On the Way....

This Thursday is the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, forty days after His resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday. In the United States of America it has been designated as a Holy Day of Obligation: participation in the Eucharist. The bishops of the United States long ago set 6 such observances in the calendar: Ascension of Jesus, Assumption of Mary (August 15), All Saints Day (November 1), Immaculate Conception of Mary, Patroness of the USA (December 8), Christmas and New Year’s Day (Mary, Mother of God, World Day for Peace). Since Holy Days are regulated by the authority of the Conference of Bishops, they may be different in each nation. In a country as large as ours, the dioceses are brought together into provinces; we, for instance, belong to the dioceses of New England comprising Region 1. Bishops in different regions or even in their own diocese have regular authority. Bishops West of the Mississippi River have transferred the observance of the Ascension, for instance, to the following Sunday. We can see this when we look at our missalettes. Hence the confusion that often results. Here at St. Peter, we will celebrate the Solemnity with Mass on Thursday at 7:00 am and 6:30 pm. At St. Paul in Candia, Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday evening at 7 pm.

PARISH NURSE: Friday from 7:30-10:00 am.

Weekly Offertory: $5,569.

MY SACRIFICIAL GIVING: Those who obey the commandments, Jesus says in today’s Gospel, are the ones who really love Him. Does my stewardship reveal my love for Jesus?

FOOD DRIVE next weekend is for St. Paul Food Pantry. Items most needed are: canned spaghetti and meatballs, baked beans, evaporated milk, juice, crackers of any kind.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS those who died last week, and especially Anna Letendre, long-time parishioner.

New Hampshire Catholic Charities...Miracles Happen Everyday

Since 1945, New Hampshire Catholic Charities has responded to the needs of people from every walk of life in every community throughout the state. The agency has comforted grieving families, held the hands of scared children, and provided hope for families struggling through difficult times, and helped people in their times of personal crisis. People like Tanya… Tanya received a notice on her apartment door today that she has two weeks to vacate the building. This was the second time this year that this had happened. Her landlord couldn't make his mortgage payment; the bank is foreclosing and wants the building empty before auction. Tanya's landlord left town and she'd already paid her rent. All this happened in the middle of winter. Not knowing where to turn, Tanya called Catholic Charities for help. We were able to offer a listening ear, while helping her navigate appropriate programs and services available to her. "It's nice to know that someone cares". Catholic Charities couldn't make her problems go away, but at least she didn't have to go through them alone, and we were able to offer her some resources.

With each passing year, the call to help becomes more desperate, more involved, and Catholic Charities is faced with the challenge to answer. The annual appeal is a primary source of funding for Catholic Charities. It is through your generosity that the agency is able to continue its mission of helping and healing. Please give what you can. You make miracles happen when you make a gift. Our Parish Goal: $33,000.

This weekend, we welcome Dr. Carlos Cinto, a bi-lingual mental health worker from the Nashua Office, who will make a presentation at all Masses for the 2008 NH Catholic Charities appeal. All registered parishioners should have received their Catholic Charities "packet" from us, which included a letter from Fr. Dumont, a pamphlet from Catholic Charities, and their Catholic Charities donation envelope.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS

Our last dismissal for K-3 is this weekend. The weekly handouts for K-3 for May 4 and May 11 will be on a table at the entryway to church, along with registration forms for 2008-09.

FIRST COMMUNION will be celebrated at all Masses next weekend, May 3 and 4.

GROUP WORK CAMP: Thank you all so much, those who baked and those who bought!! Our bake sale and raffle netted us $742! Thanks to Mrs. Judy Bellerose for her generous donation of the Boston Red Sox fleece throw for the raffle. The blanket was won by Pat Kazatis.

If you would like to make a donation to help our Group Work Campers, please make the check payable to St. Peter Church, note your envelope number, and your donation will be added to your weekly parish donation records. Thank you.

PASTORAL COUNCIL: The next meeting of the Council, including both incoming and outgoing members, will be on Tuesday evening, April 29, at 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall Conference Room.

CHOIR REHEARSAL: Wed., Apr. 30, 7 pm in church.

OPEN HOUSE AT CAMP FATIMA AND CAMP BERNADETTE: Staff from Fatima and Bernadette will be giving tours and answering questions for first time campers. The open house this year is May 3rd and 4th from 11am to 4 pm both days. Please contact Michael Drumm at the camp office at 603-364-5851 for more information or questions. Or visit us on the web at www.diocamps.org

CARE-NET PREGNANCY CENTER: 2008 Walk on Saturday, May 10. The walk begins at 10:15 am, from Veterans’ Memorial Park, Elm St. (indoor parking at the Center of NH- enter from Granite St.). Call Laura Lambert, our Respect Life Coordinator, at 483-5125.

VISITING ANGELS is looking for the best of the best! Do you want to go home at the end of the day knowing you’ve made a huge difference in the lives of a family? If so, you may meet the qualifications to be a Visiting Angel’s Caregiver. We are looking for caregivers who have had several years of experience in caring for the elderly. Some agencies are just looking for warm bodies, but we are looking for warm hearts. Call us at 483-8999 for a personal interview and to learn more about our competitive compensation.

MASS INTENTIONS

April 28, Mon. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

April 29, Tue. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

April 30, Wed. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

May 1, Thu. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

May 1, Thu. 6:30 pm Ernest Battistelli by his wife

May 2, Fri. 7:00 am To end abortions, from parishioners

May 3, Sat. 4:00 pm Albert and Yvonne Bourque by Alice Laliberte

May 4, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

May 4, Sun. 11:00 am Jacqueline Beaudoin by the Laliberte family

It is not uncommon to have word plays of expressions that have multiple meanings in Sacred Scripture. This can be a bit confusing for us, but we still use this technique today in many of our word plays. This technique reminds us that there are many ways of looking at a situation. We cannot always say that it is either this or that. Sometimes it is both at the same time. This is especially true when we are talking about the mysteries of our faith. They are so far beyond our understanding that every time we try to figure them out, we fall short, and yet we must still try.

Actions, good or evil, find their root in the heart and mind of the individual, Unless I repress a hidden evil urge, it can cross very easily into my behavior. The same is true of a wholesome and worthy thought; it is expressed as good behavior. Bad intentions do not produce good behavior. Good thoughts do not give fruit to improper actions. If I find myself behaving in a less than worthy manner, I must examine my heart and turn it back to what is true and upright...the way of Jesus Christ.

Jesus says to his disciples in today’s Gospel that if they truly love Him, they will keep His commandments. My mom or dad might sometimes say the same thing to me when I do not want to listen to what they ask of me. They might say to me that if I really, really love them, I will do what they ask me to do, even if I do not care to do it. When they speak to me like that, they are imitating Jesus. Today I will try to do something I do not care to do because my parents love me very much and they want me to do it.

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