Thank you - Blood Drive, Saturday, May 16

The Blood Drive, in conjunction with the Inova Blood Donor Services, held on Saturday, May 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Old Bridge Road, 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., was a success. We thank PGK Kevin Tamai who led this Event, assisted by Clyde Watts.  There were 78 Units of blood collected, consisting of 58 whole blood and 10 double red, some with Platelets.  The next Blood Drive is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, from 7:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church, located at  12351 All Saints Pl, Woodbridge, VA 22192.  We thank all of you, your family members and parishioners and friends who give the gift of life.  

Thank you - Potluck Dinner, Eucharistic Adoration, May 14

We thank Brother David Illig for setting this Event Up.  In total,  18 parishioners attended and saw two videos:  "What To Do at Eucharistic Adoration" and Bishop Barron's "The Power of Eucharistic Adoration". intertwined into a Slide Show featuring these topics:  1.  The Five Pillars of Eucharistic Adoration;  2.  True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist;  3.  John Chapter 6, The Bread of Life Discourse; 4.  How to sign-up for Eucharistic Adoration;  5.  The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and 6) The Feast of Corpus Christi, Eucharistic Adoration on June 7.      

On Thursday, May 7, the students of Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional School made very good use of our  Council's Living Rosary during an early morning Assembly over in the school's gymnasium.  Over 400 students were in attendance, save for the 7th graders, who were on a field trip. 

Prior to the students entering, the Rosary was laid on the hardwood floor, led by PGK Knight Paul Zerkow and assisted by our Worthy Recorder Tom Genova and GK Joe Pevarnik   Fifty-nine students pre-selected by the School, including the Junior Legion of Mary, then came in and "manned" a bead.  Five of those students, all 8th-graders, led each decade of Sorrowful Mysteries, saying the Our Father and the first part of the Hail Mary, in their native tongues Igbo (, Italian, Spanish,  Tagalog (Filipino) and French with the students completing the 2nd part of the Hail Mary in English. 

Sister Mary Sabina, O.P. (Order of Preachers - Dominicans), the school's principal, was most grateful.  She reminded all that the previous May 2025, when we had our Living Rosary at the School, it was May 8, and later that afternoon, then Robert Cardinal Prevost, was elected as our 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.  In addition, May 8 is the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an important Dominican feast celebrating Mary as the Protector of the Order.  

Sister Mary Sabina will be choosing a day in October to use the Rosary and will let Paul know. In the meantime, continue to keep all educators and students in your prayers,.   and be sure to join us tonight, at 6:15 p.m. for the Pot-Luck Dinner, and Sunday's Living Rosary at 2:00 p.m., both of which were `  both highlighted in previous emails this week.

We thank PGK Paul Zerkow, who once again led this Event, and we thank several members of the American Heritage Girls who were there to assist as well. None of this could have happened without the help of all of you who gave of your time: Vic Bako, Jeff Beck and Family, Jason Boffetti, Rob Brown Family, Bob Buckley, PGK Jeff Carrera, PGK Hector Dittamo, Brad Engborg, Tom Genova, Les Krogh, PGK John Maher, PGK Tom McCloskey Family, Andrew McGrail, Daniel McGrail, Al Nessel, Kevin Smith and Ralph Tuccillo.

Our Pancake and Sausage Breakfast held on Sunday, April 19, in Fellowship Hall, was a huge success.  In summary, there were 297 people served after the four Sunday Masses as noted here:  7:30 Mass:  40 people;  9:00 Mass:  83 people; 10:45 Mass:  132 people; 12:30 42 people.  This was the largest crowd we have served at a Sunday Pancake Breakfast.  The tallies are shown below, for comparison.  The financial numbers will be forthcoming

We thank the following who gave of their time to make this a success in promoting fellowship amongst our Parishioners:  DGK Steve Amato, Mark Brown, PGK Jeff Carrera, Hector Dittamo, Brad Engborg, Rafael Espinosa, Dennis Gauci, Jim Grzella, Joseph Hocine Hadj-Ali, Les Krogh, John Loftus, Andrew McGrail, Daniel McGrail, David Morales, Al Nessel, GK Joe Pevarnik, Kevin Smith, PGK Kevin Tamai who led this Event, Ralph Tuccillo, Clyde Watts, and PGK Ted Zagrobelny.  Special thanks to PGK Kevin Tamai, who led this Event including all the planning and food procurement and to PGK Jeff Carrera, who took over leading the afternoon shift.