Dear Friends, February 5, 2019

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1 Dear Friends, February 5, 2019 Hope you are enjoying a little foretaste of Spring temperatures after experiencing some colder weather which remind us of where we still belong on the seasonal calendar. While we can be more aware and support Pro-Life issues near the time of the March for Life in January, this important topic is particularly worthy of our attention at all times of the year, in fact, daily. There are those who are very active in their support of the right to life and others becoming more informed of the issues involved. Right in our backyard, Northern Virginia, priests and lay people alike continue in the mission to defend the right to life, established by the Author of all Life. We are encouraged to pray and participate in Pro-Life activities if and when possible and value each Life, new, older or otherwise disabled. Assisted suicide seems to have spread to a growing number of states. Each of us can counteract this trend by becoming informed ourselves and vote according to a good, well-formed conscience. Communication with those who are formulating their bills, voting some into law, we can express our concern and our opinion can have some impact. Although Roe VS. Wade has been in effect for a number of decades and some people would push the legal envelope to its limits, there is the advance of technology and several generations have had the opportunity to be exposed to the science of sonograms and especially the 4 D sonograms which clarify even more vividly the human form of the pre-born baby. In addition, research has indicated that new DNA, forming a differentiated individual, is formed in the new human being at the time of conception. This evidence all seem to reinforce the concept that life begins at conception. This could help account for the increased number of participants at the March for Life. Through prayer and action, we can contribute to the trend to value each new life. Each of us needs to do our part to make a difference. Remember that Lent begins on Wednesday March 6. Check the Schedule for the Ash Wednesday Mass and reception of ashes. For Lent consider choosing a discipline which will be useful for you, not just denial of a favorite food, but perhaps an additional practice which is sacrificial. Let us prepare for the celebration of Easter in April. Rememb6er that Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays are days of abstinence during Lent for those 18 yrs. of age and over. Fasting is obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for those 18 yrs., through 59 yrs., with exceptions made for those in delicate health.

2 Please let me know if you would be interested in attending the upcoming Divine Mercy Retreat interpreted on Fri., Mar. 15, 6-9 pm. and Sat., Mar. 16 from 9 am. to 4 pm. at St. Mark s, Vienna. See the attached flyer for more information and contact me no later than Sat. March 9, please at mprdioarl@gmail.com. Registration is a donation at your discretion and Lunch is provided for you on Sat., 3/16. Many blessings can flow from this beautiful Lenten Retreat! May you have a productive Lent, and a very valuable preparation for the feast of Easter, Provie Rydstrom Provie Rydstrom Program Coordinator Ministry for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing mprdioarl@gmail.com V / Text mprdioarl@aol.com Facetime V / Msg. Schedule of Interpreted Masses for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Closed Caption Mass (*Please St. Theresa, Ashburn for confirmation of Closed Caption Mass Dates and Times at: DATES PLACE TIMES Sat., Feb. 2 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Feb. 3 Sat., Feb. 9 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Feb. 10

3 Sat., Feb. 16 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Alexandria 6:00 pm. Sun., Feb. 17 *Closed Caption St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn Sun., Feb. 17 Sat., Feb. 23 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Feb. 24 *Closed Caption St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn Sat., Mar. 2 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Mar. 3 *Closed Caption St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn Wed., Mar. 6 - Ash Wednesday 7:30 pm. Sat., Mar. 9 *Vigil *Close caption St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Mar. 10

4 Retreat for You? Fri., Mar. 15 St. Mark s Parish, Vienna *Please see attached flyer 6 9 pm. Retreat? -- Sat., Mar. 16 St. Mark s Parish, Vienna *Please see attached flyer 9 am. 4 pm. Sat., Mar. 16 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Mar. 17 *Closed Caption St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn Sat., Mar. 23 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Mar. 24 *No Captions St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn -No Captions- Sat., Mar. 30 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Mar. 31 *Closed Caption St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn Sat., Apr. 6 *Vigil St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Lake Ridge 6:00 pm. Sun., Apr. 7 *No Captions St. Theresa Parish, Ashburn -No Captions-

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