January 30, 2005

 

2004 Tax Statements: This year we will not automatically be sending out donation statements.  If you need a statement, please stop by the office and pick your statement up or call the office to have one sent through the mail.

 

Mass Offerings and Stipends: Traditionally, Masses are offered each day during the year for deceased members of our families or friends on anniversary dates of significance to us as family, special intentions and the Mass offered for any and all needs and particular requests.  Accordingly, the Archdiocese has set the usual offering for a Mass at ten dollars.  We thank you for your support and cooperation.

 

Catholic Engaged Encounter: While satisfying the diocesan requirements for marriage preparation, the Engaged Encounter weekend gives couples much more - ample time to examine the issues they will encounter in their marriage relationship.  The cost of  the encounter is $275 per couple.  The weekends are held at retreat facilities or hotels in the Washington metropolitan area.  Each individual will be sharing a room/suite with a member of the same sex. Engaged Encounter’s web site www.dcengagedencounter.org will be able to answer many of your questions including weekend availability.  In order to get on the schedule and to properly prepare for marriage, couples should register for a weekend at least three to six months prior to their wedding date.

 

Special Charity of the Month: Support United States Black, Indian, Eskimo and Aleute Missions.  There are 131 dioceses who receive assistance from the collection.  The support goes to some of the neediest people across the United States, from the inner cities of the rural South and from the deserts of the Southwest to Alaska’s cold wilderness.  All of us concerned with evangelization and the social ministry of the Church know that National Collections are necessary for education, evangelization, foreign missions, home missions, retired religious, and people in need.

 

Soup’s on After Stations: Beginning Friday, February 11 and continuing on the following Fridays during Lent, the Special Celebrations Committee will again host a light supper of soup and bread after the Stations of the Cross.  Soup, bread, drinks and tableware will be provided.  Please plan to pray with us at the Stations, then partake of a variety of delicious soups.  Special Celebrations is also inviting parishioners to assist on the February 18 & 25 and March 4, 11 & 18 by supplying either soup or bread.  Please contact Jude at 301-893-2403 if you want to help.

 

Our Lady’s Little Christians (OLLC) Preschool: program is ready to begin registration for school year 2005-2006.  Registration will occur in the following order: 1) Current OLHC  students and siblings from Feb. 7-18, 2) current St. Peter’s school families from Feb. 22-25, 3) OLHC’s and St. Peter’s registered parishioners  from Feb. 28-Mar. 4, and 4) everyone else beginning March 7.  You may phone in (no walk-ins) on the dates specified between the hours of 9:00 a.m.-3:00- p.m. to schedule an appointment to register.  Final registration will be held on Saturday, March 19^th, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  This registration will be for those families who have scheduled a registration appointment.  There will be an opportunity to tour the facilities, meet current staff, have questions answered, and complete all necessary paperwork.

OLLC follows the State of Maryland school entrance requirements which state a child must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2005 to register for our prekindergarten program.  Please call Barbara Breighner at 301-645-7112 if you have questions or require more information.

 

Volunteers Needed Now: Adult volunteers are needed to provide staffing and support to homeless individuals staying in temporary shelters in the Waldorf area through Charles County’s Safe Nights program.  Volunteers will be trained to work in teams of 2 to stay with homeless men, women, and children for designated shifts between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. during cold winter months.  Training to be a Safe Nights volunteer will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 at the office of Charles County Human Services Partnership in LaPlata.  Training will be from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. with lunch provided.  Please RSVP to Kay Smythers at 301-396-5238 by January 31 if you are interested.

 

Bake Sale: The Altar Guild of Our Lady Help of Christians is sponsoring a bake sale on Sunday, February 13  after all three of the Masses.  Contributions of your favorite recipe would be greatly appreciated.  You can leave donations of your baked goodies on Saturday evening or Sunday morning at the bake table in the Vestibule.  Thank you.

 

Prayers are requested for: Patricia Walsh, David Bird, Sr., Dana Tellechea, Tammy Travers, Lucy Melvin, Donna Devitis, Dorey Pagel, Kylis Savoy, Maria Workman, John Lohman, John W. Bell,  Howard Bridges, Regina Lominac, and Gert Gorman.  Call the office to add a name to our list and also to remove a name when the crisis has passed.

OLHC Youth Group Super Bowl Subs: The youth group will be selling subs for Super Bowl Sunday.   Orders will be taken on January 29/30 after Masses.

                    

Catholic Standard’s “Lit for Little Ones”: book drive is back.  Last year, more than 20,000 books were collected for the Southern Maryland Catholic elementary schools. This year the books will be donated to the libraries of Prince George’s County Catholic elementary schools. Please donate new or gently used children’s books or computer software by dropping them off in the box in the church vestibule.  Collection of books will be from January 10^th through February 16, 2005.   Contact Laurie Enceneat at 202-281-2409 with any questions. 

 

Our Lady’s Little Christians: is happy to share the news with you that we are hosting a series of four training sessions for childcare providers and parents.  These are all approved by the Child Care Administration for three clock hours of continuing education.  Advance registration is required and the cost for each workshop is $25.00.  All parents, parishioners, and catechists are invited to take advantage of this opportunity.

Thursday, February 10, 2005, 6:00 -9:30 p.m. - Enhancing Self-Esteem Using Play-Based Techniques,

Tuesday, February 15, 6:00-9:30 p.m. - ADHD: What Every Child Care Worker Must Know,

Saturday, April 2, 2005, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Abduction Prevention Skills and Child Safety,

Thursday, April 28, 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. - How to Discipline Without Screaming and Scolding.

Please contact Barbara Breighner at 301-645-7112 for a synopsis of each workshop and for information on registration.

 

St. Peter’s School News: Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance Applications are now available on-line at http://www.adw.org or in the school office.  Application deadline is February 18, 2005.  Catholic Schools Week Open House for prospective parents, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 10:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:00 p.m.  H.S.A. Family Dinner on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

 

Archbishop Neale School: Open House for new families, Tuesday, March 1, 9:00-10:30 a.m.  Registration for 2005-2006, Tuesday, March 15, 2:30-6:30 p.m.

 

Women’s Retreat at Loyola Retreat House: on February 18-20, 2005 at Loyola Retreat House.  The theme will be “Our Life with the Blessed Trinity”.  To register, please send your name and a deposit of $75 to Loyola Retreat House, P. O. Box 9, Faulkner, MD, 20632. For more information call 301-870-3515.

 

Catholic Women’s Bible Study: Courageous Women: A Bible Study on Courageous Women: A Study on the Heroines of Biblical History by Stacy Mitch, Feb. 15-April 19, Cost $11.00.  For details call Laura Wells at 301-396-8257 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).

 

Traveling Statue of Our Lady of Fatima: donated by the DiSandro family, is available to travel to homes of parishioners on a monthly basis to encourage prayer (every two weeks if there is a demand). To have the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima visit your home, please call Laura Wells at (301)396-8257.

Separated and Divorced Catholics: of the Archdiocese of Washington will hold its monthly meeting on Sunday, February 13th, at 7:00pm in the Friendship Room at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in LaPlata, MD. For more information, contact Brenda at 301-934-7149.   Note: Sacred Heart Church's address is 201 St. Mary's Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646.