like to use one, just ask an usher before
Mass. Also, the parish has purchased large-print Sunday
Missals to help you worship. If you would like one for
your
personal
use
contact
Sue
Colyer
at
[email protected] or 703-860-6149.
WE WELCOME
those who have recently
entered into our faith through the waters of
Baptism: Avery Nath Bicocchi, son of Mark and
Seema; Jacob Charles Plourde, son of Jason
and Emily; and Madelyn Grace Rubino, daughter of
Thomas and Jade.
Prayer and Liturgy
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS:
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11;
Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14;
2 Peter 3:8-14;
Mark 1:1-8
In today’s Gospel we experience “A voice in the desert”
crying out to us to make straight God’s paths. St. Francis de
Sales tells us how to do this:
Roads that twist and turn only weary and mislead travelers.
To make straight God’s path in our hearts, we must have as
our only goal to please God. We ought to be like the
mariner who, in steering his vessel, always keeps his eye
on the needle of the compass. We too must have our eyes
fixed on acquiring an even disposition, the most pleasing
virtue in the spiritual life. We need to consistently lead our
feelings, emotions and inclinations to God’s love, which
transforms them so that we possess an even disposition.
When our heart struggles constantly between our love of
God and our self-centered love, we find ourselves in a state
of fear, anxiety and confusion. The sight of our great faults
can bring with it a certain unhealthy fear that unnerves the
heart and often leads to discouragement. For this reason,
throughout our whole life we must exercise ourselves in
trusting God, and confiding ourselves to the goodness of
God, who loves us.
Yet, a holy fear leads us to take proper means to avoid
trouble. Holy fear and hope ought never to be without one
another. Hope encourages us to expect holy enjoyment in
God’s supreme goodness. God uses both of these virtues
to work spiritual cures in us.
Our life contains many tortuous paths that can be put right
only by a change of heart. When we orient our heart
towards God’s love, we experience true self-love. When
divine love reigns in our hearts, it tames all other loves.
Divine love subjects all our natural emotions and affections
to God’s plan and service. All one’s movements are at rest
in this holy love. Those who have an abundance of sacred
love have hearts full of confidence and hope, for they are
on the straight path to wholeness in God.
(Adapted from the writing of St. Francis de Sales
especially, “Sermons”, L. Fiorelli, OSFS, Ed.)
WE PRAY for those who have died, especially
Archbishop Joseph T. Dimino, retired
Archbishop of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military
Services for six years; Mary Jeanne MullinBuck, daughter-in-law of Janet Buck; and Francis
“Cookie” Palladini-Smith, wife of Tom.
ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH
RESTON, VIRGINIA
T HE
F EAST
OF
T HE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION A HOLY DAY “The angel Gabriel
was sent from God to a town of Galilee
called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to
a man named Joseph, of the house of
David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said “Hail, full of
grace! The Lord is with you.” Lk 1:26-28
These words are proclaimed in our Gospel for the
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this coming
Monday. By proclaiming that Mary is ‘full’ of grace we
acknowledge that she is free of original sin or its
consequences. While we are freed from original sin at our
Baptism, we are still subject to the consequences of that sin
which impedes our free will on occasion.
God preserves Mary from this from the moment of her
conception and throughout her life. It is a grace He bestows
on her so that she is a fitting mother for Christ. And while
she is still in need of the Savior for her salvation we
celebrate God’s action ahead of time in this great feast. Let
us thank God for His gift of the Mother of our Lord and
PRAY FOR A PRIEST DAILY
We continue our
daily prayers for the priests in the Arlington diocese by
praying for:
December 8th
Reverend Robert J. DeMartino
December 9th
Reverend Joseph Dewaele, C. I. C. M.
December 10th Reverend Alexander Diaz
December 11th Reverend Michael J. Dobbins
December 12th Reverend John J. Dolan, OSFS
December 13th Reverend Ramon Dominguez, Y. A.
DECEMBER 7, 2014
SATURDAY
5:00pm
SUNDAY
7:30am
9:30am
11:30am
11:30am
DECEMBER 6
Rita Scaffone †
DECEMBER 7
John M. Wagner †
Jeanne Krajec †
William Bobzien, III †
Lauren and Evan Stepanick,
Special Intention
1:00pm
People of the Parish
5:00pm
Mary and Max Skala ††
MONDAY
DECEMBER 8
6:30am
Len Mandgroc †
9:00am
Madilyn Crane †
12:10pm
George Bruzdowski †
5:00pm
Ilario J. Clandorf †
7:00 pm
Lynn Northrop †
TUESDAY
DECEMBER 9
6:30am
Betty Popovich †
9:00am
Rose Fernandez †
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10
9:00am
Elizabeth Munford †
12:10pm
Agnes Bulger †
THURSDAY
DECEMBER 11
6:30am
Anthony Ferlaino †
9:00am
Jeremiah Quinlan †
FRIDAY
DECEMBER 12
9:00am
Violet Falcone †
12:10pm
Vincent Lagrotteria †
SATURDAY
DECEMBER 13
5:00pm
Edna Tumolo †
SUNDAY
DECEMBER 14
7:30am
Richard Ozark †
9:30am
People of the Parish
11:30am
Vito Piagari †
1:30pm
Jean Hanuschak †
5:00pm
Mary Callaghan †
December 14th Reverend Denis M. Donahue
PLEASE PRAY
EXPOSITION AND ADORATION
“Our own belief is that the renovation of the
world will be brought about only by the Holy
Eucharist” – Pope Leo XIII
During this season of preparation for the
Nativity, come to spend some quiet time while you adore
Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Our monthly Exposition
and Adoration is this Thursday, December 11th from 3:00 –
8:00pm in the de Sales Chapel. Sign up sheets are
available on the Welcome Desk this weekend and
throughout the week.
for those who have asked for our
prayers: Martin Butler; Lori McLean; Antoinette Saiget;
Dan Vitiello; and for all who are sick; and for all caregivers
who minister to the sick.
When you call to add a name to our prayer list, please
leave your name and number as a contact and let us know
what the illness is. Before calling, please be sure you have
spoken to the person or a member of the family about
adding their name—we do not want to inadvertently
disregard someone's desire for privacy.
Names of those who are sick or injured will be kept on the list for
three weeks unless you specifically request a shorter period of
time or call to ask that the name be removed. Boldface type is
used for names that are new to the list this week.
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
THE ORGAN PIPES HAVE ARRIVED!
There is much
positive chatter around the parish hallways about the pipes and
the installation project schedule. The fourteen pipes that you
see mounted atop the reredos are just the beginning of the
installation process. In short, fourteen down (or rather, up), and
five hundred and six more to go! Once the physical installation
of the pipes is complete, attention will focus on the next step,
which is an elaborate calibration phase called “voicing”. During
this phase, the organ technicians will “voice” the pipes to agree
with one another for the right sound for our space, and they will
blend the sound of the digital stops with those that will now be
real wind. We anticipate that the voicing of the pipes will take
place early in the new year.
For those who are more curious, we will have a total of 6
primary stops that will now sound through the pipes. Here is
the listing of those stops and the number of pipes needed for
each stop:
 On the Pedal: 8’ Principal – 32 pipes
 On the Great (main keyboard):
8’ Principal – 61 pipes
4’ Octave – 61 pipes
2 2/3’ Quint – 61 pipes
2’ Super Octave – 61 pipes
Mixture IV – 244 pipes
Are you also curious about how different the sound will be with
the pipes? Here’s a short lesson on the way musical sounds
are achieved. When a note is played on any instrument, what
we hear is the result of a simple vibration, called a partial. The
electronic organ produces only a single sound wave that is the
electrically combined total of all partials through the
loudspeaker. With the pipe organ, each partial of each note
creates its own sound wave in the air independent of all other
waves. Translation - rather than simple directional loudness,
the pipes will allow the sound to be more supportive in the
room with a better and more natural sound quality, just as a
baby grand piano will always sound different (and much better)
than even the best digital piano!
Schedule of Advent and Christmas
Liturgies and Services
Taizé Prayer 7:30pm
Wednesdays, December 10th and 17th
de Sales Chapel
Confessions 10:00am
Saturdays, December 13th and 20th
Crèche Display
Saturday, December 6th, after Mass
Sunday, December 7th, 8:30am - 3:30pm
Solemnity Of The Immaculate Conception
(a Holy Day of Obligation)
Monday, December 8th, 6:30am and 9:00am,
12:10pm, 5:00pm, and 7:00pm Spanish Mass
Advent Penance Service
Tuesday, December 16th, 7:00pm
Christmas Sing-Along
Monday, December 22nd, 7:00pm
Christmas Eve Masses
4:00pm and 6:30pm, Church
4:00pm and 6:30pm, de Sales Chapel (no incense)
8:30pm and 10:30pm Church
Christmas Day Masses
9:30am (no incense), 11:30am;
1:30pm Spanish Mass
Thank you again to those of you who saw this project through
to reality!
PRAYER
OF BLESSING FOR A MANGER Your family
may wish to gather at your manger at home to pray this blessing,
with hands joined:
God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Savior was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To
our lives He brings joy and peace, justice, mercy and love.
Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the
humble birth of Jesus, and raise up our thoughts to Him, who is
God-with-us and Savior of all, and who lives and reigns for ever
and ever. Amen.
PRAYER VIGIL FOR PEACE
on Saturday, December 13th,
will focus on National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend,
marking the second anniversary of the tragic school shootings in
Newtown, CT, on December 14, 2012. The Vigil will include a
prayerful reading of names of victims of gun violence in our
country, For more information, contact either Bob More,
[email protected] ,
or
Ken
Fredgren,
[email protected].
Daily Masses
9:00am only on December 26th, 29th - 31st
and January 2nd
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
Vigil Mass: December 31st, 5:00pm
Holy Day Masses: January 1st, 9:30am and 11:30am;
1:30pm Spanish Mass
UPCOMING ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES
All Dates Are December
Monday, 15th
St. Thomas a Becket
7:00pm
Tuesday, 16th
St. John Neumann
7:00pm
Thursday, 18th
Our Lady of Good Counsel,
Vienna
7:30pm
Sunday, 21st
St. Mark, Vienna
7:00pm
ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH
RESTON, VIRGINIA
NEXT WEEKEND’S READINGS:
Next weekend
we celebrate The Third Sunday of Advent. Please
prepare for Mass and the Homily by reflecting on these
texts from God’s Word:
Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 In the midst of the difficulties of
rebuilding Jerusalem after the exile, a prophet announces
God’s intervention. Since the poor, the humble, the
oppressed know that God is their only resource, the glad
tidings are announced first to them. They will become a
people astounded by God’s gift, joyous as a bride at the
approach of her bridegroom.
Psalm: Luke 1: My Soul Rejoices In My God This
psalm begins with thanksgiving for past blessings. Then
the psalmist recalls the future happiness revealed by the
Lord. God has already come, and yet we await a further
coming.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 We cannot wait passively for
Christ’s return. Our attentiveness must open us to the work
of the Spirit; joy, prayer, and thanksgiving. To wait for the
Lord is already to accomplish what God expects of us.
John 1:6-8, 19-28 As this gospel is proclaimed, it is our
responsibility to recognize the One who stands in our
midst.
Parish Information
THE DEADLINE IS HERE!
If you took a tag for a
gift for the Christmas Angels (children of Laurel Learning
Center) or for Cornerstones Gifts For Kids, the deadline for
returning the gift is this Sunday, December 7th. Please
remember the Angel gifts are to be wrapped with the tag
attached and placed in the binds in the main hallway. Gifts
For Kids should remain unwrapped with the tag attached
and placed in the colorful boxes in the hallway across from
the auditorium. Thank you for your generosity; you are
helping to brighten Christmas for our local children!
CRÈCHES
AND FAIR TRADE Remember to visit
the auditorium this weekend to see all the beautiful
parishioner crèches and do a little Fair Trade shopping as
well. Our annual crèche blessing will be held after the
9:30am Sunday Mass. The display of crèches will continue
through 3:00pm Sunday, while the Fair Trade sale will
conclude after the 5:00pm Mass.
PRO LIFE GREEN SALE SUCCESS
Thank you to
all who purchased greens from the Pro Life ministry. Your
home will have a festive look this Christmas and your
purchase has allowed us to contribute to a local Pro Life
organization “A Womans Choice”.
DECEMBER 7, 2014
COME FOR PANCAKES NEXT SUNDAY!
The
Knights of Columbus will host their Pancake Breakfast next
weekend, December 14th, in the auditorium
from 8:30 to 11:30am. The beneficiary will
be “Women Giving Back”. This worthy
organization was founded in June 2007
by a core group of building industry sales
and marketing professionals. Their goal
is to supplement the great work HomeAid
Northern Virginia does in renovating
shelters, by helping transitionally homeless
women and children get on their feet with clothes to help
them enter the workplace.
HYPOTHERMIA PREVENTION SHELTER
JANUARY 18-25, 2015
Each year, St. John Neumann hosts homeless guests for a
week. We provide our guests with food, fellowship and a
warm place to sleep. This year we will be hosting up to 80
guests. Our faith partners are St. Thomas à Becket and St.
Mark Catholic Churches, and Congregation Beth Emeth.
Our two facilitators are FACETS and Volunteers of America.
The online signup for hypothermia volunteer positions
opened December 1st; positions are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. A link to the signup is at
www.saintjn.org. Job descriptions are on the website. If
you have any issues with signing up, send an email to Pam
or Patty at [email protected].
Adult (ages 18 and older) volunteer positions include:
 5:00 - 8:30am: Help serve breakfast and assist guests in
getting ready to leave for the day.
 4:00 - 8/9:00pm: On a rotating schedule, help with registering guests and volunteers, monitor hallways and
have dinner with guests.
 5:00pm - 7:00 am: Stay overnight (You do get to sleep for
a few hours!), providing assistance and fellowship to
guests. Please consider this job - it gives you the maximum time with our guests and is extremely rewarding.
 6:00 - 9:00am and 3:30 or 4:30 - 8:00pm: Drivers and assistants, using vans provided by FACETS pick guests
up from and transport them to local transportation
stops. Assistants ride with drivers. FACETS will provide
a short training for drivers on Saturday, January 10th at
10:30 am.
Training is required for all new volunteers (some exceptions
are listed on the website) and suggested for those who
have not been to an SJN training in the past two years.
There are two choices: Saturday, January 10th from 9:00 10:30am (11:00am for first-timers) or Monday, January 12th
from 7:00 - 8:30pm (9:00pm for first-timers).
If you are can’t help on-site, there will be other opportunities
to serve the homeless as well. We are in need of lots of
donations of $5.00 restaurant gift cards, clothing, food and
other supplies. Watch future bulletins for more information.
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
CAN YOU GIVE THE GIFT
OF LIFE? Give to others by giving
the gift of life in just one hour. The
Knights of Columbus Family of Man
Council is sponsoring the quarterly Red
Cross Blood Drive at St. John Neumann next Saturday,
December 13th from 8:00am to 12:30pm in Classrooms A1/
A2. To schedule a specific time to make your donation on
December 13th, register online at www.redcrossblood.org
and use sponsor code 0533572. Or, if you prefer, you can
call Eddie Byrne of the Knights at 703-860-4130 or the Red
Cross at 1-800-RED-CROS. Please help if you are able.
Have eligibility questions? Call 1-866-236-3276.
ADVENT TAIZÉ CONTINUES
Join us on
Wednesday evenings December 10th, and
December 17th at 7:30pm in the de Sales
Chapel for Taizé services. Prayer in the
spirit of the Taizé Community is a
meditative form of common prayer.
Gathered in the presence of Christ we sing uncomplicated,
repetitive songs, uncluttered by too many words, allowing
the mystery of God to become tangible through the beauty
of the simplicity. A few words sung over and over again
reinforce the meditative quality of prayer. They express a
basic reality of faith that can quickly be grasped by the
intellect and that gradually penetrates the whole being.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR LADY
OF GUADALUPE CELEBRATION! Please join us
on Saturday, December 13th, to celebrate the Feast of Our
Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas. We will
start at 6:30pm with the Rosary, followed by Mass and a
reception. There is no charge or ticket needed to attend this
event and all are welcome!
¡CELEBRACIÓN DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE
GUADALUPE! Los invitamos a que nos acompañen el
sábado, 13 de diciembre a celebrar la Fiesta de Nuestra
Señora de Guadalupe, la Patrona de las Américas.
Daremos comienzo a las 6:30 de la tarde con el santo
Rosario, seguido por la Santa Misa y una recepción. No se
necesity boleto para asistir a este evento. ⁱTodos son
bienvenidos!
Our parish has no CYO teams. However, when
nearby parish teams need additional players,
they often include our children and teens. In
order for us to participate, we are required to have
a parish representative. Along with his children, our current
representative is graduating out of CYO, so we are seeking
a parent to be our representative. For more information the
website is: http://new.nvjcyo.org/user. You may also contact
our graduating representative John Lannen at
[email protected].
SAVE
THE DATE for Saturday, January 10th. Hogar
Immigrant Services will offer its next Citizen Workshop at
our parish. More information will be available soon.
Fellowship
ONGOING FELLOWSHIP
AT
SJN:

Sunday Coffee Join us for coffee, juice, muffins, and
fellowship each Sunday from 8:30—11:30am. All are
welcome!

9:00am Daily Mass and Fellowship: Following Mass
in the Chapel, join us in the Bridal Room for coffee and
cookies.

Mothers’ Group: Join us for weekday, evening and
weekend playgroups, nights out, special events and
more. Membership is open to all new, veteran and
expectant caregivers of small children. Membership is
free and participation is voluntary in all group activities.
For more information please send email to
[email protected].

Young Adults: If you are in your twenties or thirties
and are looking for a community to socialize, do service
and pray with, then come join us! For more information,
email Angela Davis at [email protected].

Knights of Columbus: Are you a male, age 18 years
or older and a practicing Catholic, and wish to embark
on a journey that emphasizes faith, fraternity, and
fellowship with a real commitment to service in our
community? If so, please consider becoming a member
of the K of C Family of Man Council #7566. Take that
first step and contact us at [email protected].

Shawl Ministry: On alternate Sunday afternoons we
gather to pray, talk, and create beautiful handmade
shawls for those who are ill or grieving. Contact Teresa
Westhues at 703-969-8430 to join or request a shawl.
50+ CLUB ACTIVITIES:

Thursday, January 8th: We will visit the Udvar-Hazy
Center in Chantilly, one of the two facilities making up
the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
From the space shuttle to satellites to flying machines
of all ages, the museum is packed with history. Lunch
will follow at Cracker Barrel in Sterling.
ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH
RESTON, VIRGINIA
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY:
Here are some of our
upcoming activities. Email Angela ([email protected])
for more information on any event.

Wednesday, December 10th: Taizé Prayer - Meet
outside de Sales Chapel at 7:15pm. We will join the
Taizé Prayer at 7:30pm. (See the Taizé Prayer article
on page 7 for more information.)

Saturday, December 13th: Blood Drive Sign-In Table
Volunteers; 8:00am-12:30pm. If you can help, email
Angela.

Sunday, December 21st: Parish Christmas Decorating.
We will assist creating a warm and festive environment.
Food will be provided!

Saturday - Monday, January 17th - 19th: DeSales
Service Works, Camden, NJ; Service Trip. Email
Angela to sign-up. Space is limited!
Faith Formation
Mary B. Lyons, Director
703-390-2340
[email protected]
WELCOME HOME
Are you a “returning”
Catholic or perhaps thinking this may be your
home? You may contact Mary Lyons and see
our brochure at www.saintjn.org/returningcatholics on our website.
RCIA
Interested in being Catholic? Do you have
questions? Contact Mary Lyons and visit our web site and
see www.saintjn.org/about-becoming-catholic.
CENTERING PRAYER/ MEDITATION
Join us and experience together the prayer of
quiet together on Thursdays. All are
welcome! See page two of the bulletin for
schedule and our parish website for more
information about this beautiful prayer
experience.
DECEMBER 7, 2014
ADULT CONFIRMATION
A group of adult Catholics
will begin meeting in January to prepare for the Sacrament
of Confirmation, to be celebrated at St. Thomas More
Cathedral on Pentecost weekend, May 23 -24, 2015. If you
are a baptized Catholic and receive Communion, but have
never been confirmed and would like to join this group,
please contact Mary Lyons.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY (AGAPE)
Doug Johnson 703-860-6141
[email protected]
UPCOMING AGAPE EVENTS: Mark your calendars
for the following Agape or Agape-related events and make
plans to attend:
 Sunday, December 7th - High School Teen Night: 6:15pm;
Youth Room
 Saturday, December 13th - Mini Work Camp: 9:00am 3:00pm; Parking Lot
 Saturday, December 13th - Wreaths Across America: Arlington National Cemetery - details below
 Sunday, December 14th - High School Teen Night:
6:15pm; Auditorium
 Friday, December 19th - Sunday, December 21st - Search
Retreat for Juniors and Seniors: Concord Retreat House
 Wednesday - Thursday, January 21st - 22nd - “Life is Very
Good”; Registration deadline is December 1st
HIGH SCHOOL TEEN NIGHT
Join us this
Sunday, December 7th, in the Youth Room for food,
fellowship, faith sharing, meeting new friends and having
lots of fun! This will be a great opportunity to learn more
about our Catholic faith and values, share snacks, and
enjoy fellowship. At this session, our topic for discussion will
be “Rules for True Freedom: Exploring the Ten
Commandments.” The Ten Commandments were revealed
by God as part of the covenant with the Jewish people and
came to fulfillment with Jesus in the New Testament. We
will examine the Commandments as a gift and a path to
real freedom! All high school teens and their parents are
welcome to join us to continue our faith journey together.
Bring a friend; friends do not have to be members of our
parish or Catholic.
THE POWER OF STORY: NEW TESTAMENT
WITNESS TO COVENANT This series will not
If you have not yet registered for the Saint John Neumann
High School Youth Ministry Program (AGAPE), a
registration form is available on the Saint John Neumann
website at www.saintjn.org or at the Faith Formation Office.
You don't need to be registered to attend our fun and
informative events but we would like you to register soon!
BIBLE STUDY FOR MOTHERS OF YOUNG
CHILDREN is held on Fridays from 10:00 - 11:30am in
MINI WORK CAMP Calling all teens and adults! Join us
meet on December 8th and will conclude on Monday,
December 15th in the de Sales Chapel.
the Conference Room; child care is provided. For more
information, please contact Christy Cottrell at
[email protected]. The group will meet on December
12th and 19th.
for the next Mini Work Camp next Saturday, December 13th
from 9:00am - 3:00pm. No experience is necessary to bring
hope by sharing your Christian love with those in
need. Contact Phyllis Rienzo at 703-795-0339 or email at
[email protected] for a required permission slip or more
information and to let her know you will be joining us!
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Teens and adults from
Saint John Neumann are invited to join other volunteers at
Arlington National Cemetery again this year on Saturday,
December 13th to lay Christmas wreaths on the graves of our
Nation’s heroes. Please consider joining the teens and their
families for the goal of joining others to lay wreaths on over
224,000 graves this year. There will be a short welcome and
briefing at the Memorial Amphitheater located near the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier. Volunteers are then welcome to lay wreaths
at 9:30 am. Parking is limited so consider using the Metro. There
is no need to sign up or register ahead of time – just plan on
joining us to honor and remember those that have given their all to
ensure the freedoms that we enjoy today! If you cannot attend the
wreath placement, please consider going to the website at
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information or to make a
donation. The cost of a wreath is $15. This is a great way for
teens, parents and families to honor our veterans.
ANNUAL SEARCH RETREAT
All High School juniors and
seniors are invited and encouraged to take
time out from their busy schedules for a
weekend of quiet reflection, spirituality, self
-discovery, friendship and fellowship at our
annual Search Retreat. It will be held from
Friday, December 19th to Sunday,
December 21st at the Concord Retreat
House in Yellow Spring, West Virginia. Search is a unique
opportunity to learn more about yourself, God and your community
while having fun and making new friends.
Registration forms and permission slips are available on the table
outside the Faith Formation Office. Permission slips must be
completed to participate. Remember, this retreat is open to all
juniors and seniors. You don’t have to be a member of Saint
John Neumann Church or Catholic to attend, so invite and bring
your friends! The cost is $125; scholarships are available if this
is a financial hardship. The deadline to sign up is Monday,
December 15th, at which time your registration form, completed
permission slip and check for the full cost of the retreat must be
received in the Faith Formation Office. If you have any questions,
or need further information, please contact Doug Johnson at 703860-6141 or send an email to [email protected].
Special Collection Stewardship
The Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington
Christmas Collection takes place next Sunday, December
14th. Funds support Catholic Charities programs, such as a
soup kitchen/food pantry, hypothermia shelter, adoption
and foster care, counseling, immigrant assistance,
emergency assistance, services for the elderly, crisis
pregnancy counseling, services for the disabled, parish
social ministry, and prison ministry. For more information,
please visit http://www.ccda.net/.
OUR
THANKS TO
OAKTON FAMILY ORTHODONTICS, PC
FOR SPONSORING AN AD
IN OUR
WEEKLY BULLETIN
LIFE IS VERY GOOD – EVENING
PRAYER AND MORNING RALLY: You
OF
are
invited to join groups from all over the country at one or
both of these events at the Patriot Center on the campus of
George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
On Wednesday, January 21st, from 7:30 – 10:00pm, the
Evening of Prayer will celebrate the culture of life and
features music by Matt Maher and Rend Collective and a
keynote address by Chris Stefanick. Tickets are $15 each
and should be reserved in advance.
The Morning Rally will take place Thursday, January 22 nd
from 9:00am – 12:00pm and is a great opportunity to
prepare to take to the streets of Washington, D.C. to make
our voices heard as we proclaim the gospel of life at the
March for Life. The morning rally includes Mass and
Reconciliation, music by the Ike Ndolo Band, with Chris
Stefanick as emcee. Tickets are $16.50, with a Chick-fil-A
lunch, and should be reserved in advance.
There is a discount rate of $26.50 if you attend both the
morning and evening events. If you are interested in
attending one or both of these events, please contact Doug
Johnson by email at [email protected] as soon as
possible as the event is selling out fast.
VOLUNTEER - DRIVERS NEEDED
Volunteers
are needed to pick up bakery products at a local store and
deliver them to a homeless shelter in Reston one night per
week, or once every other week. Obviously, you must have
a car; the task takes about one hour to complete. If you can
help, please call Judy or Dan Young at 703-620-0948.
AN EVENING IN DECEMBER
On Thursday,
December 11th , from 7:30 - 10:00pm, Floris United
Methodist Church in Herndon is once again hosting An
Evening in December, a night of joy for women of all ages
to celebrate the goodness of God and share the Gospel
through music and message, love and laughter,
realignment and restoration. This year’s program will
feature a special message by international speaker, author
and humorist, Ellie Lofara as well as special music by
singer, songwriter and Multi-Dove Award winner, Babbie
Mason. This event is a terrific opportunity for all women,
whatever their faith background, to enjoy a break from the
craziness and commercialism of the season. All proceeds
from the event will benefit Helping Children Worldwide, a
Christian non-profit organization transforming lives of
children and their families in Sierra Leone through access
to education and health care. Tickets are $12 in advance,
or $15 at the door. More ticket information can be found at
www.helpingchildrenworldwide.org.