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Please pray for the sick…. Nick Aquino, Jr., Joan Carpenter, Baby Hannah Laguerre, Harry Dixon, Angel Andrada, Jean Smith, 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 THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST The Second Vatican Council refers to the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life.” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 11) That has been true from the night of the Last Supper until now and will continue to be true until the Second Coming of Christ. The Gospel Mark gives the basics of the liturgical formula that Jesus used: “This is my body…This is the blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many [all].” (Mark 14: 22.24) These are still the basic and essential words of the Eucharistic celebration. Here, as often, the Old Testament helps give insight into the actions of Jesus. Today’s first reading is a great example of this role of the Old Testament. Moses inaugurates the covenant between God and the Chosen People. After the sacrifice is offered Moses sprinkled the blood of the sacrificial victim on the people. He proclaimed, “This is the blood of the covenant.” (Exodus 24:8) The apostles would realize that Jesus is repeating the words of Moses, “This is the blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many [all].” (Mark 14:24) In the earliest account of the Last Supper Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25) The sacrifice offered by our Lord continues the wording of Moses’ sacrifice, but adds an important word, namely, “new.” The sacrifice of Jesus is new in many ways, but especially in the fact that the blood is that of Jesus and not of an animal as in the Old Testament. The author of Hebrews stresses the importance of the blood of Jesus in this new sacrifice. “For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.” (Hebrews 9:13-14) The Last Supper account gives meaning to the events of Good Friday. The death of Jesus was not a defeat; he was offering his body and blood in sacrifice for all persons. The sacrifice of the Mass makes it possible for all Christians to participate in the re-presentation of the sacrifice of the cross: “The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1367) ~ Fr. Ralph
WELCOME to the Family of Christ! The following individuals and their families recently joined our St. Francis faith community during the month of May: Carol Chabuk, Jennifer King. The children who were baptized during the month of May: Samuel Ryan Pomicter, Emma Maria Cella. FATHER’S DAY MASS CARDS are available this weekend for your father, father-in-law or anyone you would like to have remembered at Mass on Father’s Day. Mass Cards will be in the Gathering Space. Please return them to the Parish Office no later than Wednesday, June 13th. ARE YOU MARTHA OR MARY? If you are a Martha and are running around doing, doing, doing. Or maybe you are a Mary and would enjoy sitting at the feet of Jesus. No matter which one you feel you are; please join us as we discuss and work through a bible study on the book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by Joanne Weaver. We will meet on Wednesday night, June 13th, in the Youth Room from 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Interested? Contact Linda Call, (301) 926-4330 or dcall94080@aol.com LAMB OF GOD PRAYER MEETING - Join the Lamb of God Prayer Group for worship and the study of Scripture on Tuesday, June 12th, 7:30 p.m., St. Clare’s Chapel in the Rectory. For details, please call Louise, (301) 977-5217. 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 UMAN (Upper Montgomery Area Network). Thank you for your generosity. HAITI MEDICAL MISSION – Please pray for our Medical Mission which will be serving in Haiti from June 2-17. May God guide the members of the Medical Mission with wisdom and compassion as they work to bring healing to the sick and may His healing hand be upon all those who come for care. Thank you for your support and prayers!
THANK YOU - The UpCounty Community Resource Group would like to thank Marianne Bullen, Georgana Finn, Charles McCarthy, Mary O'Sullivan and Sarah Seyed-Ali from the SFA Youth Group who helped make our Aloha Luau Dance for individuals with and without developmental differences a success. Debuting as DJ was Caitlin Jones who would have kept on dancing except that her dad was tired and wanted to go to sleep. If you are interested in working to open up opportunities for all individuals in our community, give us a call at (301) 762-6564. Together, we make a difference…. ~ Sylvia Jones
Religious Education Religious Education Registration for 2012-2013 Please register now for next year’s Religious Education Program, and before August 1 to take advantage of the early registration fees! Registration 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! Thank you to all families who have already registered for next year’s program. RE classes will resume in late September! Our program offerings for children and youth include:
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. Catechists Needed As we look ahead to next year’s Religious Education program, please consider whether you can serve as a catechist for our children and young people. If you would like to learn more about this important ministry, please contact Susan Anderson, Director of Religious Education, (301) 258-9193. CATECHESIS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Our parish offers monthly catechetical sessions specifically designed for children and youth with special needs and their families. If you would like to learn more about these sessions, or if you are interested in serving as a catechist or aide for children with special needs, please call Susan Anderson, Director of Religious Education, (301) 258-9193. 2012 Quo Vadis Camp for High School Young Men Where are you going? What are you doing with your life? Come join other high school young men at the fourth annual Quo Vadis Camp, July 8-11, 2012. Led by Father Rob Walsh, Assistant Director of Priest Vocations, at the Msgr. O’Dwyer Retreat Center in Sparks, Maryland. This four-day camp includes prayer, talks, sports and much more. For more information, contact the Office of Priest Vocations, (202) 636-9020 or vocations@adw.org. Cost is: $100, but scholarships are available.
FAITH DIRECT - What is the best way to ensure our parish receives the support needed for our operating expenses and ministries during the busy summer months? eGiving through Faith Direct! Please enroll today by visiting www.faithdirect.net. Our church code is MD110. Increased enrollment with Faith Direct will help stabilize our parish finances during the coming summer months when many families are away on vacation. Thank you for your continued support of our parish family with your time and talents as well as treasure!
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