We are pleased to join millions of Christians around the world as we celebrate the Season of Creation from September 1 - October 4. As Pope Francis has explained: “Let Justice and Peace Flow” is the theme of this year’s ecumenical Season of Creation, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream”. See the Pope's message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. For your reference, here is a list of activities we will be sponsoring at SJN. We encourage you to add any that interest you to your calendar now. Scroll down the page for more details about the events.
2023 SEASON OF CREATION - Calendar of Events
Activities: (See St. John Neumann bulletin for details)
Sept 1 Mass: Season of Creation Mass at daily 9 am Mass with Reception following. Prayer Cards for Home bound
Sept 2 Prayer Vigil - 4 pm Rosary with care for creation theme (Hybrid)
Sept 11 Deliver Homemade casseroles made by CCH members to Embry Rucker Shelter in Reston
Sept 12 CCH Meeting: 7 pm St Francis Catholic Climate Covenant program
Sept 17 Bilingual Blessing of Mary Garden and Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue - 3:15 pm in the lower parking lot
Sept 25 Zero Waste presentation at 11 am for Faith Formation Staff (postponed)
Oct 1 Pet Blessing 1 pm by the flagpole
Oct 1 Sustainability Award presented to an SJN ministry
Oct 7 Parish Newsletter article: How to Host a nearly Zero Waste event at your home
Oct 7 Parish Festival - Children’s Scavenger Hunt, sidewalk chalk art and Help with Waste Reduction
Continuous:
Electronics and textile collection - bins after each Mass every weekend
Plastic Pollution challenge: “Take 3 for the Sea” campaign
Bulletin Board in Hall: Pope’s 2023 Message
Sundays Intentions for Prayer of Faithful
Sept 1 Mass: Season of Creation Mass at daily 9 am Mass with Reception following. Prayer Cards for Home bound
Sept 2 Prayer Vigil - 4 pm Rosary with care for creation theme (Hybrid)
Sept 11 Deliver Homemade casseroles made by CCH members to Embry Rucker Shelter in Reston
Sept 12 CCH Meeting: 7 pm St Francis Catholic Climate Covenant program
Sept 17 Bilingual Blessing of Mary Garden and Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue - 3:15 pm in the lower parking lot
Sept 25 Zero Waste presentation at 11 am for Faith Formation Staff (postponed)
Oct 1 Pet Blessing 1 pm by the flagpole
Oct 1 Sustainability Award presented to an SJN ministry
Oct 7 Parish Newsletter article: How to Host a nearly Zero Waste event at your home
Oct 7 Parish Festival - Children’s Scavenger Hunt, sidewalk chalk art and Help with Waste Reduction
Continuous:
Electronics and textile collection - bins after each Mass every weekend
Plastic Pollution challenge: “Take 3 for the Sea” campaign
Bulletin Board in Hall: Pope’s 2023 Message
Sundays Intentions for Prayer of Faithful
Blessing of the Animals.
It was a beautiful day for the annual Blessing of the Animals. Joining Fr. Heet around the flagpole were dozens of dogs, cats and other creatures (and their human owners). Fr. Heet led us in a short prayer service and song, and each animal was blessed individually. This parish tradition is offered every year near the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, lover of animals and all creation. |
Funeral Ministry Sustainability Award. "The Care for Our Common Home Ministry (CCH) is pleased to announce that the SJN Funeral Ministry has been selected as the winner of the first Care for Our Common Home Sustainability Award. This award is given to a ministry at St. John Neumann that, inspired by the message of Laudato Si’, has incorporated environmentally sustainable practices in carrying out its mission. CCH applauds the Funeral Ministry for enthusiastically embracing low-waste options as part of the thoughtful and dignified funeral receptions it offers to SJN parishioners. CCH appreciates the Funeral Ministry's efforts to help our parish be more sustainable."
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Bilingual Blessing of Mary Garden and Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue. We celebrated the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month with a Bilingual
Blessing of our new Mary Garden and Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. The blessing, conducted by Deacon Atanacio, included prayers, a gospel reading, petitions to Our Lady, and impromptu singing as the service ended. We were joined by a large contingent from our SJN spanish speaking community who are especially devoted to the Patroness of the Americas. |
Recycling of e-Waste and Textiles (and other items!)
(1) Please look for our bins outside the entrance to the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium to recycle the following e-waste items: computers and peripherals (printers, scanners, ZIP drives, keyboards), phones, cameras, fax machines, portable gaming devices, video equipment, audio equipment, etc. Please note, however, no televisions. (2) There is also a bin to collect fabric and textiles that can no longer be used as intended. These materials will be sent to a facility that recycles them into insulation and other materials. Thank you for dropping off bags of (laundered) worn-out or stained clothes and textiles, to keep them out of our waste stream. (3) And here is a List of where to take other items to be recycled. Recycling is a simple act with a great impact. |
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Daily Mass and Reception. Father Michael Murray led us in song, welcomed all present to enter into the Season of Creation, and provided a perceptive connection of the first reading to our current ecological state in the homily. It was all done with his signature Salesian gentleness! You may have noticed the decoration on the altar steps in the chapel. This year, the theme for the Season of Creation is “Let justice and peace flow” (Amos 5:24). Just as a mighty river is formed by the joining of many streams, all of us can work together on behalf of all creation. The “river” will act as a reminder that we are in the Season of Creation and hopefully encourage us to be part of the advancement of justice and peace. A second reminder is the new banner of St. Francis of Assisi that is hung in the Narthex. And as a third reminder, notice the liturgical green panels behind the altar in the main church. New this year, there are also green panels under the altar, ambo and tabernacle thanks to a team of talented sewers. Following mass, we celebrated by assembling in the Narthex for coffee, light refreshments, and fellowship.