COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE + NOVEMBER 2, 2008
FAITHFUL DEPARTED (ALL SOUL’S DAY)
On the Way....
Preamble We The People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity; do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. September 17, 1787
Article I Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States...
Article I Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State.....for six years and each Senator shall have one vote.
Article II Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term...
So this coming Tuesday the words of this document will be played out by citizens who will go to the voting booth, and translate into action the very concepts envisioned in the Constitution. I have felt a growing cynicism in politicians over the past several years, so I brought myself back to the founding documents to remember and rekindle those things I learned as a child during my Civics Class in Catholic elementary school.
The more I read the history of our country and the insight, intelligence and sacrifice of our founders, the more do I purify my intentions that what I will do, this Tuesday, November 4, keeps the hope of our ancestors alive.
Also On the Way....Monsignor Molan, Father Babineau and I wish to thank all the organizers and participants of the Appreciation of Priesthood Celebration held last Sunday. We also thank the Christian Formation teachers who brought the idea of priesthood to the children in their charge...they each wrote a charming and innocent little message to us. They moved us deeply. Thank you to all of you.
PARISH NURSE: Friday from 7:30-10:00 am.
Weekly Offertory: $5,367.37
MY SACRIFICIAL GIVING: Our possessions cannot own us; eternal life is what is important, not how much we have on earth. Do I let my possessions become too important, and lose track of what really matters? Or do I share what I have with those who are in need?
MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE this weekend is for the benefit of the Sonshine Soup Kitchen in Derry. Items most needed are fruit juice, paper towels, napkins, 9" sturdy paper or styrofoam plates, green beans, tomato sauce.
CONFIRMATION I & II - Class Sunday, November 2, from 12:00-1:00 pm (following the 11:00 am Mass).
NOVEMBER GENERATIONS OF FAITH:
St. Peter Church - November 16 from 4:00-6:00 pm. There is NO Generations of Faith session at St. Paul in November.
GROUP WORK CAMP: Many thanks to all who contributed baked goods, and who bought our baked goods! We made $640!
CHOIR REHEARSAL: Wednesdays, Nov. 5 & 19, at 7:00 pm.
PLEASE NOTE: The new e-mail address for our Prayer Line is crichard51@verizon.net
HAM AND BEAN SUPPER: Sat., Nov. 8, following the 4:00 pm Mass. Sponsored by our Knights of Columbus. Come and meet some of your Knights and enjoy a supper. Suggested Donation $6. This will benefit their General Charity Fund.
TO ALL LECTORS, SPECIAL MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST, AND ALTAR SERVERS: The December-May schedule is in the works. If you no longer wish to continue in your ministry, please notify Shirley at 623-5429 or e-mail to stpeteraub@comcast.net NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 7. Thank you.
BAPTISMS: We welcomed the following into the parish community through the Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, October 26: Ella Dionne, daughter of Robert and Crystal;
Cora Quintana, daughter of Rolando and Nicole; Cali Lockwood, daughter of Anthony and Heather.
THIS SUNDAY, NOV. 2, at the 11:00 am Mass we remember in a special way all those whose funeral was held from St. Peter Church since last November. Their names have been added to our BOOK OF LIFE, which is on display in the back of church until November 23. (There are some blank pages in the back of the book for those of you who would like to add names of deceased loved ones to be remembered at all Masses through Nov.23.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION: There are several families who have not re-registered their children for our Christian Formation program. If this is due to financial hardship, and you feel you cannot afford the tuition for Christian Formation, please do not let this keep you from continuing your child’s faith formation. We can waive the tuition fee, and all requests will be strictly confidential. Please call Jake Linxweiler at 669-5134, or e-mail him at stpetercf@comcast.net
Prayer Reflection for National Elections:
Dear God, we cherish our rights in this country.
Help us to remember always that rights are meaningless without responsibilities.
When we vote in our national elections this week, inspire our consciences in our choices for leaders. Remind us that more money in our pockets cannot compensate neglect of the common good. Guide us to choose our leaders not based on image, voice, polish or party, but upon how well the chosen leader will govern according to your will. May we choose a leader, most of all, who will act responsibility to protect the rights of those most helpless and unprotected. Amen.
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A LETTER FROM THE BISHOP
Dear Friends in Christ: On November 4th we will vote for a new President and for congressional and state leaders. I ask that all Catholics bear in mind our personal responsibility to be faithful citizens and consider the following three points:
1. Please vote - these are momentous times in our nation’s and world’s history. As Catholics, we possess values that contribute to the good of our nation. We owe it to our nation to exercise our right and responsibility to vote on Nov. 4.
2. Please take time to prepare to vote - Study and apply Catholic social teaching, especially the seven themes highlighted in Conscience and Your Vote: the right to life and dignity of the human person; call to family, community and participation; rights and responsibilities to others; preferential option for the poor and vulnerable; the opportunity to work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and caring for God’s creation.
3. Please vote your conscience - do not be swayed by personality or partisan arguments; trust that God’s Spirit will guide you in making sound moral choices in the voting booth. As bishop, I consider this to be a significant time in our nation’s history for us all to vote in light of a conscience formed by church teaching, the Bible, and our responsibility to love others as Christ does. On behalf of all who will benefit from your good decisions on November 4th, I thank you.
Sincerely, Bishop John B. McCormack, Bishop of Manchester
MASS INTENTIONS
Nov. 3, Mon. 7:00 am Souls in Purgatory by S.M.
Nov. 4, Tue. 7:00 am Richard Thomas by Dorothy Boisvert
Nov. 5, Wed. 7:00 am Penny Thibeault (Anniversary Mass) by her parents
Nov. 7, Fri. 7:00 am To end abortions, from parishioners
Nov. 8, Sat. 4:00 pm John & Elizabeth Kunce by their son, John
Nov. 9, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
Nov. 9, Sun. 11:00 am Roberta Baril by Hank and Louise Deshaies
REFLECTIONS OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9
Second Reading: Romans 6:3-9
Gospel: John 6:37-40
Jesus is the source of eternal life for all of those who believe in him. The Father sent him into the world so that we might know how much God loves us. God has chosen us to share his eternal life and has entrusted us into Jesus’ hands. He will not lose any of us, but He will raise us upon the last day. There are two forms of eternal life in this Gospel. The first is the life that we are already experiencing as soon as we accept Jesus into our lives. The second is the eternal life we will experience when we rise from the dead.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What are my thoughts about my own death?
I must not think about it in a morbid way, but rather in a way that reflects the Christian Faith, that Jesus not only died, but that He also rose from the dead. If I believe in Him, then I believe that He will bring me to His heavenly home to live forever. Parents should not be afraid to talk about this with their children. Give them a short sentence, let them absorb it, make sure they understand, ask them for their questions and then proceed to the next level of understanding.