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Please pray for the sick…. Christina Spano, Angel Andrada, Jean Smith, Joan McLoughlin, Louise Keenan. (Names will remain on this list for four (4) consecutive weeks, but can be repeated by calling the Rectory. Please notify the Parish Office if you or persons whose names you submitted no longer need to be on this prayer list. Thank you for your cooperation.)
Scripture Corner “PEACE BE WITH YOU” Appearances of Jesus after his resurrection were extremely important for his followers. Today’s Gospel has not only the appearance of Jesus, but the proof that his resurrected body is a real body, his body from his public ministry, but now glorified. To assure the disciples of the reality of his body, he showed them his hands and feet and even ate with them. Luke is writing for a Gentile Christian community. The Gentiles in general were not impressed by the idea of resurrection, as Paul found out when preaching in Athens. (Acts 17:22–34) Christ also insists that the Old Testament scriptures – the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms – “must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44) An amazing example of this is found in the prophet Isaiah, “Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many [all], and win pardon for their offenses.” (53:12) The second reading of today’s liturgy also teaches the universal aspect of our Lord’s salvation. “He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) “Peace be with you” is Jesus’ greeting to his followers. The Church continues to use this greeting at the Sacrifice of the Mass. We wish each other that special peace of our Lord. “Peace” in the Bible and in Church use goes far beyond the usual meaning of peace, the absence of hostility. At the birth of Christ the host of angels proclaimed “Peace to those on whom his [God’s] favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) Peace here and in the Bible and in Church use means the fullness, the completion, the perfection of the blessings won for all by our Savior. Jesus also looks to the future and instructs the apostles, “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:47–48) This universal mission will become the theme of the Acts of the Apostles, also written by Luke . “You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) ~ Fr. Ralph
MOTHER’S DAY MASS CARDS Mass Cards will be available next weekend in the Gathering Space. This is a wonderful way to remember your Mother, Mother-in-law, Aunt or anyone special at Mass on Mother’s Day and throughout the month of May. Please return your spiritual bouquet envelope to the Rectory by Wednesday, May 9th. WOMEN’S SCRIPTURE STUDY – We meet on Wednesday evenings, 8 – 9:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. Our next meeting is April 25th. All are welcome to join us! For additional information please call Sue Madison (301) 977-6854 or Mary Dixon (301) 330-4382. MAY LUNCH - The St. Francis Lunch Bunch will meet at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2nd at Biscotti’s Ristorante, 7212 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, (301) 990-6560. If you are planning to attend, please contact Mary Lou Habib, (301) 417-0243 and she will reserve a seat for you.
SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL - Come join the St. Francis Men’s Slow Pitch Softball team. If you are 16 or older you are eligible. We play local church teams in Gaithersburg starting in mid-April and running through July. Games are Monday evenings starting between 6:45 and 7 pm. Contact Dan Sullivan (301) 775-2283 or Milt Madison (301) 977-6854 for more information. LAMB OF GOD PRAYER MEETING - Join the Lamb of God Prayer Group for worship and the study of Scripture on Tuesday, April 24th, 7:30 p.m., St. Clare’s Chapel in the Rectory. For details, please call Louise, (301) 977-5217.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION We are now accepting registration for next year’s Religious Education Program! Our program offerings for children and youth include:
Since the curriculum of the Religious Education Program is designed to be taught in sequence and each year builds on the content presented in previous years, families should plan for their children to participate in Religious Education classes each year. Registration forms were mailed home to families with children currently attending RE classes. For those new to our program, and if additional forms are needed, blank forms are available on the parish web site (www.sfadw.org), in the Gathering Space of the Church, and in the Parish Offices. Completed forms can be mailed or brought in to the Parish Offices. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please complete and return the registration forms as soon as possible! Registering for Sacramental Preparation Sacramental preparation for 1st Reconciliation, 1st Eucharist, Confirmation, and Christian Initiation for Children/Teens (CIC/CIT) is not grade specific and involves preparation in addition to grade level Religious Education classes. At minimum, children are expected to have participated in religious education in the year prior to preparing for a sacrament. Please note: students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation will attend their grade-level Religious Education classes as well as monthly Confirmation sessions. Families requesting sacramental preparation for their child are asked to mark their registration form accordingly so that additional information can be provided. Please note that there is a separate materials fee for sacramental preparation programs. More details will be provided at the parent meetings next year. If you have any questions, please call the Religious Education Office, (301) 258-9193. Upcoming Sacraments at St. Francis Please pray for the children and young people of our parish who are preparing to receive First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation during this Easter Season. First Eucharist will be celebrated on Saturday, April 28th at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 22nd at 7:00 p.m. IS YOUR MARRIAGE IN TROUBLE? If your relationship has grown cold and distant. If you are separated or thinking about separation or divorce, we believe that Retrouvaille (French for Rediscovery and pronounced Re-tro-vi) can help. Retrouvaille is a Catholic program designed to help hurting couples mend and heal their brokenness. The next weekend is May 11 - 13, 2012. All calls and inquiries are confidential. For more information please call (301) 468-6764 or visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com. If you would like to receive information in the mail, email: TomnCarol@comcast.net. VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED – Gaithersburg Meals on Wheels has a continuing need for drivers to deliver hot lunches and cold suppers at lunchtime to the elderly and shut-ins in the Gaithersburg area. Meals are prepared at Asbury Methodist Village, 333 Russell Avenue and picked up by drivers between 10:45 – 11:30 a.m., Monday – Friday. Volunteers are asked to drive either once a week or once every other week. Training is provided. Children are welcome to accompany parents. Please call (301) 216-4200 or Mary Casamento, (301) 253-4626. ST. FRANCIS SUNDAY EVENT - Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day. Please join the environmental committee and others for fellowship and earth-friendly refreshments at 2:00 p.m. (after the 1:00 p.m. Mass) in the St. Clare Room. At 2:30 p.m., we will do the Franciscan Action Network's "Stations of the Cross with John Paul II: On the Path of Ecological Conversion" outdoors, weather permitting. SUMMER COMPUTER CAMP – Build your own computer game, a Heights School Summer Camp. Online registration is now open. Camp is offered June 11-15 and August 13-17 for boys ages 8-18. Read more and sign-up at www.heights.edu/summer. ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PRAYER CHAIN If you have a prayer request, please contact Marianne Bullen, (301) 963-3420 or mariannebu@comcast.net with your requests. POOR BOX DONATION – The donations for next weekend will go to Olney Help. Thank you for your generosity. PAX CHRISTI PANEL DISCUSSION - Thursday May 3rd, 7:30 p.m. - a panel discussion “An Easter Call: A Season of Jubilee for Low Income Countries?” will provide information on the severe impact of international debt on low income countries and what can be done about it. Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA and Marie Dennis, Co-President of Pax Christi International, will present along with two Zimbabweans, Hopewell Gumbo and Kevin Hazangwi, who are from a Jubilee USA partner organization in Zimbabwe. Held at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Center and sponsored by St. Francis of Assisi Pax Christi Group, ADW Global Trade Committee and others. For more information, please contact cooker@ppnpf.com. ROCK CREEK KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 2012 CHESS TOURNAMENT – Sunday, April 29th, Registration: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Game Times: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., Awards Ceremony; 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. This is an open tournament format (non-rated play). Three Sections: Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 Individual and Team trophies awarded in each section For children in Chess Clubs from area schools. (All individuals welcome) $8.00 Fee - Donation to Rock Creek Charity Fund. (Food and drinks will be available) We can use help and volunteers the day of the event. Chess Coaches and interested Volunteers please contact tastallone1@comcast.net or (703) 898-2133. Location information Knights of Columbus Rock Creek Council, No. 2797 www.kofc2797.org, 5417 West Cedar Lane, Bethesda. Near Old Georgetown Road, across from the Fire Station BINGO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Our Friday Night Bingo helps support many parish activities. We are in urgent need of volunteers, for the Vegas Team, Entrance Team and in the Kitchen. If you can help out once every five weeks for a few hours our parish would appreciate it. Volunteering at Bingo is also a way to meet fellow parishioners. Teens are welcome to help out in the kitchen. No experience is necessary and we will work with you. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rick or Kathy Cornwell, (301) 948-4027 or cornwellrak@yahoo.com
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