January 8


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Mass Times ~ Presider Schedule Saturday Vigil, January 7 5:30 p.m. ~ Father O

Saturday, January 14 ~ Father Alec

Sunday, January 8 7:30 a.m. ~ Father Regis 9:00 a.m.* ~ Father Regis 10:30 a.m. (Church) ~ Father Alec 10:30 a.m. (Gym) ~ Father O 12:30 p.m. ~ Father Ron 5:30 p.m. ~ Father Alec

Sunday, January 15 ~ Father O ~ Father Ron ~ Father Regis ~ Father D’Silva ~ Father Alec ~ Father D’Silva

*American Sign Language interpreted Mass Weekday & Saturday Masses Monday - Friday: 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m., 11 a.m. Filipino Mass in Tagalog every 4th Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Holy Day Masses Eve of the Feast: 5:30 p.m. Day of the Feast: 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Adoration Of The Blessed Sacrament* Exposition: Monday-Friday, 3-5:15 p.m., in the church Thursday before first Friday of each month, 6-8 p.m., with Holy Hour from 7-8 p.m. *No adoration on federal holidays

Inside This Issue • January 8, 2017 Youth Ministry High School Ski Trip • 3 SHARE Food Co-Op • 4 Blessed Sacrament School Open House • 4 Annual Day of Recollection • 6

This Weekend Crèche Exhibit + Epiphany Party in the Parish Library Saturday, 4:30-5:30 p.m. and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to join us for door prizes, trivia games, music, refreshments, and favors. Outreach Collection Weekend The monthly collection for our Soup Kitchen Ministry will be taken up this weekend. Your food and monetary donations will support the meal the ministry prepares and serves at a local soup kitchen on Monday mornings, as well as other parish efforts to feed the hungry.

3630 Quesada Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20015 202.966.6575 • Phone 202.966.9255 • Fax www.blessedsacramentdc.org Blessed Sacrament School 5841 Chevy Chase Parkway, NW Washington, D.C. 20015 202.966.6682 www.bsstoday.org

Thought for the Week From Pope Francis

The Church is a family of families, constantly enriched by the lives of all those domestic churches…. The Church is good for the family, and the family is good for the Church. The safeguarding of the Lord’s gift in the sacrament of matrimony is a concern not only of individual families but of the entire Christian community” (The Joy of Love, 87).

The Epiphany of the Lord Pastoral Staff Rev. Ronald A. Potts, Pastor • [email protected] Rev. Alec Scott, Parochial Vicar • [email protected] Rev. Msgr. Maurice V. O’Connell, Retired Priest • [email protected] Rev. Percival L. D’Silva, Retired Priest • [email protected] Deacon Kenneth Angell • [email protected] Deacon Donald Mays • [email protected] Assistants on Weekends Rev. Regis Armstrong, OFM Cap, Catholic University

Duffy Parish Center Main Office 202.966.6575 (Monday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) In an Emergency 202.966.6575, Ext. 3988 (to page priest on duty) Facilities 202.449.4610 Pius X Library 202.449.3974 Ray Manning Adult Center 202.363.4512 Mr. John Navolio, Business Manager 202.449.3984, [email protected] Mr. Jay Rader, Director of Liturgy and Music 202.449.3981, [email protected] Ms. Michelle Balch, Director of Religious Education 202.449.3989, [email protected] Ms. Rosalie Days, Sacramental Preparation Coordinator 202.449.4618, [email protected] Mrs. Casey Esser, Youth Minister 202.449.3985, [email protected] Mrs. Patricia Kavanaugh, Social Concerns Minister 202.449.3987, [email protected] (Office open Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., and by appointment) Ms. Emma Voelzke, Special Needs Coordinator 202.449.3990, [email protected] Ms. Kate Ryan, Director of CYO 202.449.3972, [email protected]

Blessed Sacrament School Mr. Chris Kelly, Principal 202.966.6682, [email protected] Ms. Nancy Ryan, Director of Admissions 202.966.6682, Ext. 6110, [email protected]

Sacraments Baptism • Baptismal classes are required of all parents prior to baptism. We recommend taking classes before the child is born. Group baptisms are offered every 2nd Saturday at noon in the chapel and 4th Sunday at 2 p.m. in the main church. For more info visit: www.blessedsacramentdc.org/sacraments-rites Matrimony • All couples who are to be married at Blessed Sacrament must complete our parish marriage preparation program. Please contact one of the parish priests six months in advance of your marriage date. Reconciliation • Friday and Saturday after the 11 a.m. Mass (if no funeral); Saturday, 4 - 5 p.m. and after the 5:30 p.m. Mass, or anytime by appointment. Altar Server Program: [email protected] Eucharistic Minister Volunteers: [email protected]

Pastor’s Column • January 8 Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The word epiphany means manifestation. Isaiah’s gaze focuses on Jerusalem, toward which he sees a long joyous procession of her children who “come from afar.” On the summit of Zion, the newly reconstructed Temple blazes with the light of the candelabra. The city appears to him brightly illuminated, ablaze with the glory of the Lord upon it, while the rest of the world remains in darkness. Toward this glittering light, it is no longer the throngs of exiles or the procession of the Feast of Tabernacles that is marching up, but the countless multitudes of nations and kings from every land. They bring offerings of gold, incense and riches while singing praises to the Lord. The prophet sees this transfigured Jerusalem, and he lets us see what looms beyond the horizon of history, the point toward which all eyes look, the assembly place for all the nations marching toward the full manifestation—the Epiphany of the Lord. St. Matthew tells us the most important message that the Lord was manifested to people who came from distant lands. God made this good news of Jesus’ birth known to the Magi by a star which guided their journey. But it was necessary for the chief priests and scribes to supply the Scriptures to the strangers so that they might reach the J.C. Leyendecker (1900) house where they would find the Three Wise Men newborn king. Under one form or another, God, by the signs He gives and the preaching of the Gospel that reveals their meaning, invited all people to seek and find the Savior. After finding the Christ Child and presenting their gifts to Him, the Magi are told in a dream to return to their homeland by another route. This detail of Matthew’s gospel suggests to us that there must be a change in our ways after we encounter the Lord in faith. The Magi disappear as mysteriously as they appeared; Matthew says nothing of what became of them. All encounters with the Lord Jesus, to whom we give homage, to whom we offer presents, involves taking “another route” back to our “own country,” back to our daily occupations. God bless you, Father Ron

Parish Services & Information Care Of The Sick & Homebound • If you or someone you know is hospitalized or homebound and would like a priest to visit, contact the parish office at 202.966.6575. New Parishioners • Welcome! Please register by stopping in at the parish office, or using the registration form available online or from the pamphlet rack at the Quesada Street entrance to the church. Bulletin Announcements • Hard Deadline: Mondays @ 9 a.m. Send to: [email protected]. Newsletter Content • [email protected] Website Postings • [email protected] Facebook Postings • [email protected] Church Bulletin Boards • The parish secretary maintains the church bulletin boards. Please drop off any flyers for posting to Joan Ward in the parish office, Duffy parish center. Inclement Weather Policy • The parish center/office follows Montgomery County Schools for delays and closings. All evening activities are cancelled those days the schools are closed.

CELEBRATE EPIPHANY at THE PARISH LIBRARY OPEN HOUSE Saturday, January 7, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Christmas Crèche Exhibit • Door Prizes • Trivia Game Music • Refreshments • Favors

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Faith Formation

Servant Leaders For Christ MIDDLE SCHOOL EVENTS Events for High School and 8th Grade teens

Purple = service events; blue = social events; green = MCYM (Montgomery County

events, with other youth ministry groups from the area. FAITHYouth&Ministries) SERVICE: On the 1st Friday of each month, all 6th8th graders are invited to come for Faith & Service nights. **NEW: Tuesday 12th: Babysitting during the Parish Forum event, 6:15pm9:15pm. RSVP ASAP, wethe will offer this service we havethen enougheat pizza, play games, We’ll attend 5:30 p.m.once Mass, volunteers. Teens and adults needed. discuss our faith, and do a service project in the Auditorium. Sunday 17th: Sports & Games with KEEN [Kids Enjoying Exercise Now: forEach children with disabilities], 9am-3pm at 9am Mass followed by night counts for Meet 2 service hours.

APRIL

That Man is You: Winter/Spring Session That Man Is You (TMIY), a program for men seeking to refresh their spiritual life, starts again in the school auditorium January 21, 2017. During this winter/spring semester, men will meet from 6:15–7:15 a.m. on 13 Saturday mornings. A core team of Blessed Sacrament parishioners run the sessions. TMIY is a nationwide, transformative program that builds authentic Catholic male leadership. The winter/spring semester is an opportunity to welcome new men who may have missed TMIY when we launched last September. No worries about getting a late start. Semesters one and two are related, but largely independent of one another. Come Join Us: Learn more about your faith and how it can bring peace and purpose to your life. TMIY’s teaching videos and small group discussions help you examine your life and let God renew it. Connect: TMIY is an opportunity to develop and deepen friendships with other men of the parish.

brunch, service 11am-3pm

5:30-8:00 p.m. on Jan 6 and Feb 3. To RSVP, find the link on the parish website or contact Casey Esser (see below).

Saturday 23rd: Faith Night at DC United vs. New England soccer game, 2:30pm tailgate picnic & games, 5:30 soccer game [with Blessed Sacrament’s Young Catholics with Disabilities group and Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Group]

Sunday 24th: Spring Dance at St. Peter’s in Olney, 7pm-9pm, free admission.

I will be out of town, please RSVP at least one week in advance so I can put you in touch with the St. Peter’s Youth Minister.

High School EVENTS

BONFIRE NIGHT: On the 2nd Friday of every month, all high school students are invited to come for a bonfire. We’ll Saturday 14th: Cup of Joe at SHARE Warehouse, 9am-11:30am followed by lunch & social with time friends and young adults to enjoy music, dinner, gather and marshmallows. We’ll begin with 5:30 p.m. Mass in the Students submit ain permission slip for each event. church andmust follow the rectory courtyard. MAY

Adult chaperones and drivers are always needed, please get in touch!

5:30-8:00 p.m. on Jan 13, Feb 10 and Mar 10. To RSVP, For more information and to register for these events, please find the linkArmand: on [email protected] parish website or contact Casey Esser contact Casey (see below). 202-449-3985

SKI TRIP AT seven springs resort

Integrate: TMIY is a practical way to more fully integrate your faith with your daily life, both at work and within the family. Register: Register on the parish website and click the TMIY listing under “News and Announcements.” Watch the parish Facebook page (BlessedSacramentDC) for more details in coming weeks, or contact John Mueller: [email protected]

New Year’s Resolution for Couples: Improved Communication In The Joy of Love (136-137), Pope Francis states: “Men and women communicate differently. They speak different languages and act differently. To encourage authentic dialogue this means being ready to listen patiently and attentively to the other person. Instead of offering an opinion or advice, we need to be sure we have heard everything the other person has to say”. The Blessed Sacrament Couples Communication Workshop, to be held this March, will help you improve your communication skills and make you feel closer. For more information check the parish website and click on Ministries/Faith Formation/Communication Workshop.

Please

include our sick in your prayers that they may experience healing and comfort

Alejandro Arce Ana Maria Arce Evelyn Childs Bart Hayft Marian Middendorf Brett Norman

Fredy H. Ortega Daniel Ortman Maria Stechschlte Nelly Turner Violeta Turner

R est In Peace Janet Body

JANUARY 21st – 6am to 10pm High school students are invited to join us for a day trip to Seven Springs Mountain Resort for a day of skiing (or snowboarding)! Chaperones/drivers (21+) will also be needed. Please contact Casey for a detailed flier and permission slip to sign up! Cost varies depending whether you bring your own equipment. Permission slips are due back to Casey by Friday, January 13th.

OTHER EVENTS: SAVE THE DATE • Friday, January 27th: Youth Rally & Mass for Life, March for Life - approx. 6am to 4pm • Friday to Sunday, February 17-19: MOUNT 2000 at Mount St. Mary’s University (high school only) • Spring 2017 (date TBA) Sailing Trip • June 18-23, 2017: Manus Christi Service Camp • Stay tuned for dates for Vacation Bible School 2017! Students must submit a permission slip for each event held outside Blessed Sacrament. Adult chaperones and drivers are always needed, please get in touch! For more information and to register for these events, please contact Blessed Sacrament’s Youth Minister, Casey Esser: [email protected] | 202.449.3985

Evelyn Schurman

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The Epiphany of the Lord From the Parish Inauguration Day On Friday, January 20, 2017, there will be no 6:30 a.m. Mass or 5:30 p.m. Mass. There will also be no Adoration. Daystar Gallery Daystar Gallery presents recent photographs by 104 year old Marilee Shapiro: “Shadows and Substance,” on display from January 10 to February 3. A reception will be held on Sunday, January 15, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. All are welcome. Poor Box Donations Poor Box donations in January will benefit the Center for Employment Training operated by SOME (So Others Might Eat). The program aims to move people out of homelessness and poverty and into living-wage careers. Students are prepared for jobs as medical administrative assistants, electronic health records specialists, and building maintenance service technicians.

Our School is Your School

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Are you interested in having your child(ren) attend Blessed Sacrament School? Come to an Open House and see all of the things that make us such a special place!! Our next Open House is Wednesday, January 11 for K-8 students: 7 p.m. wine and cheese, followed by 7:15 p.m. presentations and tours. Please register to attend an Open House by going to the school’s website at www.bsstoday.org. If you can not attend an Open House and wish to schedule a tour, or have questions about Blessed Sacrament School, please email [email protected].

Coffee and Conversation @ the Corbett Café Every Thursday Join fellow parishioners every Thursday after the 8 a.m. Mass at Corbett Café, Apartment 1 of the Chevy Chase Apartments next to the church, for coffee and conversation.

25th Annual Blessed Sacrament School Auction

MARCH 11, 2017 How to get involved: Become a Sponsor, Become a Benefactor, Advertise, Donate, Volunteer, Attend!

HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE SUMMER CAMP

It is the BIGGEST fundraiser and BEST party of the year! ALL are welcome so don’t miss out! Go to the website for more information: bss.maestroweb.com

High school students are invited to a week-long service and mission experience this coming summer, along with Fr. Alec! Manus Christi is a service week, outdoor adventure camp and spiritual retreat all rolled into one and designed specifically for high school students. We will be traveling to the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia and will work in the local community on projects coordinated by Catholic Charities and Habitat for Humanity. Open to rising 9th-12 graders Chaperones needed, age 21+ For more info and to register, contact Casey Esser: [email protected] | 202.449.3985

Sponsor Of The Week We would like to thank De Vol Funeral Home for placing an ad in our weekly bulletin.

SHARE Food Co-Op

JUNE 18-23, 2017

Winter Weather Comfort Food Values– The $21 Value Package has chicken breast filets and whole breasts, bacon, a dozen eggs, ground turkey, white potatoes, onions, and more seasonal items. The specials include a $24 Shrimp Box has 4 lbs of peeled, deveined, partially cooked, tail-off 61-70 ct. frozen shrimp. The $25 Chicken Wings Package has 10 lbs of Perdue Rotisserie wings (90-100 ct). The $5 Breakfast Sanwiches Package has 5 Schwan’s Buttermilk Biscuits with maple sausage, eggs and cheese. To order, visit the parish website. Ordering deadline is Monday, January 16 at 5pm. Food distribution is Friday, January 27, 3-6 p.m. For more information, leave a message in the Blessed Sacrament SHARE Voice Mailbox: 202.449.4611 or send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for your Thanksgiving and Christmas Support. Generous donations to SHARE by parishioners made it possible to add a festive touch to holiday meals with turkeys and hams given to those in need. God Bless You!

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Visit Your Parish Library Recent gifts for the New Year Stretch your minds in January with some of the stimulating books given to the library. They reflect many aspects and challenges of our time and you’ll find them good companions for the year to come. Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History, by Rodney Stark. Gift of Dr. Edward Finn. Each chapter of this book engages a popular myth (promoted in text books and by well-known authors) about history and beliefs in the church. There’s a chapter on “The Suppressed Gospels,” those fragments discovered in recent centuries; the former provided much imaginative fiction and discussion. The author shows that those documents were rejected in favor of the canonical Gospels with good reason. Similarly, accepted conclusions about the “dark ages,” the origins of anti-Semitism, scientific heresies, and the “glories” of the Reformation, are based on fallacy. The book is an eye-opener: its useful index and unusual illustrations mark it as a ‘revisionist’ and fascinating read. Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society, by R.R. Reno. Gift of Allen Cleghorn. This new book by a scholar of religion and politics gives a historical perspective into our post-Christian America. He warns about the consequences of the unseating of Christianity in our society. However, current hand-wringing and anger against divisiveness, disparity, and the decline in traditional values need a clear antidote and the author provides a courageous call to dynamic. “It’s no sin against civility to be serpent-wise about what it takes to win in political debates,” he writes, and calls for a spirit of engagement, “articulate and confident” to address “the most existentially potent topics, God, salvation, the meaning of history”(p.186ff). The Secrets of Mary: Gifts from the Blessed Mother, by Janice T. Connell. Anonymous gift. “This is Mary’s time,” writes the author. She chronicles the gifts that Mary has brought in modern times to people who have prayed for her intercession from all over the world. Many of the stories are little known, such as that of the young survivor, Imaculee Ilibagiza, the young survivor of the Rwandan genocide (p.134); other accounts look further into the apparitions and warnings of Mary. The extensive notes to these stories invite further reading. This is an impressive and moving book by a lawyer and author ten previous books, wellknown for her research. For more info, visit the library or call 202.449.3974

Did You Know?? When meeting someone with a cognitive impairment that affects learning or intelligence, keep communication simple, stay on point, allow the person time to respond, focus directly on the conversation and be ready to repeat back any messages to confirm you understand. For more information on how Blessed Sacrament is becoming inclusive, contact [email protected].

The Adult Center All parishioners, 39 and holding, are invited to gather in Apt. 1 in the Chevy Chase apartment building next to the church for fellowship after the 11 a.m. weekday Mass. Bring a sandwich and join the activities. For more information or for transportation, call Rita Killian at 202.363.5069. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Strong Seniors Strengh & Balance Exercise Class Tuesdays with (Fr.) Maury Art Class with Dick Swartz Bridge for Bridge Lovers Closed

Chimes Chatter “A Quest For Ests and Rsts” (As in “Largest” and “Firsts”) Our tower chimes were invented and installed by the Deagan Company of Chicago, IL, started as a one-man operation by John C. Deagan in 1880. A trained clarinetist, Deagan was considered an authority on pitch and acoustics, although he was deeply interested in astronomy, geology, chemistry and physics. His significant contributions to the world of music, many of which are directly Photo by Joe Bozik related to percussion (such as our chimes instrument), radiate a career that has affected every musician over the past 135 years. Larg”est” One hundred years ago, the Deagan Company had the largest musical manufacturing building in the world, at 1770 Berteau Street in the Ravenswood area of northwestern Chicago. Our chimes instrument invented by Deagan, is an example of the largest percussion instrument. Tall”est” At the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, FL, is built the tallest tubular chimes in their 200foot tower. Biggest and Last Also at the White Springs tower, one will find the biggest tower chimes ever built with 97 pealing tubes, and the last one in 1957. Firsts Deagan created the first scientifically tuned glockenspiel instrument and began manufacturing them in 1880 in his new company in St. Louis, MO. In 1921, Deagan was the first to automate tubular tuned tubes. First to offer sound dampening features invented in 1926, and first to harmonically tune tubes in 1935. Best All in all, Deagan strived for the best in the chimes instruments produced, even having the word “quality” imprinted on the company’s logo. Have a story? “Chime” in! Contact [email protected]

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The Epiphany of the Lord From the Archdiocese Second Collection Next Week Next week our parish will take up the Collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). The AMS relies solely on private donors in support of its mission, “Serving those who serve” and its ministry to provide the same pastoral care and services to Catholics serving in the United States Armed Forces, enrolled in U.S. Military Academies, undergoing treatment at any of the 153 Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Centers, working in civilian jobs for the federal government beyond U.S. borders, and the families of these populations, as does any other Catholic diocese. While the salaries and retirement of Catholic military chaplains are paid for by the U.S. government, the AMS receives no funding from government or the military for its programs and services, including the Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, which provides priests for home diocese and for the military chaplaincy. To learn more about the AMS, go to www.milarch.org/ nationalcollection.

13TH ANNUAL DAY OF RECOLLECTION “GROWING VOCATIONS IN THE CULTURE OF DOUBT”

FATHER MARK IVANY

Director of Priest Vocations Director of Spiritual Formation, St. John Paul II Seminary

JANUARY 28, 2017 M OTHER T ERESA V OCATION S OCIETY TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PLACE: Annunciation Church, N.W. (free parking) 3810 Massachusetts Ave, Washington, D.C., Saturday, January 28, 2017 When: 9:30 A.M. – 2:00 Reflection, P.M. The day will include Mass, Adoration, and Confession. Lunch is provided free of charge but donations will be appreciated. The Office of Priest Church of the Annunciation Vocations and the Mother Teresa Vocation Society 3810 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Where: sponsor the day. Washington, DC 20016 202-362-3323 parking is available.) Please contact Maris Moriarty(Ample at [email protected] or call 202.636.9020 for information and reservation for For more information about this pleaseare contact the Office Priest Vocations lunch. Parishioners of event, all ages invited to ofattend. at [email protected], or call 202-636-9020.

DATE: Sponsored by:

Mother Teresa Vocation Society prayerfully supports vocations to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington. You do not need to be a member to attend our events. Membership and events are free. For information on how you can become a member of MTVS, please visit www.DCPriest.org, or contact Maris Moriarty at 202-636-9020 or [email protected] ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON OFFICE OF PRIEST VOCATIONS S A I N T J O H N P A U L I I S E M I N A R Y · 14 5 T ayl or S tree t, N E · W as h i ng t o n, DC 200 17 · (2 02 ) 6 36 -90 20

voc a t io n s @ad or g · w w w. DCPr ie st . final org F ind us o n Fof acebthe o o k: Searc h DC V oc a ti oseason, ns This week wew.celebrate the days Christmas which ends on January 8, the Feast of the Epiphany. As we recall the Three Magi bringing gifts to the infant Jesus we are reminded that each of us has gifts and presents to offer Jesus each day. As you are making New Year’s resolutions, be resolved to focus more on your relationship with God in prayer and in using your gifts to help others this year. Visit FindthePerfectGift.org for faith reflections.

Outreach Christian Family Movement Ministry As of December 31, gun violence in the U.S. in 2016 resulted in 14,913 deaths and 30,425 injuries. Of these, deaths or injuries numbered 383 in mass shootings (four or more), 326 of police officers and 1,895 of persons shot by police (Gun Violence Archive). Let us pray. A Prayer For Help In Ending Violence Loving and faithful God, through the years the people of our archdiocese have prayed in times of war, disaster and illness. We come to you Father and ask you to help us in the battle of today against violence, murder and racism. We implore you to give us your wisdom that we may build a community founded on the values of Jesus, which give respect to the life and dignity of all people. Bless parents that they may form their children in faith. Bless and protect our youth that they may be the peacemakers of our time. Give consolation to those who have lost loved ones through violence. Hear our prayer and give us the perseverance to be a voice for life and human dignity in our community. We ask you this through Christ our Lord.

From the Community Natural Family Planning Class Introductory class on the Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning will be offered Tuesday, January 17 and Tuesday, January 31 at 8 p.m. in the Library of Our Lady of Lourdes School, 7500 Pearl Street, Bethesda, MD 20814. Parking is available in the church lot across from the school. Enter via the handicap walk to the right of the Rectory entrance. There is no fee for this class but a one time donation of $25.00. Follow-up appointments are arranged individually and are available as long as needed to understand and follow the Billings Method. Call 301.897.9323 or email [email protected] to reserve a place. Make a Difference for Christians in Syria The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, DC, is part of the Franciscan Custody (province) that has served the people and shrines in the Holy Land for 800 years. This year, please keep the Franciscan friars and parishioners in Syria in your prayers as they struggle to keep our Catholic faith alive in the midst of the war that has engulfed this second cradle of Christianity: the place of St. Paul’s conversion. Learn more at myfranciscan.org/ Syria or call 202-526-6800 x895. Save the Date: MARCH FOR LIFE FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017 The March for Life is the largest pro-life rally in the world. Mark your calendars! 11:45 a.m.: Musical Opening 12:00 p.m.: Rally 1:00 p.m.: March 3:00 p.m.: Listen to Silent No More testimonies outside U.S. Supreme Court 3:30 p.m.: Visit your Representative or Senator to advocate for life

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