TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME + AUGUST 17, 2008

On the way....

49th International Eucharistic Congress - Quebec City - June 15-22, 2008 - final installment

The Congress officially closed on Saturday, June 21, and the premises of what had become the "Eucharistic City" had to be vacated for other civic events. The week was to be capped off with a Mass in the Center of the historic 400-year old City, on the Plans of Abraham, a vast park on the bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The final Celebration of the Eucharist was to be held at 11 am and once again I had promised to be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation beginning at 9 am. When I arrived at the church where priests were assigned, I met a volunteer and he asked me to vest, alb and stole, and go on to the "Plains" to one of the four tents facing the main altar. It was a nice day and the sun was getting quite warm when I arrived. The site was parallel to the River, the altar was facing North on the long side of the rectangle which is called the Plains of Abraham, and on the opposite side, facing South and the Altar were four 10’ square tents with the open side facing the altar. Since the tents were equally distanced some 300 feet apart, there was easy access for the pilgrims. I was assigned to hear confessions in French and English. Outside our tent on the East side, a priest greeted the Spanish-speaking pilgrims, and on the West side another priest. I kept my bald head under the tent and immediately began hearing confessions. Since the procession was to begin at 10:30 am, I had no time to leave the penitents and join the priests at the altar. I continued hearing confessions and figured I could concelebrate Mass even from that distance. I heard confessions until about 11:15 am and turned my attention to the Mass that was just beginning. I heard that there were about 60,000 people at the site and there was an excitement about seeing and hearing Pope Benedict XVI preach the homily from the Vatican City, projected on two large screens set up on each side of the altar. During the first reading a few sprinkles began to drop. While the Holy Father was preaching it started to rain steadily. When the homily was finished and the large screen was focused on the choir and the altar, people started entering the tent for protection from the rain. I began to realize that all the other priests who had not heard confessions were not as protected as I was! It seemed as if my giving up my personal time to be available for confessions was being rewarded by having one of the very few dry places on the acreage. At the Our Father the heavens opened up and dropped a steady deluge for at least 20 minutes. Our little tent was full, and I was dry...until I felt a little moisture creeping into the toes of my "crocs"...and the soles of my feet were wet, and then my heels, and the tops of my feet, and I was standing in 2 inches of water! Oh well! We could not receive Holy Communion and during the meditation hymn the field virtually emptied. The man standing next to me gave me his poncho, and at my protestation he informed me that he was completely wet and it would make no difference to him, and beside, he wanted to help protect my vestments. I thanked him as he bent down to removes his shoes! I asked him why he was doing that and he responded that it was the only way he could empty them. I realized how lucky I was that my "crocs" had their own release valves! Bishops and priests were returning to the hall to dry out, young volunteers had been assigned to each Cardinal and I observed the particularly stunning site of a poor bishop who had fallen down and completely ruined his vestments with mud. Ouff!!! As Cardinal Tomko said as we were preparing to leave Quebec City, God had rained down His graces upon us, literally. I hope that my recounting my perceptions in these bulletin columns over the past few weeks testify that I greatly benefited and continue to reflect on many other sights and sounds, impressions and insights I received while at the 49th International Eucharistic Congress of 2008!

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PARISH

Enclosed with this bulletin is the Annual Financial report for our parish from July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008.

If you have any questions you may contact Shirley, myself or one of the members of the Finance Council. I take this opportunity to thank them for their service to the parish as well as for their example and leadership in good stewardship. I also salute you, the parishioners of St. Peter who have made yourselves conscious of what it means to support your parish through the weekly offering envelope: it is the consistency of your giving that gives our parish its fiscal stability and helps us help those in need.

PARISH NURSE: No Parish Nurse this Friday. Kathy returns August 29 from 7:30-10:00 am.

Weekly Offertory: $5,510

Next weekend is the annual appeal for N. H. Missionaries Abroad & Migrant and Hispanic Ministry in NH. Catholics from NH currently serve as missionaries in Cartago, Columbia and in Juticalpa, Honduras. This collection supports their work and the ministry to migrants and refugees who have come to NH. Please be generous.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS long-time parishioner Donat Ouellette, who died last week.

FINANCE COUNCIL MEETING:

August 26, Tuesday, at 6:30 pm, Rectory Conference Room.

BANNS OF MARRIAGE:

I P. Alan Lachapelle - Kate Arvanitis

MY SACRIFICIAL GIVING: In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells the Romans, "God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable." To what is God calling me today? What gifts are mine to share?

WELCOME TO NEWLY-REGISTERED PARISHIONERS: Jim and Kristen Withee, and children Hannah and Jack; Craig and Susan Kopetz, and sons Kevin and Sean.

FEATURED AD OF THE WEEK

Many thanks to parishioner Ken Robinson, owner of Acme Glass Co., Inc., for placing an ad on our bulletin. Ken has submitted the following: "We’ve moved to Auburn, 88 Priscilla Ln, Unit #5, right off Rt. 28 By-Pass. We do commercial and residential work, including shower/tub/steam enclosures, custom cut, beveled or framed mirrors, tabletops, window glass, screen & storm repairs, and more. Call us at 623-1622, or check us out on the web at www.acmeglassinc.com . Come visit our showroom. Mention this blurb and save 25% on any order."

BULLETIN ADS: We are now accepting ads for our bulletin cover which will run from Oct. 5 through the last weekend of March. The cost for a six-month ad is $115, and the reduced rate for a one-year commitment is $207. Call Shirley at 623-5429 or submit a business card/ad info by September 14.

PARISH DIRECTORY

We are now accepting sign-ups for the September 18, 19, and 20 dates, at which time Olan Mills will again be photographing parishioners for our 60th Anniversary Parish Picture Directory. Check the sign-up sheet on the table at the entryway to church, or register online by going to the Parish website www.stpeteraub.org  

NOTE SENT TO SR. DOMINICA & SR. BERNADETTE ON YOUR BEHALF BY THE PASTOR: "The prayers of the people of St. Peter Parish, Auburn, NH, and St. Paul Parish, Candia, NH, are with you and your people in these most burdensome days. The tragedy afflicting the Vietnamese community where you minister has also touched us deeply, most especially because of your presence among us just a few days prior to the tragedy in Sherman, Texas. We commend the deceased to Almighty God. We place the grieving into the consoling arms of the Blessed Mother of Jesus. Please accept the condolences of our two parishes. Monsignor Molan sends his prayers. Fr. Dumont

MASS INTENTIONS

Aug. 18, Mon. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

Aug. 19, Tue. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

Aug. 20, Wed. 7:00 am Penny Thibeault by her parents

Aug. 23, Sat. 4:00 pm For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

Aug. 24, Sun. 8:00 am Elizabeth Bartholomew by Don and Ann Dollard

Aug. 24, Sun. 11:00 am Phylis DiMartino (Anniversary Mass) by the family

Has the Holy Spirit spoken through other religions? Is there an element of truth in each of them? Might there also be error in at least some of them? How can one sort out the elements of their faith that can edify us and the ones that have to be rejected? These are all questions that we must sort out in our ecumenical era. We no longer believe that people of other faiths are automatically going to hell. At the same time, we do not believe that all religions are equally true. There has to be a balance between universalism and hospitality on one side, and election and exclusivity on the other. We believe that our Catholic faith has given us a special gift of the truth, but we can still learn from other faiths.

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR 2008-09 CHRISTIAN FORMATION are available at the entryways to church. Please fill in the Family information section completely. If your child was not registered in our program this year, please submit a Baptism record, unless the Baptism took place at St. Peter Church. Call Jake at 669-5134, or e-mail stpetercf@comcast.net  if you have any questions.

TEACHERS NEEDED: If you would be interested in helping with weekly dismissals of K-3 during Mass, or at our once-a-month Generations of Faith sessions, please call Jake at 669-5134, or e-mail to stpetercf@comcast.net , and Jake will be in touch with you.

Is your marriage tearing you apart? Call Retrouvaille at 1-800-470-2230 or go to www.retrouvaille.org