Church of the Nativity, Burke Virginia 14th Sunday of Ordinary … · 1 day ago · and all beings, and more readily listen to the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (No

Church of the Nativity, Burke Virginia 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time July 5, 2020

“And whether they heed or resist - they shall know that a prophet has been among them.” - Ezekiel 2:5

My dear parishioners,

Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si,” on care for our “Common Home” was published on June 18th, 2015, by the Vatican. Pope Francis examines our relationship with God, with each other, and with nature which he calls “integral ecology.” That's an interesting phrase of the Pope which reminds us of our unique place as human beings and our relationship with our surroundings with nature. He sees the degradation of the earths' environment as affecting the poor disproportionately. Pope Francis comes from a culture where the poor are very much downtrodden and he has seen a world that’s more poor than rich.

I like the Pope’s “common good” and “common home” perspective in the document. It’s not just me, it’s not just Burke, VA, it’s everyone looking out for everyone which is a big part of the Christian message. We try to reach out and help others because God is in every person. This has also been part of the fabric of our nation:” with liberty and justice for all.”

While Pope Francis is convinced that global warming is evident, not all agree about the cause of climate change. The Pope urgently challenges the wealthier nations to use more clean sources of power - solar, wind and less fossil fuel which release carbons into the atmosphere. 1.2 Billion people in the world do not have electricity. We want them to have this and the sources of power should come from cleaner solar power or wind. We have the technology to do this, but it demands a change of will and heart to do it. There are different views on this, but the Pope is saying to the family of nations “let's talk about it”.

The Pope is calling for a simpler lifestyle and to reject a “throw away culture.” Pope Francis speaks as a pastor in his call to protect the earth. Following are selected quotes from Pope Francis' encyclical:

• The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.

• Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence. We have no such right.

• The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, His boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains; everything is, as it were, a caress of God.

• Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth.

• We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels, especially coal, but also oil, and to a lesser degree gas, needs to be progressively replaced without delay.

• “Less is more.” A constant flood of new consumer goods can baffle the heart and prevent us from cherishing each thing and each moment.

• Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us.

• Reduce, reuse, recycle.

I guess we can see that “whether they heed or resist, ...they shall know that a prophet has been among them.” We give thanks to God this weekend for blessing our nation abundantly. America the beautiful from sea to shining sea. God mend thy every flaw. Love and Blessings,

Fr. Bob Cilinski, Pastor

A Message from our Pastor Fr. Bob Cilinski

LIVE Stream Masses Schedule Update

We are thankful and rejoice in the opportunity to return to in-person Mass each week. Beginning the weekend of July 10 and 11, we invite you to continue tuning into one of our two Nativity Live Streamed Masses, 7:30pm Spanish Mass on Saturday and 11:00am on Sunday.

We rejoice in the gift of the Eucharist and the opportunity to share in these Live Stream Masses together as one community while many continue to stay safe at home. We will continue Live Streaming the Tuesday and Thursday Noon daily Masses.

Father Bob Cilinski, Pastor

Bishop’s Lenten Appeal (BLA) Update

A great “Thank You” to everyone who donated and pledged to this year’s BLA! As of June 25, Nativity parishioners have pledged or given amounts totaling $707,689, exceeding our $635,000 goal and leading all parishes in the diocese.

This BLA funds diocesan Vocations, Youth Ministry, Catholic Schools, Catholic Charities, Religious Education programs as well as many other activities here at Nativity and throughout the diocese. If you made a pledge that is still being paid, you should be receiving monthly reminder statements. You also may go online to make a payment at: www.arlingtondiocese.org.

For questions, please call the BLA office at 703-841-2570. May God continue to bless you for your tremendous generosity!


A message from your

Nativity Creation Care Ministry

In honor of the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si, prior to a quarantine hiatus, Nativity Creation Care Ministry was bringing you, over a period of weeks, Top Ten Takeaways from 'Laudato Si' by James Martin, S.J. Here is the final takeaway.

Pope Francis’ revolutionary ...encyclical calls for a “broad cultural revolution” to confront the environmental crisis. “Laudato Si” is also quite lengthy. Can it be summarized? In other words, what are the main messages, or “takeaways” of this encyclical?

10) A change of heart is required

At heart, this document, addressed to “every person on the planet” is a call for a new way of looking at things, a “bold cultural revolution” (No. 3, 114). We face an urgent crisis, when, thanks to our actions, the earth has begun to look more and more like, in Francis’ vivid language, “an im-mense pile of filth” (No. 21). Still, the document is hopeful, reminding us that because God is with us, we can strive both individually and corporately to change course. We can awaken our hearts and move towards an “ecological conver-sion” in which we see the intimate connection between God and all beings, and more readily listen to the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (No. 49).

To use religious language, what the pope is calling for is conversion.

ECHO News

ECHO pleaded for help to alleviate the hardship in our community caused by the pandemic, and donors are responding! We have distributed more than 14,000 bags of food since March 1.

While we continue to need food, we are now expanding assistance to meet more needs of families with children. We thank you for past assistance and ask for your help to continue this extraordinary effort.

Children grow, thank goodness, pandemics or not, so ECHO will start offering school supplies and children’s clothing to families who need them as we continue to meet the over-whelming need for food. Because of social distancing, our volunteers would be swamped by the normal stream of donations, so please follow the guidelines below. You can help us by presorting your donations and bringing them to ECHO, 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, weekdays 9:30am to 12:30pm, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7:00pm to 9:00pm. ECHO continues to be closed on Wednesday evenings.

• Donate children’s shoes and summer clothing ONLY- no adult clothing or housewares yet, in bags or boxes marked as “Young Children Clothing” or “Older Children/Teen Clothing”

• Donate new school supplies in bags or boxes marked “New School Supplies.” We especially need backpacks, 2” binders, wide or college rule spiral notebooks and notepaper, broad or thin colored markers, 12 pack colored pencils, glue sticks.

• Donate food or hygiene products in bags separate from clothing or school supply donations, and mark them “Food.” Please avoid giant sized products because they are difficult for ECHO to use. Urgent needs now include: canned fruits and vegetables, tortillas, vegetable oil, peanut butter, soup, crackers, bandaids, hand lotion, razors, shaving cream.

Burke Presbyterian Church, 5690 Oak Leather Drive, Burke, will hold a “Pop ‘n Go” Food Drive for ECHO on Sunday afternoon, July 12, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Donors of non-perishable foods and hygiene supplies can drive to the “In” driveway of the church, pop open their trunks for volunteers to retrieve their donations, and easily drive back to Oak Leather via the exit driveway. Even if you have only one or two items to donate, or only a short time in your schedule, Burke Presbyterian will happily and safely take your food donation and deliver it to ECHO.

Information on donating funds toward ECHO’s mission can be found on our website: https://www.echo-inc.org/sample-page-2/donating-money. People in need of food or financial assis-tance should call 703-569-9160 during the hours shown above.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES CROPS GLEANING

Please help Catholic Charities feed the hungry by volunteering to glean crops on a One Day Mission trip to the northern neck of Virginia. “Gleaning” is the traditional biblical practice of gather-ing crops that would otherwise be left to rot in the fields or be plowed under after harvest.

The freshly gleaned produce will be transported back to Catholic Charities' St. Lucy Project Food Warehouse and given to those in need. Mission trips will be offered on the first Saturday of each month starting July 11 through November and are a great service project for church groups, families, book clubs and confirmation students (with parental supervision).

To sign up for a trip, visit https://tinyurl.com/farmgleaning2020. For more information, please contact Commissioned by Christ Farm Gleaning Mission Trip Volunteer Coordinator, Tom Pedagno at [email protected].

Event Dates: July 11, August 1, September 5, October 3 and November 7, 2020

“You are in the spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.”

Is the Holy Spirit leading you or someone you know to serve Christ and His Church as a priest or in the consecrated life?

Call Father Michael Isenberg (703) 841-2514, or email: [email protected].

CONGRATULATIONS

to Deacon Richard Kelly and Mrs. Joyce Kelly

On their 50th Wedding Anniversary


“Like us, Christ entered the world through the womb of a woman. He willingly experienced the fullness of human

suffering. He breathed his last on the Cross at Calvary in order that He might save us. Therefore, ‘God is the

foundation of hope: not any god, but the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end’ (Spe salvi 31).”

USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, 2019-2020 Respect Life Reflection (Citing Pope Benedict XVI, Spe salvi © 2007, Libreria

Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)

A WOMAN’S CHOICE is a pregnancy resource center that provides free pregnancy testing, referrals for medical treatment,

housing, social service assistance and tangible support for pregnant women, including clothing and equipment.

www.awomanschoicecenter.com or (703-538-4305).

MASS INTENTIONS

"We are God's People" 1 Peter 2:10

Monday, July 6

7:30am † Dayhe Lee

Tuesday, July 7 7:30am † James Lee & Grace Lee 12:00pm † Mary Ann De Rossi

Wednesday, July 8 7:30am † Francis Edmund Costello

Thursday, July 9 7:30am Special Int. for Wendi Oller

12:00pm † Bobby McElroy

Friday, July 10 7:30am † Alan Janosy

Saturday, July 11 9:00am † Cherry Decena 5:00pm † Marshall Levitan 7:30pm † Genaro Vargas

Sunday, July 12 7:00am † James & Margaret Flynn † Joseph Castellano 11:00am Parishioners

† Connor McGowan 5:30pm † Marsha Nicholson

The priest schedule for Masses is found on our webpage: www.nativityburke.org

In prayer, let us remember the sick and deceased of the parish.

Associates of St. John Bosco College Night

Attention Class of 2020: The Associates of St. John Bosco invites rising college freshmen to attend a College Night at

one of the following parishes:

St. Michael- Annandale: July 9 (location change) St. Mary - Alexandria: July 22

St. Mary - Fredericksburg: July 29

College Nights are free to all students and provide resources and support for keeping your Catholic faith when entering

college this fall. Catholic student representatives from George Mason, UVA, the University of Mary Washington, William & Mary, Virginia Tech, and other private and public schools will

be on hand to share their experiences of being a Catholic college student.

This is an excellent opportunity to network with other Catholic students and to receive resources for the transition to college only a few months away. The Nights begin at 7:00 PM, and students are encouraged to wear their college t-shirt to the

event! To register for one of the College Nights and for additional information, visit our website at www.asjb.org.

Sr. Nancy Usselmann, from The Daughters of St Paul - the Pauline Center for Media Studies, offers talks, workshops, film retreats and online courses about living our faith in and through the popular media.

Sr. Nancy Usselmann is the Director of the Center and is available for online webinars and retreats on many topics related to spirituality and media including the topic of her book:

A Sacred Look: Becoming Cultural Mystics — A Theology of Pop Culture.

You can book Sr. Nancy Usselmann for your next event. For more information please visit:

https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/sr-nancy-usselmann

Website: www.nativityburke.org 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time July 5, 2020

nativityschool.org

NATIVITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

Nativity Third Graders’ Virtual Spin on a Classic Tale

Our Third Graders study and perform “Charlotte’s Web,” by E.B. White, every year -- this year, even a worldwide pandemic could not stop them!

“Staging the Charlotte’s Web play is a rite of passage here at Nativity,” explained Mrs. Lewenhaupt (Mrs. L.), our Third Grade teacher and director of the production. “We weren’t going to give up easily.” “We hadn’t yet finished reading and discussing the book when schools were closed due to COVID-19,” Mrs. L. said. “The students were really disappointed. We knew we couldn’t prepare for a live debut of the play on stage -- quarantine had changed everything. Once we finished studying the book in our virtual classroom, we began preparing to debut our work on a virtual stage, including the accompanying music.”

Mrs. Oddo, one of our Third Grade moms, arranged the song, ‘Some Pig.’ Mrs. L. played it on her piano. And the kids sang it -- it’s delightful!

“The children worked very hard on this presentation and -- like many things during this crazy time -- filming wasn’t

always easy, but they persevered and we were able to finish it,” said Mrs. L. “Some of the students opted for speaking

parts; others chose to help with the sets instead. Throughout the production, you will see creative student artwork.

I’m so proud of them.” The Third Graders did a fantastic job -- it is a virtual masterpiece!

Additional photos available at https://www.facebook.com/nativityschoolburke/

http://www.nativityburke.org/nativityschool/

Website: www.nativityburke.org 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time July 5, 2020



¿La fe es amor o normas? La Fe Ser cristiano es un modo de pensar y de vivir que comprende al hombre en su totalidad. Por: P. Fernando Pascual LC | Fuente: Catholic.net Muchos católicos piensan su fe cristiana en clave dicotómica. Por un lado, encuentran en ella una espiritualidad bellísima, un mensa-je maravilloso, una esperanza y un proyecto para vivir sólo en el amor. Por otro, ven una serie de mandamientos y de "normas" que sienten como una camisa de fuerza o como tijeras que cortan las alas de sus sueños y que impiden vivir según el progreso de la socie-dad. En realidad, los mandamientos que Dios nos ha dado y las normas que la Iglesia nos ofrece no son obstáculos, sino parte misma de la respuesta de amor que nace de la fe en el Evangelio. Porque ser cristiano no es sólo creer que Dios nos ama, que Cristo nos ofrece la salvación con su entrega en la cruz. Ni es sólo rezar en los momentos de dificultad para pedir ayuda, o en los momentos de alegría para reconocer que los dones vienen de Dios. Ni es sólo entrar en una iglesia para las “grandes ocasiones”: un bautizo, un matrimonio, un funeral... Ser cristiano es un modo de pensar y de vivir que comprende al hombre en su totalidad. Desde que suena el despertador o alguien nos grita que nos levantemos, hasta el momento de acostarnos, cuando apenas tenemos fuerzas para colocar la camisa en el arma-rio. Es, por lo tanto, falsa la dicotomía que lleva a muchos a aceptar algunos aspectos espirituales de su fe cristiana y a dejar de lado las exigencias concretas de esa misma fe. Porque la fe en Dios llega a todos los ámbitos de la vida: lo que uno piensa ante el espejo, lo que uno dice en el teléfono, lo que uno hace con el poco o mucho dinero de su cuenta bancaria, lo que uno comenta ante un amigo, lo que uno hace o no hace en el trabajo, lo que uno ve y piensa ante la televisión, lo que uno come o deja de comer. Sería triste caminar en la vida con la falsa idea de que podemos declararnos católicos sólo porque así lo creemos y lo decimos ante una encuesta pública. Porque un católico lo es de verdad cuando, desde su fe, esperanza y caridad, lucha día a día para poner en práctica el Evangelio y para acoger las enseñanzas que nos vienen del Papa y de los obispos, es decir, de los sucesores de los Apósto-les y defensores del gran tesoro de nuestra fe. Por eso mismo también es incoherencia y falsificación de la fe cristiana el cumplir escrupulosamente normas y reglas, mandamientos y Derecho canónico, con un corazón frío, con un espíritu fariseo, con faltas enormes al mandamiento del amor. Las obras valen sólo cuando están sumergidas en una fe profunda y en una caridad auténtica. De lo contrario, caemos en formalis-mos que poco a poco marchitan el alma y nos llevan a caminar sin la alegría profunda de quien vive en un continuo trato de intimidad con un Dios que nos mira, de verdad, como hijos muy amados. Hay que superar la esquizofrenia del espíritu que separa la fe y las obras, la piedad y el trabajo, la espiritualidad y el compromiso se-rio por el Evangelio. No basta decir “Señor, Señor” para ser sarmientos fecundos. Ni sirve para nada hacer mil acrobacias formalistas sin un corazón lleno de amor hacia nuestro Padre de los cielos y hacia cada compañero de camino. Hoy podemos, con sencillez, con humildad, con la valentía del cristiano, decirle a Cristo: acojo tu Amor, Jesús. Quiero vivir según el Evangelio, quiero escuchar la voz de tus pastores, quiero que la caridad sea la luz que guíe cada uno de mis pasos, en lo grande y en lo pequeño...


¡Somos unos privilegiados! XIV Domingo T.O.

Javier Leoz

Sí, a nosotros: aunque a veces nos las

demos de entendidos en todo; aunque presumamos de ser más listos que nadie; aunque, lejos de la sencillez, nos confundamos y nos perdamos en las telarañas de mil y una complicaciones que nos salen a nuestro encuentro. A nosotros; sí, a nosotros se nos revela Dios con toda su fuerza. ¿Qué tenemos para que, Dios, se nos mani-fieste una y otra vez, sabiendo de antemano que hoy le diremos “sí” y mañana, a la vuelta de la esquina “no”? El evangelio no puede quedarse escondido. Menos aún, quien lo ha conocido, puede concluir que: a Dios lo he descubierto y los demás allá cuidado. Cuando el Señor, con toda su fuerza, se acerca a noso-tros, como lo hizo a Pedro –a orillas del Tiberiades- o a San Pablo, camino de Damasco, lo hace por dos razones: porque confía y por-que nos necesita para llevar adelante su obra. ¿Somos conscientes de ello? Alguien, con cierto humor, afirmó recientemente en un programa que “la gente está cansada de creer en Dios; que eso son antigua-lla, producto de otras épocas pasadas”. ¡Qué va! ¡Al contrario! Quien está cansado es quien no ha descubierto el descanso que es creer y esperar en Dios. -Se cansa, quien desespera -Se agota, quien mira por sí mismo -Cae en la extenuación quien, lejos de buscar espacios para el silen-cio, para la contemplación o para la oración, se deja arrollar por el ruido, el sinsentido, el vacío o el simple impulso de hacer por hacer o de trabajar por trabajar. ¡Venid a mí los cansados y agobiados! Y, ante estas invitación, no podemos menos que reflexionar sobre aquellos aspectos que produ-cen dolor, hastío, desencanto, desilusión o apatía en nuestro ca-mino. Con Dios, los acontecimientos se llevan mejor Con el Señor, las cargas, se hacen más ligeras Con Jesús, los problemas –aún existiendo- se toman y hasta resuel-ven de otra manera. Porque, apoyarse en el hombro de Cristo, es dar la vuelta a las cosas. Es esperar contra toda esperanza. Es dejar que, la tormenta que nos sacude, se aleje de nosotros sabiendo que, Dios, pondrá todo en su lugar. 2. En la actualidad, no hay más que asomarse a las pantallas de la televisión o escuchar las voces de los que se consideran grandes sabios en el mundo de la cultura o del poder, presumen de ser ag-nósticos. Incluso, algunos de ellos, propugnar un laicismo desmesu-rado. También, Jesús, se sintió decepcionado de aquellos entendi-dos y sabios que no comprendían ni acogían su mensaje y que, ade-más, intentaban imponer su modo de ver y entender la sociedad y el mundo, a los demás. No nos tiene que asustar la coyuntura actual: en el mundo opulento, caprichoso, materialista y excesivamente permisivo, no necesita de Dios. Pero ¿hasta cuando? ¿Qué ocurrirá cuando, las generaciones del futuro, vuelvan a sentir la necesidad, el hambre o la sed de algo más que pan o futbol, disfrute o placer, relativismo o falsa felici-dad? Ocurrirá lo que tiene que ocurrir: habrá un retorno a Dios. Porque entonces , no lo olvidemos, seguirán existiendo cristianos, hombres y mujeres, que serán un recordatorio vivo de lo que Jesús

¡CANSADO ESTOY, SEÑOR!

Javier Leoz

De la vida que llevo; porque siento que se me escapa

entre mis manos, y no la disfruto. De muchas palabras;

porque veo que son verdades a medias y, por lo que sea, me fío más que de las tuyas.

De mis actitudes; porque no son reflejo del amor que te tengo

porque se quedan de la sencillez que me pides ¡CANSADO ESTOY, SEÑOR!

¡Dame vida con tu Palabra! Para que descubra el sendero verdadero

¡Dame luz con tu mirada! Para que no me confundan

los que pregonan el mundo a su manera ¡Dame alegría con tu Espíritu! Y no me quede con cara larga

ante tanto suceso trágico o triste que sacuden lo más hondo de nuestra tierra

¡CANSADO ESTOY, SEÑOR! Haz que me sienta débil; para que Tú seas el fuerte

Haz que sea sencillo; para que descubra tu belleza

Haz que recupere el brillo de la fe; para que nunca diga “¡basta!”

Gracias, Señor; porque, siendo como soy,

acercas tu hombro a mis fuerzas asaeteadas por las prisas y los agobios,

los vacíos y los fracasos de mi existencia

Amén.

en el evangelio de este día proclama: “venid a mí los que estáis cansados y agobiados y yo os aliviaré”. ¡Cuántos yugos esta-mos poniendo en los hombros de muchas personas! ¿Quién aliviará ese peso? ¡Cuántas falsas esperanzas estamos dejando en una sociedad maquillada por el camino fácil y el todo vale! ¿Quién resolverá las grandes soledades? Comienza este mes de julio. Que, el cansancio que podamos sentir, lo pongamos a los pies del Señor. Y, Jesús, sabrá recom-poner nuestras fuerzas gastadas día a día por El y por su Reino.





Documents

Church of the Nativity, Burke Virginia 14th Sunday of Ordinary … · 1 day ago · and all beings, and more readily listen to the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (No