The Book Club is meeting today after the 10:30 a.m. Mass in the Rectory. The book selections they will be discussing are Floating in My Mother’s Palm by Ursula Hegi and So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell. All are welcome.

Please join us on Sunday March 7 after the 7:00 p.m. Mass when we will host a spaghetti dinner in the Rectory to break bread together and socialize. Please call the Rectory and let them know if you will be able to attend.

Our Diocese is embarking upon a strategic planning process to come up with a vision which will lays the groundwork for sustainable growth for the Church in Brooklyn to fulfill its mission of proclaiming and teaching the Gospel in the 21st century. The Church cannot ignore how today, especially our young people, derive most of their information and impressions about Church not from pulpits and printed matter, but electronic visual media. The Church also needs to reach those who do not always go to Church. We, like all large organizations throughout the country are undergoing significant structural changes, often merging or down-sizing just to survive. It would be naïve and irresponsible for the Church in Brooklyn and Queens to ignore the implications which demographic, active clergy, financial and other projections portend.

Stewardship: The Giving of our Time, Talents and Treasures The Church bathroom was in serious need of renovation. Several members of our parish stepped forward and volunteered their time and construction talents to upgrade this area. The result is a dramatic improvement and a sincere THANK YOU is extended to Tony (Pop), Miles, and John. By volunteering their time and talents we were able to save a considerable sum on labor. Would you consider being a Steward of St Charles Borromeo Parish? We can always use an extra hand or a creative idea that helps us grow our faith community.

Parish Finance Committee We would like to provide the parish with an update on the Parish Finance Committee. As we reported in January, Frank Pond has agreed to serve as a Parish Trustee and will no longer be a member of the Finance Committee but, he will act as the Trustee liaison to the Finance Committee. Jeanne Kane Zaykowski and Michael Towers will join Henry Cateura on the committee and John Gallagher has agreed to serve as an ad hoc committee member. Jeanne has agreed to take on the newly created role of Parish Treasurer. The Finance Committee will meet at least once a quarter. The role of the committee is to work closely with Fr. Ed on the following tasks: – Preparation of the annual parish budget – Coordination with the parish’s external accountant – Oversight to insure an efficient reporting system – Review of all fundraising activities – Review and management of parish assets and investments – Strategize on future parish capital needs and potential programs to fund long-term projects

Community Outreach Committee The first meeting of the Outreach Committee gave us an opportunity to exchange ideas about activities and ways to make our parish more visible in the Brooklyn Heights community and to aid community organizations. Possible affiliations included Pierrepont House, Bishop Mugavero Nursing Home, Cobble Hill Nursing Home, Chaim Solomon Nursing Home, Bowery Mission and Mercy Homes were other organizations. A calendar of events will be created in the near future as well as the date for the next meeting. If you are interested, please call the rectory with your name, email or telephone number.

The Diocesan Pastoral Institute is offering a Lay Ministry Program which is a process of spiritual, pastoral, and theological formation that prepares lay volunteers for ministerial service in their parish. An information session will be held at the Diocese of Brooklyn building at 310 Prospect Park West on Thursday, February 25 at 7:15 p.m. Please call 718-229-8001 ext 350, or email [email protected] to register. Classes will be held in September at St. Francis College.

On Sunday, March 14 the Preschool/Nursery Bible Study Time for children 4 years old and under will be held in the Baptistry after the 10:30 am Mass. The Bible Story Time lasts for ½ hour. Please Dyanne Rosado at [email protected] for information.

Stations of the Cross – Fridays at 12:45 p.m. (after the 12:10 p.m. Mass) and 7:00 p.m. as part of a Holy Hour.

Lenten Learning Series – Sunday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and again on Monday’s at 12:45 p.m. after the weekday Mass.

Reconciliation – every weekday from 11:45 a.m. to noon and Monday.

Reconciliation Monday – On Monday, March 29 every parish in the Diocese will provide all parishioners with an opportunity for Confession. Confession will be available at St Charles from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Please plan to go to Confession on that day!

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – Catholic Churches have Adoration of God as He is present in the Holy Eucharistic. The host is displayed in a special ornate holder called a monstrance, and people come to the Church to pray and worship throughout the day and sometimes into the night. Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, in prayer and devotion, is the same as spending time before the living God. Christ’s great love for us was shown when he was crucified on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sins, to give us eternal life. He loves us without limit, and offers Himself to us in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. We can offer thanks to Jesus by spending time with Him in Church. “Adoration is essentially an embrace with Jesus in which I am yours, and I ask you please stay with me always”. Pope Benedict XVI

Lenten Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Every Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. the Church will be open for visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Please sign up for whatever time you can spare on the forms located on the pews as you come into Church.

Fast and Abstinence During Lent Not eating meat on Friday’s during Lent is a sacrifice offered in union with the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, which gives us a chance to help our spiritual growth during Lent. Everyone between the ages of 18 and 59 years of age is bound to observe the laws of fasting. The days of fasting are two: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these two days only one full meal is allowed. Members of the Church (14 years of age or over) are obliged to observe abstinence (not eating meat) on Friday’s during Lent. Christ died for our salvation on Friday. In our Church Friday’s have traditionally been days for penance.

• Ashes will be distributed with Mass at 12:10 pm; 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
• Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration will be made from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Monday to Friday during Lent.
• Stations of the Cross every Friday after the 12:10 pm Mass and again at 7:00 pm during Lent.