Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church

Let us run to her, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with perfect confidence.-St. Francis de Sales

Parish StaffRev. Ronald S. Escalante, PastorRev. Edwin Thayer Tewes, Parochial VicarDeacon Larry HammelMrs. Diane Morano, Business ManagerMrs. Cathy Mitchell, Director of LiturgyMrs. Angela Baker, SecretaryMr. James Blankenship, DREMrs. Janice Rees, CRE, Sunday BulletinMrs. Jane Treado, Director of Youth MinistryMr. Michael Galdo, Director of MusicMrs. Sharon Liddicoatt, SacristanMr. William Gibson, Facilities CoordinatorMr. Jerry Jones, Custodian

Contact InfoParish Office - 540-338-6381office email - secretary@saintfrancisparish.orgReligious Education Office - 540-338-4497RE email - RE@saintfrancisparish.orgIn case of an emergency - 540-338-6440Fax - 540-338-643137730 St. Francis Court, Purcellville, VA 20132www.SaintFrancisParish.org

Welcome!Please register and become part of our parish community. You may fill out a registration form in the parish office during business hours.

Office Hours - M-F 8:30am-4:30pm(Office closed between 12noon and 1:15pm daily)

Adoration/BenedictionAdoration is held every Friday, following the 12 noon Mass until 5pm. The Rosary is prayed at 12:30pm and the Divine Mercy Chaplet is at 3pm. First Friday - Adoration continues throughout the night with Benediction at 8:45am Saturday. A Scriptural Rosary is prayed at the 7pm MAC-PAC Holy Hour. A Holy Hour for Respect

Sunday MassesSaturday Vigil - 5pmSunday - 7am, 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 6pm (Teen Mass)

Daily Masses Monday and Wednesday - 9am; Tuesday and Thursday - 6:30amFriday - 6:30am and 12 noon; Saturday - 9amCheck the bulletin for Holy Days of Obligation

SacramentsReconciliation: Friday 10:45-11:45am; Saturday 8 -8:30am and 3:30-4:30pm; and anytime by appointment

Matrimony: Parish couples planning to be married must make arrange-ments with the Office at least six months prior to the intended date of marriage.

Baptism: The Sacrament is celebrated each month, the second Saturday at 9:30am and the third Sunday at 1:30pm. Baptism class is the last Friday of the month at 7pm. Call the office for details.

Anointing of the Sick: We are privileged to bring Holy Communion and administer the Holy Anointing to the sick and homebound upon request. Please call the office to let us know your needs.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday, January 18, 2015

Annual March for Life: January 22

Readings for the Week

Masses for the Week+ deceasedSat., Jan. 17 Vigil: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:00 pm Bobby RutzelSun., Jan. 18 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:00 am People of the Parish 8:30 am + Joseph Galdo 10:30 am + Lena Galdo 12:30 pm + John Lovasz 6:00 pm + Phyllis O’CallaghanMon., Jan. 19 Weekday 9:00 am + Matt Delawder Tue., Jan. 20 Weekday 6:30 am Fr. Phillip CozziWed., Jan. 21 Saint Agnes 9:00 am + Loretta McGuinessThu., Jan. 22 Weekday 6:30 am Robert and Daniel ShipleyFri., Jan. 23 Weekday 6:30 am Carrie Litos 12:00 noon Estela FitzgeraldSat., Jan. 24 Saint Francis de Sales 9:00 am Frank and Helene DegnanSat., Jan. 24 Vigil: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:00 pm Bobby RutzelSun., Jan. 25 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:00 am People of the Parish 8:30 am + deceased members of the Sommer, Butts families 10:30 am + “Buddy” Fuoco 12:30 pm + Earl Vance Shelton 6:00 pm + John Hohenstein

Sun., Jan. 18 Adult Basketball, 7:30-9:30pmTue., Jan. 20 Matthew Bible Study - 10am, Parish Hall Communion Service - 12noon, Church RCIA - 7:30pm, Room 107 Matthew Bible Study - 7pm, Parish HallWed., Jan. 21 Charismatic Prayer Group - 7pm, OratoryThu., Jan. 22 Matthew Bible Study - 7pm, Oratory

This Week

IMPORTANT TAX NOTICE Acknowledgement of donation for your tax returns will be mailed to all families by January 24, you do not need to request an acknowl-edgement.

In-pew Offertory - January 11 $ 11,212

YEAR TO DATE $ 472,977

Electronic figures for December are: Offertory: $ 21,147Building Our Faith $ 3,763 Faith In Action: $ 5,608

Parish Financial Status

2015 BISHOP’S LENTEN APPEAL BEGINSThis month Bishop Loverde will send a mailing regarding the 2015 Bishop’s Lenten Appeal (BLA). The theme for the 2015 BLA is “Stewards of Christ Sharing Gospel Joy!” After reflecting upon the many blessings that God has given you, please prayerfully consider making a sacrificial pledge of support to this important appeal that funds many programs and ministries that serve thousands of people in our diocese. When we join together as one Body in Christ, we can do so much for so many!

Monday: Heb 5:1-10; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 2:18-22Tuesday: Heb 6:10-20; Ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c; Mk 2:23-28Wednesday: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 3:1-6Thursday: Heb 7:25 — 8:6; Ps 40:7-10, 17; Mk 3:7-12, or any of a number of readings for the Day of PrayerFriday: Heb 8:6-13; Ps 85:8, 10-14; Mk 3:13-19Saturday: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Ps 47:2-3, 6-9; Mk 3:20-21Sunday: Jon 3:1-5, 10; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20

Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeJanuary 18, 2015

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you.— 1 Corinthians 6:19a

WATCHING FOR THE MESSIAH Today’s Gospel story of John and his disciples seeing and follow-ing Jesus sounds so simple and casual, it’s easy to miss the significant acts of faith that are made. John points to Jesus: “Look,” he says, “there is the Lamb of God.” John’s faith in Jesus is evident, so evident that John’s disciples immedi-ately leave his side to follow this Jesus. The two disciples make their own act of faith. They follow Jesus, spend time with him, and are quick to spread the good news of their discovery: “We have found the Messiah.” It is easy to forget that the expectations of generations, the hopes of many ages of faithful people were being fulfilled in these simple acts of faith. The Lamb of God, the Messiah, foretold by the prophets, had finally come. Nearly everyone among the Jewish people was watching for the Messiah back then; who in our own society watches for signs of the presence of the Messiah today?Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Shepherd’s Notes Ask the Priest

Q. Is there anyone who is like a “vice pope” as in a vice presi-dent? –AnonymousA. There is no one who holds the rank of a “vice pope” in the Catholic Church. While the pope has many advisers especially several cardinals, the pope is the only one in the position of gov-ernance. A vice-president in the U.S. automatically takes over as president if death happens or a resignation. When the pope dies a new election is needed to replace him. Q. I have heard if you go to confession you should do it at a dif-ferent Catholic Church so that the priest doesn’t identify who you are (by voice). Is this true? –AnonymousA. There is no such rule but you are free to go to any Catholic priest or parish for confession. We go through numerous confes-sions that it is very difficult to recognize anyone’s voice. It is also very difficult to remember what people say in the confessional. Sometimes I have a difficult time remembering when they tell me when their last confession was. Even if for some reason we recognize or remember the person’s sins, the seal of confession prevents us from revealing what we heard in confession. Priests are automatically excommunicated if they identify the penitents and reveal their sins. Q. Are priests allowed to go hunting? –Peter, 5th gradeA. Yes, priests are allowed to hunt since Jesus does not forbid anyone from eating meat. In some remote areas, such as Africa or even Alaska in the winter, the only way to find meat to eat was to go fishing or hunting. An old humorous tale states that a mission-ary priest that ate only vegetables was either a very virtuous man or a bad hunter! [And yes, I do like to hunt deer and have “bagged” several since I came to Loudoun County nearly 6 years ago. I’m no vegetarian and I am most grateful to parishioners who have permitted me to hunt on their property.] Q. If we encounter a “scammer” or suspect one, do we just give them the Catholic Charities phone number, call the authorities, or what? –SBCA. It’s a good idea to refer them to Catholic Charities or the local social service. That is usually a telltale to see if they are legiti-mately in need or not. If they get very upset that’s usually a bad sign that they are trying to swindle you for cash. The gypsies who were scamming parishioners about a month ago returned to the parish to try their deceptive tactics again. I was happy to hear that the parishioners knew how to respond this time around. One of the ushers alerted me of their presence during Mass and he was able to ask them to leave peacefully. It was the same “scamming” family that we previously encountered. It is really sad that they are con-tinually doing their illegitimate canvassing of good people. Since they made several hundred to a few thousand the last time, they had nothing to lose returning to generous cash giving Christians, right? With so many truly needy people in our area it is always best to work with our charitable partners to make sure that the people’s gift donations go to the right people.

Does the “respect for life” message mean a lot these days?

As we lament the tragedy that happened in Paris just a few days ago (January 7-9) when a couple of radical extremist Muslims gunned down a dozen people at a publication’s building, we were shocked and angered by the heinous acts of crime that they committed. An estimated 3.7 million nationwide joined the people for a rally of unity in France. Altogether, a total of 17 died in the 2-day terrorist attacks. We pray for the dead, for those mourning the dead, and for the healing of the wounded. Just a few days before in Nigeria (January 3), another Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram, massacred an estimated 2,000 people and displaced around 35,000 others. This one did not get as much publicity but we should also be just as concerned and troubled. These were inno-cent people who were killed by another radical group who refused to go along with the group’s quest to follow their extremist religious views. It is obvious that those who perpetrate the killing of innocent and defenseless people are not interested in respecting human life. They do not hesitate to forcibly end people’s lives through violence. They are part of the culture of death that St. John Paul II warned us about. Pope Francis uses a similar phrase, throwaway culture, to describe how humans are viewed as irrelevant wastes that should be discarded if they do not meet other people’s standards. If we really understand the value and sacredness of human life, then how is it that so many people do not understand that abortion is a violent ending to the life of innocent unborn children? Why is our own nation divided on determining when human life begins? With all the technology we have that shows that the living being inside the mother’s womb is actually a human baby, how is it that about half of the population is still in denial of this obvious fact? It’s even worse when we have publicly elected officials, including pseudo-Catholics, defend pro-abortion (pro-choice) policies with a passion. You wouldn’t want to be in their shoes when they face the judgment seat of God with all the aborted children in the background during their “up or down” trial. (You also wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of those responsible of putting the pro-death to the children public servants into office!) It is totally understandable that millions rallied over the murders at Charlie Hebdo publication at France’s capital. Shouldn’t we also have millions rallying at the annual March For Life in our own nation’s capi-tal? The more than 1 million children who are mercilessly put to death in the U.S. alone annually deserve a voice to defend them. f you are unable to join the March for Life in Washington on January 22nd please pray for the end to abortion and the respect for life in all stages of life. A special March for Life Mass will be offered at 10am in our parish. Those who signed up for the bus ride to the march will be departing at 11am. One can always pray whether he or she may be so join us in spirit in praying on this special day. More than 56 million children have been aborted since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973 and 1.3 billion since 1980 worldwide. If you want to see a ticker counter (similar to the national debt estimator) that estimates the number of abortion that takes place nationally and worldwide, check out this website: www.numberofabortions.com

Your shepherd in Christ,Father Escalante

Our Military Members: Capt. Chuck Marshall; PFC Brandon Badura; Sgt. Sean Milam; Lcpl John Owen Patterson; SPC Tim Marshall; PV2 Ryan Badura; 2nd Lt. Patrick Gutierrez, Capt. Andrew Cahan; LCpl Gary Martz, LTC Jay Hallam; 1st Lt Matthew Ryan, Capt. Patrick Godfrey, Col. Patrick GradyThe Sick: Sofia Macaraeg, Dominic Corcoran, Jan Furlow, Brian DuPlessis, Jack Lehtonen, Tim Beglau, Mary von Bergen, Mary Jane Arens, Zach MillerThe Deceased: Leo Pomanski, Gertrude Heelan, Colin Luck, Lucy Koch, Sarah Haisten, Maureen Colville, Shani Sands, Megan Gruneisen, Patty Stickman, Marion Schonder, Carolyn Watson, John Lovasz, Eileen Pomanski, Richard Nachajski, Otto Spokas, Grace Baran

Our thoughts and prayers are with ...

* * * PASTOR’S WISH LIST * * *• Institute of Catholic Culture returns!—Come to the 2-part series of the ICC as they return to our new Catholic Education Center. Professor John Cuddeback, Ph.D., will give a 2-part series on Walking With God: Ethics in the Catholic Tradition. January 24 & 31 at 10am. Admission is free.

• Bathroom improvement has begun—Please use the restroom facilities in your homes before coming to church. It is a long way from the church to the Catholic Education Center if you have to use the bathroom. The project should be completed by the end of January.

• Full-time cleaning person needed—If you know of anyone interested in cleaning the new Catholic center please me know. The position opening has now changed from part-time to full-time.

• Big fundraising ideas?—We need you so that we will be able to pay off our debt for our new parish educational center. Please contact me directly if you can help.

• Marriage convalidations—If you need to have your marriage “blessed” (convalidated) in the Catholic Church, please contact me. Help is available! Read my Shepherd’s Notes column (February 2, 9 & 16) for details & they are available online: www.saintfrancisparish.org/is-your-marriage-valid/

• We need more Elijah Cup family participants—Take my word for it, you won’t regret hosting our own “Holy Grail.” We launched our new vocations program called the Elijah Cup on Sunday, October 27, 2013. Those participating may take the chalice/paten used for the Sunday Mass for a week and pray for vocations (see 3/17/2013 bulletin for details on our website if you missed it). Please contact Bob Craig directly to sign up: bcraig32@comcast.net, 540.751.9832 (H), or 215.285.4885 (C).

* * * * * * * * * * * *

You may contact me directly for your response at (540-338-6381 ext. 102), by email (countryparishpriest@gmail.com), by “snail mail” or in person.

Got ‘em Golf cart found! A family in the parish is willing to donate their golf cart for the priests’ intra-parish transport between the rectory & the new build-ing. This will be very handy going back and forth between the facilities. The donors nicknamed it the “priest mobile!”

• We have now received from at least 5 people who expressed interest to donate to the cost to outfit an entire classroom and our library! We still have 6 classrooms available for dedication.

HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS - JANUARY 2015

Universal: PeaceThat those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace.Evangelization: Consecrated lifeThat in this year dedicated to consecrated life, religious men and women may rediscover the joy of following Christ and strive to serve the poor with zeal.

First dinner will be held on February 20th.New this year: • Now in Our Lady of Victory Hall• New menu selections• “Spirits” raffle table• 50/50All proceeds benefit the building fund.To volunteer please contact: Joyce Sparbanie 412-478-5996 or JSparRN@gmail.com

The Friday Nite Fish Fry is Coming!

You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by run-ning, to work by working; and just so you learn to love God and man by loving. Begin as a mere appren-tice and the very power of love will lead you on to become a master of the art.St. Francis De SalesDoctor of the ChurchFeast Day Saturday, January 24

Women’s Council Catholic Book ClubJoin the next Women's Council Catholic Book Club meeting on Monday, January 26th - 7pm - we will be discussing Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler. The Book Club meets the 4th Monday of the month in the Parish Center library at 7pm. Our February meeting will be held on Monday, February 23rd - 7pm - reading Church of Mercy by Pope Francis.Our mission is to read books that will help increase our knowledge and grow in our Catholic faith. Through monthly discussion and fellowship, we allow the holy spirit to guide us in embracing the love of our walk with Christ and His Church. We have read books from Catholic authors including Pope Francis, Matthew Kelly, Scott Hahn, Fr. Jacques Phillippe, Sr. Briege McKenna, and Henri Nouwen.Please email Leslie Kole at leslie.kole@hotmail.com with your interest and/or with any questions.

TEEN FAITH NEWS

JaneTreado Youth Director 540-338-6381 or Janedhs78@aol.com

Religious Education Calendar

Religious Education Snow Cancellation PolicyWeekday Classes: When Loudoun County schools are closed or have early dismissal, or cancel after-school activities due to inclem-ent weather, RE classes are cancelled. Sunday Classes: Sunday morning cancellations will be posted on the website, and emailed to families by 6:45am Sunday morning.

TEEN MASS - at 6pm every Sunday. All Teens are welcome. Join us in the front left 4 rows of church as we celebrate the Teen Mass together.

Youth Group- Sunday, Jan 18th, , 7-9 pm in the Upper Room. Friends welcome!!!

Souper Bowl Sunday - We will need teens to help with the Souper Bowl Sunday Collection on Superbowl weekend on Jan. 31 and Feb 1. I need teens to come to a mass and stand in the back of church with soup pots and collect money from parishioners. Our goal is to collect $2 from each parishioner. The money col-lected will pay for the food we make for the homeless shelter or ‘Soup Kitchen’ throughout the year. Please e-mail me to sign-up for the masses.

Evening of Prayer - Jan. 21st 6-11pm at Patriot Center at George Mason University. Featuring Rend Collective, Matt Ma-her, and Chris Stefanick. Tickets are $15 and are very limited. This is a prayer night before the March For Life on Jan. 22. Please let me know if you are interested. Keep in mind that this is an exam week.

March For Live - Thursday, Jan. 22. Sign up for bus in the narthex.

NO CLASSES THIS WEEK

Sun., Jan. 25 Grades K-8 Session 1 - 8:45am Grades K-8 Session 2 - 10:45amMon., Jan. 26 Grades K-6 - 4:30pm Grades 7-8, RCIT, High School - 7pmTue., Jan. 27 Grades 7-8- 4:30pmWed., Jan. 28 Grades 1-8 - 4:30pm

VERY IMPORTANT CHANGE TO CONFIRMATIONFor up to date news about Confirmation, please visit our website www.saintfrancisparish.org/religious-education/sacramental-prep/confirmation/

This landmark exhibi-tion brings together more than 60 Renais-sance and Baroque-era master works from the Vatican Muse-ums, Uffizi Gallery, and other museums, churches, and private collections in Europe

and the United States. Divided into six thematic sections, the exhibition presents images of Mary as a daughter, cousin, and wife; the mother of an infant; a bereaved parent; the protagonist in a rich life story developed through the centuries; a link between heaven and earth; and an active participant in the lives of those who revere her.We will be meeting at SFDS at 10am and carpooling. Please let us know if you’d like to go with us.In the Immaculate Heart of Mary,Nora Hamilton, WC President, gsmdlvr@aol.comStacey Warner, WC Secretary, nrwsrw@gmail.com

Women’s Council Field Trip to The National Museum of Women in the Arts Saturday, February 21st

2015 WINTER SCHEDULE

See full page ad for Walking With God: Ethics in the Catholic Tradition at Saint Francis de Sales in this bulletin

Confronting Attila the Hun: the Life of Pope St. Leo the GreatChristopher CheckSunday, February 8 @ 6pm Dinner included; lecture to begin @ 7pm No RSVP required.Our Lady of Hope Church Hall, 46639 Algonkian Parkway, Potomac Falls

Sacrificing to God: An ICC Lenten RetreatRev. Deacon Sabatino CarnazzoSaturday, February 28 @ 10amSt. Francis de Sales Our Lady of Victory Hall

A Restless Heart: The Confessions of Saint Augustine Prof. John D. Love, S.T.D.Wednesdays, March 4 & 11 @ 7:30pmSt. Theresa Church Hall, 21371 St. Theresa Lane, Ashburn

Laetare Sunday Solemn Vespers & BenedictionChorus Sine Nomine Sunday, March 15 @ 7pmSt. John the Apostle Church Hall, 101 Oakcrest Manor Drive, N.E., Leesburg

The Passion of the Christ: A Biblical Tour of Jerusalem’s Way of the CrossRev. Deacon Sabatino CarnazzoSunday, March 22 @ 7pmOur Lady of Hope Church Hall, 46639 Algonkian Parkway, Potomac Falls

KNOW THE FAITH. LOVE THE FAITH. LIVE THE FAITH.

The INSTITUTE OF CATHOLIC CULTURE is an adult catechetical organi-zation, faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and dedicated to the Church’s call for a new evangelization. The Institute seeks to fulfill its mission by offering educational programs structured upon the classical liberal arts and by of-fering opportunities in which authentic Catholic culture is experienced and lived. For more info, call 540-635-7155, or visit www.InstituteofCatholicCulture.org.MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is looking

for volunteers to help with childcare the 1st and 3rd Wednes-day of every month from 9:15- 11:15am through the end of the school year. If you have a love for children and can help out, please contact AimeeCiccone at aimeeciccone@gmail.com for more information.

MAC-PAC SKI TRIP (for 6, 7 & 8th graders)We’re going to Whitetail on Monday, January 26. We will leave St. Francis parking lot at 7am and return at 8pm and travel by coach bus. Seats are limited so reserve your space now! Permission slip and completed ski package selection w/check must be turned in by Friday, January 23. Friends are welcome to come along. This is a moveable teachers workday. If this school workday changes, the ski trip date will need to be changed or be cancelled. If you would like a registration package with prices, call Janice at 540-338-4497 or j.rees@saintfrancisparish.org.

Separated? Divorced? Widowed??? The Rebuilding Program sponsored by the Arlington Diocese Office for Family Life helps people of all faiths who are sepa-rated, divorced, or widowed and want to move on with their lives. The nine week program starts Sunday, February 22nd and meets Sunday evenings 5:30 - 8:00 PM at the St. Martin De Porres Center in Alexandria. Topics include adaptation, grief, anger, self-worth, openness, love, and relatedness. For more information email facilitator@copingrebuilding.com, visit us on the web at www.copingrebuilding.com or call us at 703-596-2673.

Amazon income for December was $194! Thank you very much for using the Amazon portal on our website! It is such an easy way to support the parish. Please continue to use the Amazon button on the parish website to do all your Amazon shopping.

St. Francis Council 11136 News

The Knights of Columbus annu- al FREE THROW CONTEST will be held in our new parish gym, Our Lady of Victory Hall, on Sunday, February 8th from 1:30 - 4:30pm. It is open to boys and girls from the ages

9-14. Age eligibility is determined by the age of the contestant as of January 1st, 2015. It is highly encouraged that contestants pre-regis-ter using the Registration form-score sheet found on our home page www.kofc11136.org located by clicking on “Forms & Document Library”. If you have any questions, you can reach Dale at 571-230-7559 or at ldweaver@verizon.net.

• Congratulations to the Winners for the Keep Christ in Christ-mas Poster Contest: Hannah O’Neill, Piper Rummage, Addison Acham, Shelby RummagePosters will be on display in the Nartex for one week then moved to the Parish Center.

• March for Life January 22nd, Lets show our support for LIFE how important it is to us, signup in the Nartex.

• A Big Thank You from the Knights of Columbus, the numbers are in from our Parish Fall Harvest food collection. Our so giving Parishioners donated a total 13,000 POUNDS of food for the fall harvest and from February 2010 a Grand total 56 1/2 TONS of food has been donated from St. Francis de Sales. May God Bless You all.

• Why You Should Become a Knight * A unique “band of brothers” * Share values and the support to live our Catholic faith more fully. *The ability for our network to accomplish things together that we could not accomplish alone. * Becoming a Knight of Columbus can transform your life. * Being a Knight we’re dedicated to doing good in the service of God and our neighbor.For more information contact Dave Matheson Membership Chair-man, wahoowah92@gmail.com (c)240-654-7556, or Bill Talamantes.

www.kofc11136.orgGrand Knight Bill Talamantes

grandknight11136@gmail.com or 310-717-9503

Lenten Day of Prayer at San Damiano Saturday, February 21– come to San Damiano in White Post, VA and journey with us to the desert, making this Lent an intentional season of reflection on the lord’s passionate love for you. The retreat will be led by Fr. Sam Vaccarella, T.O.R., our Director. Registration begins at 9 am and the day concludes after Mass - about 3 pm. The cost for the day is $30 which includes lunch.

MARCH FOR LIFE JANUARY 22 St. Francis will take part in the rally to the Supreme Court on Thursday. We will begin our day with Mass at St. Francis at 10am. This Mass will be in addition to the regular scheduled Mass at 6:30am. After Mass we will take the bus to DC for the rally and march. Be sure and pack a lunch! Please sign up in the Narthex. At this time we have one bus only scheduled for the day. If you cannot join us for the march – join us at Mass at 10am. Contact Sue cypher6@verizon.net.

Thank you for your prayers! I’m six months old now. I just opened my eyes. Before today they were sealed shut for protection. I wonder what you look like. I can hear sounds, too! It’s great to have someone praying for me.

ST. THOMAS MORE ACADEMY - OPEN HOUSE - Sunday, January 25 from 12- 3pm. Saint Thomas More Academy is a co-educational Catholic school serving children in PreK3 – 8th grade. STMA offers a Classical Liberal Arts Curriculum, including instruction in Latin and Sign Language. A STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering Art & Math) initiative has been implemented bringing course offerings such as Lego Robotics. Learn about our affordable tuition rates and small class sizes. Meet our highly qualified, caring teachers. Loca-tion:103 Prospect Street Middletown, MD 21769 . Contact us at 240-490-5479. Visit www.stmamd.org

2015/2016 Open House at St. TheresaSt. Theresa Catholic School (K-8), located at 21370 St. Theresa Lane in Ashburn will host an Open House for prospective parents on Sunday January 25, 2015 beginning at 1:30pm in the school gym. Following a presentation and introduction at 1:40pm, student tours will be provided. Student tours will also be provided on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 9:30am. Information regarding application dates and requirements is available on the school website. Please visit the website for more infor-mation (www.stsashburn.com) or call the school office at 703-729-3577.

"Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God's creation, made in his own image, destined to live for ever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect." ~ Pope Francis

Can A License Plate Save A Life?Did you hear the news? Yes a license plate can save a life! Check out Sr. Clare's article "Can a License Plate Save a Life?" on the diocesan's blog to read about how the Gabriel Project received over $1,500! https://encourageandteach.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/can-a-license-plate-save-a-life/

Thank you all so much for the donations to Birthright! We have enough items to fill many gift bags for the new moms