JUNE 24, 2018 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Tues June 26 “C” Team Softball Game, 6:15pm, Fd 4A Tues June 26 KofC Officer’s Meeting, 6:30pm, C Thur June 28 Finance Council Meeting, 6:00pm, C Thur June 28 “B” Team Softball Game, 8:15pm, Fd 2A

*C: Church, CC: Community Center

SUMMER MASSES NOW open at St. Francis Xavier Chapel, Saturdays at 7:00pm on St. George Island.

LITURGICAL FEAST DAY Wed June 27 St. Cyril of Alexandria Thur June 28 St. Irenaeus Fri June 29 Sts. Peter & Paul, apostles Sat June 30 First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church

WEEKDAYS LITURGICAL MINISTERS

Daily Lector: J. Blackwell; T. Buckler; C. Galli; D. Orwig Meals-on-wheels: S. Sierra; V. Worch; S. Sierra Altar Preparation: K. Britton

Please remember our parishioners who are sick, homebound and those in the nursing homes and hospital, and all in need of our prayers, especially those who serve our country and their families, and all who are listed in our Parish Book of Intentions.

Do you shop on Amazon.com? Did you know that St. George participates in Amazon’s Smile program? This means that if you list St. George as your charity of choice, a portion of your purchases will be donated to St. George by Amazon. The easiest way to do this is to visit our parish web site – www.stgeorgercc.org – scroll down and click the box for Amazon Smile!

Thank you for your faithful Parish support.

6/17/2018 6/18/2017

Gen. Collection $2970.48 $4394.73-$1319.25

E-Giving (Weekly) $1062.00 $957.00

Identifiable Gifts 100 133 -33

Maintenance $35.00 $420.00 -$385.00

Poor Box $265.00 $59.91 +$205.09

Donations $600.00 $280.00 +$320.00

MASS INTENTIONS

PARISH CALENDAR

Tues June 26 9:00 am Deacon Joel Carpenter (L)

(8th anniversary of ordination) Wed June 27 9:00 am Paul Quick Thu June 28 9:00 am Lee Lancaster Fri June 29 9:00 am Anne Patton Sat June 30 5:00 pm Brenda Hanson Sat June 31 7:00 pm St. George parishioners (L) Sun July 01 8:30 am James Carroll Sheehan Sun June 24 11:00 am Leo & Flynn Stachowski (L)

STEWARDSHIP — FINANCIAL BLESSINGS

REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYER

REFLECTING ON ZECHARIAH’S TRUST IN THE LORD

Today is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (the Feast Day of the birth of John the Baptist). To say John the Baptist and Jesus were closely related and connected is an understatement.

Both were foretold by prophets, especially Isaiah. The only record of the birth of John the Baptist appears in the Gospel of Luke and it is at the heart of our Gospel Reading today. A key player in this event is, of course, John the Baptist’s father Zechariah. Zechariah was a Jewish priest, but when the Archangel Gabriel revealed to him that he would father a child, Zechariah refused to believe it. As a result he was rendered speechless until John was born.

Zechariah had total trust in the Lord, however. Although it was traditional at that time to name the first son after the father, he and Elizabeth had been told that they were to name him John. As reported in the Gospel, Elizabeth said “He will be called John.” The family protested at which time Zechariah wrote “His name is John.” When he did that, Zechariah could speak once more. He did not say “should be”; he said “is.”

The trust shown by Zechariah is an example to us that we must trust in God, not just when it is convenient, but all the time. Those of advanced generations know who Lawrence Welk was. Born and raised Catholic, Welk practiced his faith throughout his life. He once said, “Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people, but put your full trust only in God.”

New registrations are always welcome. Help us keep our parish records up to date. Please use the on-line census (www.StGeorgeRCC.org) to update your information.

Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of James Galligan, brother of Tom Galligan; and Angel Lupisan, Sr., father of Tess Pugay; and Glenn Holmes husband of Heide Holmes, who passed away last week.

JUNE 24, 2018 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION: “If you’ve ever been to a crowded Mass, chances are you’ve seen a number of lay people distributing Holy Communion, either in the host or in the cup. Who are these people, and how did they get there? These are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The reason they are called that is because the clergy are the “ordinary” ministers of Holy Communion. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) says this: When the size of the congregation or the incapacity of the bishop, priest, or deacon requires it, the celebrant may be assisted by other bishops, priests, or deacons. If such ordinary ministers of Holy Communion are not present, "the priest may call upon extraordinary ministers to assist him, i.e., duly instituted acolytes or even other faithful who have been deputed for this purpose. In case of necessity, the priest may also depute suitable faithful for this single occasion. (GIRM 162) These ministers don’t just walk up at random. They are to receive spiritual, theological and practical preparation in order to carry out their duties with knowledge and reverence. After they first receive Holy Communion themselves, they then help distribute it to the people.

For further study: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/extraordinary-ministers-of-holy-communion-at-mass.cfm

————————————————————————————— SUMMER CHOIR

All Are Invited to Join Our Summer Choir! As with the past two years, we will have a ‘pick-up’ choir over the summer at the 11am Mass. Anyone wishing to sing should come at 10:15 in order to go over the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation and any special music we may have. A complete list of dates is below:

June 24 11am Pickup Choir July 1 11am Pickup Choir July 8 11am Pickup Choir July 15 NO CHOIR July 22 11am Pickup Choir July 29 11am Pickup Choir (KoC says the rosary at 10:30am, so practice will be brief) August 5 11am Pickup Choir August 12 11am Pickup Choir August 19 11am Pickup Choir August 26 11am Pickup Choir

**Choir rehearsals will begin August 22 this year in order to have a rehearsal prior to the SFX Anniversary Mass on August 25. The choir will sing for this special Saturday evening Mass.**

NOW HIRING: PARISH SECRETARY

The mission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is to spread the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. In the faithful pursuit of this mission, St. George Catholic Church is seeking a part-time Parish Secretary. For a job description and application, please call the parish office or email the parish at secretary@stgeorgercc.org.

Applications will not be accepted after June 30. Please note: Applicant should be computer proficient.

Many Thanks to all St. George parishioners who helped our annual BABY BOTTLE BLITZ drive.

Your generous donations will help fund and care for expectant mothers and their families in need in our area.

LITURGY & WORSHIP

Save These Dates!Friday – August 10 – Parish Fundraising Event at Bluecrabs! Buy tickets for the game using our parish code, and the church gets $5! (Altar Servers are being treated to the game by the parish – please let us know if you can come!)

Sunday – August 19 – Parish Dinner (and save the week before to help prepare!)

Saturday – August 25: Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of St. Francis Xavier Chapel on St. George’s Island. Mass begins at 6pm, with a reception to follow in the Island Association Building. (NO 5PM MASS ON AUGUST 25!)

Needed NOW for our August Dinner: • Canning jars, pint and quart • Sugar • Vinegar • Cucumbers

Items can be brought to the parish office, or dropped off to Pat Bowes directly.

We are looking for prizes for our raffle! If anyone would like to donate a prize for the raffle, please contact the parish office. Some prizes we have had in the past include: $250, Redskins Tickets, including parking, and Orioles Tickets.

JUNE 24, 2018 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

YOUTH’S FAITH FORMATION (YFF) GRADES K-8 Registration for the 2018-2019 year is on-going.

Please contact Mrs. Kim Browne, kim.browne@stgeorgercc.org

Vacation Bible School July 23-27, 9am – 12pm

SHIPWRECKED: RESCUED BY JESUS Fee: $25

Registration for Participants (preschool to 5th grade) and Volunteers (6th grade - 12th grade):

In the Church Vestibule after Masses Online: vbspro.events/p/fcf610

The Bible and The Sacraments Exploring our faith in the Bible Study

This Sunday, June 24th and every Sunday 9:30-10:45AM

Community Center

Youth Group is taking a break for the Summer. We are looking for a Youth Leader, if

interested please contact the church office.

LITTLE FLOWER SCHOOL Bingo every Wednesday, doors open at 5:30 pm; early bird special starts at 6:45pm.  Cash prizes!  Food and drink are also for sale. 

Are you on social media?  Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/littleflowercatholic) and “follow” us on Twitter and Instagram (@LFSpatriots)! Interested in learning more about Little Flower School?  Call (301)994-0404 or (LFSoffice@littleflowercatholic.org).

Fr. Sebastien De Rose Council # 13091 Grand Knight: Christopher A. Wilcox

CWILCOX@MD.METROCAST.NET

Fri, July 27 Dinner and a film at St. Joseph Church, Pomfret. Food starts at 6:30pm, film begins at 7:30pm. Celebrating the beauty of the Church’s teaching on married love, join us for a viewing of “Sexual Revolution: 50 Years Since Humanae Vitae,” a brand-new film that examines the effects of the free-love experiment of the Hippie Generation and the prophetic encyclical Humanae Vitae. Food, film and childcare all FREE (donations gratefully accepted). RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/StJoesMovie.

Sat, August 25 Yard Sale, 2nd District VFD, Saturday; Time: 7am – 12pm; Reserve a space $10 (by 20th August) or mark your calendars to attend; For more information: Call Kelly at 240-299-5261 - Good time to get rid of items no longer needed!

“Faith, Food & Fellowship” CMRC’s Series of Spiritual Related Presentations & Discussions Inaugural Evening: Monday, July 9, 2018, 6 - 8pm, At Camp Maria Retreat Center Air Conditioned Dining Hall. $20/person. “SCNs - So Now We Don’t Just Teach” Members of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth will be with us to share their mission in today’s world — both in the United States and throughout the world. Of course, they will share their history in St. Mary’s County - both past and present. Time also for us to share our SCN memories as well. Dinner will be provided by our chef, Terri Williams, with time to spend with others before and after the presentation. Invite your friends & family. For more information, contact Ann Kovalcik, at 301-475-8330 or director@campmaria.org

Worldwide Marriage Encounter “My God is now my strength!” Let God be the strength of your marriage by participating in a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend on August 3-5, in Hanover, MD, or November 2 -4 , i n Ga i t he rsbu rg , MD. Go to moments4marriage.org to sign-up or call 301-541-7007. It’s not too early to sign-up! Early registration is highly recommended. For more information visit our website at: moments4marriage.org.

Loyola on the Potomac, A Jesuit Retreat House, 60th Anniversary Luncheon Cruise Aboard the

Spirit of Washington: 600 Water St., SW, Washington, DC 20024, Sunday, Aug. 12, Boarding time: 10:45 am, Cruise time: 11:30 - 1:30 pm, Bountiful Luncheon Buffet, Cash bar, DJ Entertainment, Raffles. Tickets must be purchased from Loyola on the Potomac to get discounted price. $60 before July 15, $75 July 16 & later. For Reservations/Tickets Contact Alice Case @ 301-392-0819 or alice.case@loyolaretreat.org

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

OUR REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL (LFS)

NEWS IN OUR AREA

YOUTH MINISTRY

OUR PARISH FAITH FORMATION

Vacation Bible School Work Days Sundays: 12:00 - 2:00PM

Everyone welcome. There's a job for everyone. Cutting, painting, building, decorating, organizing, ironing decals…Please come to the Community

Center to lend a helping hand.

Music Director Wanted Music Director Position open at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lexington Park, MD. Candidates must have at least a BA in Music, be able to play piano proficiently, and conduct choral and instrumental groups. Please contact Fr. Marco Schad at 301-863-8144.

JUNE 24, 2018 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

IS 49: 1-6; PS 139: 1B-3, 13-15; ACTS 13: 22-26; LK 1: 57-66, 80 In Luke 1:13 the Archangel Gabriel visits the parents-to-be of St. John the Baptist, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and says, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” For Luke, the birth of John the Baptist closely parallels the birth of Jesus. John the Baptist’s birth is the prelude to the birth of Jesus.

The Archangel Gabriel a n n o u n c e s t o o u r Blessed Mother Mary also that she will bear a son. At that same time he revealed to Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was six months pregnant. Mary journeys to visit E l i zabeth . You may recall that during that visit the baby “leapt” in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary greeted her. John the Baptist knew even then that this was the Messiah.

From the prophet Isaiah, who provides our First Reading, comes the voice of the Messiah announcing his impending arrival (albeit centuries later). The Lord says, “Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth; from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” Although this statement is Jesus speaking, it would be equally accurate about St. John the Baptist.

The Messiah begins by commanding the coastlands and distant peoples to listen to him. This is most likely a reference to the Gentiles. In an interesting statement, Jesus says, “He made of me a sharp edged sword.” This is not a reference to anything warlike or militaristic. Jesus Himself is the sword. This means that His very words, the Word of God, have power and authority. Weapons are left to others; Jesus needs only to speak.

When He says, “You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory,” we must keep in mind that the name Israel means “governed by God.” This is Isaiah’s way to make it clear that the Messiah Whom he is predicting represents Israel, that as part of the Holy Trinity Jesus is indeed not only governed by God, but is God.

In reference to the quote from the Gospel of Luke that appears in the opening paragraph of this reflection, the Archangel Gabriel not only told Elizabeth and Zechariah that they were to name the baby John, but the angel continues “And you will receive joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” The tradition at the time was that when a birth was imminent, friends and local musicians gathered near the house. When the birth was announced, and if it was a boy, the musicians would break into song, and there was general congratulations and rejoicing. This was natural but it was also a clear demonstration of the significance of the birth of John the Baptist.

The Church selected June 24 for this celebration, not because there is any definite record that is when it occurred, but because that is in keeping with the birth of Jesus six months later. St. John the Baptist began his public ministry around 30 A.D. He was known for attracting large crowds throughout Judea and near the Jordan River. When Jesus came to him to be baptized in the Jordan, John knew Him and said, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me.” (According to the Gospel of Matthew)

John not only recognized the divinity of Jesus, he emphasized it with his sizable following. He told his followers to turn to Christ. It was John who called Jesus the Lamb of God. Many of John’s followers

became what we might term to be the first Christians.

We hear in today’s Gospel, speaking of John the Baptist, “The child grew and became strong in spirit.” If that sounds familiar, it may be because it is so similar to what we hear about Jesus one chapter later (Luke 2:40): “And as the child grew to maturity, he was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was with him.” We learn some important lessons from John the Baptist.

First, we need to put total trust in God, in Jesus, just as he did. Also, stewardship calls us to serve God and others. Like his cousin Jesus, John the Baptist came to serve, not to be served. We are summoned to do the same.

REFLECTION ON THE SACRED SCRIPTURE

His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl cordially invites the faithful of the Archdiocese of Washington to attend the Episcopal Ordination of Most Reverend Michael W. Fisher, as Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, on Friday, June 29, 2018 at 2PM at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  A reception will follow immediately after at the Basilica.