BISHOP DORSONVILLE is coming to our parish in two weeks: Sunday October 9. You are all invited to join! Come to the FEAST! Come to the FIESTA!
We are celebrating the 11th Anniversary of our Hispanic Community. Happy Birthday!
God has blessed us with one of the most diverse communities in the Washington area. As a mid-size parish, we remain a family of families, welcoming everyone. Welcoming everyone has been part of our parish culture from the very beginning 42 years ago! We are grateful to our "pioneers".
We welcome everyone to bring them to Christ. When people enter our church, they can look up and read our welcoming words:
MAY WE ALL BE ONE IN CHRIST
Those seven words summarize our parish motto:
BRINGING ALL TO CHRIST
SHARING CHRIST WITH ALL
BEING ONE IN CHRIST
Jesus Christ Loves everyone. As Christians, we show our own Love of Christ by seeing Christ in everyone, especially those most in need (financial, emotional, and spiritual).
As Christians, we share Christ with everyone, including friends, extended family, neighbors, and coworkers. Since our baptism, we are all called to holiness, we are all called to announce the Good News, the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ who dies to take away our sins and rises to lead us to Heaven.
We are UNITED in CHRIST. We are ONE IN THE EUCHARIST. When receiving the Eucharist, every communicant becomes ONE WITH JESUS. When joining the Church at baptism, we become children of God, we become part of the BODY OF CHRIST, the CHURCH. We are ONE in the Body of Christ. We have the same Father in Heaven: we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, the Son of the Father.
At the end of the Last Supper, Jesus knows that he is going to die for all of us. Judas has left the room to betray Him. Here is Jesus' own prayer to His Father:
"Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all the people, so that he may GIVE ETERNAL LIFE to all you gave him. Now, this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the ONE whom you sent, Jesus Christ... Now they know that everything you gave me is from you...And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. HOLY FATHER, keep them in your name that you have given me, so THAT THEY MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE." (John 17:1-3,7,11).
Our joint prayer to our Heavenly Father is: "FROM THE MANY MAKE US ONE!"
Let us celebrate our unity in:
1. WELCOMING BISHOP DORSONVILLE ( 5 PM)
2. ADORATION (5:30 PM), CONFESSION (6 PM)
3. OUTDOOR PROCESSION (6:30 PM)
4. the MASS (7 PM)
5. RECEPTION: FIESTA with MUSIC and INTERNATIONAL POT LUCK (8 PM)
The FIESTA in the Father Martin Hall celebrates OUR FELLOWSHIP and our support for the Hispanic community. We are grateful to GOD that at long last the coronavirus has turned into a "normal" flu. We are back to a "new" normal, keeping the same precautions as in traditional "flu seasons". We invite everyone to bring a special dish for the International "Pot Luck”.
Pat Viets continues to welcome receiving your own recipes for completing our OLHOC International Cookbook. For more details or submit a recipe online please visit www.olhoc.org/cookbook
If you are interested in assisting with the FIESTA (e.g. set-up in Father Martin Hall) let our Office know by emailing ([email protected]) or calling Jeannie Jacobs or Maria Lam (301-645-7112).
Heavenly Father, we ask you to keep blessing all our parishioners: FROM THE MANY MAKE US ONE, ONE IN CHRIST YOUR SON! Help us to remain united in celebrating our diversity!
One in Christ,
Father Alain