Sunday, May 5, Sixth Sunday of Easter
5:00 p.m. Joseph Kocsis
8:00 a.m. Henry and Eva Middleton
10:00 a.m. Parishioners of St. Peter's
12:00 p.m. Joseph A. Mutchler III
1:30 p.m.

Monday, May 6
8:00 a.m. Intentions for Bradley James

Tuesday, May 7
8:00 a.m. Intentions of Mary Pope

Wednesday, May 8
8:00 a.m. George Andrasik

Thursday, May 9
8:00 a.m. Joseph D. Middleton

Friday, May 10, Blessed Damien of Molokai
8:00 a.m. Henry and Glenn Gibson

Saturday, May 11
8:00 a.m. Mark David Nolan

Sunday, May 12, Seventh Sunday of Easter
5:00 p.m. John McGowan
8:00 a.m. Mc Ellen Goldsmith
10:00 a.m. Parishioners of St. Peter's
12:00 p.m. Sadie Irene Adams
1:30 p.m.

The sanctuary light will burn this week in loving memory of Henry and Glenn Gibson.

We would like to congratulate Gladys Stewart, a cook and housekeeper for St. Peter's Rectory, who is retiring after 44 years of service. We wish you the best, Gladys!!

FAMILY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Family Program Office phone #301-843-9583CLASSES TODAY (SUNDAY) start off with coffee/juice from 9:00 - 9:30. At 9:30 we will begin classes for adults & students in the auditorium with the May Crowning of Mary.

FAMILY FUN DAY TODAY (Sunday) will begin at 11:30am with food, games, fellowship, raffles, crafts and a lot more! $5.00 per family (does not include food or raffles). Plan on attending this fun event! ALL PARISHIONERS ARE INVITED!!! All profit donated to "Feed the Children".

FIRST COMMUNION REHEARSAL is Friday, May 10th from 7:00 - 8:00pm. Please meet promptly at 7:00 in the classrooms.

FIRST COMMUNION MASS is Saturday, May 11th at 10:00 in Church with a reception for all immediately following in the school auditorium. Please keep the First Communicants in your prayers!

"CONFLICT AND ANGER: DEALING WITH IT FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE" will be the subject for discussion for the Family Program Adult class this Sunday. Class will immediately follow the May Crowning.

YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

Unless otherwise noted, contact Alice Culbreth at 301/843-9583 x30 with questions about any youth ministry programs, events, or activities.

SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT for Confirmation and/or First Communion? Order a special commemorative St. Peter's Plaque for just $25 to mark the occasion in that special young person's life. Contact Kathy Breckenridge (301/843-2840) to order. Profit from these sales will benefit the St. Peter's Youth Service Club's Feed the Children project.

FAMILY FUN DAY will be held TODAY Sunday, May 5 from 11:30 until 3:30. This event is sponsored by the Family and Youth Ministry Programs, with proceeds from the day going to St. Peter's Youth Service Club's Feed the Children Project. Join us for food, fun and games and an afternoon of fellowship. Call Kathy Breckenridge for more information (301/843-2840). All parishioners and their families are welcome. (Due to this event, there will be no regular class/group sessions for grades 7-12 this evening).

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2002 parish group meeting tomorrow night, Monday, May 6 from 7:00 - 8:30 in room 6-A in the school. We will also participate in the Archdiocesan meeting on Wednesday, May 22 which will be held at the Pastoral Center in Hyattsville. More details on this event will be discussed at our May 6 meeting.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Sunday, June 9 when we mark the "official" end of our 2001-2002 season for grades 7-12 with an Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Parents are invited to attend. Please call Alice Culbreth for more information and to RSVP.

LOOKING FOR FUN AND MEANING IN YOUR LIFE? Consider giving some of your time by volunteering to help with our youth ministry programs.

Working with teens is both rewarding and challenging...a great way to share and strengthen your own faith! We have diverse needs and programs and are confident that we can find a match for your skills, talents and interests. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to answer this call to serve and build up the Church! For more information and/or to schedule an appointment to discuss your involvement, contact Alice Culbreth.

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
–1 Timothy 4:12

We ask your prayers for the sick of our parish, especially: George Shlagel, Mary Hintze, Lisa Barrett, Gerry Pearo, Richard Rusk, Choice Culver, Bernie Welch, Margaret Portzen, Mary Imogene Gardiner, Viola Pickeral, Marion Coyle, William J. Thompson, Marvin Hulsey, Paul Kelly, Marie Richards, Fran Bilek, Mary Davis, David Padgett, Josephine Thomas, Alice Noll, Michael Chocallo, Penny Curtis, Cleo Polyniak, Ann Buschman, Mark Banky, William Goldring, Stanley Jameson, Lisa Johnson, William Blair, Katherine Larson, Claude Guy, Patricia Dessecker, Rosemary Sauls, Amy Nieberding Zager, Courtney Deneault, Scott Swaney, Frank Huba.

We are trying to update our list of names. Please inform the rectory if you would like your name added or removed from the list.

Be assured of our daily remembrance at Mass for all who are ill.

POOR BOX
The poor box this week will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The poor box next week will go to Catholic Charities of Southern Maryland.

Spaghetti Dinner (featuring Mrs. DeLucco's sauce) will be held on Thursday, May 9th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Cost: $5.00/adult and $3.00/child (10 and under). All parishioners are welcome.

Our 8th grade will participate in a softball tournament at St. Mary's, Star of the Sea in Indian Head on Tuesday, May 7th (raindate: Wednesday, May 8th)

Family Book-Fair night will be held on Wednesday, May 8th from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

There will be a meeting on Wednesday, May 8th at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium to discuss Charles County Compliance regulations for special education as they relate to private schools.

Grade 4 & 5 will attend 9:30 Mass on Friday, May 10th.

Please pray for our second graders as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist for the first time on Saturday, May 11th.

BINGO
Our bingo games continue each Friday night with early bird games starting at 7:30 p.m. Come and join us for an evening of fun! Our team for next week includes the following families: M. McLean, C. Childers, C. Coffren, J. Gilmartin, S. Guerrero, V. Henry, J. Jilek, M. Kulesza, P. Morgan, I. Muehlenweg.

CERTIFICATE TEAM
The team scheduled to work next weekend includes the following families: Mike Hill, Bill/Margaret Antosz, Patricia Kohlenbush, Patricia Nichols, Renee Rivituso, Brenda White.

SEPARATED AND DIVORCED CATHOLICS
This group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the school. For more information call Mary Pearson 301/843-3741.

His Eminence, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick will be celebrating Mass at St. Peter's Church on Wednesday, May 8th at 8:00 a.m. followed by a continental breakfast. All are invited!! Please RSVP to the Cardinal's Appeal Office if you plan to attend, 301-853-5375.

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
The Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord, which by tradition is observed on Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter, is one of the principal celebrations of the liturgical year. Yet many of our Catholic faithful find it difficult to observe this important feast fully since they must work on Thursday and thus cannot bring to this day the appropriate relaxation of mind and body required for the keeping of a holyday, especially one as significant as the Ascension of our Lord. Therefore, after consulting with Bishop Leonard Olivier, our auxiliary bishop, and Bishop George Murry of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and the bishop of the other diocese in our province, Cardinal McCarrick has decided to join our neighbors and transfer the annual observance of the Solemnity of Ascension in the Archdiocese of Washington from its present position on Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter, to the following Sunday, namely, the Seventh Sunday of Easter which this year is May 12th.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
The Knights of Columbus, Dr. John Griffin Council, will hold a membership drive after all Masses on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2002. The Knights are seeking new members, previous members wishing to be reinstated and transfers from other Councils. Please stop by our table outside the Church for additional information.

PRO-LIFE/GABRIEL PROJECT

Baby Items Needed
St. Peter's Pro-Life group will be collecting baby clothing (up to size 4T), in good condition for the month of May. These items will be given to the Catherine Foundation Pregnancy Center in Waldorf. You may leave the items in the box at the entrance of the church. Please call Pat Palchak at 301/753-1418 if you have any questions.

PRO-LIFE PRAYER
"Lord, Creator of Life, You have blessed us with the privilege of bringing new life into the world. Open our hearts and minds to recognize Your special gift of children and Your great love for each of us created in Your image and likeness. Through love You sent Your Son Jesus to redeem us and through love He entered our world as an unborn child in the womb of Mary, His mother. We now turn to Mary for her prayers and intercessions as we struggle to protect innocent unborn children from decisions that seek to destroy them. Following Mary's example as mother and disciple, let us proclaim the truth of our faith, assist those in crisis and protect those most vulnerable, unwanted and unloved." Amen.

FAMILY FUN DAY
Family Fun Day will be held today, Sunday, from 11:30 until 3:30. This event is sponsored by the Family and Youth Ministry Programs, with proceeds from the day going to St. Peter's Youth Service Club's Feed the Children Project. Join us for food, fun and games and an afternoon of fellowship. Call Kathy Breckenridge for more information (301/843-2840). All parishioners and their families are invited!!!

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS
The next meeting of the Catholic Daughters will be on Thursday. New members are always welcome. For more information, please call Sandy McGraw 301/645-2973.

SPAGHETTI DINNER
There will be a Spaghetti Dinner on Thurday, May 9th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Cost: $5.00/adult and $3.00/child (10 and under). All parishioners are welcome.

HEARTS AFLAME
Hearts Aflame core course on Sacraments will be offered here at St. Peter's on Tuesday evenings beginning June 4 and continuing for 6 weeks (last session will be on July 6) from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in room 8-A in the school. Any adult interested in enriching and expanding their knowledge of the faith is invited to attend, as well as catechists working towards certification. Please call Alice Culbreth at 301-843-9583 to register or for more information.

PICTORIAL DIRECTORY
We recently had family photographs taken for our new pictorial directory. If you did not buy additional photos, your complimentary 8 x 10 portrait will be sent to the church. Please call the rectory to see if your portrait has arrived. If you did purchase additional photos, they will be mailed to your home.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND
POST CANA GROUP
Southern Maryland Post Cana Group is a group that reaches out to widows and widowers of all ages and faith, offering support and social activities. Regular meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at St. Peter's School. Anyone interested in learning more about this group may call Helen Miller
301-645-5349.

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a Blood Drive on Monday, June 3 at St. Peter's School auditorium from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Donors are needed to make this blood drive a success. Please call the American Red Cross to set up an appointment at 1-800-GIVE LIFE.

EVENTS OUTSIDE THE PARISH

TV Mass Channel Change: Attention Charles County TV Mass viewers: effective May 5, the Sunday TV Mass for Shut-Ins will move to Channel 95. The time remains 10:00 a.m.

Camp St. Charles - Open House Sunday, May 19th from 11 to 4 pm. Your child, boy or girl, can experience two fun filled weeks at Camp St. Charles for a reasonable price and it's close by. For 50 years thousands of kids have been catching fish, camping out, riding horses, petting snakes and lots of other activities in beautiful Southern Maryland. Fully Accredited with the American Camping Association as well as certified by the State of Maryland, Camp St. Charles has been run by the Salvatorian Fathers and Brothers and Lay Salvatorians for over 50 years. Come
and tour the camp on May 19th. For a brochure and directions call 301/858-7119 or visit us on the Web at: www.campstcharles.com.

Do you think you might have a vocation to be a Sister? You are invited to a weekend retreat for single women to discern if God is calling you to Religious Life. Learn about Religious Life with time to reflect and share with others. Friday night to Sunday noon, May 17, 18 and 19, 2002. Given by the Sisters of The Holy Cross at Mary's Song/Place of Prayer. Call 301/274-1992 or e-mail at maryssong1@aol.com for information and/or reservations. Space limited.

Spring Festival: The Immaculate Conception Church, Mechanicsville will sponsor its 11th annual Parish Family Festival at Mother Catherine Spalding School, Helen, MD today, Sunday, from 12 noon until 5:00 p.m. All you can eat sit down dinner with carryouts available. There will also be door prizes, bingo, cake table, white elephant table, plant table, and craft table, big raffle and other raffles available. The menu will include: Southern Maryland fried chicken, steamship round of beef, crab balls with all the trimmings. Come out and enjoy the good home cookes food. Cost is $14.00.

Mother Catherine Spalding School, located in Helen, MD has an opening for a School Principal and is accepting applications from qualified candidates. This small, (approximately 200 students), established school is set in a rural environment and dedicated to excellence in Elementary and Middle School education in a Christian environment. Candidates must have the following qualifications: Practicing Catholic, Masters Degree in Administration, Education, Curriculum Development, or related field, 5 years Teaching Experience, Demonstrated successful leadership ability in past or present educational assignment. Candidates must have the capacity, enthusiasm, intelligence and patience to inspire the school community; students, faculty, staff, parents, board and clergy. Salary will be determined according to experience and qualifications. Interested Applicants can call Dorothy Thayer at 301/853-4549 to obtain further information or an application. Applications only, can be picked up at Mother Catherine Spalding School in Helen, MD during normal school hours.

REFLECTION
You must bring Him everything!
Your dreams, your successes, your rejoicing.
And if you have little to rejoice over, bring Him that little.
And if your life seems only like a heap of fragments;
bring Him the fragments.
And if you have only empty hands, bring Him your empty hands.
Shattered hopes are His material;
in His hands all is made good. (Meister Eckhart)