Bulletins
June 8, 2014
Download the Bulletin as a PDF
The Solemnity of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. Having been told to “go make disciples of all nations” , the Apostles were obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high. Come Holy Spirit!
They needed no prompting once the Advocate had entered their souls. Soon thousands were being baptized, Christians were living in community, having sold their belongings to give the money to the poor. And soon the Apostles needed help with the distribution of the bread.
Our Mission to evangelize permeates everything we do at St. John. The Holy Mass, our school, every BBQ is an invitation to know Jesus better, to be reconciled to Him, to be in Communion with His Church and to spread the Good Word. When love motivates us to evangelize it also moves to care for those in need.
Even here in McLean we have families in crisis. Divorce, depression, disease, the death of a loved one… any of these can plunge a household into turmoil that deteriorates even further. Even if the Evil One is not pulling the strings to inflict confusion and suffering, he certainly is cheering it on. I recently found out about an elderly who had been homebound for many, many years, known only to her next door neighbors and her attorney, who informed me after her death that there was a parishioner who had requested a Funeral Mass. It broke my heart.
Please, please, please be on the lookout for families in need and households on the verge of crisis. Please inform your neighbors, Catholic and non-Catholic, that the Church will help anyone and everyone.
Beginning in September one day a week our parish offices will be home to the Director of Senior Services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. Gracie Ortiz will help with Elder Care and Caregiver Support. She will be able to offer Grief Counseling, help you navigate medical insurance and coordinate In-Home Care as well as already existing assistance from SHARE of McLean not to mention the County of Fairfax. Gracie also will solicit expert help from Realtors, Financial Manager, Mortgage Brokers, Attorneys, etc. In the meantime please step forward if you will be able to volunteer your services or fund this outreach. A generous anonymous donor has us off to a very good start.
God bless you!
Fr. Christopher J. Pollard
