St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Catholic Church
12805 Valleywood Drive, Lake Ridge, Virginia
Founded 1976
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2015
Page Two
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2015
“Blessed, blessed Lord, keep us always in Thy company and press our weak hearts forever in Thy service.”
Daily Thoughts of Mother Seton
Mass Schedule
Monday - Saturday:
Saturday Vigil:
Sunday:
Holy Days:
9:00AM
6:00PM
7:30, 9:00, 10:45AM, 12:30PM
Vigil - 7:30PM
9:00AM, 6:00PM, 7:30PM
Pastoral Staff
Rev. David P. Meng
Rev. Edwin E. Perez
Dcn. Rob Warner
Mrs. Jackie Ezersky
Mrs. Kathy Lord
Pastor
Parochial Vicar
Deacon
Director of Religious Education
Director of Religious Education
for Middle School & Confirmation
Mr. Jon Laird
Director of Music
& Coordinator of Youth Ministry
General Information
Office Hours:
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
RCIA: Adults who wish to become Catholic are invited to inquire
about the process. Please call the Parish Office.
Nursery Service: 10:45 AM Mass
Telephone Numbers
Parish Offices
Parish School, Aquinas School
Religious Education Offices
Fax
Web site
Weekend & evening receptionist
703-494-4008
703-491-4447
703-494-3966
703-494-1995
www.seas1.org
(703) 494-4008
Sacraments
Penance: Friday after 9AM Mass, Monday at 7PM,
Saturday, 3:30 PM (till lines run out) or by appointment.
Baptism: Registration in parish and preparation is required.
Please call Parish Office for an appointment.
Marriage: Registration in parish and 6 month preparation is required.
Please call the Parish Office for an appointment.
First Communion: Administered in 2nd grade upon completion of 1st
grade in a Religious Education Program or Catholic School.
Confirmation: Administered in 8th grade after completing grades 1-7
in a Religious Education Program or Catholic School.
PARISH ACTIVITIES FROM MAY 10TH - 16TH
Sunday, May 10th
Mother’s Day
Monday, May 11th
9am
MC
Mass
9:30am
Icons
LFR
10am
NO Seton Crafters
DH
10am
Moms’ Group
N
6pm
VBS Registration
F
7pm
Boy Scouts
UH
7pm - till lines run out Confessions
C
Tuesday, May 12th
9am
MC
Mass
9:30am
Blue Army Devotion
ALL DAY ADORATION UNTIL 5:45 C
6pm
VBS Registration
F
7pm
Finance Meeting
Cr-B
Wednesday, May 13th
9am
MC
Mass
9:30am
Divine Mercy Cenacle
Cr-A
6pm
Legion of Mary
Cr-A
6pm
Boy Scouts
UH
7pm
Charismatic Prayer Group
UH
7pm
Altar Servers Appreciation Night
MC&F
Thursday, May 14th
9am
MC
Mass
9:30am
Divine Mercy Holy Hour
C
7pm
Conference for the Engaged
T2&3
7:30pm
Faith Foundation Class
P&P
Friday, May 15th
9am
MC
Mass
9:30pm:30pm Confessions
C
9:30am
Friday AM Faith Sharing
T1
10:15am
Legion of Mary
Cr-A
Saturday, May 16th
9am
MC
Mass
9:30am
Silver Foxes
F&K
3:30pm:30pm Confessions
C
ATTENTION!
In observance of Memorial Day the offices will be
closed on Monday, May 25th and there will be NO
Confessions at 7pm
PRO-LIFE
"Nothing we do to defend the human person, no matter how
small, is ever unfruitful or forgotten. Our actions touch other
lives and move other hearts in ways we can never fully understand in this world. Don’t ever underestimate the beauty and
power of the witness you give in your pro-life work."
~ Archbishop Charles Chaput
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
Welcomes Our Newly Baptized
Dalia Vivian Abed
Danny Mbule Siewe Lamene
Liza Mbuani Siewe Tiemani
Page Three
WEEK OF MAY 11TH
FEAST DAYS & READINGS
11th Mon Acts 16:11-15; Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b;
Jn 15:26 — 16:4a
12th Tues Feast of SS. Nereus and Achilleus &
St. Pancras
Acts 16:22-34; Ps 138:1-3, 7c-8;
Jn 16:5-11
13th Wed Our Lady of Fatima
Acts 17:15, 22 — 18:1; Ps 148:1-2,
11-14; Jn 16:12-15
14th Thurs Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-9; Eph 1:17
-23 or Eph 4:1-13 [1-7, 11-13];
Mk 16:15-20 (for Ascension); otherwise Acts 1:15-27, 20-26;
Ps 113:1-8; Jn 15:9-17
15th Fri Feast of St. Isidore
Acts 18:9-18; Ps 47:2-7; Jn 16:20-23
16th Sat Acts 18:23-28; Ps 47:2-3, 8-10;
Jn 16:23b-28
17th Sun Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26; Ps 103:12, 11-12, 19-20; 1 Jn 4:11-16;
Jn 17:11b-19; or, for Ascension, Acts
1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-9; Eph 1:17- 23
or Eph 4:1-13 [1-7, 11-13];
Mk 16:15-20
MASS INTENTIONS
Mon
9:00am
Tues
9:00am
Wed
9:00am
Thurs
9:00am
Fri
9:00am
Sat
9:00am
6:00pm
Sun
7:30am
9:00am
10:45am
12:30pm
For Those Remembered in Our
Mother’s Day Novena
Mother’s Day Novena
PARISH NEWS
Eucharistic Ministers
IS THE LORD ASKING YOU to consider serving as an Extra-ordinary Minister of Holy
Communion? To serve in this capacity one must be at least 21 years of age, registered in
the Parish, a faithful and practicing Catholic, if married – married in the Church and willing to attend a workshop sponsored by the Diocese so as to obtain a mandate from the
Bishop. If you would be willing to serve in this most excellent work, please call the office,
703-494-4008 to register.
SEAS DIVINE MERCY
CENACLE AND HOLY HOUR
program of study and prayer developed by the
Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy. The
objectives of the program are to gain a deeper
understanding of the Divine Mercy message,
the role of St. Faustina in spreading and increasing devotion to the Divine Mercy, and to
grow in living the Divine Mercy in our daily
lives. On Thursdays, the Cenacle hosts a Holy
Hour in the SEAS chapel to pray for the sick
and dying, for an end to abortion, for our
priests, for an increase in vocations, for the
special needs of the parish, for religious freedom and for the intentions of SEAS parishioners. All are welcome to come and participate!
For more information about the Cenacle and
Holy Hour, please contact Mary Ann Cowden
at 703-492-8149.
MASS in the Extraordinary Form
Mother’s Day Novena
will be celebrated on Friday, May 15, at
7:30pm
Mother’s Day Novena
WOODBRIDGE CATHOLIC
YOUNG ADULTS
Mother’s Day Novena
HUMAN CONCERNS
FOR THE MONTH OF MAY ~ In honor of our
fallen soldiers we are helping our injured soldiers
by collecting gas cards, non-sugared items such as
nuts, granola bars, and protein bars. You can bring
the gas cards to the Parish Office or drop them in
the offertory baskets in an envelope marked “GAS
CARDS”. All other items can be placed in the
blue bin by the Parish Office. If you have any
questions, please call the Parish Office at 703-494
-4008.
Adults are invited to join us ……
Were our hearts not burning within us?
The Adult Faith Foundational classes continue on Thursdays, May 14, 21 & 28.
May 14: Pentecost/Holy Spirit/ Evangelization
May 21: Sacrament of Confirmation/Gifts of
the Holy Spirit
May 28: Beatitudes
All are welcome! Can’t make all three
classes? Come to the ones you can.
Join local young adults for fellowship, prayer,
speakers and presentations on a variety of topics that will ignite your faith and spark your
intellect! We meet every Tuesday at 7:00
A Prayer For All Who Are
p.m. at Our Lady of Angels Church. Contact
Serving Our Country
[email protected] or search
Almighty God and Father, look with love upon
for us on Facebook: "Woodbridge Catholic our men and women in uniform and protect them
Young Adults”.
in their time of need. Give them health and stabil-
Mother’s Day Novena
Mother’s Day Novena
For the People of
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Mother’s Day Novena
Mother’s Day Novena
Mother’s Day Novena
ARBOR COMMITTE
Please Pray for…….
Sick ~ Merle Banaszak, Mary Lou Garner,
Ed Glenn, Michael Heck, Megan Murray &
Carolyn Schott
Deceased ~ Geraldine Adams, Fr. Robert
Lange & Kenrick Sawh
SUNDAY COLLECTION
MAY 3, 2015
Collection w/Faith Direct
Capital Campaign - Gold
Capital Improvement - Gold
ROSES FOR SALE
High quality long stem red roses will be
on
The SEAS Divine Mercy Cenacle available for sale after all Masses
th
th
meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays Mother’s Day weekend, May 9 and 10 .
They will be $5 each and the proceeds will
immediately following 9:00 AM Mass.
support the Youth Group’s trip to World Youth
On Wednesdays, the Cenacle follows a
Day Krakow, Poland!
$21,559.19
$4,970.00
$1,210.00
THANK YOU to all parishioners who support
this parish.
Interested in helping to beautify
and maintain the gardens and
bushes around the parish
grounds? The Arbor Committee is looking for parishioners
who like to play in the dirt and
have a desire to make the church property
look nicer. Members meet on Saturday
mornings from 9:30am-11am mid-April
through Memorial Day weekend and then
again in the Autumn months. Can’t come
every Saturday? No worries we’re happy to
have you any weekend you are able to join
us. If you’d like more information or you
want to be put on the email list, send your
name to Laura at [email protected]
and she’ll get back to you with more details. Come join this fun group of workers!
ity and allow them to return to their loved ones
whole and unshaken. Be with their families and
sustain them in these uncertain times.
Sgt. Ryan Accornero, USMC
Capt. Erin Anderson, US Army
1Lt Aaron Bradley, USAF
GM3 Coleman Calhoun, USCGC
AIC Daniel P. Callahan, USAF
PVT Daniel Cardinale, US Army
Col. Dennis Curran, USAF
ISC Benjamin Evan, USN
IS2 Michael Flick, USN
Sgt. Joseph Frederick, USMC
1Lt Christopher Hoffmann, USMC
2Lt. Jonathan Likovetz, US Army
Lt. Col Michael P. Marciniak, US Army
SrA Taylor McCarthy, USAF
Lt Casey Smith, USN
CPT Rob Stark, US Army
Cpl Robert Talbert, USMC
WO2 Dave Tomlinson, USMC
EN1 Jeffrey Lee Vitols, USN
Page Four
K - 5 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
If you did not attend one of the Parent Meetings
& Registration in May, there will be two other
registration nights over the summer: on
Tuesdays, June 2 and August 18 @ 6:00pm. You
may register at one of these nights for the 2015-16
RE year, after a 10-15 minute overview of the
program, including our arrival and dismissal
procedures for Religious Education classes.
K-5 grade classes will begin Tuesday &
Wednesday, September 29 & 30. There will be a
mandatory parent meeting during your child’s first
class. For more information, please call or email:
(703) 494-3966 Ext. 134 Jackie Ezersky [email protected] (grades K-5th, RCIC, K8th grade Family Catechesis).
If your child is currently in Family Catechesis
and you would like to register for an RE class,
come to the June 2/August 18 registration nights
to register your child for K-5 grade classes for the
2015-16 RE year.
Date: Monday/Tuesday,
May 11/12, 2015
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Place: Fellowship Hall (in church building)
Cost: $25.00 per child
VBS is opened to all children ages 4-10, and will
take place July 13-17, 2015 from 9am-12:00pm.
Are asked to go down to the nursery and sign-up
for summer nursery duty. Please choose 2-3
Sundays over the summer and write your name
on the schedule hanging in the nursery. New
volunteers are needed! Thanks!
Religious Education Office Summer Schedule
Beginning June 1st, the Religious Education Office
will be on a summer schedule:
Monday-Friday.....9:00am-1:00pm.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Religious Education classes are finished for the
year. There will be registration for the Middle
School 2015-16 classes on June 2 at 6:00PM in
the Fellowship Hall.
SUMMER SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
If you are a rising 7th grader or above and are
interested in being an aide for the SEAS Vacation
Bible School the week of July 13-17 from 9AM12:30PM, you should plan on attending one of the
following training dates: Tues, June 2 from 77:30PM or Tues, July 7 from 7-7:30PM. This is a
great way to support your parish and earn 18 of the
20 hours of community service required for your
Confirmation preparation.
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP: There will
be no High School Youth Group meeting on
Mother’s Day, Sun, May 10. The next High School
Youth Group meeting will be at 7:30PM on Sun,
May 17 in the Fellowship Hall downstairs in the
Church.
HIGH SCHOOL RE CLASS: Registration for the
2015-16 High School Religious Education class will
be on June 2 at 6PM in the Fellowship Hall.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
SAINT JOHN PAUL THE GREAT
Saint John Paul the Great Gala ~
The Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High
School Family Association invites you to
attend their 3rd Annual Gala and Auction on
May 16, 2015. It will be a fun-filled evening for
adults, in support of Catholic education! Ticket and
sponsorship information may be found at
www.jpthegreat.org or [email protected] or
703.445.0300.
Page Five
PARISH NEWS CONTINUED ~
Charity in Truth
The Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom: Reaffirming a Shared Witness
A few days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the rights of states to define marriage as the union
of one man and one woman, more than 30 religious leaders
representing diverse faith communities throughout the
United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to
marriage and religious freedom. An open letter entitled “The
Defense of Marriage and the Right of Religious Freedom:
Reaffirming a Shared Witness” was issued to all in positions of public
service on April 23.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), signed the open letter
and was joined by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco,
chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense
of Marriage; Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of
the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty; and Bishop
Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York, chairman of the Committee
on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.
“We hope this letter serves as an encouragement to all of us, especially
those dedicated to public service, to continue to promote both marriage and religious freedom as integral to a healthy and free society,”
said Archbishop Kurtz. “Marriage as the union of one man and one
woman provides the best context for the birth and rearing of children
and should be specially protected by law. The law, when it upholds the
unique meaning of marriage, is simply recognizing an objective reality, not constructing one: children always have a mother and a father
and deserve to be loved and raised by both of them. Society should
work to strengthen the unique bond between husband and wife, knowing that strong marriages build stronger communities.”
The religious leaders stressed the need for civility and mutual respect,
writing, “Government should protect the rights of those with differing
views of marriage to express their beliefs and convictions without fear
of intimidation, marginalization or unwarranted charges that their
values imply hostility, animosity, or hatred of others.”
COMMUNITY NEWS
From the Chancellor’s Desk
Archdiocese for the Military Services 20th Annual Memorial
Mass ~ Join in prayer with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, to honor the men and women who are serving or have
served in the Armed Forces at the 20th Annual Memorial Mass on
the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 17, at 4:30 p.m. in the Great Upper
Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception in Washington, D.C. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio. Military personnel are
encouraged to wear service dress uniform; civilians are asked to
wear business attire.
Catholic Communication Campaign Collection
Next week, our parish will take up the Collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign. This collection communicates the
Gospel through Catholic social media activities and enriches our
faith through podcasts, television, radio, and print media. Half of
all proceeds remain in our (arch)diocese and support local needs,
so please be generous in this collection.
From the Office for Family Life
2015 Conferences for the Engaged ~ One-day Saturday conferences are held in Vienna, at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Three consecutive Thursday evening conferences are held
in Woodbridge, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For
more information, please visit www.arlingtondiocese.org/marriage.
OUR LADY OF BETHESDA
Three to Get Married Marriage Preparation Weekend
Upcoming weekends: May 21-24, Jun 18-21, Jul 9-12
Are You Ready?! You’re not just planning a wedding, you’re preparing
for a lifetime!
Our marriage preparation course is an intensive preparation experience true to the teachings of the Catholic
Church.
Convenient one-weekend schedule.
FOCCUS Inventory included! $285 per couple.
Registration required.
www.ourladyofbethesda.org 301-365-0612. Weekends fill up, so reserve your spot today! Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center, 7007 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD.
The leaders close with a statement of their duty and love towards all:
“In this and in all that we do, we are motivated by our duty to love
God and neighbor. This love extends to all those who disagree with us
on this issue. The well-being of men, women, and the children they
conceive compels us to stand for marriage as between one man and
one woman.”
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKENDS
In the readings we are commanded to love one another.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel that through living in love we
will have complete joy! Attend a Marriage Encounter to
gain the tools to truly love your spouse more and receive
the joy that it can bring. Strengthen, renew, and rekindle
Marriage is and always will be the union between one man and one
your marriage sacrament by attending a Worldwide Marriage Enwoman. This truth is inseparable from the duty to honor the God-given
counter Weekend on the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter
dignity of every human person. Please join the Bishops in prayer
that the justices will uphold the responsibility of states to protect the Weekends 18-20 September in Herndon or 6-8 November in
beautiful truth of marriage, which concerns the essential well-being of Herndon. For more information or to apply, please visit our website
at renewmarriage-vanorth.org or contact us at applicathe nation, especially children.
[email protected] or 703-378-4150.
The letter is available at: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriageand-family/marriage/promotion-and-defense-of-marriage/upload/Open
-Letter-on-Marriage-and-Religious-Freedom-April-2015.pdf and follows two previous open letters: “The Protection of Marriage: A Shared
Commitment,” issued December 6, 2010, and “Marriage and Religious
Freedom: Fundamental Goods That Stand or Fall Together,” issued
January 12, 2012, which are available at www.usccb.org/issues-andaction/marriage-and-family/marriage/promotion-and-defense-ofmarriage/ecumenical-and-interreligious-activities.cfm
OFFICE OF VOCATIONS
“God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live
through Him.” Are you being called to be sent into the world as a
priest or consecrated religious, that others might live in Christ? If
you think God may be offering you this grace, call Father J.D.
Jaffe at 703-2514 or write: [email protected].
Page Six
Katie Adkinson
Joseph Atkinson
Collin Averill
Michael Bartolotto
Michael Bender
Brett Black
Sarah Boyt
Ava Carr
Jayme Cirka
Jennifer Corral-Chagolla
Matthew Craft
Lucas DePetro
Tamara Eddy
Talia Fields
Jason Fred
Antonia Gifford
Liliana Gomez
Alvin Gonsalves
Gabrielle Grubbs
Derick Hill
Colin Hogan
Brandon Hornung
Ryan Hornung
Jordyn Hurley
Garielle Johnson
Emily Jordan
Conor Keating
Jeremy Kirkland
Michael Kosar
Brian Lee
Abigail Meyer
Dominique Mickiewicz
Etienne Mickiewicz
Tyler Misencik
Jean Mondoro
Maximilian Moons
Sarah Morales
Nicolas Morataya
Madison Morin
Catherine Moynihan
Helen Murray
Kaelyn O’Brien
Grace Owen
William Quinn
Kimberly Raymondi
Megan Reilly
Shannon Reilly
Brian Siegel
Ryan Smith
Nicholas Symczak
Jackson Towers
Michael Troup
Aiden Unroe
John Weiner
Andrew Wells
Congratulations!
The Saints Corner
St. Damien of Molokai
Feast Day: 10 May
Patronage: People with leprosy, the state of Hawaii, HIV and AIDS patients, outcasts
Joseph de Veuster was born January 3rd, in Tremelo, Belgium in 1840, and died 49 years later as Fr. Damien on April
15th, in Hawaii. His early life found him working on the family farm, but at 19 years old he joined the Congregation of
the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary where his older brother, Pamphile, was already a priest. When his brother was too ill
to take his assignment to the Hawaiian Islands, Damien quickly volunteered. In May of 1864, two months after arriving
in Honolulu he was ordained a priest and assigned to stay in Hawaii. In 1873 he became part of a team of chaplains that
spent three months each year assigned to the government’s leper colony on the island of Molokai. Fr. Damien was so
touched by the plight of these outcasts – men, women, and children – that he soon volunteered to be the permanent priest
on Molokai attending to the physical, medical and spiritual needs of the people. There he became their greatest advocate.
He worked with the government to build new houses, a church, a school, and even an orphanage! He even got Mother
Marianne Cope of the Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse to help staff all the buildings and services. He worked tirelessly for these people and the morale
of all on the island improved. Fr. Damien eventually contracted leprosy and eventually died of its complications. By the time he passed on to eternal
life, everyone knew his name, and knew about the tragic disease, but also about his heroic love and service to alleviate the sufferings of his Hawaiian
brothers and sisters. For sixteen years his compassion kept him “living in the graveyard that was Molokai,” never losing sight of his life’s purpose,
despite all the difficulties and sufferings he bore. On June 4th, 1995 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II, and on October 11 th, 2009 he was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. During his canonization homily, Pope Benedict said, "Let us remember before this noble figure that it is charity which
makes unity, brings it forth and makes it desirable. Following in Saint Paul's footsteps, Saint Damien prompts us to choose the good warfare (1 Tm
1:18), not the kind that brings division but the kind that gathers people together. He invites us to open our eyes to the forms of leprosy that disfigure
the humanity of our brethren and still today call for the charity of our presence as servants, beyond that of our generosity." Pope Benedict continued,
“Not without fear and loathing, Father Damian made the choice to go on the island of Molokai in the service of lepers who were there, abandoned by
all. So he exposed himself to the disease of which they suffered. With them he felt at home. The servant of the Word became a suffering servant,
leper with the lepers, during the last four years of his life."
He continued, "To follow Christ, Father Damian not only left his homeland, but has also staked his health so he, as the word of Jesus announced in
today's Gospel tells us, received eternal life."
St. Damien of Molokai, Pray for us!
If you’d like to learn more about this amazing servant of God, here are two books and a video that might interest you: Holy Man: Father Damien of
Molokai, by Gavin Daws; St. Damien of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiled, by Matthew Bunson and Margaret Bunson; and “Molokai: The Story of Fr.
Damien” DVD, PG-rating.
Page Seven
Vacation Bible School 2015
Registration
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Monday/Tuesday, May 11/12, 2015
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Fellowship Hall (in church building)
$25.00 per child
VBS is opened to all children ages 4-10 (pre-school through just completing
5th grade in June 2015), and will take place July 13-17 from 9am-12:00pm.
Students completing 6th grade and above in June 2015 are invited to become
aides. Confirmandi who volunteer for the entire week of VBS will earn 18
service hours.
Tuesday, June 2nd & July 7th is for all teachers from 7-8pm. Any teens who
have signed up to be aides must attend either the June training session or the
one in July. Aides will be finished by 7:30pm. Teachers attend both training
sessions.