Saint Ann Catholic Church
Weekly Bulletin Highlights

Sunday, March 7, 2010

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

From The Office

of Christian Formation

SOUP SUPPERS:  If you can bring a crock-pot full of soup to share at one of the Soup Suppers, please call the CF Office.  Dates that we still need soup to be provided: March 10 and 17.   

BAPTISM PREPARATION:  The next parish celebration of Baptism will be April 17 & 18 at all liturgies. Call the CF Office to register for classes (Tuesday, March 23 at 7:45 pm in Church and Tuesday, April 6 at 7:30 PM in room #8 of the school building) and to schedule your child’s Baptism. 

Parents, please note – you must be registered in the parish three months prior to your child’s baptism and participating in the sacramental life of the church regularly.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: the elementary Christian Formation students will be presenting the STATIONS OF THE CROSS on Wednesday, March 24 at 7:00 PM in the Church. Note: Schedule change – there will NOT be a Soup Supper. Parents, grandparents and all parishioners are invited to attend.

PARENTS OF FIRST RECONCILIATION STUDENTS:  Upcoming Reconciliation opportunities: St. Ann Community Reconciliation Service on Thursday, March 11 at 3:00 & 7:00 PM in the Church and Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30 pm. Please note:  children must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation prior to receiving First Eucharist. 2) After your child has received the Sacrament of Reconciliation pick up your child’s certificate from the Christian Formation school office during class time.

CONFIRMATION: one candidate needs to turn in their Baptism Certificate and 3 candidates need to turn in their Data for Sacramental Records form.  Please remember to write your Confirmation letter to the pastor.  

RCIA:  Session for candidates, sponsors and team on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 pm in the Hall.  The 2^nd Scrutiny and next Dismissal is Sunday March 14 at the 8:30 am Mass.

VIRTUS/ BACKGROUND CHECKS: there are several VIRTUS Sessions scheduled in the area: Sun. March 7 at 12:30 pm at St. James in Hopewell, Wed. March 10 at 6:30 pm at Church of the Epiphany in Richmond and Sat. March 27 and Sat. April 10 at 2:00 pm at St. Benedict school in Richmond. Please register in advance – there is a Link to “VIRTUS Registration: on the St. Ann website. Call the CF Office if you need help registering for one of these classes All adult volunteers who work with children or youth (Youth Ministry, Catechists, Aides, Office Managers, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Nursery, Vacation Bible School) must attend a VIRTUS session. You must be over 18 to attend a VIRTUS session. All those over 16 must complete Background checks.

FIRST EUCHARIST & CONFIRMATION SACRAMENTAL POLICIES: Diocesan regulations state that children who want to receive the sacrament of First Eucharist or Confirmation must have participated in religious education classes for two years. Parents, please note – you must be registered in the parish for at least three months and participating in the sacramental life of the church regularly.

 This Week At Saint Ann Church 

NEVER TURN BACK  a full program of traditional spirituals presented by One Voice Chorus of Richmond, Sat., March 13, 7pm at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Grove Ave.  Program repeats Sat., March 20, 7pm at Ebenezer Baptist Church, West Leigh St.  Tickets $15 from chorus members (Jim Kaeser) or by donation at the concert.  Children 12 and under free

St. Joseph School is hosting a reverse raffle March 20 at Quinn Hall.  The tickets $100 each with only 300 being sold.  The last ticket drawn will win $10,000! Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served; beer & wine available.  For more details on the reverse raffle contact St. Joseph School at 732-3931.

Note from Fr. Lou

I want to thank this community for all your prayers in the days during and after my brief hospital stay.  As well, as my appreciation for those who have brought me food during my recovery.  My doctor tells me to take it slowly for the next few weeks.  I will and, will do whatever I can do.                                                              Thanks again,   Peace,  Fr. Lou

PASS IT ON is coming up again!  We strive to provide families with much needed clothing and accessories for their children.   We are also happy to allow donors and volunteers the opportunity to find a few items for their children in appreciation for their time and donations.  Please consider donating any-thing your children have outgrown.  We will be collecting maternity clothing, newborn to teen clothing, toys, books, videos, shoes, dress-up costumes, holiday outfits, furniture, strollers, cribs, and any type of baby equipment.  We also need hangers, rubber bands, safety pins, and clothing racks.   Items can be dropped in the white bin located in Condon Hall on March 13 & 14, and March 20 & 21. Charitable donations receipts are available upon request.  Please put your name and address inside your donation bag and we will mail a receipt to you.  You will soon see a POD in the parking lot.  PODS of Richmond is donating a POD for us to use to store the items till the event April 17th.  Our SPRING PASS IT ON EVENT will be held Saturday April 17 from  8am-2pm  In Condon Hall.  Please call us if you can help us out during the event.  Set up will take place April 15 & 16.  It is a great opportunity for anyone looking for community service.  Dell Marie Bottone at 479-5227 or Linda Biles at 768-2268.

HELP OTHERS AT A SACRED TIME OF LIFE -  Bon Secours Hospice is recruiting volunteers in the Colonial Heights area to work with hospice patients and families.  Hospice volunteering is a wonderful way to give your time.  We ask you to commit to 2 to 4 hours a week.  We provide training and on-going support.  Must be 18 years of age or older, comfortable with the hospice philosophy and emotionally mature.  Please call Ellen Manning, 287-3527 to explore working as one of our volunteers.

EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE MINISTRY – St. Ann parish has an ongoing committee dedicated to helping those within the parish that are seeking employment.  If you are in need of this service, please contact Sister Ann or Fr. Lou at 526-2548.  If you wish to volunteer for this ministry, please contact Tom Sokol, 530-0408.

Please Keep in Prayer

Fr. Lou, Carolyn Crocker, Karen Dynia, Billy Elko, Wayne Henderson, Annie Hilscher, Hazel Kadzis, Ruth Kettyle, Len Kidd, Grayson Mitchell, Dorothy Pelaccio, Maureen Pinelli, Rob Sheffield, Martha Wallen

Readings This Week

Child care is available for theLenten Soup Suppers.

SPECIAL COLLECTION

Catholic Relief Services – March 13/14

GET OUT YOUR GREEN!!  St Patrick’s Day Party – Only 3 weeks away Saturday March 20^th  7:30pm to midnight.  Dancing, Appetizers, beer, wine, sodas.  Tickets are $10 and will be available after Masses in Condon Hall.  Or call Paul Schindel 796-9746 or email pschindel@symon.com

Justice & Peace

OUR DAILY BREAD FOOD PANTRY   is always in need of the donations provided by the generosity of the parishioners of St. Ann's. Please bring non-perishable food items each week.  This week we need the following items:  Canned Carrots, Canned Potatoes, Dry Powder Milk and Toothbrushes and Toothpaste.  Thanks for serving the Lord and one another.

Eucharist This Week 

LITURGICAL NEWS & HAPPENINGS

The third Lenten Soup Supper and Rev. Ronald Rolheiser video series will be held  Wednesday, March 10^th, at 6:00pm. Mary Ellen Winkler will be the presenter and leader of discussion following the video.

Lenten Reconciliation Services will be held at St. Ann’s this Thursday, March 11^th at 3:00pm & 7:00pm. We bring our sins and sorrows to the Lord, asking for renewal and forgiveness. The pain of these burdens make us feel as though we have pebbles in our shoes, or even as though we are weighted down with rocks and boulders.   Please bring one of those rocks or boulders to the service, as a symbol of your sins and hurtfulness to others. Place it at the foot of the cross after reconciliation and experience  forgiveness and a lighter heart for having given up your burden to the Lord.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS ON SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010

The Second Scrutiny of the RCIA Candidates will be on Sunday, March 14^th at the 8:30am Liturgy.

EASTER FLOWERS - Donation envelopes are available in the commons.  If you would like to honor a loved one, or the memory of a loved one, pick up an envelope and return it in the collection basket or deliver it to the Parish Office.  We will honor our family and friends by printing their names in the Holy Week Worship Aid.  Please return the envelopes by March 24 to be printed in the Worship Aid.  Envelopes returned after this date will be given recognition in the weekly bulletins following Easter.  Money not used for Easter flowers will enable us to beautify the worship space throughout the year.  Thank you.

Please keep in your prayers the following people who are serving in Afghanistan or Iraq:

 Louis Beltran, Benjamin Bunn Nicholas Castrinos, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Eric Jones, David Kelly, Susan Keophila, Michael Martin, Ambrose Mbonu, Ryan Martin,  Danny Ortiz, Jonathan Puryear, Joshua Slate, Nick & Jill Wagnor, Christopher Williams

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If you have a family member who is currently serving in Afghanistan or Iraq, please call the parish office (526-2548) to have him/her added to prayers. 

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Knights of Columbus PANCAKE BREAKFAST:  Sunday 14 March.  Breakfast  is served from 9:00 to 10:30 AM.  Cost is $3.00 for adult, $1.50 for children under 12, and a family limit of $10.00.  You can't beat the price or the fellowship for an "all you can eat" breakfast!  Please make plans to join us after or before Sunday Liturgy.  You can see the Knights of Columbus website at www.vakofc.org/council6372 for additional information.

Knights of Columbus Brunswick stew, 13 March.  Get you’re orders in now before it’s too late. We can only take orders up to 800 quarts because that is all the stew pots let us make.  Place your order with one of the Knights today.  Grand Knight Matt Petrone 526-6508 Or Gerard Thompson 520-4820

Got Fish? The Sacred Heart- Fr. Konicek Knights of Columbus Council Annual Fish Fry will run every Friday through March 26th. Come enjoy all you can eat fish, fries, baked potatoes, green beans, coleslaw and hushpuppies for $9.00/adult; children 12 and under eat free.