Health Care Reform Legislation

Congress is preparing to debate health care reform legislation on the House and Senate floors. Genuine health care reform should protect the life and dignity of all people from the moment of conception until natural death. The U.S. bishops’ conference has concluded that all committee-approved bills are seriously deficient on the issues of abortion and conscience, and do not provide adequate access to health care for immigrants and the poor. The bills will have to change or the bishops have pledged to oppose them.

ACTION: Contact Members through e-mail, phone calls or FAX letters.
• To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action.
• Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121, or call your Members’ local offices.
• Full contact info can be found on Members’ web sites at www.house.gov & www.senate.gov

MESSAGE to SENATE: “During floor debate on the health care reform bill, please support an amendment to incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.”

MESSAGE to HOUSE: “Please support the Stupak Amendment that addresses essential pro-life concerns on abortion funding and conscience rights in the health care reform bill. Help ensure that the Rule for the bill allows a vote on this amendment. If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.”

WHEN: Both House and Senate are preparing for floor votes now.

Act today! Thank you!

Virginia Catholic Conference E-mail Netword

• The Virginia Catholic Conference, which engages in legislative advocacy on behalf of our Commonwealth's two Catholic bishops
  and their dioceses, has created an e-mail advocacy network. Its purpose is for those who wish to contact their state and federal lawmakers
  about respect-life, social-justice, family, and education issues to receive regular alerts and updates on legislation considered by the Virginia General Assembly and the US Congress.
• Bishop DiLorenzo has emphasized the vital responsibility that every Catholic shares in "building a culture of life, providing for the poorest
  and most vulnerable in our midst, and enhancing family life."
• To sign up for alerts and updates on initiatives supported by the Virginia bishops, please click here to "Join the Network!" and complete
  the short electronic form provided.

Father Massey Council
121 S. 15^th Street
Hopewell, Va. 23860

Primary Points of Contact:
Grand Knight - Chris Gerard
Deputy Grand Knight - Tommie Mortimer

General Information:
Regular Scheduled Meetings 1^st and 3^rd  Mondays every month

Parish Activities, and Interesting Things to Do!

Pastoral Council Meeting

2nd Tuesday of each month.

Finance Council

3rd Thursday of each month.

Parish Needs

Let us all remember to pray the Prayer of Generosity as a family and as a community.
Remember to give God thanks and praise for the many gifts that God has given us.

Prayer for Generosity
Dear Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not count the cost;
to fight and not heed the wounds;
to toil and not seek for rest;
to labor and not ask for reward, except to know
that I am doing your will.
Amen.

HAVE YOUR TURNED IN YOUR STEWARDSHIP INTENTION CARD YET?
If not, CLICK HERE for more information.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE:
March 27/28: Passion and Palm Sunday.
We will begin 15 minutes early for both Masses as we process into church.

The Easter Triduum (The three days)
April 1: Holy Thursday:Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 p.m.

April 2: Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 7:00 p.m.

April 3: Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil at 8:00 p.m.
April 4: Sunday, Easter day: Masses at 8:15 and
11:00 a.m.

PALM SUNDAY WEEKEND: Please arrive 15 minutes early for Mass as we process into church.

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Understanding The Mass
While in the first part of the Liturgy of the Word we hear God’s story, in the second part we offer our story. Immediately following the Homily we have a few moments of “silence during which we each thank God for the word we have heard and apply the message of today’s readings to our daily living (Richstatter, Thomas O.F.M.(1989). A walk Through the Mass. Catholic Update Published by St Anthony’s Messenger.). Next we stand and recite the Creed. The creed is more than a list of things, which we believe. It is a statement of our faith in the word we have heard proclaimed in the Scripture and the homily, and a profession of the faith that leads us to give our lives for one another as Christ gave his life for us. After the Creed we offer our communal prayers in the General Intercessions. These are prayers, which constitute our acceptance that we are not perfect, but, as God’s Word has informed us, capable of changing for the better. This is where we fuse our intensions with God’s intensions for us. We pray for the Church, nations and their leaders, people in special need and the local needs of our parish—the petitions usually fall into these four categories. Here, at St. James, we are given the opportunity to include our prayers with those of the whole community.
Monsignor Chester Michael, in A New Day, writes that it “should be the aim of everyone in the community of worshipers to make the liturgy a communal endeavor. Individuals should sacrifice their own personal desires about the way they like to pray during the service. All should join together in singing and praying, according to the particular functions of each member of the group” (2001, p. 75 The Open Door).

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Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults-RCIA
Anyone over the age of eighteen interested in learning more about the
Catholic church, or interested in being Confirmed, please contact Patti or Tom Allen, 541-3087.

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OPERATION RICE BOWL
Our faith community will participate in Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten Program, Operation Rice Bowl as part of our Lenten observance. Throughout Lent Operation Rice Bowl will help us pray, fast, learn and give in solidarity with those in need around the world. We encourage you to be a part of this Lenten journey at home with your family and loved ones. Focus your energy and attention on, learning about new ways to reach out to your neighbors most in need. Be sure to pick up your “bowl” in the commons and return it on Holy Thursday.

PRAYING LENT: For those who want to reflect, pray and do something extra for the Season of Lent, please visit http://liturgy,slu.edu/. Visit the Online Ministries site: Praying Lent. On this site there is a Lenten Daily Prayer for each day of Lent.

SOUP/BREAD DINNERS/STATIONS OF THE CROSS
During the 6 weeks of Lent, starting February 18th, we will have a supper of soup and bread at 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall, followed by Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m. Please bring a pot of soup or bread to share. Everyone is welcome.

 

Cursillo Prayer Group

CURSILLISTAS!
The next Ultreya is here at St. James on Friday, February 19 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Please plan to join us for an evening of prayer, scripture, witness and fellowship.

PRAYERS FOR OUR PARISH

PRAYER WORKS. Come and pray with the St. James Prayer Group.
Our objective is pray for St. James parish, the world
and economic situations, and any personal concerns.

We meet first Wednesday of the month at 7 PM in church.
ALL ARE WELCOME!

For more info call Dick Commander, 530-3546.

SCRIPTURE STUDY

Every Wednesday in room 11 from 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m. All are welcome.
For more information call Ethel Blaha at 530-2152

Religious Education Classes

2nd Sunday – Catholic Update class after 9:30 Mass  (Feb, Apr)

CATHOLIC COLLEGE STUDENTS going to Liberty University?
St. Thomas More Parish is your parish home-away-from-home while you are at Liberty University.
Contact us with your address and email, so we can let you know about us.
St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 Roundelay Road, Lynchburg, VA. 23602.
Phone: 434-237-5911 - email: info@stmva.com

IN COLLEGE?
Students in Virginia colleges can get a warm welcome and an easy connection through campus ministry.
Go to http://www.richmonddiocese.org/cyam/index.htm
and click on the link on the left side that says “College Bound?”
for the information form that will make that connection. 

YOUNG ADULT RETREAT:
Ages 18-40. Sponsored by the Office for Black Catholics - June 4-5, 2010 at Shalom House, Montpelier, VA.
Ansel Augustine and Brian Greenfield, Retreat Leaders. Cost $30.00 (3 easy payments of $10.00 beginning in March).
Final payment due May 24, 2010. Contact Pam Harris for more information (804)622-5104 pharris@richmonddiocese.org

 

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: Friday March 5th 11:00am at First Baptist Church City Point. People around the world celebrate the same day with the same service written this year by the women of Cameroon.  Their theme is from Psalms 150 "Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God."  Come add your voice in prayer with the voices of your neighbors here in Hopewell and around the world.  Lunch is served following the program.

 

Support Our Seminarians...........
Our seminarians depend on the community for prayer and support. For a list of seminarians' names and contact information, please click here. Did you know that the Office for Vocations has extensive resources to promote vocations to the priesthood?  Go to http://www.richmonddiocese.org/vocations/index.htm for information.

 

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MINISTRY

Are you interested in a very rewarding ministry? We are looking for someone who would be interested in taking the Eucharist to the homebound. You would be asked to do this about once a month and you would be trained. It is a blessed way to show your love for God and you neighbor.
Please call the office.

Do you know the Ministries of our Parish? The major ministries you might what to check out. Liturgy, Bereavement, Lector, Eucharistic/Homebound Eucharistic Minister, Greeter, Music, Religious Education, Children’s Liturgy, Parish and Finance Council just to name a few. Ask a council member about getting involved in one of these exciting ministries!!

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church is responding to victims of the massive earthquake in Haiti. To donate please call 1-877-HELP-CRS, donate online at www.crs.org or send a check to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090. In the memo portion please write: Haiti Earthquake.

Hands of Love Ministry

Angel Food Ministries

Click here for this month's menu.

Ordering & Pick-Up Information for West Hopewell Presbyterian Church Place Your Order: In person orders along with payment can be completed at the church. Volunteers will be available to direct to the exact location in church. Make checks payable to WHPC. First and Last Wed. every month from 6:30 to 7:30PM First Sat. of every month from 10-11AM. Due to weather, please call to verify dates & times. IN PERSON orders consist of food stamps, credit & debit card, checks, cash or money orders. ONLINE orders only take credit & debit cards. No online Food Stamp orders. February Order Deadlines: On-Site Order Deadline: 2/08/10 7:30 PM Online Order Deadline: 2/115/10 5:00 PM This program of open to Everyone! If you don’t want to use it, pass this on to friends or family! ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES PROVIDES FOOD RELIEF FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF U.S. FAMILIES EACH MONTH As Food Prices Escalate, Families can now get a $65 Box of Food for Only $30 Pick-Up: Pickup times are from 10am-12pm only, on the date listed. Volunteers/Signs will be available to direct to the exact location in church. Please bring empty box and receipt to pick up items. Any items not picked up during this time will be donated to others in need. February Pick-Up Date: Saturday, February 20th 10am-12 noon On Facebook: WHPC Angelfood Ministries