Parish Newsletter Fall 2015
Message From Father Ron
On the Pages of This Issue Welcome, Father Andy 2
Dear Parishioners, What an exciting fall we have experienced as we welcomed Pope Francis here to the nation’s capital. We have all been moved by his visit and his example of humility, love, and compassion as he proclaimed the Gospel and spoke to our hearts. During his visit, members of our parish were able to participate in the welcoming him at Joint Andrews Air Force Base, the White House, the Capitol, the Canonization Mass of St. Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, at St. Patrick’s Church and Catholic Charities, and the school children who greeted him while staying at the Apostolic Nunciature. I want to thank everyone who participated in “Walking with Francis” by choosing to pray, act, and serve along with over 100,000 people throughout the Archdiocese who took up the challenge to follow the Holy Father’s example. I also want to thank those who attended Father Alec’s presentation on the person of Pope Francis, the Mass for the Holy Father on Friday evening, September 18, which was followed by all night Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the school Mass for the Holy Father, on Tuesday morning, September 15. A special thank you goes out to those who represented us at the Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. I received over 300 requests for the 75 tickets that were allotted to our parish. The visit of Pope Francis has been an experience of joy as we welcomed our Chief Shepherd. The Holy Father’s words but most importantly his actions remind us how much Jesus loves us and how we must in turn bring His compassion, concern, mercy and love to those in our lives. Over the summer, we celebrated the Ordination and First Mass of Thanksgiving of Father Rob Maro and welcomed his classmate, Father Alec Scott, who was assigned to us over the summer as our parochial
vicar. Father Alec returned to Rome at the end of September to complete his fifth year of study for his academic degree and will return next spring to be assigned to a parish in the Archdiocese. Father Andy Gonzalo, our new parochial vicar, began his assignment on September 15, having arrived from his previous assignment at St. Augustine’s Parish, Washington, DC. Therese Recinella, our former Director of Religious Education, accepted a new position as Director of Catechesis for the Diocese of Corpus Christi. We have hired Michelle Balch as our new Director of Religious Education. She received her BA in Art History from the University of Dallas in 2009 and a Masters of Theological Studies: Biotechnology and Ethics from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for studies on Marriage and the Family where she graduated Cum Laude in 2015. As of this summer, we have entered into a partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bethesda, Maryland, to share a Youth Minister and are happy to welcome Casey Armand to our parish. She received her BA in Catechetics and Theology from the University of Steubenville, Magna Cum Laude in 2013. She has spent the last couple of years working in France as a catechist at the Institute of Our Lady, Bourg-la-Reine.
Thank You , Father Alec 2 Bienvenida, Michelle Balch 3 Bienvenue, Casey Armand 3 Blessed Sacrament Parishioners Celebrate With the Pope 4 School Scenes 4 Parish Council and Commissions Begin New Year 5
Finally, a special thank you goes out to our Sanctuary Sodality who funded the new carpet in the church. Their generous support and gift has certainly enriched the interior beauty of our church. As a special way to thank them for their kindness, please support the Sodality Bazaar next month. As always, be assured of my prayers for you and your families. I appreciate all you do to serve our parish family with your time, talent, and treasure. Peace,
Father Ron
Artwork by Leandro and Georgia Blessed Sacrament Summer Art Camp
Welcome, Father Andy
Photo from: http://saintaugustine-dc.org
Father Andrew Gonzalo, aka Father Andy, was recently named Parochial Vicar at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Born in the Philippines, Father Andy grew up in Mountain Province (Northern part of Luzon) where his mother still lives. He joined the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) 29 years ago and spent 17 years as a missionary working closely with the pygmy people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Father describes his time there as a priest as “very happy years”; he especially enjoyed the simplicity of life and his direct work with the people. Father introduced the computer to the youth and secured more donated computers from benefactors that added to the educational opportunities to the young students. As missionaries, they saw the need of sending deserving students to the universities to pursue studies in health and education. Scholars studied with the proviso that they return after graduation to their villages to help their people. The CICM order still sponsors these scholarships in the Congo. Following his mission work, in August of 2007, Father was asked by his superiors to come to Washington to study Canon Law at The Catholic University of America, graduating in 2010. In 2011, he asked to join the Archdiocese of Washington (DC) and since then he has served at St. Columba Church in Oxon Hill and St. Augustine Church in Washington, DC. Father is looking forward to working with Blessed Sacrament parishioners in our many ministries. He especially enjoys visiting and ministering to the homebound and sick. All parishioners will enjoy his cheerful and joyful manner, and his smiling countenance. On October 21st, Father will celebrate his twenty-first anniversary as a priest. Parishioners look forward to getting to know Father and celebrating his priestly years with him.
Thank You, Father Alec
Photo from: www.catholicstandard.org
Father Alec Scott, a newly ordained priest who served the Blessed Sacrament community this summer, considers his new role as a priest a remarkable gift. One of six children (two brothers and three sisters), Father Alec grew up in a military family. After his birth and early childhood in Germany, the family lived many places, settling in northern Virginia where he graduated from high school and where his parents still live. At Holy Cross College where Alec majored in history and philosophy, he was a member of the ROTC; thus, at some time in the future he will serve four years as a military chaplain to fulfill his ROTC commitment. After graduating from Holy Cross College, Alec entered the seminary, studying first at Mt. St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg and then for three years at the North American College in Rome, Italy. He returned to Rome at the end of September and will be there for a year in order to complete his studies in theology. Father Alec indicated that his priesthood already has far exceeded his expectations. When asked what advice he would give others considering a vocation to the priesthood, Father said, “Stay close to God; trust in Him; be confident in the effects of grace to know your vocation in life. Know that the priesthood provides a way to achieve unique happiness.” Although Father Alec was among us for a short time, he was involved in many Blessed Sacrament activities and responsibilities. We thank him and wish him great success in this upcoming year of study and in his entire future priestly life.
Editor:
Pat Watson
Layout:
Delphine Clegg
Parish Logo Designs:
Ellen Smyth
Artwork:
Blessed Sacrament School students under the guidance of their art teacher, Judy Kearns
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Bienvenida, Michelle Balch Blessed Sacrament Parish Welcomes Its New Director of Religious Education Michelle Balch ignored Horace Greeley’s advice about going West and came East. Born and raised in Marin County, California, Michelle graduated from a Dominican high school in Monterey, CA, and the University of Dallas. Following her college graduation, Michelle spent two years as a lay missionary with the Salesian Missions in Bolivia, teaching English and working with the indigenous people and with a population that included Japanese refugees who had settled there after WWII. Michelle pursued graduate studies and an MTS degree at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies On Marriage and
Family located on the campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Her studies included theology and bioethics, and she served an internship at the US Conference for Catholic Bishops. As Blessed Sacrament Director of Religious Education, Michelle is looking forward to a very busy year with activities, some of which have already begun. Michelle is eager to learn the needs and wants of parishioners, so introduce yourself to her. Join us in welcoming an intelligent, charming, spiritually-based lady!
Artwork by Ruth Haiku Eighth Grade
Artwork by Clare Morrell Second Grade
Artwork by Eden New Third Grade
Artwork by Ciara Jacobs Eighth Grade
Artwork by Caroline Hauck Fourth Grade
Bienvenue, Casey Armand Blessed Sacrament Parish Welcomes a New Youth Minister Casey Armand was born and grew up in the Chicago suburbs, where her parents and siblings still live. Casey graduated from Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, with a major in theology and catechetics and a minor in French and philosophy. Following graduation, Casey used her expertise in French to teach English in France, first at a school in Orleans and next at a school in the suburbs of Paris where she also served as youth minister.
As Youth Minister, Casey is planning a program of fellowship centered around spiritual development and fellowship through service opportunities that will integrate youth with already-established parish programs. Casey is also planning conferences and a mission trip in the future. Contact her about an exciting program planned for this year at
[email protected]. We wish Casey a wonderful year!
Fall 2015
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Blessed Sacrament Parishioners Celebrate With the Pope and Our Parish Priests Were There Too!
Photos courtesy of Father Andy
Blessed Sacrament parishioners were there: Pope Francis in DC: prayers, parades, a canonization, and Congressional address. Undaunted by hours of lines, tight security regulations, and more hours of waiting for events to begin, many Blessed Sacrament parishioners partook of the once-in-a-lifetime experience of celebrating with the Pope. Elaine Nortz, a Blessed Sacrament School teacher for 33 years, was impressed by the atmosphere of joy and excitement among the crowd who was meeting serendipitously with friends, picnicking on the grounds, singing, joining in group prayer, and otherwise spending the sun-filled hours waiting for the Pope’s arrival at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. There were a group of seminarians from Ohio reading the prayers of the day on their smart phones; there were people from all over the United States and some international visitors, too. There were many languages, but one focus: Francis. One got a direct feeling of the universality of the Church. Elaine reported, “The tone of excitement quickly changed to a totally reverential atmosphere, a holy experience as the Pope appeared and the Mass began.” Elaine noted that although one may attend Mass on Sundays or daily, the service is short.
The Pope experience was an extended period of time, shared with thousands. Janene Mitchell and her family were among the fortunate parishioners to attend because their names were picked from a hat. (The number of requests far exceeded the available allotted tickets to the parish.) Janene found the experience “powerful, moving and life-changing,” and was impressed by the close accessibility of the Pope. Meg Knight, who was returning to the campus of her college years, Catholic University, took her nineyear old son, Finian. Enthused by the activities, he couldn’t wait to tell others about his unique experience. Several Blessed Sacrament School students, who had won Christian Spirit Awards, visited the Vatican Embassy where they received hugs and handshakes from Pope Francis. He was always accessible and close to the people. Whether one had an “up close and personal” experience during the days of the Papal visit, or one was glued to the media coverage, most agree those September days will persist long in memory.
School Scenes
Kindergarten students line up to shake the principal’s hand on their first day.
Walking with Frances. The “pope” greets new students whose names are on bulletin board.
A boy pack gets ready to enter Kindergarten for the first time. Photos courtesy of Nancy Ryan
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Parish Council and Commissions Begin New Year By David Byers, Parish Council President The Parish Council is looking forward to a very productive year. The council has already had its first couple meetings of the 2015-16 year.
Vice-President, and me to firm up their Commission’s goals and projects. Everyone was ready to go when the school year began.
First, a little background on Blessed Sacrament’s lay leadership structure. The laity serve God and others through (roughly) 99 ministries, six Commissions, and a Council advisory to the pastor. The structure resembles a pyramid lying flat, broad at one end and narrow at the other. It is a practical expression of Blessed Sacrament’s mission as “a Catholic community within the Archdiocese of Washington, centered on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Focused on the Paschal Mystery and through the grace of the Sacraments, we serve God’s people through evangelization, education, stewardship and social justice.”
The links among individual ministries, the Commissions to which they relate, and the Parish Council serve several practical purposes. They provide a pathway for a ministry to share information with the parish at large, or to report a problem. The structure also gives ministries a way to get things done. The most visible recent example is the purchase and installation of the new carpet in the church, overseen by Patty Myler and the Administration Commission. (Please, the carpet is not red. It’s claret.) The Council also encouraged the Communications Commission to reanimate the parish Facebook page, which had lapsed. The page now features regular postings on parish activities like our observance of Pope Francis’ visit. And the Faith Formation Commission will begin the training phase of the popular ChristLife program in October, building on the excitement and fervor the Holy Father’s visit generates.
Each ministry relates to one of the six Commissions, and the Commission chairs in turn are ex officio members of the Parish Council. Parishioners joke that you can hear the grass growing during the summer at Blessed Sacrament, since everyone is “down the ocean.” Bridging the summertime gap, all the Commission chairs met with Ceil Malphrus, Council
Artwork by Charlie Neill Eighth Grade
The operations of our Commissions (Worship, Outreach, Faith Formation, Community Life, Communications and Administration) can be quite complex. For example, Outreach covers 35 different services, from the Environmental Action Committee to our soup kitchen ministry. For further information on all our ministries, go to the parish website and click on the “Parish Publications” tab on the top bar. You will see a link to the Parish Guide 2015-16. This online book offers thumbnail descriptions of each ministry, plus contact information for the parishioners who lead them. About 120 parishioners attended last April’s Parish Forum, which posed the questions “How Can I Help?”; “What Can
I Give Back?”; “Where Do I Fit In?” The Council will host a similar gathering for prospective volunteers early in 2016. There’s no reason to wait, though. All our Commissions need new volunteers as people come and go, and most could use help right away. Administration needs people with experience in engineering, construction, building renovation, landscaping and related professions. Community Life needs friendly faces to expand the Welcome Committee so it can engage new parishioners who come to us through RCIA, or simply move into our neighborhood. The new (2014) Communications Commission really needs younger parishioners to help redesign the parish website, administer its Facebook page, and heighten Blessed Sacrament’s use of social media to spread the Gospel. If you missed the Forum but would still like to help bring Blessed Sacrament’s mission statement alive, here’s your chance. Check out the website. Or, for one-stop shopping, get in touch with me (
[email protected] or 301.681.7014), or Ceil (
[email protected]) any time. There is plenty of room at the table. There are plenty of opportunities to put your time and talents to great use.
Artwork by Andrew Clark Third Grade
Fall 2015
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3630 Quesada Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20015 202.966.6575 www.blessedsacramentdc.org
