TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME + OCTOBER 19, 2008

On the Way....

40 Days for Life has come to New Hampshire. Since September 24, 2008, hundreds of people have prayed, fasted and kept peaceful vigil at the Planned Parenthood Offices and Clinic on Pennacook Street (near Elm) in Manchester, and at other places in New Hampshire where abortions are counseled and performed. I have taken time to participate. A couple of weeks ago, for instance, I decided to participate in prayerful and peaceful vigil at Planned Parenthood, after the 7 am Mass here at St. Peter. I arrived a few minutes before 8 am and found I was in the company of a woman from St. Paul Parish. We walked together up and down the sidewalk (this is by no means a protest or a "sit-in") and prayed the rosary. About 15 minutes later I was alone and continued my vigil. About this time many workers were arriving at the site. And then the reality began to sink into my heart: two or three cars approached with middle-aged men and a young female passenger. The girls always looked sad and the men seemed very serious. At one point, one of the young women looked at me and I returned what I hoped was a concerned, not condemning, look, and she slowly averted her eyes. I continued my walk up and down the sidewalk in the warm sun . There was increased activity around the building. A janitor changed an outside light bulb. Cars went up and down the street and I guess I caught their eye. And I came to realize that most everyone who came to the property, or worked there, or lived nearby and even passers-by, know exactly what takes place there. My prayer deepened. It seemed to me like I was in some sort of "twilight zone", in a type of "cocoon" , where people passed around me. I was wearing my clerical collar but I was not carrying a sign. I suppose you could say I was a sign, a silent one, who, without a word, reminded many that human life is sacred. At around 9 am a group of women arrived to begin their vigil. I took the occasion to temporarily interrupt my vigil and returned to Auburn. I will return. Even though there is a memory that will echo in my mind for a long time to come, I became aware that I was likely the only one who was silently crying to God to let the violence stop. If we do not do it, who will?

Also On the Way.... you are welcome to take home one of the brochures entitled "Conscience and the Catholic Voter" found at the entryways to church. We hope this will assist you in prayerfully casting your vote on November 4. We can all influence the "culture of life".

MY SACRIFICIAL GIVING:

Each year at tax time, we conscientiously give "to Caesar what belongs to Caesar". Does my stewardship indicate that I am as faithful about giving "to God what belongs to God"?

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

Weekly Offertory: $4,485.

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY is this weekend. This appeal, also called the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside every year by the Holy Father and organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for Catholics worldwide. It is to help all of us recommit ourselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and financial support. The Society provides support for the pastoral and evangelizing programs of the Church in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and remote regions of Latin America. This important work relies on the prayers and financial support of all Catholics to answer to Christ’s call to "Go teach all nations." Visit www.worldmissions-catholicchurch.org  for more information. Please be generous.

 

 

STEWARDSHIP REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER, 2008

Our offertory for September totaled $20,292.82. The tithe of $2,029, added to the carryover of $801, totaled $2,830. We sent $500 to each Soup Kitchen: New Horizons of NH, Sonshine Soup Kitchen of Derry, and Kid’s Cafe, (Salvation Army), which left a balance of $1,330 to be carried over to October. Our young parishioners donated $44, one-half of which was sent to NH Catholic Charities for St. Charles Childrens’ Home, and one-half to our own offertory.

 

OUR FIRST GENERATIONS OF FAITH FOR GRADES 4-10, AND THEIR PARENTS is this Sunday, October 19, from 4:00-6:00 pm.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS those who died last week, and especially Victoria Goss, former parishioner, and Bro. Richard Dube of the Alexian Order, who was the brother of Loretta Ouellette of this parish.

ST. PETER CHURCH WOMEN’S GUILD: The next meeting is Tuesday, October 28th, at 7 pm. We will have a guest speaker for the evening. Ladies are encouraged to bring in any ideas that they may have for our November Craft Night. Also, the minutes from the September meeting are on the table at the front entryway to the church.

 

OCTOBER IS THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY: You are invited to pray the rosary on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm, throughout the month of October. We are dedicating each week’s Rosary to "40 days for life". This would be one way that you could participate in the "40 days for life". Come and pray to end abortion in our country.

CHOIR PRACTICE: Wed., Oct. 22, 7-8:30 pm in church. Come join us as we "make a joyful noise unto the Lord"! For further information, please contact Helene at 668-4386.

40 Days for Life in New Hampshire!!!! September 24- November 2, 2008

Can you join the nation in prayer, fasting and peaceful witness for 40 days to end abortion? Can you pray for life each day? Can you give up TV or dessert and offer the sacrifice for the unborn? Can you pray at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Manchester at 24 Pennacook St? We NEED you! Your prayers could save a life! In Buffalo, NY last year, 300 people prayed at the abortion clinic. During the 40 days, 30 lives were saved! www.40daysforlife.com Contact Julie at jlaugh@aspi.net  or Jeanne at 472-3003 Be not afraid!

FROM RESPECT LIFE..Commenting on the political poison unleashed by Roe v. Wade, abortion-supporting columnist Charles Krauthammer notes that this decision disenfranchised instantly and without recourse an enormous part of the American population, preventing the proper political settlement of the issue by the people and their representatives. Roe v. Wade makes the U.S. the only Western nation to have legalized abortion by judicial fiat rather than by the popular will expressed democratically. (National Right to Life News, November/05)

Jesus Quest: A Scripture Retreat for women ages 18 and up. "Come apart and rest a while"; allow the Lord to refresh you. The retreat will be Friday, October 31st at 7 pm until Sunday, November 2nd at 1 pm, at Our Lady of Hope House of Prayer in New Ipswich, NH. The suggested donation is $75 - $130 as able. The registration deadline is October 24th. Please contact Sr. Lorraine Aucoin, at 668-1791 or srlorrainea@yahoo.com .

LADIES OF ST. ANNE SOCIETY OF ST. ANTHONY PARISH will be having their annual Christmas Fair, the weekend of Nov. 1 & 2, at St. Anthony Community Center, 148 Belmont St., Manchester. Penny Sale, Bake Sale, etc. See notice on bulletin board for listing of all activities.

 

MASS INTENTIONS

Oct. 20, Mon. 7:00 am Richard Thomas by Pauline Heckathorne

Oct. 21, Tue. 7:00 am Rose Benoit by Vivian Dumont

Oct. 22, Wed. 7:00 am Sabastien Corenier by Blandine

Oct. 25, Sat. 4:00 pm Eugene "Buzz" Gabert by his family

Oct. 26, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

Oct. 26, Sun. 11:00 am Deceased members of the Labbe family by Mr. & Mrs. Jean-Paul Labbe

 

REFLECTIONS OF THE WEEK

First Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees and the Herodians (scholars are not entirely sure who they were) had already decided that Jesus was dangerous, and they wanted to trap Him in a misstatement that would get Him into trouble. If Jesus answered that they should pay their taxes to Caesar, then the Jews of Israel, who judged the Romans to be an occupying power, would be opposed to Jesus. If, on the other hand, Jesus were to answer that they should not pay taxes, then they could accuse him of opposing Roman authority and they could denounce Him to the Roman procurator. Jesus understood the trap that they had set for Him. Ironically, they said they were approaching Jesus with this question because they considered Him to be a truthful man. They were not concerned with the truth at all. The only thing that interested them was subterfuge. Hence, Jesus responds with an answer that confounds them - they should give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.

 

REFLECTION OF THE WEEK

In the beginning of his letter to the people of Thessalonica, St. Paul gives thanks. In fact, his gratitude goes on for the three first chapters of this letter! During the Autumn Season our thoughts also turn to thanksgiving: we live in a free country, we vote, we are surrounded in the beauty of nature, we have freedom of speech, we have bounty on our tables, we rejoice in our children and our parents, etc.

 

ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK

Read today’s excerpt from St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians from your family Bible and try to imitate St. Paul in making up your own personal or family "List of things that other people make me thankful for".

 

 

HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY, a private school in Manchester, provides a classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition for students in grades 7-12. The Academy will hold an Open House, Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2 pm. See flyer on bulletin board.