Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
3411 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20032
Rev.Gregory Shaffer,
Pastor
Saturday Vigil Mass:
Sunday Mass:
Daily Mass:
Eucharistic Adoration:
Confessions:
Address:
Office Hours:
Pastor:
Email:
Secretary:
Phone:
Email:
Pope Francis
Outreach Center :
Director:
Assistant Director
Hours of Operation:
Phone:
Website:
Email
4:30 pm
10:00 am
Monday thru Saturday 12:10 pm
Monday,Wednesday, Friday 11:00 - 12:00 noon
Saturday 3:30 - 4:15 pm, Wednesday 11:00 – 12:00 noon
or anytime by appointment
3401 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20032
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Father Greg Shaffer
202-561-4178 Cell 240-463-9960
[email protected]
Mrs. Cheryl Hamlin-Williams
202-561-4178 Fax 202-561-0336
[email protected]
Food Pantry and Clothing Room
Ms. Mildred Brown
Ms. Brenda Hare
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00 am - 12:00 noon
202-561-5941 Fax 202-561-4024
www.assumptionchurchdc.org/outreach
[email protected]
First Sunday of Lent
February 14, 2016
About two hundred years ago in France lived a very holy priest, Fr. John
Vianney. Fr. Vianney loved his people, and prayed for them constantly. He was
extremely devoted to hearing their confessions, spending about 15 hours a day in the
confessional! Eventually, people came from all over France to go to him for
Reconciliation because of his extraordinary natural and supernatural gifts. He is the
only parish priest who has been canonized a saint.
In a rare outward appearance, the Devil tried to disrupt St. John Vianney’s ministry of
healing. Many nights, he would attack Fr. Vianney; people heard loud and strange
noises coming from the rectory. One night, they saw fire coming from Fr. Vianney’s
bedroom: the Devil had lit Father’s bed on fire! At first, Fr. Vianney was afraid, but
then he got used to the attacks. He finally figured out the timing of it all: every night
the Devil came to attack him, a big sinner would come to Confession the next day –
someone who hadn’t been to Confession in 20 or 30 or more years. With the help of
Christ, St. John Vianney withstood the attacks of Satan, and won victory over him.
The Devil makes another rare appearance in today’s Gospel (Lk 4:1-13): he tempts
Jesus in the desert three times. Usually, Satan works in invisible and very subtle ways.
His main objective is to take people away from God without them even knowing of
his presence. He has made his presence known a few times – the Garden of Eden, to
Christ in the desert, and to a few people like St. John Vianney.
It’s very important for us to know that the Devil can never force us to do anything
against our will. He tempts us in brilliant ways; he is much smarter than any of us. On
our own, we can’t defeat him; but, with the help of God, we will be safe and win
victory over our Enemy.
Christ wins victory over the Devil in the desert and in his Death and Resurrection. In
the desert, he is tempted in his human nature. He wins victory for two main reasons, I
believe: 1) he is fasting, and 2) he is “filled with the Spirit”. Fasting brings spiritual
strength. When we deny our bodies in some way, we build up inner or spiritual
strength. During Lent, we imitate Jesus’ fast of 40 days in order to build up our souls,
and to resist the temptations of the Devil.
We can imitate our Lord in being “filled with the Spirit” through our reception of the
sacraments. The sacraments are the primary ways for us to be filled with the Spirit.
The Church strongly encourages us to come to the Eucharist often -for example, going
to daily Mass during Lent – and going to Confession. When we are filled with the
Spirit, we are filled with God’s love, imitate Christ, and are ready to defeat the Devil
and his temptations.
–Sincerely in Christ,
Fr Greg
Healing Prayers for: Arlene Watkins, Corinne Bachiller,
Lillian Taylor, Calvin Best, Tracy Stachitis, Veronica Brown,
Michael Taylor, Deacon McBurnett Smith, Marsha CarlsonMeyers, Juanita Thomas, Margaret Ross, Dr. Dee Jones Adams,
Barry Robella, Father Dan Vitz, Eleonora Best, Jane Rhyne, Faye
Lyon, Abby Fargo, Mildred Selmar, Heather Wooten-Rollins,
Brenda Newman, Malek Elloit, Kennedy Wood, Courtney
Barlow, LaVerne Lane, Christine Jones, Benjamin Davis, Ronald
Horton, Madison McKenzie, Jamil McKenzie, Samuel James
Guadalupe, Shawntrice Moore, Bridget Barlow, Veronica Harris, Teresa Wilkinson,
Sherri Ewing, Pauline Haggins, Dorothy Sylvester, Adrena Taylor, Tiffany Jacobs,
Darlene Jones, Paul Higgins, Audrey Saunders, Pauline Johnson
Our Homebound Parishioners:
Mary Cooke, Sybil Depeazer, Muriel
Dunmore, Louvenia Gray, Fr. Charles Green, Pauline Johnson, Yvonne Samuel,
Audrey Saunders, Joan Shields, Elizabeth Smith, Viola Walker
Lenten Prayer for Spiritual Renewal
God, heavenly Father, look upon me and hear my prayer
during this holy Season of Lent.
By the good works You inspire, help me to discipline my body
and to be renewed in spirit.
Father of love, source of all blessings, help me to pass from my old life of sin
to the new life of grace. Prepare me for the glory of Your Kingdom.
I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.
Amen.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:
Lv 19:1-2, 11-18 Mt 25:31-46
Tuesday:
Is 55:10-11 Mt 6:7-15
Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10 Lk 11:29-32
Thursday:
Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25 Mt 7:7-12
Friday:
Ez 18:21-28 Mt 5:20-26
Saturday:
Dt 26:16-19 Mt 5:43-48
Next Sunday: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18 Phil 3:17—4:1Lk 9:28b-36
DISCOVER THE RICHES OF
THE MASS
Do You Pray the Mass or do you attend Mass?
There is a difference.
Mass is offered Monday-Saturday at 12:10 pm
Here at Assumption
3411 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20032
Embracing the Lenten Journey
LITTLE KNOWN BLACK CATHOLIC FACTS
Kobe Bryant was raised Roman Catholic. His family moved around a
lot due to his father's basketball career.
Dominique Dawes converted to Catholicism before marrying Jeff
Thompson on May 25, 2013. Thompson is a Catholic school teacher.
Michael Steele is a practicing Catholic and even spent three years as
a seminarian in the Order of St. Augustine, preparing to become a
priest.
Herman Edwards was born and raised Baptist, but he converted to
Catholicism with his family.
Toni Morrison she became a Catholic at the age of 12 and received
the baptismal name "Anthony", which later became the basis for her
nickname "Toni".
Cynthia Ann McKinney parents sent her to Catholic school, she had
intention of becoming a nun. “The nuns wear the ring, and they say
that they’re married to God.” Later she chose other career paths, but
remained a Catholic although her parents are Baptists.
February Birthday’s
Clifton Smith
Clarence Rodgers
Gloria Dukes
Pauline Nabinett
1st
2nd
8th
14th
James Poston
Angelina Bachiller
Joe Hook
Tiffani Langdon
15th
23rd
23rd
29th
We will have Community Sunday next, February 21, 2017 following the 10:00 Mass
We will have Station of the Cross every Friday evening, during Lent at 7:00 pm
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Our first One Night Revival is tomorrow night; February 15, 2016…Spread the word
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If a name can be removed from the prayer list, please call the
rectory. Thank you.
February 14, 2016