SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER + MAY 24, 2009
On the Way....
I just finished reading a trilogy about life in 14th century Norway. I realized that in so many ways things had not changed much between Oslo in 1340 and Nashua, NH, in 1959. Many of the beliefs and traditions resounded with me. Stories and practices and customs evoked in me something I could relate to. The same cannot be said for the past 50 years or so. What was able to last for over 6 centuries has not been carried into the past 5 decades. So, in a real sense, we live in a different world. When I experience young parishioners asking questions about things they have never known, I realize they are making attempts to root themselves. The world we have brought them into does not appreciate its rootedness. We are a society that often desacralizes and secularizes, many truths that kept society more sane and stable.
And so, the other day, I e-mailed a few thoughts to Governor Lynch on a controversial bill. It really has not been debated. One wonders if it is really about constitutional rights. It reminded me that a young girl must get her parents to approve her donation to the Red Cross of a pint of blood, but can step into several clinics in our area, without her parent’s knowledge, to be counseled into an abortion and receive it, often free of charge. Many of you have spent much energy in fighting these battles. Unfortunately your actions and our prayers and letter-writing have not been successful. In fact, some are concluding that not only have the battles failed, but the entire war has been lost.
So, On the Way.... I am proud to belong to a Church that will be a prophet to all who would listen, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived and spoke and taught the dignity of life and the value of love. The Church will continue to be a prophet about sacred and timeless truths, even though the majority of people in our "enlightened" societies do not understand, much less believe them.
From the office of the Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester
Catholic Church in New Hampshire’s Response to Concerns Regarding Swine Flu
In light of current concerns about the spread of the swine flu, the Catholic Church in New Hampshire is taking the following temporary precautions during Masses and other celebrations:
Bishop John McCormack reminds parishioners who feel ill to stay at home and refrain from attendance at Church celebrations until they are fully recovered.
The faithful are encouraged to share the Sign of Peace without touching hands or kissing. This can be done verbally and with a bow of the head.
The faithful are strongly urged to receive Communion in their hands, and not on their tongue.
The consecrated wine will not be shared until further notice.
Priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must wash their hands before Mass begins and are encouraged to use an alcohol-based anti-bacterial solution before and after distributing Holy Communion
Greeters and ushers will use verbal greetings only and not shake hands with parishioners.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $4,947
Catholic Communications: $588
SACRIFICIAL GIVING: Jesus is the perfect steward - watching carefully over all who had been entrusted to Him by the Father and then sending them all out into the world in service. May I similarly protect and wisely use the gifts entrusted to me!
CAR WASH: Our Group Work Campers will be having a Car Wash on Sat., May 30, from 10 am to 2 pm, next door at Sandy’s Variety Store. Rain date is Sun., May 31.
BANNS OF MARRIAGE II William Rebello - Amy Croto
CHOIR REHEARSAL: May 27, 7:00-8:30 pm, in church.
MEMORIAL DAY: When you visit a cemetery, remember not only those in your family who have died, but look around and salute the flags that decorate our Veterans’ graves.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION: Our Christian Formation programs have concluded for the 2008-09 year. Registration forms for 2009-10 can be found at the entrances to church, and also on our website. (Go to www.stpeteraub.org and click on "Bulletin" and the link to the form comes right up - print a copy of the form, fill it out completely, and place in the collection basket, or mail to us.) Registration does NOT roll over from year to year. You need to re-register! Please register this Spring for the Fall programs! If your child is new to the program, please submit a Baptism Certificate, if not baptized at St. Peter Church.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS those who died last week, and especially Henry Barbeau, father of parishioner Jacqueline Bienvenue, and Roger Godbout, father of parishioner Diane Dame.
JEWELRY FOUND! A piece of jewelry was found in our parking lot three weeks ago. Please call Shirley at 623-5429 to describe and claim.
MAY DEVOTIONS: The Rosary will be prayed on the Tuesdays of May, at 6:30 pm in church, to honor Our Blessed Mother.
MEMORIAL DAY MASS: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester, Monday, May 25, at 9:00 am. (Outdoors at the Calvary.) In case of inclement weather, Mass will be held at Ste. Marie Church, 378 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester. 100 Nights of Remembrance Opening Ceremony immediately following Mass, a Tribute to our Veterans buried in the cemetery. Flowers, small American Flags, and other decorations may be placed on the grave itself from Friday, May 22, and must be removed no later than Sunday, June 7.
Camp Invention 2009: Does your child enjoy taking things apart and creating things from the pieces? Does your child like to perform science experiments? If so, then you should sign up your child for Camp Invention 2009. The programs offered during this camp will include Viking Treasure Trek, Comic Book Science, Land Sled X-Treme, I Can Invent, and Recess Remix. Camp Invention will be held at St. Anthony School and will be running from June 23rd- June 26th from 8:00 to 4:00. Ages: Incoming first graders through sixth grade. If you would like to learn more about this program, please contact Eileen Perry at 622-0414 for more details.
MASS INTENTIONSMay 25, Mon. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant
May 26, Tue. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant
May 27, Wed. 7:00 am Rejean Lavigne (2nd Ann.) by his daughter Joanne and family
May 30, Sat. 4:00 pm For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
May 31, Sun. 8:00 am Jocelyn Vanni (10th Ann.) by St. Peter Church Choir
May 31, Sun. 11:00 am Oscar Boisvert (9th Ann.) by his wife Dorothy and son Marc
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26
Second Reading: 1 John 4:11-16
Gospel: John 17:11b - 19
This passage is taken from Jesus' prayer for His followers, which is part of the Gospel of John's Last Supper Discourse. Jesus speaks of how He taught His disciples about His relationship with the Father. He and the Father were always one. He had invited the disciples into the relationship. He protected them and guided them. None of them were lost except for Judas, who betrayed Jesus. The Gospel considers the question of why God would have allowed Judas to betray Jesus. Could Satan, in some way, have possessed him and controlled his actions?
Jesus was leaving this world, but He was not abandoning His disciples. He asked the Father to protect them. They would be in the world but not of the world. The Father would keep them in the truth (the truth of His love). The world hated them because the world opposed truth and love. It preferred to live in misery, so it rejected both Jesus and everyone associated with Him.
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NH CATHOLIC CHARITIES: If you have not yet made your annual donation to Catholic Charities, there are envelopes at the entryways to church.
FROM RESPECT LIFE... "The question is no longer whether we are on a slippery slope, careening downward toward a world of machine-tooled and stunted humanity -- a world in which love is displaced by technique and longing by social planning. We’re on the slope all right, and the question is whether the brakes can be applied soon enough." (George Weigel, The Southern Cross, 1/09)