SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT + MARCH 8, 2009
On the Way.....
Our parish Pastoral Council at this time of year experiences its annual turnover. There are nine members plus the pastor and, at this time, one ex-officio member, Mr. Jacob Linxweiler. The other 9 members of the Council serve on a 3-year rotation. Each year three new members are seated, one representing a standing group in the parish (Christian Formation Program, Liturgy Committee and Finance Council), one appointed by the pastor and a third from the parish at large. For many years the at large selection process has been held by discernment of parishioners who desire to serve. For the next three years Mr. Tom Gregoire will represent the Finance Council. Also entering a 3-year term is Mrs. Linda Bouchard who was discerned from the parish at large last year and was confirmed by the Pastoral Council at its last meeting. Mr. Mark Somerville will serve three years as the member appointed by the pastor. These three join existing members Marie King, Mary Ann Moser and Yvette Beland, whose terms expire in 2010, as well as Ken Robinson, Kathryn Rogers and Deborah Raiche, whose terms expire in 2011. Mary Tapp and Richard Guillemette are finishing their terms and we thank them for their service. The next meeting of the Pastoral Council is on Tuesday, April 14, when the incoming and outgoing members will be present.
I take this opportunity to thank all members of this body who meet regularly and who consult together on the direction of St. Peter Parish. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to speak to any of the members of the Council.
SACRIFICIAL GIVING: Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. St. Paul reminds us that God Himself "did not spare his own Son." Are my gifts to the Lord - of my resources, of my time, of myself - also sacrificial?
PARISH NURSE: Due to medical issues, our parish nurse will be unavailable until further notice. Kathy hopes to return after Easter. Watch the bulletin for the return date.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $6,290
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES/HOME MISSIONS: $739
RICE BOWLS: Rice Bowls and accompanying leaflet are available in the pews this weekend. At the end of Lent, we would ask that you submit a check for the amount in your Rice Bowl, made payable to St. Peter Church, and place it in a plain envelope marked "Rice Bowl", and this donation will be added to your contribution records.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Dismissals for K-3 at all Masses.
GENERATIONS OF FAITH: Sunday, March 15, from 4:00-6:00 pm, in church. TEACHERS’ MEETING: Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 pm, downstairs Conference Room.
FIRST EUCHARIST PARENTS’ MEETING: Final Session Monday, March 9, 7:00 pm, Parish Hall.
PARISH DIRECTORIES: If you had your picture taken for the Directory, and have not yet received your booklet, call Shirley at 623-5429 to make arrangements. Thank you.
HELP NEEDED! Our Group Work Camp trip is scheduled for June 28-July 4, 2009 in Port Jervis, NY. We have one chaperone signed up already who went to Port Jervis in 2007, but we still need 2 more adult chaperones to make the trip with us. Carpentry skills are not necessary. All you need is a desire to serve teens! The week will enrich your life and bring you closer to God, just as it does for the teens who go. We can't make the trip without chaperones, so please consider donating a week of your time. Please contact Laura Lambert at 483-5125 or Linda Bouchard at 483-0560. Thank you.
GROUP WORK CAMPERS MEETING: This Sunday, March 8, at 7:00 pm, Parish Hall.
DONATIONS: If you would like to donate to the Group Work Campers, please put your check in a separate envelope in the collection basket with your name on it, and your donation will be posted to your records for income tax purposes. Any way you can help would be much appreciated by these hard-working teens!!!
Our Lenten Journey...come share your faith with a small group of parishioners as we pray over the Sunday readings during Lent. We will gather together to read and reflect on the upcoming Sunday readings on Wednesdays, March 11 and 25, from 7-8:30 pm, in the Parish Hall.(Materials provided.) For more information, please contact Helene Belanger at 668-4386. All are welcome!
STEWARDSHIP REPORT FOR FEBRUARY, 2009
Our offertory for February totaled $22,539.79. Our tithe of $2,253, added to the carryover from January of $200, totals $2,453, which was donated as follows:
New Horizons Soup Kitchen: $400.
Sonshine Soup Kitchen: $400.
Kid’s Cafe, Salvation Army: $400.
The balance of $1,253 will be carried over to the March tithe. Our young parishioners donated $25, one half of which was sent to NH Catholic Charities for St. Charles Children’s Home, and one half to our offertory.
40 Days For Life
You can make a difference in your own community! The nationwide campaign of prayer, fasting and witness to end abortion began Ash Wednesday, February 25, and will go to April 5. Sign up for the peaceful vigil at Planned Parenthood , 24 Pennacook St, Manchester, NH, 7am to 7pm: www.40daysforlife.com/manchester
Your prayers could save a life.
St. Joseph Regional Jr. High School, 460 Pine Street, Manchester, is accepting registrations for the 2009-2010 School Year. For a registration packet and/or more information, please call the school office at 624-4811.
OUR PARISH LIBRARY has numerous books and videos available for spiritual enrichment. We have placed some suggested resources for Lent out on the small bookshelf in the vestibule and there are many more titles available on the shelves in the Reconciliation Room. Please feel free to help yourself (don’t forget to fill out the card with your name and phone number and place it in the box provided).
ARE YOU A CAREGIVER TO AN ELDERLY PARENT OR FRIEND? NH Catholic Charities is offering an 8-week workshop on Mondays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6, 13, 20 and 27. The group will meet from 4:30-6:30 pm at Mt. Carmel Healthcare Center, 235 Myrtle St., Manchester. We will discuss personal responsibilities, setting healthy boundaries within the caregiving relationship, physical and emotional changes involved in aging, and legal and financial resources. Registration at the first meeting, $65. for individuals, $75. couples (fee negotiable). Contact NH Catholic Charities at 624-4717.
SOCK DRIVE sponsored by Brownie Troop 20256. They are asking people to donate new and clean gently used socks to give to needy people. We have put a box in the entryway to church to collect these donations. We will be collecting donations through May 17th. Thank you for helping us to contribute to our community.
MASS INTENTIONS
March 8, Mon. 7:00 am Barbara Joyce by George and Sue Mercier
March 9, Tue. 12:00 pm Lorraine Samson by her family
March 10, Wed. 7:00 am Edith Baroody (1st anniv) by her son
March 14, Sat. 4:00 pm Mary and Stanley Kusznir by their children
March 15, Sun. 8:00 am Richard Thomas by Maureen Laforge
March 15, Sun. 11:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Second Reading: Romans 8:31b-34
Gospel: Mark 9:2-10
We are also given moments similar to that which the disciples experienced on Mount Tabor. We receive moments of insight during which everything makes sense. We feel at one with God and everything that God created. These moments of insight are called "numinous" experiences.
As with the Transfiguration, these numinous experiences do not last all that long. We wish they would last longer, but like the disciples' experience, we must return to everyday life. Still, having had those moments of insight, we can find the strength and hope to continue on our way.
Thomas More College in Merrimack, NH is awarding $120,000 to incoming Freshmen who win the Faith and Reason essay contest. After reading Pope Benedict XVI’s Regensberg Address of 2006 as well as the address to educators at CUA in 2008, applicants are invited to submit an essay of 2 to 3 pages in answer to the question: "How should the student display courage and engage the whole breadth of reason?" For more information go to www.thomasmorecollege.edu or contact Jessica Rock at (800) 880-8308. admissions@thomasmorecollege.edu Deadline is March 15.
AMOSKEAG DEANERY EAST LENTEN RECONCILIATION SERVICE: St. Anthony Church, 172 Belmont St., Manchester. March 29, at 2:00 pm. Ten priests will be available to hear confessions. All are welcome