From The Pastor's Desk - St. Paul's Catholic Church

From The Pastor’s Desk
How do we love the way that Jesus means for us to love? How do we muster in our lives
the kind of love that Jesus calls his disciples to in the text of today’s Gospel? The simple
answer is to simply say that God provides. But like all simple answers even this needs a
bit of explanation.
To help us out, we need to look at the gospel narrative from John from this Sunday. Through
this text we can perhaps see more clearly the way we can come to love the way that
God loves us.
First of all, before His own death Jesus wanted to be sure that His disciples had a
good sense of their relationship with Him. Their eyes were opened. He commands
them to love as He loves. They carried His vision of the Father’s love. They shared
with Him something that could not be lost by time or separation.
This is only possible through the Advocate. By loving as God loves us, we too come to
understand as the disciples did what it means to live in the Spirit of God. We come to
see things in the way that God Himself does. The key of course is embracing the actions of
Christ, or as John would say, “the signs,” and make them our own through the power of the
Advocate, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was lifted up on the cross; so were the disciples and all disciples down through
the ages. You do not do that sort of thing simply by being courageous. Accepting the cross is
itself an act of sacrificial love. As we do so, we become more than servants - we are able to
choose in the same way that our Lord did. We are empowered to go well beyond what our
natural abilities or inclinations suggest is possible.
All of this is not something we are able to do because of some talent or technique. It
is no skill born of human design. We are totally dependent on the Giver of all gifts
to be able to achieve it. Even when we love as He loves, our ability will never come
close to that shown by God Himself. It will always be flawed. It will always be
imperfect. What matters is that we bear the fruit of love in the world and we share that with
others.

May 29, 2011
This Week at Saint Paul’s
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day – Parish Office Closed
9:00am Daily Mass (C)[Intention for Charlotte Watson]
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
9:00am Daily Mass/Prayer & Healing (C)
[Intention for Harold Lalmond]
12:00-7:00pm Atrium Pentecost Celebration (CH)
3:00-6:30pm Atrium Pentecost Celebration (C)
7:30-8:30pm Pastoral Council Meeting (Rectory)
7:30-9:30pm Prayer Group (NC)
8:00-9:30pm The Spirit Practice(C)
8:30-9:30 AA Meeting (CH)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
9:30am-12:00pm Women’s Sharing Group (CH)
7:30pm First Wednesday Mass (C)
7:30-9:30pm Adult Choir (NC)
7:30-9:00pm RCIA Inquiry (Conf II)
8:00-9:00pm Healing Service (C)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
9:00am Daily Mass (C) [Intention for Lucille McDonough]
8:00-10:00pm Knights of Columbus (CH)
Friday, June 3, 2011
9:00am First Friday Mass (C)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
7:00-8:30am Why Catholic (CH)
9:00am First Saturday Mass (C) [Intention for George Smith]
9:30-11:00am Clergy Appreciation Breakfast (CH)
3:30-4:30pm Reconciliation (C)
5:00pm Mass [Intention for Violet Burdette]
7:00-9:00pm Event featuring Matt Swaim, Author (C)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Ascension of the Lord
8:30, 11:00am, 5:00pm (C)
8:30am Mass [Intention for Robert Laudwein]
9:30am-12:00pm RCIA (NC)
9:30-11:00am RCIA Inquiry (Conf II)
9:30-11:00am CIC (Conf I)
10:00-11:00am Prayer for Healing (C)
11:00am Mass [Intention for Rita Caster]
11:00am Children’s Liturgy of the Word (C)
12:00-2:00pm Adult Faith Formation (C/CH)
2:00pm Father Sweeney Jubilee Mass – Our Lady of Grace
3:30-5:00pm Saint Paul Folk Group practice (C)
5:00pm Mass
6:00-8:00pm SNUG (CH)
Legend: C - Church, CH - Church Hall, NC - Norris
Chapel, DHS - Damascus High School, DRC - Damascus
Recreation Center, GR - Grounds, KIT - CH Kitchen,
Conf I & II - Rectory Conference Rooms, APR - All
Purpose Room in Church, SAC - Sacristy, STP - Saint
Paul Facilities
PRAYER FOR HEALING
Here are opportunities for you to request prayers
for healing for you or a loved one:
• 1st Sunday of the month
Between the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses
Members of the Prayer and Healing Team will
be present to take prayer requests and pray with
you at the front of the Church, on either side of
the tabernacle.
• Every Tuesday of the month
After the 9:00 am Mass, at the foot of the altar;
in the Norris Chapel;
• 1st Wednesday of the month Mass - 7:30 pm
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament, Sacrament of Reconciliation &
Prayer for Healing; in the Norris Chapel;
• Traditional Prayer Chain – Call:
Ginny Clifford 301-253-4910 or
Carol Dutil 301-253-1992;
• E-mail – Send a request by E-mail to
St.Pauls.PrayerRequest@Verizon.net
• By Appointment – Call Jerry Linn, 301-253-
8647; or the Parish Secretary – When invited, a
prayer team will join you in prayer for you or
your loved ones in the hospital, nursing home,
your home or the Norris Chapel.
Pray for the healing of the following people:
Ann Dimmick, Terry Porpiglia, Bette Marshall, Earl
and Evelyn Rollison, Tony and Mary Liggieri, David
McGehee, Mary Jane Cox, Edna Colbert, Rita Magee
and Amy Gladhill Vallarino.
Names on the prayer list need to be renewed on a
regular basis. Call the office with your requests or
renewals. Names will only be included on our prayer
list if they have been submitted by a relative or by the
person requesting prayers themselves.

Liturgy
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Today we read of Jesus' promise of the Advocate,
"the Spirit of truth," Christ's abiding presence, even
before His death. In light of the first reading and Jesus'
later prayer for the unity of His followers (John
17), the liturgy offers a decidedly ecumenical theme.
Philip's work among the Samaritans and the Jerusalem
church's later acceptance of them by the laying on of
hands signified a reconciliation between disparate
groups. After all, the Jews of the time regarded the
Samaritans as heretics; it was their faith in Christ that
brought them together at last.
The beautiful flowers on the altar this weekend
are in celebration and thanksgiving for Oguchi Onyewu.
May God bless him with success and protection!
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT DURING EASTER
LEADS TO MINISTRY COMMITMENT ON
PENTECOST, JUNE 12th:
During the 50 days of Easter we have been focusing on
various liturgical ministries in an effort to encourage
new commitment for service. On Pentecost, June 12 th
you will have the opportunity to recommit to the
ministry you are involved with now and /or sign up for
a new ministry. Please begin to reflect on your
commitment to this community of faith and to what
ministry the Holy Spirit is moving you toward. Please
contact Maria Stanton in the Rectory if you are
interested in the following ministries.
USHER/GREETER MINISTRY: THE
MINISTRY OF HOSPITALITY - The
usher/greeter is a person chosen to reflect the warmth
and welcome of Christ Himself. Always conscious of
Christ’s words "For I was…a stranger and you
welcomed me," (Matthew 25:35) the usher/greeter
serves not only as a Minister of Hospitality, but also
as a Liturgical Minister and a Minister of Evangelism.
ALTAR SERVER MINISTRY - Boys and girls,
from fourth grade through high school, are encouraged
to volunteer for the very important ministry of assisting
the priest and deacon at the altar. Training is provided.
Training for new a altar servers just took place so we
will be training new altar servers again in July or
August.
RCIA - - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INICIATION OF
ADULTS: Anyone who is interested in finding out
about the Catholic Church is invited to a get together
on June 1 st at 7:30pm in the Rectory. This is a
great opportunity to check things out without any
commitment and see about becoming Catholic. Any
questions, please contact Valerie Hughes, 301-253-1175
LECTOR MINISTRY: The Lord God has given me a
well-trained tongue, that I may know how to speak to
the weary a word that will rouse them. Isaiah 50:4
The ministry of Lector is a charisma for the building up
of the community, and it does require some native
abilities such as confidence, poise and sensitivity to the
assembly. Reading skills, the ability to develop
proclamation techniques and a clear and steady voice
are attributes of a Lector. Comfort with public
speaking, while an important gift, does not in itself
render a person capable of effective liturgical
proclamation, for our purpose is to celebrate the faith
shared by the worshipers. Adults and those teenagers
who have made their Confirmation are invited to serve
as Lectors for our liturgies. Forms are available on the
table in the Narthex.
MUSIC MINISTRY: Anyone interested in Music
Ministry is asked to contact Maria Stanton in the
rectory. There are several openings in music ministry
in various groups and Mass times.
ART AND ENVIORNMENT: Help decorate the
church for Pentecost June 6 th at 7:00pm in the Church.
New Decorators are always welcome.
LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN
CLOW: This is a great ministry that serves the children
of the parish who are able to listen to the scriptures
using the Children’s Lectionary and understand them on
their level. Adults are needed to guide the children.
Please consider signing up, great materials and training
will be provided.
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED
SACRAMENT
Saint Paul is going to have Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament on Thursday, June 23. We are going to
be praying for the Priesthood and all those who are
going to be ordained as Catholic Priests in June.
Please reserve some time that day to come to church
to pray for priests, especially those who serve us at
Saint Paul, and for our parish.
SUMMER MASS SCHEDULE
The following summer Mass
schedule will begin next Sunday,
June 5, and will continue through
Sunday, August 28:
Saturday: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.

Social Concerns/Pastoral Care
As part of Catholic Charities’ clients’ job
readiness preparation, we are hoping to find
donated “interview clothes.” These clothes will be
given to clients who are participating in a
seminar that is part of an effort to help clients in
various stages of homelessness re-enter the job
force. The seminar will be held by several
employees from Deloitte who are providing a day
of workshops on resume writing, mock
interviewing, skill-set development, and financial
management for clients of Catholic Charities’
homeless programs.
If you can help by donating dress pants, shirts,
ties, shoes, ladies’ dresses, etc., it would be much
appreciated. We need clothing for approximately
120 women and men. Donations can be dropped
off at the Montgomery County Family Center
(McCarrick Center) at 12247 Georgia Avenue
in Wheaton, Monday.-Wednesday, June 6-8
from 8:00am-5:00pm. For more information,
please contact Teresa Volante, Parish Partner’s
Program Manager, 301-942- at
teresa.volante@catholiccharitiesdc.org or 301-
942-1790 x104.
FATHER’S DAY SPIRITUAL
BOUQUET CARDS are now
available until Fathers Day - Spiritual
Bouquet Mass Cards for your father or
father-in-law or anyone you would like to have
remembered at Mass on Father's Day. Cards are
in the Narthex. They will benefit the new
Germantown pregnancy center. Your donation
is appreciated.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
AT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY
PRE RELEASE CENTER
The Pre Release Center is a community based
residential correctional facility for adult
offenders preparing for release back to our
communities.
Many of the residents face multiple obstacles
to successful reentry --- a job, a safe place to
live, reintegration with family or children,
medical and substance abuse support, restoring
expired or lost identification, navigating public
transportation --- the list of needs is significant.
Community based corrections involves the
public recognizing the needs and offering their
time and talent to assist offenders by
empowering offenders to turn their lives around
while offering their time and talent to assist
offenders make a successful reentry.
Volunteer opportunities at the Pre Release
Center include: coaching basic job readiness and
interview skills, supporting residents with their
online job search in the Career Resource Center,
coaching candidates to pass the GED exam,
tutoring reading or math skills. Other support
services opportunities are also available.
If you would like to learn more about
volunteer service at the Pre Release Center,
please contact:
Loretta McClintock, Volunteer Coordinator
Montgomery County Pre Release Center
(cell) 301-760-6943 (office) 240-773-4232
Loretta.mcclintock@montgomerycountymd.gov
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR LIFE! If you
have a heart for women and are a good listener,
consider becoming a volunteer counselor at the
Shady Grove Pregnancy Center. Training consists
of 9 classes to be held Mondays/Thursdays from
7 - 9 pm. Dates: July 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 and
August 1, 4 and 8. For details call Jackie Stippich,
Ex. Director, after June 6, at 301-963-6223.
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY
MEMORIAL DAY
BABY SITTING CLASS
June 11 th from 9:00am-1:00pm
Saint Paul will offer a babysitting
class taught by Adventist Health
Care Systems. To hold the class we need at
least ten pre-registered boys and girls by June
1 st . The class is for aspiring mother’s helpers
and babysitters, ages 11-16. A certificate of
completion will be given at the end of the
class. Call 301-253-2027 for more information

Religious Education
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
WHEN? WHAT? WHERE? WHO?
Parish
May 29; 12:30pm Confirmation Class for Adults Church All enrolled adult candidates
June 1 Parent Baptism Class Conf. Room I
June 1; 7:30pm First Wed. Mass, adoration & Prayer Church
ALL
groups
June 23; 7-9pm Prayer Course begins (Hearts Aflame
program)
Church Hall ALL – especially recommended
for those who teach our faith
K-5 STUDENTS (Classroom program)
May 30 & June 2 NO K-5 Classes – Memorial Day break NO Classes Elementary RE Students
June 6 & 9
End-of-Year prayer service and ice cream
social
Saint Paul
Church
Elementary RE Students AND
families
Sat. June 11;6:00 pm End-of-Year Religious Ed Family Picnic Saint Paul ALL RE families – all programs
MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM
Sat., June 11; 6:00 End-of-Year Religious Ed Family Picnic Saint Paul ALL RE families – all programs
pm
June 23-27
M.S. Youth Fun & Fellowship Weekly
Camp
Saint Paul and
venues
ALL rising 6-8 th graders,
registered parishioners
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
July 11 through 15, 2011
Forms were mailed and are on the
website. THE DEADLINE IS JUNE 17
or when full!! WE WILL FILL UP!
********************************************
YOUTH WEEK : Fun & Fellowship Camp -
All rising 6-8 th graders, registered in our parish, are
invited to participate.
Date: June 23-27 th .
Registration deadline: Must submit permission slip
by no later than June 10 th . Walk-ins cannot be
accommodated.
Fee: $185.00 (includes bus, snacks and all
amusements)
Venues: Adventure Park USA, Bowling, Fun in the
Sun, Inflatable Fun & Games, Swimming Party
Teens: Junior and senior high school teens are invited
to be camp counselors this week. Contact Erika
Sheehan.
Adult Faith Formation
Class for Adults - Christian Prayer
Saint Paul parish will be sponsoring the Hearts Aflame
course on Christian Prayer on Thursday, June 23 and
30, from 7:00-9:00pm, and Saturday, July 9 from
10:30am – 2:00pm. (The course requires 8 hours of
instruction time.) Our Director of Religious
Education, Lisa Nueslein, will be the instructor.
Register by emailing LNueslein@stpauldamascus.org
no later than June 6th.
Course Overview:
Get ready to probe such questions as: What is
prayer? Why do we need to pray? How does God
speak to us in prayer? Through theological reflection
and discussion, we will seek to capture the essence of
this sacred dialogue between the Creator and His
Beloved. Students will be exposed to different types
of prayer and embark upon a more profound
meditation of the Our Father as “the summary of the
whole Gospel” (cf. Catechism of the Catholic
Church, #2761) and an integral part of catechesis.
Finally, the course will conclude with different
methodologies for teaching children to pray on a
variety of grade levels.
Who may take this course? Is it limited to
catechists? This course is open to all persons
registered in a parish in the Archdiocese of
Washington, age 18 or older, who are interested in
delving into the Christian experience of prayer. This
program is especially recommended for those who
teach the Catholic faith, to either children or adults,
and fulfills one of the certification requirements for
catechists. This class is also highly recommended for
parents, as they are the primary religious educators of
their children.

Around the Parish
SAINT PAUL'S ATRIUM IS IN NEED OF A NEW
HOME! Do you have un-used space in your home?
You have an opportunity to provide a great service for
Saint Paul’s children and answer our prayers....
Atrium is a Montessori-based alternative to traditional
religious education, serving children ages 3-12. The
program requires a beautifully prepared space arranged
in a child-friendly manner to encourage quiet worship
and meditation. Because of the large amount of
materials involved in the catechesis, it is important to
have a space dedicated to Atrium for the 9-month
session. Atrium has relied on donated space in
generous parishioners’ homes for all of its 25 years.
If your home is within the nearby Damascus community
with easy drop-off/pick-up access for cars, and you
would be willing to share your un-used space with the
Atrium program, please contact Katie Junghans (301-
253-0136) or Megan McFarland (301-482-0033) to
answer any questions you have.
MATT SWAIM, producer of the Son Rise Morning
Show which is syndicated through EWTN, will
discuss his book, “Prayer in the Digital Age” on
Saturday, June 4 at 7:00pm in the Church. He and
his wife, Colleen, who is also an author, reside in
Cincinnati, Ohio and are the daughter and son-in-law of
Saint Paul parishioners. Refreshments will follow the
program.
THE GARDEN OF LIFE is
in full bloom, and really shows
the glory of God! So that
everyone can enjoy God’s
splendor, we ask that you
NOT pick from the Garden
of Life.
MEMORIAL DAY AT CATHOLIC
CEMETERIES - Come pray in loving
memory of family, friends and fellow
citizens who have given their lives for our
freedom and begun their eternal destiny in Christ. A
special outdoor Mass will be held on the sacred ground
of all the Catholic cemeteries of the Archdiocese of
Washington, Monday, May 30, 10:00am. (All Souls
Cemetery, Germantown)
A PRAYER FOR MEMEORIAL DAY
Remember, Lord, the fallen
Who died in fields of war,
In flaming clouds, in screaming crowds,
On streets that are no more,
That we today might waken
And greet this day in peace
With grateful prayer for those who bear
The storms that never cease.
Remember friends and strangers,
And those forgotten now,
Whose names are known to you alone,
Before whose love we bow
And ask that you surround them
With mercy’s endless light
That they may live, and we forgive
The foe they went to fight.
Remember, Lord, the living ,
Who bear the pain of loss
A death she died who stood beside
Her Son upon the cross.
Remember all your children
The dead and those who weep,
And make us one beneath the sun,
Where love will never sleep.
ATTENTION MILITARY FAMILIES: To update
information in the Saint Paul Military Book, please
contact Mary Mills at mills69z28@verizon.net or
(301) 919-2502.
Congratulations to
Father Peter J. Sweeney
as he celebrates
his Golden Jubilee of Priesthood
Mass of Thanksgiving
June 5, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Our Lady of Grace, Leisure World
All are invited to attend the
Mass and Reception
Father Sweeney served as Pastor at
Saint Paul from 1990-2004.