SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 7, 2008
On the Way....
Advent is the season of Hope. This is one of the three "theological" virtues, along with Faith and Love: they are direct gifts from God. The "hope" we have in Advent can have several aspects, but a common theme, especially from the Prophet Isaiah, refers to "cutting back" and "pruning" so that a new shoot will grow. One way to celebrate this pruning and cleansing is to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation: to cleanse and cut back, knowing that nothing will be lost and that new life will thrive. You are invited to present yourself for Confession this Advent Season. In addition to the regular Saturday time slot (3:00-3:30 pm), Father Babineau and I will be available on Monday evening, December 15 and 22, at 6:30 pm in the church.
Also On the Way.... we celebrate the Patroness of our nation tomorrow, the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 am and 6:30 pm.
Also On the Way.... is the reminder of the gifts for the Salvation Army’s Kid’s Cafe and the Maple Leaf Nursing Home, as well as Christmas greetings to our shut-ins. This information is available on the green sheets, which were distributed with last week’s bulletin, and can also be found at the entrances to church.
PARISH NURSE: Friday from 7:30-10:00 am.
Weekly Offertory: $5,535.54
Next weekend is the annual appeal for Retired Religious of the Diocese. Share in the Care www.retiredreligious.org Religious give thanks. "When my eyes came to the enclosed check, I immediately prayed a "Glory Be" and was practically moved to tears," wrote an abbot at an Oklahoma monastery for benefits received from The Retirement Fund for Religious. Please give generously to next week’s appeal, which
benefits the many deserving religious who served our diocese, past and present, and who now need our help meeting the overwhelming
costs of elder care.
MY SACRIFICIAL GIVING: We are the servants of God, each with his or her own task. We will be judged good stewards if, at His coming, He finds us ready and conscientiously pursuing the tasks to which we have been called.
MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE this weekend is for the benefit of the N.H. Food Bank. With the downturn in the state of the economy, more people are needing assistance and fewer people are donating food. The situation is critical. The items needed most are canned vegetables, soups and canned meats, peanut butter and cereals. If everyone just donated one or two items it would go a long way to helping the Food Bank meet the demand for assistance. Thank you for anything you can donate.
GENERATIONS OF FAITH: Next session at St. Peter Church is Sunday, December 14, from 4:00-6:00 pm.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY: December 8 is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses are Monday at 7:00 am and 6:30 pm at St. Peter Church. There is a 7:00 pm Mass at St. Paul Church on Dec. 8.
BAPTISMS: We welcomed Mackenzie Ann Nugent, daughter of Robert and Sandra, to our parish community through the Sacrament of Baptism last Sunday, November 30.
GROUP WORK CAMP has openings for teens interested in going on our June, 2009, Mission. Are you looking for community service hours for Confirmation? If you are between 14 & 18 years old and would like more information, please call Laura Lambert 483-5125.
Christmas Tree Lighting Mark your calendars! On December 12, Friday, at 6:30 pm, you are invited to the 5th annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Auburn Historical Museum, 102 Hooksett Rd., Auburn. Carols will be led by local singers. Refreshments will be served. Please bring a flash light!
ST. PETER CHURCH WOMEN’S GUILD: Our monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, at 7:00 pm, Conference Room. We will be doing our annual Christmas Party, with a Yankee Swap & Cookie Swap. Donation of Cookies will also be made to Girls, Inc. The minutes of the November meeting are on the table at the rear of the Church.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT FOR NOVEMBER, 2008
Our offertory for November was $29,735.54 (5 weeks). Our tithe of $2,973, added to our carryover of $1,835 from October, was donated as follows:
New Horizons, Kid’s Cafe, Sonshine Soup Kitchen ($400 each): $1,200
Auburn Volunteer Fire Department: $ 300
Open Hearts HIV/Aids Fund: $ 200
NH Food Bank: $1,000
The Santa Fund, Salvation Army: $ 300
The balance of $1,808 will be carried over to our December tithe.
Our young parishioners donations totaled $58, one-half of which was donated to NH Catholic Charities for St. Charles Home and one-half to our offertory.
CHOIR REHEARSALS: Dec. 10 & 17 from 7:00-8:30 pm in church.
ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE:
St. Anthony Church, Dec. 14, Sunday, at 2:00 pm. Ten priests will be available to hear confessions. All are welcome.
Is your marriage tearing you apart? Call Retrouvaille at 1-800-470-2230 or go to www.retrouvaille.org
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The Annual Breakfast with Santa will be held at the Auburn School Cafeteria on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 8 to 11 am. Santa will be the special guest so bring your camera for a great photo opportunity. All proceeds will go to the Friends of the Griffin Library. For further information please call the Library @483-5374
OUR LADY OF LASALETTE SHRINE: Christmas Lights, 50th year! December 5 to 31, 5 to 9 pm. 417 NH Route 4A, Enfield, NH Tel. 632-7087 See flyer on bulletin board.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES REPORT:
As of November 12, 2008:
Cash received: $27,887.63
Balance Due on Pledges: $400.85
Total: $28,288.48
Goal set for our Parish: $33,000.
MASS INTENTIONS
Dec. 8, Mon. 7:00 am Irene Noury by George and Sue Mercier
Dec. 8, Mon. 6:30 pm Joanne Czachor (19th Ann.) by the family
Dec. 9, Tue. 7:00 am Denise Gallagher by the family
Dec. 10, Wed. 7:00 am Henri and Amanda Dupont by Lucille
Dec. 13, Sat. 4:00 pm Donat Ouellette by Alice and Irene
Dec. 14, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
Dec. 14, Sun. 11:00 am Deceased members of the Labbe family by Mr. & Mrs. Jean-Paul Labbe
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Mark speaks of John the Baptist as being a new Elijah who would prepare the ways of the Lord and make straight the paths before him. He would preach conversion to the people of Israel so that they would be able to open their hearts to Jesus when he arrived. John practiced a baptism of conversion that cleansed the people of their sins. This might have been a practice that John learned in Qumran, a community of celibate monks near the Dead Sea that was awaiting the Day of the Lord. They practiced ceremonial ablutions to purify themselves from their sins. Yet, while John practiced this type of baptism, he also pointed to another type of Baptism. This new Baptism not only washed us free of our sins but also gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who makes us children of God, heirs to the Kingdom of God, and brothers and sisters of Jesus. This is the meaning of our Christian Baptism.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN
How do I prepare the Way of the Lord?
It took at least a couple of years and thousands of dollars to rebuild Candia Road from the Massabesic Circle to Route 93. It need not take that long for me to build a road towards Jesus, and it certainly will cost less. But it is much more important to get to God than to get to Route 93. The work involved, however, can be as difficult as digging the ditches and laying the pipes and culverts, the crushed rock and asphalt. To prepare the Way of the Lord I must go out of my own way, dig deep into my human resources, accept that I might have do work hard and "get dirty", in order to improve my relationship with Him and others.