December 2021
St. John Neumann Catholic Community
Staffed by Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
Current Mass Times
Saturday: 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30am, 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. (español), 5:00pm
Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 12:10pm (Most Weeks - Check Bulletin)

Confession
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (English)
Sunday: 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. (español)
Pastor's Perspective
December
(I am delighted to handover the Pastor’s column this month to Jo-Ann Duggan, our Out-Reach Director who writes about an “angel.” I wish all of you a blessed Advent and Christmas Season. Fr. Joe)

An Angel Gets Her Wings – Remembering Mary Ann Flynn 
By Jo-Ann Duggan

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” Many of you may be familiar with this line from “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the iconic 1946 Christmas movie starring Jimmy Stewart. Those words crossed my mind upon hearing of the passing of Mary Ann Flynn, a long-time parishioner and stellar volunteer, who, along with her husband, Tom, ran our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Birthday gift programs for over 25 years. She was truly an angel among us!
 
Although I only had the pleasure of knowing Mary Ann for the past seven years that I have worked at SJN, I knew that the programs were in good hands after our first meeting. She was the kind of volunteer you love to have – once she got started, there was no stopping her, especially when it came to making sure that every family had food on Thanksgiving and that every child had Christmas and Birthday gifts. She could not imagine a child waking up on their birthday or Christmas morning and not having a present to open. I share with you part of a bio that I found in her obituary – she truly was a woman who loved children:  

“Mary Ann spent more than thirty years as a teacher, primarily teaching first grade in various Fairfax County elementary schools, including Hunters Woods, Dogwood, and Terraset. She loved being a teacher and excelled at sparking creativity and learning in children. In retirement, Mary Ann continued helping children by taking over the Angel Tree Christmas Club and establishing a Birthday Club at St. John Neumann Catholic Church which enabled parishioners to buy and wrap wished-for gifts for children at the Laurel Learning Center. She was strongly committed to the idea that no child should miss out on the excitement of receiving presents and made sure that the gifts were given to the parents to have the joy and dignity of giving them to their child. She was also a key organizer of the Thanksgiving Drive baskets, sorting donations, packing, and delivering hundreds of baskets each year. In 2003, she and Tom were honored as “The Best of Reston” for their volunteer efforts with these programs.”

Then there are the stories of her famous chocolate chip cookies – given to family, friends and, if you can believe it, mailed to first-year college students who were once her first-grade students. So imagine the surprise upon receiving freshly baked chocolate chip cookies at your dorm from your first-grade teacher! Indeed an act of love.

So the next time you find yourself in the hallway of the church, dropping off your gift or picking up a Christmas tag containing a child’s wish, take a moment to stop and listen. What’s that, you say? You thought you heard the tinkling of a bell and maybe a fluttering sound? No worries--that’s probably Mary Ann dropping by to say thank you and God Bless. She was indeed an angel among us who certainly deserved her wings.  

Catechetical Corner
Family Resources for
Advent and Christmas

By Mickie Abatemarco

It is so easy for us to get lost in the pace of this busy time of the year. I would like to share some family resources for Advent and Christmas. Andrew Chinn is an Australian friend of mine whose ministry is to families in the Church. Enjoy his music and his wife Bernadette’s art.

Advent Blessings, and Merry Christmas,
Mickie Abatemarco

'Tis the Season...


Bernadette was inspired this last weekend to create illustrations to Gruber and Mohr's classic Silent Night, which Andrew recorded back in 2008. If you look on the YouTube clip, the notes share the beautiful story of how an organ repairman was responsible for the song sweeping the world!

Silent Night by Andrew Chinn, illustrated by Bernadette Chinn. A simple, beautiful reflection on the best known of all Christmas Carols.

At Christmas Time We Sing by Drew Lane, inspired by the children Drew sang with on his first Christmas Tours of schools a few years ago.
 
Here's a list of all of our other Christmas Resources:

My Name Is Joseph by Andrew Chinn and Drew Lane, ill. by Bernadette Chinn, Picture Book

My Name Is Joseph by Andrew Chinn/Drew Lane, dramatized version

Silent Night by Andrew Chinn dramatized version

Under Your Star by Andrew Chinn illustrated by Jane Mitchell, Picture Book

Under Your Star by Andrew Chinn, illustrations by Jane Mitchell, Lyric Video

Under Your Star by Andrew Chinn dramatized version
 
Tim invites you to join in welcoming the birth of Jesus this Christmas with his brand new Christmas song and lyric video ‘Everyday Be Christmas’. And to offer some further support at this momentous time of the year - an accompanying Prayer Resource particularly suited for staff prayer, primary grades, or even praying with parents
Catholic Mass Explained
The Body of Christ
By Fr. Don Heet, OSFS

Father Heet continues his monthly series by explaining: "WHAT’S A “SEQUENCE” ANYWAY?" 

Twice a year – on Easter and Pentecost – we experience an additional element to the liturgy called the “sequence.” For some people it seems designed to throw the congregation into confusion. Although we are accustomed to stand for the Alleluia verse immediately after the second reading, when there is a sequence, we may find ourselves standing (which we don’t need to do) and singing or at least listening to a long song or poem until we finally move to the Alleluia. So what is a sequence anyway?

The sequence is a long liturgical poem set to music that is included on several significant feasts in the liturgical year. Its history goes back to the early middle ages when poetry was sung within the context of the Alleluia verse. Initially the sequence followed the alleluia (hence the name, which means “that which follows”) and before the Gospel. At one point there were thousands of different sequences; each diocese or monastery would develop their own for specific feasts. The Council of Trent suppressed most of them and authorized only five that would be used throughout the Latin Church. They are the sequences for Easter, Pentecost, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), the Seven Sorrows of Mary (now Our Lady of Sorrows) and for funeral masses. With the Vatican II reform of the liturgy, only the Easter and Pentecost sequences are required; the sequences for Corpus Christi and Our Lady of Sorrows are optional, and the sequence for funeral Masses (the famous/infamous Dies Irae) has been moved to the Office of the Dead in the Liturgy of Hours.

As is obvious from their history, sequences are meant to be sung. Although the missal does provide prose translations, reciting them is like eliminating the music, rhythm and rhyme from your favorite song and reading it just for the meaning. A significant part of the meaning of the sequence flows from the experience of sung poetry. Most of us are actually familiar with a sung version of at least one sequence: the sequence for Pentecost begins “Veni Creator Spiritus” which can be translated, “Come Holy Ghost, Creator blessed.”



Card Campaign for Father Dougherty
Fr. Bill Dougherty will be celebrating his 85th birthday on December 23. It is still our hope that when the pandemic is squarely behind us, he will be able to visit with us for a celebration of his birthday and his many years of ministry here at SJN. In the meantime, we will be collecting birthday and/or Christmas cards for Fr. Doc. We will have all of your cards hand-delivered to him before his birthday. Please drop your cards off in the specially-marked box at the Welcome Desk. No gifts, please. Thank you!
Staff Spotlight
Duane Hyland,
Communications Manager

How Long Have You Been At SJN? I joined the staff here in May of 2021, after working in the same position at St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church for three years.

What Is Your Favorite Thing About Being Catholic? The peace of the Mass. I was away from the Church for a long time, nearly 30 years. But, I knew something was missing in my life, and the first time I got to Mass, after aimless wandering in the spiritual desert, I knew what it was - the peace that comes with the Mass and in receiving the Eucharist.

What are Things That Always Makes You Smile? My wife, Roberta; my dog, Kayleigh; and the students I coach on the Speech and Debate Team at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke. Plus, the staff here at SJN, hardly a day goes by where I don't end up laughing with them.

What is a Little Known Fact About You? I guess it would be that, for me, even as a teen, my favorite thing to do on a Friday or Saturday night was reading. I've never found a hobby that beats reading in my life.
Advent and Christmas at SJN
Masses

Christmas Eve Masses
Friday, December 24
4:00pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, and 10:30pm
 
Christmas Day Masses
Saturday, December 25
9:30am, 11:30am, 2:00pm (Misa en español)
 
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
 
Vigil Mass
Friday, December 31
5:00pm
 
Saturday, January 1
Mass
10:00am

There will be no 9:00am Mass on Friday, December 31
 
There will be no 12:10pm Mass on
Monday, December 27 or Wednesday, December 29
 

Prayer Opportunities

Prepare Ye” Advent Taizé Prayer
Tuesday, December 7 at 7:30pm
de Sales Chapel
 
Adoration
Thursday, December 9 in de Sales Chapel
3:00pm to 8:00pm
(Praise and Worship Music from 6:00pm to 7:00pm)
 

  Lessons and Carols Service
Sunday, December 12 in the Church
7:30pm
 
Parish Penance Service
 Tuesday, December 14
7:00pm
 
Social Opportunities

 Knights of Columbus Charity Breakfast
Sunday, December 5
8:30am—11:30am
 
 
 
You can find the electronic SJN weekly bulletin on our website, both on the homepage and on the bulletin webpage. Or, sign up to have it delivered directly to your email inbox. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @sjnreston or on Twitter at @RestonSt
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.”
John 15:1-2