March 26

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Mass Times ~ Presider Schedule Saturday Vigil, March 25 5:30 p.m. ~ Father O

Saturday, April 1 ~ Father Ron

Sunday, March 26 7:30 a.m. ~ Father Ron 9:00 a.m.* ~ Father O 10:30 a.m. (Church) ~ Father Regis 10:30 a.m. (Gym) ~ Father Alec 12:30 p.m. ~ Father Ron 5:30 p.m. ~ Father D’Silva

Sunday, April 2 ~ Father Alec ~ Father Regis ~ Father Ron ~ Father D’Silva ~ Father Alec ~ Father O

*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 • March 26, 2017 Lenten Activities This Week • 3 Catholicism 6-Week Video & Discussion • 3 Sanctuary Sodality Meet & Greet • 4 SHARE Easter Ham Donations • 4

This Weekend Archdiocesan Lenten Food Drive: Thank you so much for your donation! Your donation will go directly to the poor in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Please drop your bag on the altar before or after Mass or during Communion. If you forgot your donation you may deliver it to the Social Concerns Office or the Church anytime next week. Questions may be directed to Pat Kavanaugh, 202.449.3987, [email protected] Daystar Gallery Presents: former parishioner and iconographer Delphia Dirks, “Icons.” March 14 to April 28. A reception will be held this Sunday, 1:30-3:30 pm. All are welcome!

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

Large families are a joy for the Church. They are an expression of the fruitfulness of love. At the same time, Saint John Paul II rightly explained that responsible parenthood does not mean “unlimited procreation or lack of awareness of what is involved in rearing children, but rather the empowerment of couples to use their inviolable liberty wisely and responsibly, taking into account social and demographic realities, as well as their own situation and legitimate desires” (Joy of Love, 167).

Fourth Sunday of Lent 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]

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! To register as new parishioners, visit www. blessedsacramentdc.org/new-parishioners. Hard copies of the registration form are available at the parish office or contact Rick Perry: 202.449.3982. 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.

Pastor’s Column • March 26 In our first reading from the first Book of Samuel, we find the selection of David as king of the Israelites. Samuel is sent by the Lord to the town of Bethlehem to the home of Jesse. The new king is to be chosen from among his sons and the Lord reveals His choice as the youngest son, David. David is anointed as king and the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him. David will slay Goliath, he will befriend Jonathan who will be killed in battle, he will commit adultery with Bathsheba and have her husband, Uriah, killed on the frontline of the battleground and then repent of his crime. Through all of this, the Lord will remain true to His promise that the line of David will never end—the Messiah will be born of the house of David. It is Jesus who fulfills the hope of Israel that was promised by the Lord. In our reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, he reminds us in our own time of the great gift and privilege we have received, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” We have become God’s children through the waters of baptism. We are “children of the light” no longer consumed or living in darkness. Christ has destroyed sin and death through His passion, death and resurrection—He is the light of the world. By His grace Jesus helps us to remain faithful to Him and to “take no part in the fruitless works of darkness.” As we continue our Lenten journey, we draw closer to Christ asking Him to “enlighten” us so that we will “learn what is pleasing to the Lord” so we can bear much fruit in this world. Today in John’s gospel we find the story of the man born blind. Jesus meets the man and simply cured him of his blindness: a little mud rubbed on the eyes, washing of the eyes in the Pool of Siloam, and upon returning from the pool, he could see. We cannot miss the point that the blind man is healed little by little and that his El Greco (1570) “inner” eyes were opened Christ Healing the Blind Source: metmuseum.org and that he was brought to faith. John wants us to pay attention to this gradual way of recognizing the Lord Jesus. John does not tell us what attracts Jesus to the blind man—it is truly God’s initiative. The miracle of sight for the blind man becomes a surprise for him, his parents and those who knew him. His faith in the Lord Jesus changes everything. The theological significance of this story is an illustration of the journey toward faith, under the action of grace from beginning to end; the summit is reached when we to confess with all our heart, “I do believe, Lord.” God bless you, Father Ron

Poor Box Donations Poor Box donations in March will benefit the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House, which provides a home for five previously homeless families and also distributes food and clothing.

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Faith Formation

Lenten Activities This Week

To Give God Thanks and Praise: Lessons on the Liturgy

Wednesday, March 29: The Light Is ON For You Confessions 6:30-8:00 p.m. To find confession times at other parishes and for additional resources, visit: TheLightisON.org. Friday, March 31: Stations of the Cross & Pizza Stations begin after the 5:30 p.m. Mass; Pizza will be served afterwards in the Parish Center. Volunteers are needed to serve the pizza and assist with the set-up. If you would like to volunteer, please contact John Navolio at 202.449.3984 or [email protected].

What is Laetare Sunday? The Fourth Sunday of Lent is sometimes referred to as “Laetare Sunday.” The title comes from the Latin imperative for “rejoice.” It is the first word of the opening antiphon for today’s Mass: Rejoice, Jerusalem: and come together all who love her: Be joyful, all who are in mourning; Exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. We now find ourselves at the midpoint of Lent, halfway through our period of preparation for the great feast of Easter. In her wisdom, the Church reminds us to “rejoice” and to not lose heart. Even the words of our Collect reinforce this: O God, who through your Word reconcile the human race to yourself in a wonderful way, grant, we pray, that with prompt devotion and eager faith the Christian people may hasten toward the solemn celebrations to come… Even the color of Father’s vestments serve as an encouragement to rejoice—rose-colored vestments (rather than violet) are permitted on this day. Centuries ago, this day was also called “Rose Sunday” or “Dominica de Rosa” because the Popes would send a blessed, golden rose to Catholic sovereigns. On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, let us continue to prayer for our catechumens. In the celebration of the Second Scrutiny and its accompanying gospel of the man born blind, we are reminded that Christ is the Light of the world—a light that the darkness of this world cannot overcome. Now that’s a reason to rejoice!

April 1: Hiking Day 8th-12th graders: A Falls Nature Trails hike with Our Lady of Mercy youth group Mass at OLOM at 8:45 a.m. Depart for hike at 9:15 a.m. back at OLOM by 4:30 p.m. May 28: Nats vs. Padres Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres @ 1:35 p.m. June 18-23: Manus Christi service trip in West VA High School: Join Fr. Alec on a summer service trip in Appalachia, WVA. Application available now! July 5-14: Vacation Bible School is back! Junior & Senior volunteers needed. Registration to open in late February/early March! 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

Please

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

Bishop Robert Barron’s Catholicism: The Pivotal Players Enrich your Lenten experience in this 6-week video and discussion series by Bishop Robert Barron. It features six of the Church’s luminaries: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, Blessed John Henry Newman, G. K. Chesterton, and Michelangelo. An optional study guide can be purchased through WordOnFire.org or Amazon.com. Join us on Wednesday evenings, March 29-May 10, 7:00-8:30 pm in the School Auditorium. For more information, contact Ceil Malphrus: [email protected].

Alejandro Arce Ana Maria Arce Evelyn Childs Mary Anne Corr James Curran

Bart Hayft Alexa Hughes Marian Middendorf Brett Norman

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

Coffee and Conversation 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.

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Fourth Sunday of Lent

Be MARY With Us!!! Have you ever thought about joining our parish’s Sanctuary Sodality? Come explore what sodality is all about at a social gathering! Thursday, March 30, 7-10 p.m. at Chevy Chase Lounge, 5510 Connecticut Ave NW. Representatives from each unit will be on hand to chat and answer your questions, and talk about the charities we support, what we do to help the parish, and how much fun and fellowship exists among Sodality women!!!

Sanctuary Sodality

Please contact [email protected] or evoelzke @blessedsacramentdc.org. We look forward to meeting you!!! Sodality

B.S. Young Family Ministry’s Easter Celebration The Blessed Sacrament Young Family Ministry would like to invite all parents with children under five years old to join us for our Easter celebration on Saturday, April 1 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the School Auditorium. Light refreshments will be provided and we will have a special story and treat for the little ones in honor of the holiday. Please let us know if you are interested in participating or if you have any questions by contacting us at [email protected].

Sanctuary

Preached Rosary Please join your fellow parishioners and members of the Sanctuary Sodality for a Preached Rosary on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the parish chapel. The rosary begins in vocal prayer, grows in mental prayer, and blossoms in contemplation. Before each decade, Br. Irenaeus, O.P. will preach upon the 5 Luminous Mysteries by providing a short theological reflection upon the Gospel. Our meditation will help prepare us for the events of Holy Week. MEN: Something for Lent That Man Is You (TMIY), a program for men seeking to refresh their spiritual life, meets in the School Auditorium from 6:157:45am on Saturday mornings. TMIY includes a special series of sessions for the Saturdays of Lent. Wondering what to do for Lent this year? TMIY is both substantive and–given the early hour–sacrificial. It is a nationwide, transformative program that builds authentic Catholic male leadership. Each session includes a wonderful breakfast, a video teaching, and small-group discussion. A core team of Blessed Sacrament parishioners runs the sessions. If you’d like to sample TMIY without registering, just drop by the Auditorium for any Saturday session. Or register by going to www. blessedsacramentdc.org and clicking on the TMIY listing under “News and Announcements.” Women: Something for Lent Walking with Purpose at Blessed Sacrament invites you to join us Lent for Bible Study, reflection and fellowship from 8:45-10:30 am on Tuesday mornings until April 11th in the Duffy Parish Center. Topics will include: “Can God Really Change Me or Is That Just Wishful Thinking?”, “Children–Reaching Your Child’s Heart,” “What Is the Relevance of the Church in My Life?” Lesson materials and babysitting are provided. Questions and RSVP: Pam Kelly: [email protected].

Donate Easter Hams SHARE @ Blessed Sacrament is planning to provide Easter hams to the folks in need who receive our monthly food packages. If you can donate the cost of a ham ($22), we can make their Easter dinners more festive. Thank you for considering this donation and by sending a check to Parish Food Co-Op—SHARE @ BS, 3630 Quesada Street, NW, Washington, DC 20015 or donate online by credit card go to the parish website www.blessedsacramentdc.org/ parish-organizations/share and select Donations on the yellow order form. Thanks and God Bless you for your generosity and continued support of your Parish Food Co-Op – SHARE @ Blessed Sacrament!

Christian Family Movement Ministry The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500% (Journal of Public Health, 2003). 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.

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Visit Your Parish Library Father Thomas Keating and Centering Prayer Thomas Keating, together with Basil Pennington, founded the group “Contemplative Outreach” (www. contemplativeoutreach.org). It has succeeded in bringing centering prayer, “the contemplative dimension of Christianity” to a world-wide, diverse community of prayer including several groups in our parish. The Better Part: Stages of Contemplative Living, gift of Devereux Weld. The book begins with the Gospel account of events in the household at Bethany and the contrasting roles of Martha and Mary. Fr. Keating suggests that in reading and reflecting on Scripture (“Lectio Divina”) we will enter into a relationship with God and pave the way for centering prayer. The psychological processes that we traverse and the way that “contemplation builds community” are just some of the topics which make this volume an unforgettable read. Consenting To God as God Is Fr. Keating writes in a new introduction that this book’s title “is a way of describing the most fundamental exercise of Christian faith.” Between 2007 and 2009, he met annually with the Spanish and Portuguese branches of Contemplative Outreach and his daily presentations form this book. The themes for each year were “Consenting to Contemplative Service,” “Consenting to Self-Surrender,” and “Consenting to Transformation According to God’s Terms.” The Heart of the World: an Introduction to Contemplative Christianity. The inspiration of this book was a student’s desire to relate the contemplative tradition of Eastern religion to Christianity. The author is convinced that “the tradition of Christian spirituality and mystical wisdom needs to be presented today as an integral part of the proclamation of the Gospel and of Christian education. It is news to most of our contemporaries that there is such a thing as a Christian spirituality which can be experienced” (p.3). In response, Fr. Keating outlines the principles of that spirituality. For these and other books to enrich your Lent reading, visit the library or call 202.449.3974.

Did You Know?? Blessed Sacrament Spirit Club will be starting up on Sunday April 2 at 3:30 p.m. in it’s new location, the Chevy Chase Athletic Club! This next session will be $89.99 for five classes. Parking in the garage is free on the weekends. To register, go to www.spirit-club.com. Feel free to call for more details! For more info on how Blessed Sacrament is becoming inclusive, contact [email protected].

Sponsor Of The Week We would like to thank Kevin O’Conley, Realtor for placing an ad in our weekly bulletin.

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 Strength & Balance Exercise Class Lenten Scripture Reflections Art Class with Dick Swartz Bridge for Bridge Lovers Closed

Tuesdays with (Fr.) Maury Blessed Sacrament has our very own Maury, Msgr. Maurice O’Connell—Father O, and his subject, like the book, is “The Meaning of Life, taught from experience”. Like the book, many topics are covered, “including love, work, community, family, aging and forgiveness”. Fr. O conducts these sessions immediately after the 11:00 a.m. Mass on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month The next session will be on Tuesday, April 4 and the topic will be our Lenten Plan. Please join us in Apt.#1 of the Chevy Chase Apartments. Everyone–all ages–is welcome!

Chimes Chatter Our 16-tone...tower chimes were manufactured by the John C. Deagan Company of Chicago. So who is this person, this John C. Deagan (18511934), for whom a company is named? A teenage clarinetist, his curiosity about acoustics was much aroused during his US Navy off-duty hours in London, where he studied music and attended lectures by H. Helmholtz (a German physicist discovering nuances in tones, frequencies and pitch). Here are Deagan’s five of eleven top achievements (six additional ones next week):

Photo by Joe Bozik

1–Created first scientifically tuned glockenspiel, beginning manufacture (1880). 2–Developed numerous musical instruments, including the xylophone, organ chimes, aluminum chimes, aluminum harp, Swiss handbells, marimba, marimbaphone, vibraharp, drawn tubular cathedral chimes, dinner chimes, and tubular bell carillon (such as ours). 3–Persuaded American Federation of Musicians to adopt A=440 as the standard universal pitch for orchestras and bands (1910). 4–Researched the most satisfactory wood (Honduras Rosewood) for use in xylophones and marimbas (still regarded as the preferred wood). 5–Provided U.S. Bureau of Standards with a set of tuning forks for accurate measurements of 100 to 2,000 vibrations per second for use in radio research. (Ref: Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame). Chimes are under maintenance for a short period. Have a story to share? “Chime-in” and contact [email protected]

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Fourth Sunday of Lent From the Archdiocese

From the Community

Spring Theology on Tap: Whole 40: A Lenten Spiritual Detox Join other young professionals for our 4-week Theology on Tap series: Whole 40: A Lenten Spiritual Detox as we focus on four healthy and essential ingredients for the spiritual life: prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and confession. All young adults (21-late 30s) are invited to Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle on Tuesday evenings through April 11. Meet other YA Catholics and invite friends for Happy Hour specials from 6-7pm with a talk and Q/A to follow from 7-8pm. Learn more about the speakers and series at: www.facebook.com/DCCatholic/events. 7 Church Walk Urban Pilgrimage for Young Adults DCCatholic invites all young adults (20s and 30s) to the 14th Annual 7 Church Walk on Saturday, April 8th! We walk to seven D.C. churches in the Brookland neighborhood, praying together at each station, and concluding with a 5pm Mass with Cardinal Wuerl at the St. John Paul II Shrine. Meet: 10AM, Crypt Church of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Register at dccatholic. eventbrite.org or email [email protected].

Helping girls to decide who they are, before the world tells them who they should be. GirlsUP offers extraordinary summer programs for girls age 10-13 focused on developing character, confidence, and critical thinking through an innovative journey toward self-discovery. GirlsUP is a proud partner of the United Nations Foundation Campaign for Girls.

SUMMER 2017 SESSION DETAILS Session 1: June 26-30 Session 2: July 10-14 Session 3: July 17-21

9am – 1pm 9am – 1pm 9am - 1pm

Washington School for Girls Stone Ridge School Chevy Chase Elementary School

Program Fee $295/session Early Bird Registration: $245 by April 1, 2017

Lenten Caring for Creation Calendar Day 1: Self Awareness: “To Thine Ownself Be True” Day 2: Self Image: “To Be and Not To Seem”

SUNDAY

March 2017 Day 3: Self Expression: “Looking the World Straight in the Eye”

FRIDAY SATURDAY Day 4: SelfTHURSDAY Reliance: “Standing Strong When It Counts” Day 5: Self Giving: “A Girl For Others” Catholic Climate Covenant suggests the following spiritual reflections and sacrificial actions during Lent. They MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

7th Annual Conference on Faith, Deafness and Disabilities are a way to help you grow in Annual your commitment to care for God's creation and for the poor. We invite you to The Archdiocese of Washington will hold its 7th Conference this LentenApril calendar creatively To in your preparation for Easter. learn more and to register, please visit www.girlsup.org on Faith, Deafness, and Disabilities onuse Saturday, 1 from 1 2 3 4 8:30am-5:00pm at Bishop McNamara High School. New this year "This, rather, is the fasting that I Talk with your pastor about Ash Wednesday reminds us that "[we] are dust and to dust [we] shall return." These words teach us that, like Join the 10,000+ people and will be a series of workshops for persons with disabilities and self organizations working to care for wish." Reflect on Isaiah 58:1-9 ordering "eco-palms" for the incarnate Jesus Himself, we are a part of God's creation and in constant interaction with the earth. Reflect creation and the poor by taking and how eating less meat may Palm Sunday. These palms advocacy! Joininteracted us andwith envision ways Church cana empower today on how you've God's creation, andour how you can cultivate better relationship with God, St. Francis Pledge help improve workers' living beBreakfast a way to fast as the Lord . Network persons areespecially deaf, and those with disabilities to share their CatholictheBusiness creation andwho all people, the poor this Lent. standards and protect forests desires (bit.ly/2iX9w9i). The Board of Directors of the Catholic Business Network of many gifts within their parishes and communities! For more info or in Mexico and Guatemala Montgomery County invites you to its monthly Friday Networking (EcoPalms.org). to register: www.adw.org/community Breakfast9 Meeting being held10on Friday, April 7th11at 7:30 a.m. Our 5 6 7 8 Embrace silence today. Turn off Make plans to join the People's Calculate your carbon footprint. Minimize disposables at home. Add Salt +will Light's Creation series giving to the up toannual receive the CBN April Meeting feature ourConsider student winners ofSign our 2017 Annual Mass everything unnecessary.Jubilarian Reflect Climate March Covenant's Lenten Appeal as Covenant's Earth Day toolkit on April 29. The Understanding which activities Use cloth napkins. Wipe up with to your TV schedule. You can essay competition. It will also be an opportunity to network with on God's glory Donald in Creation: Wuerl Covenant is hosting a free lobbythe are carbon-intensive allows you a dishcloth part of your sacrificial giving. All and share it with your pastor. Cardinal will celebrate annual Jubilarian Massinstead of paper watch all 6 episodes for free! "The heavens are telling the training the day before. More to know where you can take towels. Replace loofahs withbusiness (saltandlighttv.org/creation) of the Covenant programs local leaders as well. Please plan toandjoin(CatholicClimateCovenant.org us. honoring couples married 25, 30, 35, action. 40, 50, and 51+ years on glory of God; and the info: bit.ly/2m2N2EQ (http://bit.ly/1XIc9pa) washcloths. resources are free because of /EarthDay) firmament proclaims his 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine your generosity. This event will be held at the Best Western in Rockville. The address Sunday, June handiwork." (Psalm 19:1) Route 28, Rockville, MD 20850-3133 of the Immaculate Conception. Please use the sign-up forms in the is: 251 W Montgomery Ave, (CatholicClimateCovenant.org/D onate) back of the church and on the pamphlet rack side of the church to Parking is conveniently located outside the hotel. Please register to 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 attend www.cbnmc.com register and offmore at the parish Monday, April 24th. thankdrop God forthem Use yourby thermostat well. Keep Check out the "Teachings Minimize disposables at work. Celebrate Spring! Plant a In prayer today Purchase thoughtfully and office and atWhen driving obey the speed the beauty of creation. Reflect on Psalm 148 and share with someone what you learned.

question your need before your home cooler in the winter Resources" page on the buying. Use alternative gift and warmer in the summer. Covenant's website. giving that benefits creation and Consider a programmable the poor, like CRS' Gift Catalog. thermostat or program the one you have. Close vents to (bit.ly/2lO1rCg) unused rooms.

limit. Every 10 mph in speed Use a mug for coffee and water. reduces fuel economy by 4 mpg. Carry lunch in reusable food containers. Use reusable cutlery instead of plastic.

native tree, shrub, flower, or grasses, or support treeplanting in other places. Plant a tree for only $1. (http://bit.ly/2mg7gv7)

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Lenten Caring for Creation Calendar 21

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Reclaim the Sabbath as a day of Consider switching to renewable Many electronics draw power

rest. Reflect on how you can SUNDAY honor the Lord's Day more intentionally. Consider reading Matthew Sleeth's book, 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life .

energy. Contact your utility for MONDAY

March 2017

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Travel without flying. If you Consider composting your food even when off. Today, unplug must fly, balance out the carbon waste, returning nutrients to the TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY your appliances that are off and impact by purchasing offsets. soil. Learn about composting. chargers that are not in use; Prevent one ton of greenhouse (bit.ly/2lOaFOP)

"green" options. Most offer 100% renewable energy at a Catholic Climate Covenant suggests the spiritual reflections competitive price. place computers, radios, and following gases for each ton cause by

As you fast from meat today, consider vegan dishes for Easter FRIDAY Sunday. (stfrancisalliance.com/copy-ofactions during Lent. They recipes)

and sacrificial on a power strip and turn it your trip. are a way to help youTVs grow in your commitment to(NativeEnergy.com) care for God's creation and for the poor. We invite you to off between uses. use this Lenten calendar creatively in your preparation for Easter.

26 27 1 Reflect on Pope Francis' "mercy Make your journeys more

Ash Wednesday reminds usenvironmentally that "[we] arefriendly dust and to to Earth message" and consider today.

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creation and the poor by taking bit.ly/1ywwfXQ the St. Francis Pledge.

and how eating less meat may

At 8:30pm, join millions of people around the world who SATURDAY

will be switching off all lights for one hour to commit to global climate action and mindful energy use. (EarthHour.org)

3 4 a creation care homily Give your dishwasher a rest: run 2 Wash laundry in cold water and Talk to your pastor about him giving Join the people and and "This, the(April fasting I Talk your about energy hang it to10,000+ dry to save aroundrather, Earth is Day 22).that Send yourwith pastor thepastor Covenant's organizations working to care for homily wish." -helps. Reflect(bit.ly/2lS99xu) on Isaiah 58:1-9 ordering "eco-palms" for money. Read more here:

dust [we] shall return." teach like using. Shut off the lights asThese you itwords only when full us andthat, skip the we are part of two God's creation in constant interaction with the earth. the incarnate Himself,Could leaveand a room. energy intensive dryingReflect cycle. how you can be Jesus more merciful youacombine trips? Just open the door to dry.God, to creation and the poor. interacted Carpool rather thancreation, driving solo. today on how you've with God's and how you can cultivate a better relationship with (bit.ly/2bFFZvG) Bike, walk, take public transit. creation and all people, especially theorpoor this Lent.

be a way to fast as the Lord desires (bit.ly/2iX9w9i).

Palm Sunday. These palms help improve workers' living standards and protect forests in Mexico and Guatemala (EcoPalms.org).

6 www.blessedsacramentdc.org 6 7 8 9 10 11

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Embrace silence today. Turn off Make plans to join the People's

Calculate your carbon footprint. Minimize disposables at home. Add Salt + Light's Creation series everything unnecessary. Reflect Climate March on April 29. The Understanding which activities Use cloth napkins. Wipe up with to your TV schedule. You can on God's glory in Creation: Covenant is hosting a free lobby are carbon-intensive allows you a dishcloth instead of paper watch all 6 episodes for free! "The heavens are telling the training the day before. More to know where you can take towels. Replace loofahs with (saltandlighttv.org/creation)

Consider giving to the Covenant's Lenten Appeal as part of your sacrificial giving. All of the Covenant programs and

Sign up to receive the Covenant's Earth Day toolkit and share it with your pastor. (CatholicClimateCovenant.org