If you are not receiving Father Scalia's weekly email with parish news and spiritual enlightenment, email communications@stjamescatholic.org, with your full name and email address. Below is the most recent weekly notice.  Please note that replies to Father Scalia's emails are not sent to him but the communications email.

January 27, 2022

Begin Again

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Tuesday we celebrated the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. His was the most dramatic and significant conversion in the Church’s history. The blinding light and his direct encounter with the risen Christ immediately changed him from the Church’s greatest persecutor to her greatest missionary. From that point on he was single minded in his proclamation of the Gospel. 

Such dramatic and immediate conversions are rare, and we shouldn’t expect one. But Paul’s experience teaches us two elements of conversion that hold true for all the faithful.

First, conversion is a purification. Yes, God changed Saul of Tarsus from persecutor to apostle in the blink of an eye. But he did not do away with everything about him. Paul’s keen intellect and strong will, his faith and zeal continued. But they were purified and placed at the service of Christ.

So also with you. God’s grace does not destroy but perfects nature. He’s not interested in the rejection or destruction of your personality. That’s the steam roller view of saints; God’s grace makes them two dimensional. No, he desires to purify our gifts of all selfishness and to elevate them by his grace. 

Second, conversion is ongoing. We know from the Acts of the Apostles and from his letters that Paul continued to struggle with his imperfections and to conform his life to Christ. His conversion was not a one-and-done thing. He had to recommit every day. 

So also with us. Indeed, if we don’t realize the constant and ongoing character of conversion, then we’ll easily get discouraged. We’ll be surprised that an old weakness or vice keeps cropping up. But such things shouldn’t discourage us. They should only remind us of our need to begin again, to turn again to our Lord and ask his mercy. In that sense, none of us is a convert; we’re all always converting.

Updates….            

Pray for Father John Paul’s Return!-I spoke with Father John Paul yesterday. He’s doing fine but very frustrated with his situation. He still needs a negative Covid test to fly out. He and I agreed to pray to Saint Padre Pio for his swift return. Please join us in that effort. Of course, Padre Pio was also known to bilocate, so maybe he could at least make that happen…

Seven Sundays of Saint Joseph-In this wonderful devotion to the Saint Joseph, we offer prayers in his honor every Sunday for seven weeks in a row until the feast of Saint Joseph (March 19). Go here for suggested prayers.        

WorkCamp-Arlington Diocese WorkCamp is an annual youth ministry program providing high schoolers the opportunity to encounter Christ through service, faith, and fellowship. It combines prayer, great speakers, daily Mass, confession, and tons of fun, making it an integrated experience of true Christian community and one of the most transformational opportunities of the year. WorkCamp 2022 is currently scheduled for June 18-24 in Frederick County, VA. If interested, please email Karen Graffam. The number of teens who can register is limited by the number of adult volunteers. Which means…

WorkCamp Volunteers Needed-Again, the number of high schoolers who can go to WorkCamp is limited by the number of volunteers. Please, let’s not deprive a child of the opportunity! If you are 25 or older, please consider volunteering as a crew leader to join us for the week, or if you have basic home repair or building skills, please consider volunteering your time as a contractor. Again, email Karen Graffam for more information.

Saint James Prayer Chain-The Saint James Prayer Chain is an email group dedicated to praying for the intentions of our parishioners and their families. Prayer requests are sent by the coordinator via email along with suggested prayers for each intention. Click here to join the effort.

Families Helping Families-On Saturday, February 19th from 10am to 1pm, Saint James Social Outreach Committee is hosting a drive to help families throughout the diocese. The pandemic has made it harder for families living on the margin to buy essential items, especially those with young children. As always, drive up into B-lot, pop your trunk, and our volunteers will do the rest! Catholic Charities specifically needs standard size containers of: shampoo, bath soap, deodorant, feminine products, toothpaste, toothbrushes (single packs), adult incontinence products, diapers (all sizes but 5&6 are critical need), baby wipes, laundry detergent free of dyes and perfumes, toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, house cleaners, and 13 gallon trash bags. If you are unable to make the drive but still want to donate, use our list on Amazon. For more information, including to volunteer, email Karen Bushaw-Newton or Liana Alvarez. Go here for more info.

Catholic Schools Day of Giving-Next week is National Catholic Schools Week. Please consider donating to our parish school on this year’s Day of Giving, which begins Noon on Tuesday, February 1 and ends Wednesday, February 2. As an added incentive, a generous donor has offered to match up to $5,000 for all gifts received during this 24-hour period! You can donate via our website or Text-to-Give at 703-584-7023 and select the Saint James School Annual Appeal. Or by check to the Rectory Office with Day of Giving in the memo line.  All checks received during National Catholic Schools Week (January 30 through February 5) will be matched.  For more information, please email Kathleen Anderson. Thank you again for your generosity and support.

Malodorous Humor

Q: What did the left eye say to the right eye?

A: Between you and me, something smells.

Through the intercession of our Lady, Saint Joseph, and Saint James, may the Lord bless and keep you.

Fr. Scalia