Please note:
From now through March 11, weekend Masses here at our parish will be celebrated in the Lower Church.

Second Collection:
Next weekend’s (2/12/12) Second Collection is for Fuel Offering

Ignation Lenten Series:
Beginning on the First Sunday of Lent, February 26, and continuing on the next four Sundays of Lent (March 4, 11, 18 and 25), a presentation of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola will be given at 3PM here in our parish. Ignatius wrote these Exercises during a nine-month period of intense prayer and penance at the little town of Manresa, Spain, in 1522, when he was in his early thirties, and he continued to work on them throughout his life. Today we are all familiar with programs of physical exercise to improve our physical health. Ignatius’ Exercises are a four-week program to improve our spiritual health. The weeks can be shortened or lengthened, depending on the needs of the one making them. Ignatius understood spiritual health to be freedom from any attachment which would prevent a person from committing himself or herself to the will of God. So spiritual freedom , understood as a person’s ability to live the first and greatest of commandment, is the aim of his Exercises.

Our presenters will be four Jesuits and one sister. Fr. Kenneth Hughes, S.J., and Sister Nancy Sheridan, SASV, will present the first two weeks of the Exercises on February 26 and March 4. On March 11, Fr. Richard Roos, S.J., will speak on Ignatius’ famous Rules for Discernment. On March 18, Fr. Charles Healey, S.J., will speak on the Third week of the Exercises, and on March 25, Fr. William Russell, S.J., will speak on the Fourth Week.

Sprititual Healing From Abortion - Rachel's Vineyard Retreat Weekends:
A retreat weekend for women, men, grandparents and siblings that have been affected by abortion is available in a safe and confidential setting. This unique retreat process is designed specifically to help retreatants experience the gentleness mercy and compassion of Jesus as they begin the journey from pain to forgiveness. The retreat dates are: March 23, 24, 25; June 8, 9, 10; and October 26, 27, and 28. For more information, contact Carol Owens (401) 421-7833, ext 218 or e-mail: rachelsvingeyard(at)dioceseofprovidence.org

More Bazaar Pictures:

Support/Bereavement Group:
An interest has been expressed in forming a group here in our parish for those who have lost a spouse. If you would be interested in taking part in such a group, please contact Fr. Finnegan. I would imagine it would be a matter of gathering now and then to share the experience of loss in the context of faith.

St. Vincent DePaul Society:
Our special thanks to Samantha W., a student at Mt. St. Charles who independently collected food for Bryan’s Pantry, collecting food through friends of the North Stars Hockey Team. It is inspiring to meet a young person like Samantha who makes time in her life to reach out to help those in need of assistance.

Toiletries Needed:
For three years now the Diocesan Office of Catholic Charities and Social Ministry has provided weekly assistance through an office here in St. Charles basement. Most of the people who come to the Food Pantry on Thursdays also visit the Diocesan office to request personal hygiene products. The need is particularly great at the end of the month when limited income has run out. Please donate what you can. Desperately needed are: deodorant, toothpaste and individually wrapped toothbrushes, individually wrapped bars of soap, shaving cream/gel, disposable razors, shampoo/conditioner, individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper, small packets of facial tissues.

Volunteer Opportunity:
Odyssey Hospice, is seeking volunteers to provide companionship to terminally ill patients. Help us, help our patients to reach the end of their lives peacefully, pain free and with dignity. If you have compassion, a desire to help others and an hour a week to share with a patient, become an Odyssey Hospice companion volunteer. Please call Samantha Koehler at Odyssey Hospice 401-738-1492.

Bishop Gelineau's 40th Aniversary:
On Sunday, February 5, The Diocese of Providence will celebrate a MASS OF THANKSGIVING to mark His Excellency, BISHOP LOUIS E. GELINEAU’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY AS BISHOP. All are invited to worship with priests, religious and laity of the local Catholic community in celebrating this blessed occasion. A light reception will follow the Mass in the Cathedral Hall. For more info, please visit www.dioceseofprovidence.org

Divorced? Seperated?:
The Office of Life and Family is pleased to offer the Finding Hope Program for divorced and separated Catholics, to be held at St. Patrick Church, 244 Smith St. Providence (use large parking lot). This support group embraces the teachings of our faith, provides a peaceful environment to help Catholics heal, provides time to share and discuss topics related to separation/divorce, and is free. Offered each Tuesday for eight consecutive weeks, 7—8:30PM September 20 through November 8. For more info contact Peter Magnotta at 421-7833, ext. 217.

Painter:
If you are looking for a painter to do work in your home, we have parishioners who would be happy to give you estimates. If interested please call the rectory (766-0176) and we will put you in contact with them.

Free Weightlifting:
Join the weightlifters at St. Charles, unloading and storing 25-30 pound boxes of food at our food pantry on Wednesdays from 10:20 AM to 12 Noon weekly, every other week or monthly. Reserve your space now!!! Leave your name and phone number at 401-766-3088 ...guaranteed call back.

Parish Council:
April 22, 2012 at 11:15 AM in the parish hall.

Liturgy Meeting:
Sunday (2/19/12) at 11:20 AM in church hall.

Bible Study/Discussion Group:
Continues on Wednesdays after the 9 AM Mass in the church hall.

Holy Hour here at St. Charles:
A HOLY HOUR is held every Friday in our church from 1 to 2 PM. Feel free to join us!

Meditation on the Sunday Scripture Readings:
A Meditation on the Sunday Scripture Readings continues to take place on Friday mornings at 8:30 AM, followed by the 9 AM Mass.

Donations:
Want to donate funds for flowers or religious education? St. Charles is now capable of taking tax-deductable donations securely online:

Have Any Extra Plastic Grocery Bags?:
The Food Pantry is very low on bags again. Please bring in any extra grocery store plastic bags you may have and deposit them in the marked container at the back of the church. Thanks!

Sermons Online:
We are archiving printed copies of Fr. Finnegan's sermons here on the website.

Scripture Website:
You can make Sunday's readings part of your personal prayer during the week. Visit liturgy.slu.edu for prayer, spirituality, and scripture resources.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS WITH MUSICAL MEDITATIONS:
On Sunday, March 18 at 3PM in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul the Gregorian Concert Choir will present the “WAY OF THE CROSS WITH MUSICAL MEDITATIONS” to benefit the Haitian Project, which assists in the education of poor Haitian children free of charge. Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The Meditations for the Way of the Cross were composed by Pope Benedict XVI and the musical responses will include some of the greatest music from the Church’s rich musical heritage. Tickets are $10. person and may be purchased by calling the Cathedral office at (401) 331-2434. Ticket will also be sold at the door on the day of the Concert.

Big Game Breakfast:
St. Anthony’s Parish, 128 Greene Street, Woonsocket will hold a “Big Game” Breakfast in the church hall on Sunday, February 5, 2012 from 8AM to Noon. Menu includes: Stadium Orange Juice, Scrambling Scrambled Eggs, Goalpost Sausage, Touchdown Ham, Home-field Advantage Home Fries, Quarterback Baked Beans, Kickoff Rolls & Butter, and Scrimmage Coffee. Donation: $7 Adults, $4 children. For tickets call 766-2640. Also featured: “Superbowl Squares” All squares are $5 each. Prizes will be $50 for the 1st Quarter, $75. for the half, $50 for the 3rd Quarter and $100 for the final score! Come and join us!

Mini-Retreat - ON Courage:
The following mini-retreat will be held on February 8 at Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, 226 Great Neck Rd. Wareham, MA at 10AM to 12:30PM. Cost $20. This February series is entitled: "On Courage" Everyone knows fear, but not everyone is controlled by his or her fear. Ambrose Redmoon says, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear.” Keeping our priorities forefront, along with inspiration from those we deem courageous, can help us face our fears and make the leap of faith into a fuller life. Registration: Contact Miramar at (781)585-2460 or contact Peggy at timeoutretreats(at)comcast.net. All are welcome - men and women, Catholics and non-Catholics.

How can you support your neighbors in these tough economic times?:
It may be difficult for some people to reach out when they are in need but the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is there to help when money is tight. When people are going through tough times, SNAP benefits can help them buy the food they need to stay healthy. And when folks use their SNAP card to buy groceries, they aren’t just helping themselves; they are also supporting local grocers and the local economy. SNAP benefits are available to any low-income person or family who applies and qualifies. Call your local SNAP Outreach Coordinator at (401) 264-2222 or Richard Zalewski, Office of Community Services at (401) 762-2849 for more information or for assistance with an application.

Meeting Christ in Prayer:
Looking to grow deeper in your prayer life? Come join us for this engaging eight-week guided adult small group prayer experience. Meeting Christ in Prayer is modeled on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which is a tried-and-true method of spiritual renewal. In this prayer experience, you will be introduced to various ways of praying which will help you form regular habits of prayer. It will also provide you with an opportunity to meet Christ anew and to experience support in the Christian life in a new way. Participants are asked to commit themselves to meeting once a week for 8 weeks and to praying and reflecting daily, using the exercises that are provided. Sessions will be held every Wednesday from 7-8:30 PM beginning March 7 through April 28, 2012. The cost to participate is $20 which covers the cost of the participant guide which you will keep. For more info or to register, please call the CYO Center at 762-3252.

Drop-Ins:
All middle school and high school age youth are invited to the Fr. Marot CYO Center for our Friday Night Drop-Ins. Drop-Ins are free, informal gatherings where youth can play games and socialize in an adult supervised environment. Middle School Drop-ins will be held from 7-9PM on 12/12/11, 1/6/12, 2/3/12, 3/2/12, 4/27/12, 5/11/12, 6/1/12.

High School Drop-ins will be held from 7-10PM on 12/16/11, 1/27/12, 2/24/12, 3/23/12, 4/20/12, 5/18/12, and 6/15/12. Calendar of Events is available online at www.frmarotcyo.org

Cleaning:
If you are looking for someone to help with seasonal, weekly or monthly cleaning please call 766-0176. The woman who does cleaning at the rectory is looking for more clients. We will put you in touch with her.

St. Paul's Prayer Group:
St. Paul’s Church, Blackstone, MA has recently organized a weekly Prayer Meeting in the charismatic tradition. It is held each Wednesday beginning at 7 PM in the rectory chapel, 48 St. Paul Street. We invite you to join us for an evening of prayer, song and fellowship! All are welcome! Feel free to bring a Bible. Participants are asked to enter via the front door of the Rectory.

Post-abortion Ministry Programs:
For information on post-abortion ministry programs offered through the Office of Life and Family Ministry call Carol Owens at 421-7833 x 118. All calls are strictly confidential.

Beacon Hospice Seeks Local Volunteers:
Beacon Hospice provides quality end-of-life care to local terminally-ill patients. We are looking for caring and compassionate individuals in your area to spend time with our patients. Over half of our patients have little to no visitors and really enjoy friendly visits from a volunteer. Volunteers can provide much needed support to patients and their families in a number of ways including: visiting with patients on an ongoing basis; sitting vigils, knitting crocheting, quilting and organizing craft projects. There is a free training course that is required on what hospice is and how to interact with hospice patients. The trainings are held locally. For more info, interested volunteers please call Kristy Corbett, Volunteer Coordinator at 401-438-0008 ext. 15 or khassell(at)beaconhospice.com

Respite Care - Help for Caregivers:
The Diocese of Providence, Community Services and Catholic Charities, provides assistance to family caregivers who care for a person over 60 years of age or older (or someone with Alzheimer’s Disease of any age). If you are one of the over 100,000 Rhode Islanders providing care, you may need a break! Respite care is arranged by bringing a trained worker into the home, arranging for Adult Day Services, or providing overnight care in a licensed care facility. For low to moderate income seniors, assistance in paying for respite care may be available. Take car of yourself by taking a break! Call 401-421-7833, Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and ask for Elder Services.

Retrouvaille...a Lifeline for Marriages:
Retrouvaille provides marriage help! It is a program to help couples heal and renew their Marriages. The program offers tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship. It is for couples with marital problems including those who are considering marriage separation and those who are already separated or divorced that want marriage help. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way. For more information go to: www.retrouvaille.org or call 781-209-0842.

Marriage Encounters:
Attend the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and learn how to refocus your marriage on what is important. For more information call Ralph & Jane Becker at 1-800-710-WWME or visit www.wwmeMA.org. Worldwide Marriage Encounter is endorsed by the Archdiocese of Poston and The Dioceses of Manchester, Fall River, Springfield, Worcester and Providence.

Story about St. Charles Borromeo in the Providence Journal:
Article by John Hill called The Blackstone Canal: 175 years of ripples.

Lector Schedule:
Now posted for the winter of 2012 (PDF)

MASSTIMES.ORG:
Going to be away this weekend? Find out beforehand the times of Mass at your destination at www.masstimes.org.

Prayer of St. Francis:
Click here.

Guestbook:
Please leave a note in our parish guestbook.

Picture Gallery:
The collection of pictures (i.e. Christmas, All Saint's Day, Memorial Day, World Marriage Day, Christmas, Easter, etc...) has been moved to its own page. Click here to visit.

Church Bulletin Bloopers:
Very funny stuff...  click here.

Your kind contributions received last weekend:

A Few Good Links:
Worth checking out: www.masstimes.org, The Sisters of Mercy, Catholic Relief Services, the Diocese of Providence, Vatican Radio English and United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops.

From Fr. Finnegan's Desk:

Dear Parishioners,

On Tuesday, the 31st of January, there was a picture in The Providence Journal of Margherite Garrahy and her son John greeting those who came to offer their condolences at the wake service which preceded the funeral Mass for the former governor at the Cathedral on Monday, the 30th of January. Both mother and son are holding a man and woman who are offering their sympathy. The son is looking at his mother in a way which shows his admiration for her, and she is smiling at the woman she is greeting. It all seems so real and kind. Both mother and son seem to be such genuine people. And, apparently, that reflects the life and career of the man being commemorated, Governor Garrahy. Most of the parishioners here at St. Charles are long-time, even life-time, residents of Rhode Island and therefore will remember the time when Joseph Garrahy was the governor. I do not. But the little that I have read in the paper about him these past few days gives me the impression that he was an honest man, indeed, an honest governor. At a time when we so often read about those who have abused their public office, it is very refreshing to read about such a man. It would not be out of order to utter a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his service and example, as well as a prayer of petition that others will be inspired by his example to serve state and country with integrity.

Members of the same family can differ in their political views. Under one roof there can be diametrically opposed views on who is the best candidate for the different parties and who would make the best president or governor or mayor or representative. But we can all agree on the importance of taking our own citizenship seriously by studying the candidates and the issues and then by voting. That is the least we can do. Beyond that we might ask ourselves if we should not be more active on the local level and perhaps even beyond that. Good citizenship is not a lucky-strike extra for us as Catholics. It is part of our job description. It is the living of the two great commandments, love of God and love of neighbor, applied to our actual lives. Sometimes we forget that.

This Week's Readings:

Sunday: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/Mk 1:29-39
Monday: 1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13/Mk 6:53-56
Tuesday: 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30/Mk 7:1-13
Wednesday: 1 Kgs 10:1-10/Mk 7:14-23
Thursday: 1 Kgs 11:4-13/Mk 7:24-30
Friday: 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19/Mk 7:31-37
Saturday: 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34/Mk 8:1-10



Mass Intentions