FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT + MARCH 22, 2009
On the Way.....
Half way through Lent is a good opportunity to review what we intended at the beginning of the Season.
1- I will abstain from meat every Friday of Lent, as the Church precept requires.
2- I will take one or two minutes each day to pray to God, thanking Him for the people in my life who love me and then asking Him to forgive those who wrong me and help me to forgive them.
3- I will privately examine myself on how I can improve at least one of my relationships.
If I have not been faithful to my resolutions, there is no need to get discouraged, I just start today. If I have consumed meat on a Friday, then I will abstain this Friday. If I forgot my prayers one two or three days, then I re-start them today. If the relationship I hoped to work on has not improved, now is the time to reconsider.
This is also the time to consider the Sacrament of Reconciliation. CONFESSIONS: In addition to the regular weekly schedule from 3:00-3:30 pm every Saturday afternoon, there will be a large Penance Service at St. Anthony Church in Manchester on Sunday, March 29, at 2 pm. Also, for the next two Monday evenings (March 23 and 30), Father Babineau and Fr. Dumont will be available in church at 6:30 pm for individual confessions. If you desire to present yourself outside of these times, you are free to contact Fr. Dumont or another priest to set up a private time and appointment.
SACRIFICIAL GIVING All that we have and all that we are comes from the Lord. "We are truly His handiwork," says St. Paul in the second reading, "Created in Christ Jesus to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in advance."
PARISH NURSE: Due to medical issues, our parish nurse will be unavailable until further notice. Watch the bulletin for the return date.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $6,108
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", along with your name and envelope number, and this donation will be added to your contribution records.
EASTER FLOWERS: If you would like to donate toward our Easter flowers in memory of a loved one, please put your donation ($10 suggested) in an envelope, with the person’s name, and "from". Names will be published in the Easter bulletin. (PLEASE PRINT!)
CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Dismissals for K-3 at all Masses.
GENERATIONS OF FAITH: Our final session is April 5, Palm Sunday, from 4-6 pm.
WELCOME TO NEWLY-REGISTERED PARISHIONERS Richard and Kim Oberlin, and daughter Olivia; Kevin Padden, Jr.; Elizabeth Goldsmith.
GROUP WORK CAMP 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!!!
ST. PETER CHURCH WOMEN’S GUILD: Our next meeting is March 24, Tuesday, at 7:00 pm, Conference Room. Helene Belanger will give a discussion on "Spiritual Direction for 21st Century Women" to coincide with the Lenten Season. Women of the parish are invited to attend.
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 Wednesday, March 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!
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, 7am to 7 pm: www.40daysforlife.com/manchester
Your prayers could save a life.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, ALTAR SERVERS, LECTORS: If you would like to serve on Holy Thursday, Easter Vigil, or Easter morning services, please call Shirley at 623-5429.
CHOIR REHEARSAL: Wednesdays, March 25 and April 1, from 7-8:30 in church.
Healing the Wounds of Abortion…
The NH Catholic Charities Project Rachel program offers counseling, reconciliation, and support services for individuals and their families who have experienced the pain of abortion. This program provides a means for people to begin the healing process and experience reconciliation with the Church. It presents a caring, hopeful approach towards peace with the parents, the unborn child, the family, the church, and God. You are not alone..NH Catholic Charities can help. Call us today at 669-3030.
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.
AMOSKEAG DEANERY EAST LENTEN RECONCILIATION SERVICE: St. Anthony Church, 172 Belmont St., Manchester. Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 pm. Ten priests will be available to hear confessions. All are welcome.
St. Joseph Regional Jr. High School
and Trinity High School: Auction Gala and Beer & Wine Tasting, Friday, April 3, at 7:00 pm
at Trinity High School, 581 Bridge Street,
Manchester. Advance ticket purchase is $25; night of Event at the door is $30. Please join us for a wonderful evening of wine tasting, tasty food, Silent & Live auctions, raffles and more. For more information or to purchase your tickets (Credit card payments accepted) call Linda Goodno at 603-624-4811, email at lngoodno@yahoo.com or mail in your payment to St. Joseph Regional Jr. High School, 460 Pine St., Manchester, NH 03104
Attn: Linda Goodno
CARE-NET PREGNANCY CENTER of Manchester and Nashua is hosting its annual Walkathon on May 9, the day before Mother’s Day. Registration is at 9:30 am at Veterans’ Memorial Park, Elm St., Manchester, with the walk to begin at 10:15 am. Call 623-5534 for more information.
MASS INTENTIONS
March 23, Mon. 7:00 am Edward Frisella by Vivian Dumont
March 24, Tue. 12:00 pm Edward Frisella by Fred and Bobbi Frisella
March 25, Wed. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant
March 28, Sat. 4:00 pm Richard Thomas by Celia Stone
March 29, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
March 29, Sun. 11:00 am Raymond Gallant by his wife, Patricia
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Second Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel: John 3:14-21
This passage comes from the second half of Jesus' discourse with Nicodemus. Jesus speaks of the Son of Man being lifted up. This phrase is ambiguous in Greek and can refer either to His being lifted up on the cross or to His being lifted up in the ascension into heaven. The message being presented is that we have all but killed ourselves through our sin, and now the only way we can be saved is by looking up at Jesus who died for us and having faith in Him (believing in His love).
This love is not something new. God never wanted to condemn us. That is the point of Jesus coming into the world: to reveal to us how much God truly loves us. But we have to choose to accept and live in that love. Those who do not accept that love have already condemned themselves (because now they will have to live outside of God's love). Those who accept that love have already received their reward (the possibility of living in that love).
FROM RESPECT LIFE.....An Oregon court recently decided that a woman had the right to kill frozen embryos as part of the property in a divorce settlement. Commented a Catholic Medical Association physician, "It’s where the culture of death has led our society - through the courts - to truly devalue human life." The Southern Cross, November, 2008
SPRING FLING DANCE ‘09: Saturday, April 25, 8 to 11 pm, Ste. Marie’s Parish Gym, Cartier St. Manchester. Snacks provided, BYOB, Adults 21+. Tickets are $8 for singles, $15 per couple, and $10 at the door per person. Tickets available at the Ste. Marie Bookstore. Music by Doug Boucher.
BISHOP BRADY HIGH SCHOOL: A Catholic School - A Caring Community: Having trouble finding a high school program that truly prepares your child for a successful future? Bishop Brady offers today’s students a rigorous college-preparatory education at 1/3 the cost of other area private day schools. Open House Saturday, April 4, 10:00 am, at 25 Columbus Ave., Concord, NH. For more information, call 224-7419.