A Note from the Pastor: - St. Paul's Catholic Church

From the Pastor’s Desk
Before we go on to the Eucharistic Prayer, there are a few other parts of the preparation that we see but
often do not always understand. For example, prior to the priest saying the prayer of blessing over the
chalice filled with wine, the deacon or the priest adds a few drops of water to the chalice. The reason why
water is added to the wine dates back to ancient times.
Originally the purpose of doing this was to “cut” the wine. The vintages of the ancient world were often
either quite strong or of poor quality. Adding water was a normal practice. As time went on the custom
came to include a symbolic and prayerful quality. The addition of the water came to represent the living
Church becoming one with the eternal mystery of the Sacrifice of Christ in the wine.
In the reform of the Liturgy, a prayer adapted from one composed by St. Leo the Great for use during the
Christmas Liturgy was added. The words of the prayer are rarely heard by the assembly but are filled
with a great deal of importance for the mystery of the Eucharist. “By the mystery of this water and wine
may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” We are
asking, through the Eucharist, to become like Christ. We are asking God to make us like himself.
After the prayer of blessing over the chalice, the priest bows and quietly says a prayer taken from the
book of Daniel. “With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our
sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.” This prayer is offered as a reminder to the
priest and for the assembly that a material sacrifice must be offered to draw us into union with God for a
purpose, to see in the sacrifice of Christ the forgiveness of our sins. Without a “humble and contrite
heart” our sacrifice will have no meaning.
At this point the priest may incense the gifts at the altar. In the contemporary liturgy there is no prayer
said at this time. The action itself is the prayer. The purpose of using incense is of course very ancient.
As incense was used in the temple, so during the liturgy incense can be used to signify and emphasize the
sacred nature of the Eucharistic sacrifice.
The last of the “quiet” rites of the preparation of the gifts is the washing of the hands by the priest. This
custom came into practice as a result of the priest having soiled his hands from either the charcoal of the
incense, or receiving produce of the faithful instead of money in former times. Today, the action of
washing and the prayer said by the priest emphasize the importance of coming to the Eucharist with a
spirit of contrition. The priest says: “Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
The last part of the preparation begins with the prayerful invitation to the faithful that the sacrifice of the
Mass is both the sacrifice of the priest and the people of the assembly. The assembly responds asking
God to accept it for “our good and the good of all his holy Church.
At this point the priest now says the second of the three major prayers of the mass. This prayer over the
offerings unlike the opening collect is usually not specific to the particular celebration. As we begin
though the season of Lent, we see in this prayer a direct reference to the season. This will continue until
Pentecost. The primary focus of the prayer though is intentionally functional. It helps us to direct our
attention from preparation to the sacrificial character of the Eucharistic Prayer we are about to begin.

February 26, 2012
This Week at Saint Paul’s
Monday February 27, 2012
9:00am Daily Mass [Intention for Margaret Durso]( (NC)
7:00-9:00pm Bible Study (CH)
7:00-8:15pm Religious Education (DHS)
7:30-9:30pm 11:00 Music Group (C)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
9:00am Daily Mass[Intention for Al Smith]( (NC)
10:00am-12:pm Bible Study (CH)
7:00-8:30pm Scout Parent Meeting (APR)
7:00-8:00pm Children’s Choir (C)
7:30-9:30pm Prayer Group (NC)
7:30-8:30pm Pastoral Council Meeting (REC)
8:30-9:30pm AA Meeting (CH)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
9:00am Daily Mass (C)
9:30am-12:00pm Women’s Sharing Group (CH)
6:30-7:30pm The Light is on Confessions (C)
7:30-9:30pm Adult Choir (C)
7:30-8:30pm Peer Ministry Team Meeting (CONF I/CONF II)
7:30-8:30pm Wise Guys Meeting (NC)
Thursday, March 1, 2012
9:00am Daily Mass [Intention forVittorio Nacastri](NC)
4:30-6:30pm Middle School Session (NC/CH/NAR/APR/SAC)
5:00-6:15pm Religious Education (DHS)
8:00-10:00pm Knights of Columbus (CH)
Friday, March 2, 2012
First Friday
9:00am Daily Mass (NC)
7:30-8:00pm Stations of the Cross (C)
8:15-9:30pm Living Stations Rehearsal (C)
Saturday, March 3, 2012
First Saturday
7:00-8:30am Why Catholic Group (CH)
9:00-10:00am First Saturday Mass[Intention for Alister Pinckney]
(NC)
3:30-4:30pm Reconciliation (C)
5:00pm Mass [Intention for](C)
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Second Sunday of Lent
Coffee and Donuts (after All Masses)
Girl Scout Sunday
7:30, 9:00 & 11:00am; 5:00pm Mass (C)
7:30am Mass [Intention for Betty Pinckney]
9:00 &11:00am Children’s Liturgy of the Word (C)
9:30-11:00am CIC (Conf I & Conf II)
9:30am-12:00pm RCIA (NC)
10:00am Prayer for Healing (C)
12:30-2:30pm Living Station Rehearsal (C)
2:45-4:45pm Middle School Session (NC/CH/APR/SAC)
3:30-5:00pm Saint Paul Folk Group practice (C)
6:00-8:00pm SNUG (CH)
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 9:00 am and 11:00 am 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 and 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, Bette Marshall, Earl Rollison, Tony
and Mary Leggieri, David McGehee, Edna Colbert,
Rita Magee, Amy Gladhill Vallarino, Ellen Burns,
Charles Garner, Carroll Podhasky, Kathleen Schmidt,
Janet Keefe, Bob Leone, Joan Donovan, Licia Tippett,
Nick Rosato, and Pat Denu.
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.
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

Liturgy
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
“On Behalf of Christ be reconciled to God”
Reflection
Don’t we all have our gods, our temptations, and our
desire to be in control Yet here is Jesus, tempted by
the devil to take over the world, and he responds:
“No, thanks!”
A few days ago, on Ash Wednesday, we were
reminded once again of the Lenten disciplines of
prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In order to be
filled with the grace and goodness of God, we must
first empty our hearts of all that does not belong
there—all that prevents us from serving God
faithfully and hinders others as they seek to
encounter God. Now, Jesus shows us how to walk
away with courage from those times when we would
love to succumb to the drunkenness of power and
control.
Prayer: Loving Father, Deepen our bond
with you and help us to repent and believe
the Good News.
THANKS TO THE ART AND ENVIORNMENT
TEAM: Great Job to all those involved with
decorating the Church for Lent. A special thanks to
Patti Hinkle, the Art and Environment
Coordinator.
FLOWER DONATIONS - Flower
donations are always needed especially for
Easter. If you are interested in donating
flowers please use the flower envelope located
in the Narthex.
RCIA - The Right of Christian Initiation of
Adults is the process by which adults become
Catholic. This process is a journey that varies with
each person, depending on their needs. At this time
we have several adults and children who are
preparing for the sacraments of Baptism,
Confirmation and Eucharist. Please continue to
pray for those in the RCIA program.
A New group of Inquirers is meeting on
Monday night in the rectory. Be sure to
come this Monday February 27 th . Anyone
interested in becoming Catholic should contact
Valerie Hughes, the Coordinator for RCIA, at
301-253-1175.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS will be
celebrated each Friday Night in Lent.
Please remember the time is 7:30 p.m. .
Stations of the Cross (or Way of the
Cross; in Latin, Via Crucis; also called
the Via Dolorosa or Way of Sorrows,
or simply, The Way) refers to the
depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus,
and the devotion commemorating the Passion.
The tradition as chapel devotion began with Saint
Francis of Assisi and extended throughout the
Roman Catholic Church in the medieval period.
It is less often observed in the Anglican and
Lutheran churches. It may be done at any time,
but is most commonly done during the Season of
Lent, especially on Good Friday and on Friday
evenings during Lent. Good Friday Stations of
the Cross is a Living Stations at 3:00 p.m. YOU
WONT WANT TO MISS IT!
THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
will be offered several times during Lent:
Saturday, March 3 at 3:30pm in the Church
Wednesday, March 7 at 6:30pm in the
Church
Saturday, March 10 at 3:30pm in the
Church
Wednesday, March 14 at 6:30pm in the
Church
Saturday, March 17 at 3:30pm in the
Church
Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30pm in the
Church
Thursday, March 22 at 7:30pm in the
Church
Saturday, March 24 at 3:30pm in the
Church
Wednesday, March 28 at 6:30pm in the
Church
Saturday, March 31 at 3:30pm in the
Church
Good Friday, April 6 (after Morning
Prayer) in Norris Chapel
Holy Saturday, April 7 (after Morning
Prayer) in Norris Chapel

Social Concerns/Pastoral Care
MedStar Health Blood Drive – The
Saint Paul Health Care Ministry will
sponsor a MedStar Blood Drive on
Sunday March 11, 2012 in the Church
Hall from 8:30 am to 12:30pm. Please
contact the church office at 301-253-2027 or go online
to schedule your life-saving donation.
To schedule online go to
https://www.donatebloodmedstar.org/index.cfm,
click “Donate Blood”, then click “Quick Search”,
enter zip code “20872”, choose the 3/11/12 drive at
Saint Paul.
40 DAYS FOR LIFE – The peaceful
prayer effort called 40 Days for Life
will be held at the late-term abortion
facility in Germantown. St. Paul will
participate again. Come out to pray for an
end to abortion and for a renewed respect for
human life in our community and in our country.
This prayer effort will begin on February 22 and
run through April 1, 2012
Join us on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 for
“Thanksgiving in February” at a participating
restaurant of your choice! The Restaurant will
donate up to 20% of their February 28 th receipts to
support agencies in Montgomery County that are
working to help those in need. For more
information
visit
http://www.thanksgivinginfebruary.org/
Maryland March for Life _
Come and join the hundreds of
people who will march in Annapolis
on Monday, March 12, at the 33rd
annual Maryland March for Life.
The event will begin and end at St.
Mary’s Church (109 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis)
5:15 pm Mass & Non-denominational Service Cardinal
Edwin O’Brien & Pastor Charlie Baile, Bishop Francisco
Gonzalez, S.F. Bishop Barry C. Knestout; and Bishop
Dennis Madden. 6:30pm Family-friendly March (&public
witness). 7pm Rally at Lawyers Mall – Derek McCoy,
MD Association of Families Kelly Stauffer, Silent No
More. Tracey Tiernan, 95.1 Shine FM Radio Host 8pm
Free Chick-fil-A & fellowship at St. Mary’s. For more
information go to www.mdmarchforlife.org
astoral Care
SAINT PETER’S ADULT FAITH
FORMATION INVITES YOU TO ATTEND
An End –Of – Life Series
All of the sessions will be on Sunday and begin at
2:00pm in the Shepard’s Room in the Church building.
Death and dying are often subjects not easily
discussed. What reduces the discomfort is having a
better knowledge of Catholic teaching on the dignity of
life as well as some sound information. Here is your
opportunity to gain such understanding.
February 26 – Being Faithful: Catholic
Teaching on End-of-Life Care presented by
Dr. William May. Dr. May is the Emeritus
Michael J. McGivney Professor of Moral
Theology at the John Paul II Institute for
Marriage and Family at the Catholic
University in Washington, DC.
March 4 – Being Smart: The Legal
Considerations of End-of-Life Care
presented by Joseph Gallagher, J.D.
March 11 – Being Practical: Planning a
Funeral presented by A.J. Cole, Funeral
Director of A.J. Cole Funeral Services.
March 18 – Being Human: Understanding
the Grief Process presented by Terry L.
Martin, Ph.D. Associate Professor of
Psychology and Thanatology, Program
Director for Thanatology Program at Hood
College.
Admission is free. For more information, please call
301-774-0162. St. Peter’s address is2900 Olney-Sandy
Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832
OPERATION RICE BOWL
REFLECTION: GOD’S
COVENANT
In today’s first reading, we hear
about God’s covenant with Noah,
with his descendants and with all
living creatures. During Lent, we
are called to deepen and
strengthen our baptismal and covenantal relationship
with God, which includes our responsibility to care
for God’s creation. This week through Operation
Rice Bowl, we learn about subsistence farmers in
Madagascar. We pray for all who struggle to feed
their families on depleted lands, and we fast in
solidarity with those who hunger. We give so that
CRS can help farmers improve their growing
methods and act as good stewards of God’s creation.

Religious Education
WHEN WHAT WHERE WHO
Parish
Every Wed., 6:30 Confessions Main Church All baptized Catholics
pm and Sat., 3:30
pm
Fri., Mar. 9 Parish Lenten Day of Reflection Priest Field
Pastoral
Center
K-5 Classroom
Feb. 27 & Mar. 1 Religion Classes DHS K-5 Students
First Communion Candidates & Parents
Feb. 27; 7:10 pm
OR
Mar. 1; 5:10 pm
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
All men AND women age 18+
(registration deadline is Feb. 29)
Parent Meeting for First Communion DHS All parents who are presenting a
child for First Communion are
expected to attend ONE of these
meetings.
Middle School
March 1/4/14 MS Religious Education Saint Paul MS Students
March 15/18/21 MS Religious Education Saint Paul MS Students
FIRST COMMUNION NEWS
Faith Education sessions for parents of first
communion children will be held on the following
dates:
Mon. Feb. 27 @ 7:10 pm OR
Thurs. Mar. 1 @ 5:10 pm
Location: Damascus High School. Enter through the
middle front doors and look for our religious education
staff.
At this education session, we’ll pray together, learn
about the meaning of the Mass and the Eucharistic
covenant, and review the children’s at-home education
materials. All parents who are presenting a child for
communion are expected to attend ONE of these
classes. Important note: There will not be any ‘make
up’ sessions. Anyone who is unable to attend one of
these classes should contact our parish Director of
Religious Education, Lisa Nueslein at the parish office.
Adult Faith Formation
PARISH LENTEN DAY OF REFLECTION
HAPPENING ON FRIDAY MARCH 9 th
All parish men and women (age 18+) are invited to a
Lenten Day of Reflection sponsored by Saint Paul
Parish on Friday, March 9 th . We’ll meet for morning
Mass at 9:00 am in the Norris Chapel and carpool to
Priestfield Pastoral Center in West Virginia (about 50
minutes.) It’s a beautiful retreat house with a
prayerful Stations of the Cross walk in the woods.
The day of reflection will end at 4:30 pm. Participants
may carpool home that afternoon or stay overnight for
some private reflection time. Please join us for
worship, prayer, praise, reflection and fellowship!
Contact the parish office to register. Registration
deadline is February 29. The fee for the day retreat is
$21 per person, includes a hot lunch. Additional fees
will apply if you are spending the night, assuming
room availability.

Around the Parish/Community
CALLING ALL GIRL SCOUTS, past and present!
March 4 th is Girl Scout Sunday. Help us celebrate the
100 th anniversary of Girl Scouts! Wear your uniform
to Mass and meet in the Narthex 10 minutes before
Mass starts. Questions Contact Jeanmarie Curley at
jeanmarie.curley@gmail.com.
MARRIAGE& SAME SEX UNIONS: Am I a
bigot because I do not support 'marriage equality'
How are man and woman together, uniquely made
in the image of God A symposium will answer
these and many other questions about same sex
unions which is now a pivotal issue before the
Maryland legislature. Bring your own questions to
ask the speakers who are professionals in
theology, advocacy, counseling and medicine.
The symposium will be held at Saint
John Neuman Parish Center Saturday
March 3rd from at 2PM.
2012 ANNUAL JUBILARIAN
MASS: Cardinal Donald Wuerl will
preside at this annual event honoring
couples married 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and fifty
or more years of marriage on Sunday, June 3,
2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Personalized
certificates signed by Cardinal Wuerl will be
distributed to couples following the ceremony, or
mailed, should they be unable to attend. Please
call the parish office to register. Names of
jubilarians need to be turned in to the parish office
no later than Sunday, April 15.
2012 ARCHDIOCESAN MEN’S RETREAT:
GUARDIANS OF THE MISSION: Join men
from parishes throughout the Archdiocese on
Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 8:00-3:00 at St.
Mark the Evangelist Church, 7501 Adelphi Road,
Hyattsville. The day will be centered around
Mass with Cardinal Wuerl. Speakers for the day
will give us encourage us to find build the skills to
live courageous and heroic lives. Talks include:
“Guardians of the Truth about Men,” “Guardians
of Your Heart,” and “Guardians of the Kingdom.’
Invite your son, your dad, or a friend to join you
on this retreat. If you have been thinking about
forming a men’s group in your parish, if you want
to be a better son, husband or father, if you are
considering a vocation to the priesthood, this
retreat if for you! For more information, please
call Rick Kramer at 301-853-4546, to register visit
www.adw.org/conferences. Cost is $20.00, lunch
included.
2012 ARCHDIOCESAN WOMEN’S
RETREAT: BLESSED ARE YOU: Leave your
to-do list behind and treat yourself to a day of
reflection on your unique role in building the
kingdom. Join women from across the
Archdiocese on Saturday, March 24, 2012 from
8:00am-3:15pm at St. Mark the Evangelist
Church, 7501 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville. The day
will include Mass with Cardinal Wuerl,
presentations, small group discussion, adoration,
confession and opportunities to build up your
library at the spiritual exhibit hall. Invite your
mom, your daughter, or a friend to join you on this
retreat. For more information, please call Sarah
Yaklic at 301-853-4559, to register visit
www.adw.org/conferences. Cost is $20.00, lunch
included.