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Mission Statement We, the parishioners of the Church of the Visitation, are a community of persons committed to growing in the Lord Jesus in continuity with our Catholic heritage. We rejoice in the fact that we are challenged to create a Catholic Christian community where previously there had been none. We see ourselves as called to be a worshipping, serving and maturing family of God’s people, sharing the Father’s gifts. To accomplish this, we will work with all people of good will, especially other church bodies, to further God’s Kingdom. We call upon all that would journey with us to be personally committed to an ever-deepening life of prayer, study and Christian action. Through this lifestyle, we will be molded by God’s Spirit to witness and proclaim the Good News of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. click to close window

The second reading is taken from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:1-11). St. Paul treats the subject of the resurrection of the body. A characteristic Greek and Platonic concept was that the body was a hindrance to the soul's activity. St. Paul answers this question by declaring that the bodily resurrection of Christ is a fact duly attested to by chosen witnesses. The Gospel is a reading from St. Luke (Lk 5:1-11). After reading from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus went to Capernaum where he taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath and cast out a demon, then He went to Simon's house and healed his mother-in-law, healed many, casting out demons for some. The next day He went to a remote spot but the crowds followed Him. Jesus then told the crowds that He must give the good news in other towns also because that is what He was sent to do. Today's reading, which is Simon's call to be an apostle, takes place at the Sea of Gennesaret (Galilee). The early Church fathers saw in Simon's boat a symbol of the pilgrim church on earth. Christ got into the boat in order to teach the crowds; and from the barque of Peter, the Church, He continues to teach the whole world. click to return

Assignments for 8/23/09 Greeters Rita Brummel Mary Homan Ushers Mike Dreelin Steve Scott James Pelezar Altar Servers Ann Rector Grace Rutkowski Community Leader Kimberly Rector Lectors Will Krom Mary Ellen Sherwood Eucharistic Ministers Debby Harriman Ed Harriman Kelly Thomas Jack Petralia Louise Petralia Cantor Georgia Beville Counters Barbara Keck Andrea Moore

Martha Stainback Hawksworth (Marty) age 66 passed away on December 9, 2009, at home in Deltaville, VA, after almost a year long fight with cancer. Marty was born on September 4, 1943, in Brooklyn, NY, to the late John Howard Stainback and the late Mary Richmond Stainback. Marty is survived by her brother, John Howard Stainback, Jr. and sister Sara Tuffs, both of Mebine, NC; her husband of 44 years Tom T. Hawksworth, II, her daughter Carolyn H. McGuire, her husband Stacy McGuire and their children Staisa, Josh, Sarah, Matthew and Daniel of Franklin, TN; her daughter Elizabeth M. H. Azevedo, her husband Reverend Dale Azevedo and their children Jesse and Seth of Middlefield, CT; her daughter Kathryn H. Black, her husband Brian Black and their children, Riley and Dariuz of Broken Arrow, OK; her daughter Dr. Martha L. Hawksworth of Southwick, MA. Marty graduated from Ridgewood, NJ, High School in 1961 and from the Medical College of Virginia, School of Nursingin 1965. On August 14, 1965, she was married to Tom T. Hawksworth, II in Saint Theresa Catholic Church in Gloucester, VA. She and her husband moved many times through out the US and Puerto Rico. Marty gave up her nursing career to raise their four daughters. She was very involved with their education and their wide variety of after school activities. Through out all the family relocations Marty always met her daughters at home when they returned from school each day to listen to them, to encourage them and to help them. In February 1997 Marty and Tom moved back to the family home on Stove Point in Deltaville. Marty started Hawksnest Crafts, a needle work and embroidering business that showcased her love and creativity in many of the needlework crafts. She showed her works at many events in the local area. She became very involved in the community with her volunteer work. She served on the Board of Directors and as President of the Friends of the Deltaville Library, she worked the Red Cross blood drives in Deltaville, she served on the Board of Directors, of the Deltaville Community Association, was a member of the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 62 in Deltaville, she served on the Board of Directors of the Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park when it started up. She worked at the Holly Point Nature Parkas one of the original “Gardenerds”, dedicated to improving and caring for the nature park. Because of her love of plants and flowers, she became a Master Gardner and used this knowledge to improve the park. On September 12, 2009, the park’s new greenhouse was dedicated to Marty for all her efforts. Marty was very involved with The Church Of The Visitation, the Roman Catholic Church in Middlesex County. She served as on the Sacristy Committee and as head of the Haiti Twining project from the inception, which worked with Saint Michael parish in Boucan-Carre Haiti. She was especially interested in projects that supported the children of Boucan-Carre. Marty lived her life by the same qualities that drew her into nursing. She was the most caring, giving, forgiving and loving person in our lives. Marty will be missed very much by her husband, her family and the many friends whose lives she has touched. Visitation will be held at Bristow Faulkner Funeral Home, in Saluda, VA on Sunday, December 13, 2009 from 4 to 6 PM. Her funeral Mass will be held at The Church Of The Visitation on Monday, December 14, 2009, at 11 AM. Internment will take place following mass in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Church Of The Visitation Haiti Twining Project, PO Box 38 Topping, VA 23169 or to Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park, for Marty’s Greenhouse, at PO Box 466, Deltaville, VA 23043. CLICK TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE

A Prayer for the People of Haiti “The Harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.” James 3:18 Out of the depths we cry to You, O God. We cry to you for our Haitian sisters and brothers. We thank you for upholding them in their suffering. Give them continuing strength and comfort. Give us love and courage to stand with them and work with them as they struggle for justice and freedom. Keep us committed to the truth and empower us with your Spirit of love: ~ a love that always sees possibilities for peace founded on justice; ~ a love that seeks justice without vengeance and retaliation; ~ a love that reaches out to enemies, as Jesus taught us. We trust in your continuing mercy as we bring you our own desire to be in active solidarity with our Haitian brothers and sisters. Amen The parish collection on January 17 for Haiti Relief was an overwhelming expression of concern for the needy and parish compassion. The collection totaled $2,604, and we applaud your generosity. Haiti’s needs will be a continuing saga and we will keep you informed about them in the future. Because some of you were absent or may not have been prepared to give a special donation, we again had a joint collection January 24 for Parish Pence and for Haiti relief. The Haiti portion will go to Catholic Relief Services, which has had an active presence in Haiti for decades. Please be generous again both for the needy in our community and in Haiti.

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