Around The Basislica

Norfolk Interfaith Partnership
Mentorship Program, Inc.

Dear St. Mary Parishioners,

The Norfolk Interfaith Partnership Mentorship Program would like to thank you for your generous contributions of pampers for the needy babies of our community. The Confirmation Class of 2009 has decided to take your example of taking on the needs of the poor by continuing to request and collect pampers throughout the year, as part of their call to follow our Catholic Social Teachings. We have been so faithful at reaching out to other countries. Please consider extending that same generosity to the least of our brothers here. We ask that you continue to be the hands and heart of Christ and that you help to bring about the fullness of the Kingdom of God right here and now.
We cannot thank you enough for your support. We ask you to help us by purchasing pampers sizes 3, 4, 5 and 6 and bring them to the church by the last Sunday of month. The Confirmation class will collect them. Thank you for always being there for the Mentorship Program. May God continue to bless you as you continue to invest in the lives of others.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Cannon
Program Director
=====================================

The Parish Pastoral Council has posted a Comment/Suggestion Box in the Hall near bulletin board for parishioner questions or comments. These questions and comments will help the PPC address parish needs at their monthly meetings.

=====================================
New Ministry Members Needed
The Eatery needs people to help prepare the food on the 2nd & 3rd Sundays. Contact Ben Patterson at 705-9309.

Audrey Plaskett needs a ride to Mass on Saturdays. Anyone who is interested in assisting her, please call: 855-4651.

Christian Formation

Question of the Week:
Theme:
Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of actions and deeds, not merely of words.
------------------------------------------------------------
Question for Children:
Who are the people most in need of help who live around you, and how can you help them?

Question for Adults:
As you grapple with this very strong, direct and demanding Gospel passage, name the people for whom you have cared personally or if there are none, those for whom you will offer care in the coming weeks.

Baptismal Prep

Classes for those parents interested in infant baptism will be held on the 4th Saturday of the month at 10 am in the hall beginning November 1st. Parents must be registered parishioners of this parish.

====================================
Ongoing . . .
====================================
The Prayer Group meets every Tuesday at 6pm in St. Joseph’s Chapel

 The Ministry of Consolation meets on the last Saturday of each month in St. Joseph’s Chapel at 3pm. This ministry is attentive to those who grieve. If this is your time of grief and pain because of the loss of a loved one, this ministry encourages you to join us at a meeting where you will meet with others who have suffered a lost.

COMING EVENTS
The Knights of Peter Claver
Junior Knights & Daughters
sponsor a Trip to
The Sight & Sound Theatres
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
This trip is scheduled for Sat., March 28, 2009.
Prices includes Transportation, Dinner & Show
Adult (19 up) - $130.00 Teen (13-18) - $100.00
Child (3-12) - $80.00
Initial Deposit due: Nov. 16, 2008
Make Check payable to: Jr. KPC – 279
Initial Deposit non-refundable

Thanksgiving Weekend Dance
Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 9p.m. - 1a.m.
St. Mary’s Fellowship Hall
Cost: $10.00
Complimentary Glass of wine and cheese will be served
BYOB & BYOF

KPC Ladies Auxiliary Court #279
Presents
A Black and White Gala

March 14, 2009
Time: 9:00 –1:00
Formal and Semi Formal Attire

Tickets $25.00 each
$40.00 per couple

Food/ Fellowship/ Fun
See members of the Ladies Auxiliary for tickets and more information.
Cleaning Our Church
We are still in need of volunteers to help clean the church sanctuary, chapel, altars, commons, connector & hall.
So far, 51 people out of a possible 1,670 people!
We can do this!
Sign-up sheets available in foyer and hall this weekend.
Clean-up Week: Dec. 1-6

The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court #279
Showcase our 2nd Annual
Christmas Wonderland
Date: TBA
This year it is for youth members’ ages 4 to 10 of St. Mary’s.
We want to give to our children because you mean so much to us.
Please fill out the form completely. We will collect the forms in the Church Hall after the 9:00 Mass each Sunday. The names will be placed on our God’s Angels Tree and everyone listed will get a wonderful gift. Write one name per slip. You may also use an index card be sure to fill in all of the information.
Name_____________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________
DOB _____________
Sizes:________Shirt/Blouse__________Pants/Skirt/Dress
__________Socks ___________Shoes ________________Favorite Color
Other information we may need to know:
__________________________________________________

Tell us something that you would like Santa to tell your Child. Ex. I am glad that you have good grades. Don’t forget to clean your room. ____________________________________________________________________________

Basilica
Youth Ministry

presents

Miracle on
Holt Street
Christmas Ball
Dec. 13, 2008
6-10 pm
$25.00 for a Table of 8
Tickets on sale NOW!!
Tickets can be purchased from a youth ministry representative in the church hall after mass

AROUND THE DIOCESE
All current eighth grade students are invited to attend our annual BISHOP SULLIVAN CATHOLIC HIGH DAY on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm to learn more about their upcoming high school experience. Lunch will be provided by the school. In the evening, the parents of 5th thru 8th grade students are invited to attend our Open House/Informational Rollout session from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

CLERICAL: THE DEATH OF PRIESTHOOD is a new book by Jesuit Fr. George Wilson. It centers on THE burning question in our Church today: Societies NEED clergy, sc., doctors, lawyers, teachers, military, but does the Church as envisioned by the original Jesus communities? Did clericalism cause the sex abuse scandal? A four week seminar on this subject will be held at Ascension Catholic Church facilitated by Fr. Thomas Quinlan. Tuition: $25.00. On November 11, 18, 25 and Dec. 2, both 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. To register call 333-6513. T.Q.
SAVE THE DATE
2009 Young Adult Ministry Convention
February 21-22, 2009
Richmond, VA
Additional details and early registration will be available soon from the Campus and Young Adult Ministry Office.
Our Lady of Victory Alumni Association invites you to join them on a trip to the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, NC in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ordination of alumnus the Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Hadden on Dec. 20, 2008. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception. The bus will leave the Lowe's parking lot at Victory Crossing, Portsmouth, at 6:00 a.m. Cost is $35.00, deposit of $17.50, with balance due by Dec. 1. For more information, contact: Terri Livermon, 397-2071, Bessie Livermon, 393-1325, or Catherine Hill, 393-6554.

The Feast of Christ the King
by: Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio
From the dawn of civilization, kings have arisen who have dreamed of possessing a world-wide dominion, a universal kingdom that would last forever. Some have come close to conquering much of the known world–Alexander, Genghis Khan, Augustus Caesar, and Adolf Hitler, to name a few. And some kingdoms have lasted a very long time, such as Rome whose Eastern half lingered on for 2000 years.
But despite all their machinations, pretensions, and self-glorifying monuments, the great rulers of the earth all proved mortal like anybody else. They had their day in the sun only to disappear. Their kingdoms, too, ultimately passed away, leaving abundant ruins for generations of tourists and archeologists to explore.
The Feast of Christ the King celebrates the fact that there is one who is remarkably different. He came to serve all, even His enemies. He truly was a Son of Man, with a vulnerable human nature. But He was also truly Son of God. Not in some mythological sense, like the Pharaohs, or the wishful thinking sense, like the Caesars, but really and truly, the Immortal, the Eternal, taking the form of a mortal man in a specific time in history.
Rather than executing His opponents, He forgave them. Rather than dominating His subjects, He exalted them. He even called them not servants, but friends, and bestowing on them a share in His priesthood and kingship. Though He died, like other kings, it was for a different purpose than Augustus in his bed or Hitler in his bunker. He died willingly to save His people, and His death was not a result of a battle lost or a plan gone awry, but of a glorious victory planned before the world began.
He rose in glory, which can’t be said for the rest of them. And at His heavenly coronation, when He ascended to His Father, He was given what all the rest lusted for–a worldwide dominion that will not pass away.
The feast serves as a reminder to us that we know the end of the story and should not be fooled by the braggarts who strut and the bullies who gloat. They’ll be gone soon. And He’ll be here soon. How soon no one knows.