Announcements
NOVA CURRENTLY IS GATHERING at Kenmore FOR LITURGY.
WE WILL BE AT KENMORE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN PERSON
WITH OPTION FOR ZOOM FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND.
WE GATHER AT 10 AND BEGIN AT 10:15
you can check the liturgy page on the website for more information
THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 12, 2024
May 12, 2024
Upcoming events/Dates to remember
Today — deadline for sending Clyde any additional comments concerning Nova’s synodality submission
May 19 — special collection at Nova liturgy for Rental Assistance Fund
June 2 — Nova general meeting, after liturgy, at Kenmore
Announcements
1) Rental assistance special collection — We will have a special collection next Sunday (May 19) for Nova’s Rental Assistance Fund, Markie Harwood and Dianne Carroll told us. In the last four months, Nova has distributed $70,000 to 42 families facing significant financial challenges and in danger of being evicted. The specific cases come to Nova, Markie and Dianne said, through social workers with Arlington Public Schools. We expect more families to need help between now and the end of the school year. Please give generously. You can donate via PayPal on the Nova website, or write a check and either put it in the collection basket next Sunday or mail it to Nova’s treasurer, Joe Formoso (address in the directory). Either way, make sure to indicate that the donation is for the rental fund. For the full text of today’s announcement, see below.
2) Synodality submission due — Meg Tuccillo noted that Clyde Christofferson sent an email to the Nova list yesterday (Saturday, May 11) with the latest draft of Nova’s submission for the 2024 Synod. Clyde plans to send the final version to Rome on Tuesday night. If you have any further comments on the draft, get them to Clyde today!
3) Nova general meeting June 2 — Meg also let us know that the community will hold its next general meeting on June 2, after liturgy, at Kenmore Middle School. We will be discussing the synodality submission, as well as a number of other things. Stay tuned for details.
4) Don’t forget the "weekly collection” — Joe Formoso, Nova’s longtime treasurer, noted that when we pass the collection basket every Sunday, it has fewer donations in it than, say, 10 years ago. That’s because many Nova members are taking advantage of the ability to make donations on-line, with the Donate button on the Nova website, either through PayPal or using a debit or credit card. The key thing, Joe said, is to not forget! He pointed out that Nova’s social justice commitments (where the bulk of our collection goes) increased this year. “Cough up the money, guys,” is how Joe succinctly puts it. Here’s the direct link to the Nova website Donate page: https://www.novacatholic.org/donations.html
5) Elder caregiver available — Victoria Robinson passed along a renewed appeal from Yesenia Salazar (“Jessi”) for help in finding work. She is an experienced caregiver for elderly patients, including those with Alzheimer’s, and can provide references. She’s hoping for full-time work, Monday through Friday. She speaks fluent English and Spanish. You can call Jessi directly at 202-281-5264.
6) Job guarantee appeal and garden work:
– Tom Clarkson renewed his regular appeals for help in persuading Congress to support a federal jobs guarantee. He said:
You’re two mouse clicks away from receiving a weekly video reminder to ask your Congressperson to enact a Job Guarantee. 1. Click on callsforjobs@gmail.com. That will bring up an email already addressed to callsforjobs@gmail.com. Then hit SEND on that email. No need to write anything. The 40 million workers who earn less than $18/hour thank you.
– In addition, Tom asked that we continue to keep Ronaldo Vail in mind when considering garden work that needs doing. Tom said:
Ronaldo Vail (father of our refugee family from Guatemala) has received his work permit renewal and he's back working at Target, but part-time. He'll be available three days/week for yard work or other household tasks, but Target hasn't firmed up his work schedule, yet. Please call Ronaldo at 731-618-1459 if you'd like his help. Click for directions to his home.https://drive.google.com/
7) Keep those AFAC donations coming — Finally, don’t forget to bring boxes of cold cereal, peanut butter, low-sodium canned vegetables, tuna or other items for the Arlington Food Assistance Center to liturgy at Kenmore each week. AFAC was founded 35 years ago and the Nova community has been an active supporter for all those years. The need for food assistance is NOT getting less: the organization’s director recently noted that AFAC served 25 percent more families in the first three months of this year (over last year’s number — which, in itself, was higher than in 2022).
The presider and planners for next Sunday’s liturgy will be Fr. Jim Vacco, OFM, and Tom and Jeanne Clarkson. The scribe for announcements will be Cathy Goldschmidt, who (as always) needs written copies of announcements made.
— submitted by Phil and Alicia Cackley
Here’s the full text of Markie and Dianne’s announcement:
We come to you today requesting a special collection next Sunday to replenish our already depleted rental assistance fund.
At our January meeting to approve special projects for the year, NOVA set aside $60,000 for the rental assistance fund, double the amount approved in 2023. We acknowledged then – as we do every year – that the money set aside will not be enough. So we hold two special collections each year, plus depend on other donations from the community.
Once again, the special project funding falls short. From January to May 8, $70,000 has been distributed to 42 families, whose needs are brought to the attention of NOVA by Arlington Public School social workers. During this 23-24 school year, $142,000 has been distributed to 90 families. We expect more requests before the school year ends in June.
The aim of our rental assistance is to prevent Arlington families from falling into eviction and homelessness. Here are a few examples of the families who have been helped:
– A couple with two elementary school-aged boys. The father, an Uber driver, had been unable to work for two months because his car didn’t work. The mother works for the apartment complex and, in addition to her pay, receives a 30% reduction on the family’s rent. If she is evicted because she can’t pay the rent, she also loses her job. NOVA paid $1,523 requested toward rent, and the social worker helped the father get money for new tires.
– A couple with three children, ages 7, 14 and 20. The father can’t work because of medical problems, and the mother was out of work because of a medical emergency. The 20-year-old suspended his college studies to help the family financially, and NOVA paid the landlord $1,533 for one month’s rent until the mother could return to work.
– A single mother with a 2-year-old and 4-year-old. The mother had lost her second job and had been struggling to pay bills for two months. She got a new job but needed help to pay $2,300 in rent.
Note that NOVA’s support helps these families on the margin overcome emergency needs, after which they generally can manage on their own. For families with more chronic problems, NOVA – specifically Meg and Dianne – was instrumental in getting the Arlington County Department of Human Services to improve its response to requests that come through the social workers.
For example:
– A couple with two teenagers and a third child on the way. They received an eviction notice because they owed more than $4,000 in rent. Dianne alerted her DHS contact because of the large request. NOVA paid the landlord $2,000, and the school social worker filled out the DHS paperwork to get the family a housing grant
You can make your donation by check, payable to NOVA Catholic Community, or via PayPal on the NOVA website. Either way, indicate that your donation is for the rental assistance fund.
As always, thank you for your unceasing generosity.
Today — deadline for sending Clyde any additional comments concerning Nova’s synodality submission
May 19 — special collection at Nova liturgy for Rental Assistance Fund
June 2 — Nova general meeting, after liturgy, at Kenmore
Announcements
1) Rental assistance special collection — We will have a special collection next Sunday (May 19) for Nova’s Rental Assistance Fund, Markie Harwood and Dianne Carroll told us. In the last four months, Nova has distributed $70,000 to 42 families facing significant financial challenges and in danger of being evicted. The specific cases come to Nova, Markie and Dianne said, through social workers with Arlington Public Schools. We expect more families to need help between now and the end of the school year. Please give generously. You can donate via PayPal on the Nova website, or write a check and either put it in the collection basket next Sunday or mail it to Nova’s treasurer, Joe Formoso (address in the directory). Either way, make sure to indicate that the donation is for the rental fund. For the full text of today’s announcement, see below.
2) Synodality submission due — Meg Tuccillo noted that Clyde Christofferson sent an email to the Nova list yesterday (Saturday, May 11) with the latest draft of Nova’s submission for the 2024 Synod. Clyde plans to send the final version to Rome on Tuesday night. If you have any further comments on the draft, get them to Clyde today!
3) Nova general meeting June 2 — Meg also let us know that the community will hold its next general meeting on June 2, after liturgy, at Kenmore Middle School. We will be discussing the synodality submission, as well as a number of other things. Stay tuned for details.
4) Don’t forget the "weekly collection” — Joe Formoso, Nova’s longtime treasurer, noted that when we pass the collection basket every Sunday, it has fewer donations in it than, say, 10 years ago. That’s because many Nova members are taking advantage of the ability to make donations on-line, with the Donate button on the Nova website, either through PayPal or using a debit or credit card. The key thing, Joe said, is to not forget! He pointed out that Nova’s social justice commitments (where the bulk of our collection goes) increased this year. “Cough up the money, guys,” is how Joe succinctly puts it. Here’s the direct link to the Nova website Donate page: https://www.novacatholic.org/donations.html
5) Elder caregiver available — Victoria Robinson passed along a renewed appeal from Yesenia Salazar (“Jessi”) for help in finding work. She is an experienced caregiver for elderly patients, including those with Alzheimer’s, and can provide references. She’s hoping for full-time work, Monday through Friday. She speaks fluent English and Spanish. You can call Jessi directly at 202-281-5264.
6) Job guarantee appeal and garden work:
– Tom Clarkson renewed his regular appeals for help in persuading Congress to support a federal jobs guarantee. He said:
You’re two mouse clicks away from receiving a weekly video reminder to ask your Congressperson to enact a Job Guarantee. 1. Click on callsforjobs@gmail.com. That will bring up an email already addressed to callsforjobs@gmail.com. Then hit SEND on that email. No need to write anything. The 40 million workers who earn less than $18/hour thank you.
– In addition, Tom asked that we continue to keep Ronaldo Vail in mind when considering garden work that needs doing. Tom said:
Ronaldo Vail (father of our refugee family from Guatemala) has received his work permit renewal and he's back working at Target, but part-time. He'll be available three days/week for yard work or other household tasks, but Target hasn't firmed up his work schedule, yet. Please call Ronaldo at 731-618-1459 if you'd like his help. Click for directions to his home.https://drive.google.com/
7) Keep those AFAC donations coming — Finally, don’t forget to bring boxes of cold cereal, peanut butter, low-sodium canned vegetables, tuna or other items for the Arlington Food Assistance Center to liturgy at Kenmore each week. AFAC was founded 35 years ago and the Nova community has been an active supporter for all those years. The need for food assistance is NOT getting less: the organization’s director recently noted that AFAC served 25 percent more families in the first three months of this year (over last year’s number — which, in itself, was higher than in 2022).
The presider and planners for next Sunday’s liturgy will be Fr. Jim Vacco, OFM, and Tom and Jeanne Clarkson. The scribe for announcements will be Cathy Goldschmidt, who (as always) needs written copies of announcements made.
— submitted by Phil and Alicia Cackley
Here’s the full text of Markie and Dianne’s announcement:
We come to you today requesting a special collection next Sunday to replenish our already depleted rental assistance fund.
At our January meeting to approve special projects for the year, NOVA set aside $60,000 for the rental assistance fund, double the amount approved in 2023. We acknowledged then – as we do every year – that the money set aside will not be enough. So we hold two special collections each year, plus depend on other donations from the community.
Once again, the special project funding falls short. From January to May 8, $70,000 has been distributed to 42 families, whose needs are brought to the attention of NOVA by Arlington Public School social workers. During this 23-24 school year, $142,000 has been distributed to 90 families. We expect more requests before the school year ends in June.
The aim of our rental assistance is to prevent Arlington families from falling into eviction and homelessness. Here are a few examples of the families who have been helped:
– A couple with two elementary school-aged boys. The father, an Uber driver, had been unable to work for two months because his car didn’t work. The mother works for the apartment complex and, in addition to her pay, receives a 30% reduction on the family’s rent. If she is evicted because she can’t pay the rent, she also loses her job. NOVA paid $1,523 requested toward rent, and the social worker helped the father get money for new tires.
– A couple with three children, ages 7, 14 and 20. The father can’t work because of medical problems, and the mother was out of work because of a medical emergency. The 20-year-old suspended his college studies to help the family financially, and NOVA paid the landlord $1,533 for one month’s rent until the mother could return to work.
– A single mother with a 2-year-old and 4-year-old. The mother had lost her second job and had been struggling to pay bills for two months. She got a new job but needed help to pay $2,300 in rent.
Note that NOVA’s support helps these families on the margin overcome emergency needs, after which they generally can manage on their own. For families with more chronic problems, NOVA – specifically Meg and Dianne – was instrumental in getting the Arlington County Department of Human Services to improve its response to requests that come through the social workers.
For example:
– A couple with two teenagers and a third child on the way. They received an eviction notice because they owed more than $4,000 in rent. Dianne alerted her DHS contact because of the large request. NOVA paid the landlord $2,000, and the school social worker filled out the DHS paperwork to get the family a housing grant
You can make your donation by check, payable to NOVA Catholic Community, or via PayPal on the NOVA website. Either way, indicate that your donation is for the rental assistance fund.
As always, thank you for your unceasing generosity.