February 26-28, 2012 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

with Fr. Robert S. Rivers, CSP

“From Maintenance to Mission presents a compelling vision of Catholic evangelization and outlines some strategic thinking to help us implement the great vision to which we have been called.”

Evening 1: Revitalizing our Faith
Evening 2: Making a Difference in our Faith
Evening 3: Moving from Maintenance to Mission in our Parish

Books will be available for purchase ($20 cash or check made out to Paulist New England Outreach).
St. Aloysius Catholic Church

Mission Flyer

Recently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with the approval of President Obama issued a new federal mandate making coverage of abortifacient drugs, sterilization and all FDA-approved contraceptives obligatory for virtually all employers, including faith-based institution. The mandate presents an aggressive challenge to religious liberty – so much so that even the Washington Post editorial board disagreed with it.

The HHS rule in question requires that virtually all private health plans include coverage of female sterilization procedures, contraceptives and abortifacients as “preventive services” – regardless of whether or not the insurer, employer or insured individual has a moral objection to such drugs and procedures. The rule includes a requirement – unprecedented at the federal level – that to qualify for a “religious employer” exemption, the party in question must hire and serve primarily people of its own faith. Our Catholic charitable organizations, schools and hospitals serve all people – Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This rule essentially requires that the Church either stop hiring and serving non-Catholics or violate our own religious beliefs by providing insurance coverage for medications and procedures we believe are immoral.

To learn more about this unprecedented challenge to our religious freedom please visit www.usccb.org/conscience and www.mdcathcon.org.

Thank you.

Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 4-8pm

On Saturday, February 4th, from 4-8 pm, Father Andrew White School is hosting its annual Italian Dinner and Brown Bag Auction as part of our celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Enjoy spaghetti with your choice of sauces, bread, salad, and dessert. Tickets will also be on sale for a variety of filled themed baskets that will be raffled at the dinner.

See the attached flyer for more information.

Cost
- $9.00 ages 12 and older
- $5.00 ages 6-11
- $3.00 ages 5 and under

2012 Italian Dinner Flyer

Everyone – Parents, Parishioners, Perspective Parents & Students – are welcome to visit Father Andrew White S.J. School this week and see the wonderful things happening in Catholic education in our parish today!

• Take a tour of our great school
• Learn about our 4-yr-old preschool and full-day kindergarten programs
• Discover our faith in practice
• Hear about our challenging academics, STEM and technology programs
• Talk with our dedicated teachers & principal
• Hear about our after-care program

The staff and students will host visitors on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 9:30 – 11:00 am as well as on Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 12:00 – 1:30 pm. Registration of new students for the 2012 – 2013 school year will begin on Monday, March 1.

At Father Andrew White S.J. School we are “Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow, Living Our Faith”.

This year’s Scout Sunday Mass will be celebrated on February 5, 2011 during the 11:00 am Mass. Members of the parish registered in Scouting (girls, boys and adults) are invited to participate wearing their Scout uniform.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Matt Allen at 301-997-0014. There is also a sign-up sheet in the vestibule of the church.

Anyone wishing to participate must sign-up by Sunday, January 29th.

Thanks to your overwhelming response and generosity we continue our upward climb on our quest to raise $3.3 million for our new parish center, the Annunciation Center. Currently we have received in pledges and gifts almost $2.6M. Thank you!

If you have not made a pledge to the campaign, there is still time to do so. Pledge cards have not only been mailed to every registered household, but are also available in the vestibule of the church. All we need is you is for you to pick one up, fill it out and return it to the parish office via mail, the collection basket, or the pledge box which is also located in the vestibule of the church.

Please help us keep our momentum rolling and return your decision to us as quickly as possible! And don’t forget, everyone who returns a completed pledge form by 11 am next Sunday, January 8th, will be entered into a raffle to win one of two Kindle Fires.

Capital Campaign Pledge Form

St. Aloysius has a couple new Bible Studies beginning in the New Year.

Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15am in FAW library beginning January 22nd. Learn about one of the most perplexing books of the Bible in Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come.

On Thursday afternoons from 1 to 2:30pm in the rectory, beginning February 9th, discover how to pray with Sacred Scripture in Psalms: The School of Prayer.

Both studies are 11 parts.

On Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30pm in FAW library, our study of The Bible Timeline:The Story of Salvation continues, and new participants are welcome.

Contact Leonard Wathen form more information or to sign up.

St. Aloysius Respect Life Committee of the parish is once again sponsoring a bus to the Right to Life March on Monday, January 23rd, 2012. We invite you to spend a day of fellowship with your family and friends as we once again “march” the streets of our Nation’s Capital to stand for life.

A sign up sheet is available in the vestibule of the Church to reserve your space on the bus. We are asking for a donation of $10 per person to reserve your space on the bus. If you would like further information concerning the March, please contact Chris Guy at 301-475-2166 or Fr. John at 301-475-8064.

The updated Ministry Schedule for October 2011 through January 2, 2012 for Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, and Music Ministry has been posted on the web site. You may also view the schedule at the link below:

Ministry Schedule January 7, 2012 – April 8, 2012

Christmas Masses

Saturday, December 24th Christmas Eve
– 5:00 pm Children’s Mass
– 7:30 pm Vigil Mass
– 11:30 pm Choral Presentation

Sunday, December 25th Christmas
- 12:00 am Midnight Mass
– 9:30 am

Please Note: This year Christmas falls on a Sunday, however we will be using a different Mass schedule for the feast, not the regular Sunday Mass schedule. Please take note of this as you make your plans for Christmas Mass.

Mary, Mother of God

Regular Sunday Schedule

Saturday, December 31st New Year’s Eve
– 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 1st New Year’s Day
– 8:00 am
- 11:00 am