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Below is the most recent email.
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Handed Over
For Our Salvation
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Dear Friends in Christ,
Today’s Gospel (Mt 26:14-25) repeats the first part of Sunday’s passion narrative. It begins with two questions: one from Judas and one from the other disciples. The difference between them charts our course for the next three days, the Sacred Triduum.
First, Judas asks the chief priests, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” That question is implicit in every sin. What do I get if I give up my devotion to Christ? Sin is to hand Him over for some passing benefit. Judas handed Him over for thirty silver pieces. We hand Him over for monetary gain, to win the praise of others, or for some carnal pleasure. Judas’s question is ours – and thus should convict us and deepen our repentance, our sorrow for having handed Him over.
Then the second question. The disciples ask our Lord, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” This is opposite of Judas’s question. For it points us to the Eucharist, which Jesus institutes at the Passover as the handing over of Himself.
The Eucharist makes present Christ’s sacrifice – by which He hands Himself over to the Father. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” The Eucharist also makes Christ present as Communion – by which He hands Himself over to us as our spiritual nourishment.
Thus these days present two different ways of Christ’s being handed over. Either we hand Him over for our own benefit, to feed our own ego or libido or greed or vanity, etc. Or we participate with Him as He hands Himself over to the Father for our salvation and to feed us with His Body.
At this time most of all let us repent of handing Him over. And at this time most of all let us go to Him in the Eucharist, to participate in His sacrifice to the Father and to receive His Body as nourishment for our salvation.
Updates…
If you haven’t done so, please make a gift today to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal.
Adult Confirmation Classes-If you are a Baptized Catholic who has not yet received Confirmation, Father Tim will be teaching three classes to prepare candidates to receive the Sacrament in May. Classes will be held on the following Mondays, from 7:00pm-9:00pm in the Parish House: April 13th, April 27th, and May 11th. Register by Friday, April 3rd, by contacting Susan Ramsel at [email protected] or 703-532-8815.
A Way to Visit the Imprisoned-Our Kairos Prison Ministry is sponsoring a cookie drive on April 14th from 4:00-6:00pm at the Parish House Parking lot. If you’re interested in assisting, please see sign up here. Please note-instructions must be followed exactly.
No Greater Love-Our next Parish Speaker Series (the previous two having been cancelled because of “snow”!) is about a local man who many hope will one day be a canonized saint. Chris Vander Woude will speak about his father, Tom Vander Woude, and how he crowned a lifetime of faith by laying down his life to save his youngest son. Come hear this extraordinary story of an ordinary man’s heroism: Monday, April 20th, at 7:00pm, in Monsignor Heller Hall.
Boots and Bling is Saint James School 22nd Annual Gala & Auction, to be held Saturday, May 2nd at Washington Golf & Country Club. Go here for more information on the evening, donating items, purchasing tickets, and silent auction items already open for bidding.
WorkCamp 2026-We’re seeking volunteers to be contractors for WorkCamp, June 20th-26th. If you are handy with tools, home repair, and DIY projects, you are perfect for this volunteer opportunity! WorkCamp contractors do not need to be professional contractors. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Upcoming Sidewalk Construction-As part of its West Broad Street Multimodal Improvements project and overall vision of a more walkable city, the City of Falls Church plans to widen the sidewalks along Broad Street – including the strip of Saint James property from Virginia Avenue to West Street. That’s the sidewalk in front of our guest house, teachers’ parking lot, the school, convent, and Rocket Field. (Go here for more details). The sidewalks will be widened from 5-feet to 10-feet, with some exceptions. The City is compensating Saint James for taking our strip of land for this purpose. To make room for the wider sidewalk, some structures on our property will need to be relocated permanently, including the Teachers’ Lot fence, the School LED sign (possibly), and the stone wall in front of the Convent. These displacements have been factored into the compensation that the City is giving us. Construction is likely to take at least two years and might begin as early as the second half of 2026. In an effort to minimize disruptions to the Saint James campus, the Parish remains in ongoing communication with the City of Falls Church regarding the construction timeline and other project details that may affect our community. We will share updates as they become available.
School Humor
Herewith, two jokes told to me by some children in our school…
Q. What do religious entrepreneurs make?
A. Prophets
Q. What feast shows God’s hand in our lives?
A. Palm Sunday
Through the intercession of our Lady and Saint James, may the Lord bless and keep you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Scalia