Greetings! Attached is our bulletin for this Sunday, October 23rd, the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and a reflection from Fr. Canisius.
Altar Flowers for this weekend have been donated by Sr. Janet Pfeffer in loving memory of Richard & Margaret Pfeffer.
(If you would like to donate flowers in memory of a loved one, or in celebration of a special occasion, contact the parish office at charlesst@comcast.net)
Our second collection this weekend, on World Mission Sunday, supports The Society for the Propagation of the Faith and their work in building up over 1,000 local churches in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe.
Thank you for your generous support of our brothers and sisters around the world.
The Parish Office will be CLOSED this coming Thursday, October 27th, so the parish staff can attend the annual Archdiocesan Pastoral Staff Day. It will reopen on Friday, October 28th, at 9:00am.
As Catholics who embrace our faith, we constantly strive to answer Jesus’ call, echoed by our Holy Father, to be missionary disciples and to seek to be lights brightly visible within our own communities. Whether our faith in the Living Christ is carrying us through times we celebrate or those that challenge us, we commit to caring for our neighbors in need as Our Lord repeatedly and plainly asks.
Each fall, as a parish community, we embrace a season of giving and come together as a unified people to help strengthen our parish, its ministries, and charitable outreach efforts, by pledging our support for weekly Offertory. We cannot accomplish all that Our Lord asks of us as missionary disciples without first pooling our collective resources so that we can maximize their beneficial impact. It is an awkward reality to have to state, but our parish operations and good works, upon which so many in our community rely, depend on our Offertory program and your support of it.
We begin our annual stewardship initiative, Our Path Forward, this weekend, followed by our Stewardship Commitment Weekend on October 29th and 30th.
For now, I ask only that you please prayerfully consider how you will participate.
--Fr. Canisius
October is the month of the Holy Rosary and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please join the members of our Legion of Mary after the 8:30am Mass every Sunday in October as they gather in the church for the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Those participating may recite a decade in their own language. For questions email Cecelia Coffey at ceceliacoffey92@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 1st is the Solemnity of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation.
Masses on 11/1 will be offered at 7:30am, 12:10pm, and 7:30pm.
As part of our parish observance of The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), Mass will be celebrated at 7:30pm on Wednesday, November 2nd. We will remember especially all those who were buried from St. Charles over the past year by lighting a candle in their memory. All are invited to attend, and anyone who wishes may bring a candle to place in front of the altar in memory of a loved one.
All Souls Novena
You are also invited to write the name(s) of your friend(s) and/or family member(s) who have died this past year on your All Souls’ Day envelopes, and turn them in with your offering by Sunday, October 30th for inclusion in our Novena of Masses which begins on 11/2. Envelopes are in your monthly packet or are available in the church vestibule. You may also email the names of your loved ones to us at charlesst@comcast.net or call the parish office. Your novena donation may be mailed to the Parish Office or offered via online giving at our website www.ourstcharles.org/give (just select “All Souls Day” as the Fund for your donation.)
Christmas Tree Needed
The parish decorating team is looking for a Christmas tree to help decorate the rectory. Either a skinny tree, or a small table-top tree, or a 4' tall tree would be great to use in the Boardroom. If you have one you no longer use and would like to donate it to the parish, please email Sandy Feulner at sandyfolk@aol.com If you can't drop it off at the Rectory, Sandy will arrange pick up.
Spiritual Adoption Program
Spiritual Adoption prayer cards are available in the back of the church until October 31st. If you want to have your name added to the roster, please fill in the information on the LEFT side of the card, tear it off, and return it to the basket. We hope that everyone will be able to participate in this very important prayer ministry for the unborn and their parents. If you cannot get to church, please call Jeanette at 443-416-6626 and a prayer card will be mailed to you.
Chances for our Basket Raffle will go on sale beginning in November. They can be purchased at the Italian Dinner, after masses, or by using the order form which will be in the bulletin. Winners will be drawn at our Christmas Open House in December. We currently have 14 beautiful baskets waiting to be yours--so make sure you get your tickets!
More baskets are always welcome. If you would like to donate a basket, or items we could use to create a basket, see details below:
