EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME + AUGUST 2, 2009

On the Way....

Upon my return from vacation, one of the first things I had to attend to in the offices of the two parishes were the annual financial reports. Since we operate on a fiscal year that goes from July 1 to June 30, both reports were ready for me. Each parish has most extraordinary bookkeepers who are always on time and thorough. Shirley Delacoe at St. Peter and Diane Sutton at St. Paul had the detailed forms from the Diocese of Manchester complete, waiting for review and the signatures of the pastor and chair of the Finance Council. I was gratified to see that here at St. Peter we had a very good year, despite the fact that the general economy seems lackluster. Not only have expenses been met, but we have also continued to keep down expenses. In addition, your free-will offerings have continued to flow in weekly in a very consistent and generous manner. We will continue our stewardship commitment, giving the first 10% off the top of every weekly offertory. Experience has shown that when we do so, God will not leave us deprived. His generosity far exceeds ours. There will be the usual report to the parish of your accounting in the near future.

WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $5,171.60

PARISH TO PARISH SUPPORT: Total received $1,059. Thank you for your generosity.

LECTOR NEEDED: We are in need of a Lector to join our 8:00 am "team" beginning in September. This ministry requires a once a month commitment. Training is provided. If you are interested and would like more information, call Shirley at 623-5429 or e-mail to stpeteraub@comcast.net

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Our parish nurse is returning on Friday, August 21, from 7:30-10:00 am. Welcome back, Kathy!

SACRIFICIAL GIVING: The crowd in today’s Gospel demanded a sign of Jesus and wanted to know what "work" He did to inspire their faith. May our faithful stewardship be a sign to others that we, like the Ephesians in the second reading, have laid aside our former way of life and acquired a "fresh, spiritual way of thinking" in Christ.

MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE THIS WEEKEND: The shelves at the N.H. Food Bank remain nearly empty. Donations are always down in the summer, but the demand continues to be high. Items needed most are canned tomatoes and sauces, pasta, canned meats, soups and vegetables and personal items such as deodorant, shampoo and bar soap. Thank you for anything that you can contribute.

 

RETROUVAILLE…..a Lifeline: Rediscover a loving marriage with a Retrouvaille (pronounced re-tro-vy) weekend. If your marriage is tearing the two of you apart, if there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering separation or divorce, we believe Retrouvaille can help you. Look us up on the web at www.HelpOurMarriage.com  or call 1-800-470-2230. The next New England Retrouvaille marriage renewal weekends will be held Sept. 11-13, 2009, January 15-17, 2010, and April 16-18, 2010.

PLEASE NOTE: Bishop McCormack has lifted liturgical restrictions surrounding the H1N1 virus. If the threat does not resume, Eucharistic Ministers of the Cup will be assigned beginning with the September schedule. People who cough, sneeze or have a fever are still encouraged to refrain from physically sharing the sign of peace and from receiving Communion from the Cup.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Bishop John McCormack invites to a Special Anniversary Mass all couples who are celebrating their 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th - or beyond - Wedding Anniversary, anytime during the current year 2009. This celebration will be held on October 11, 2009 at 2:00 pm, at Saint Anselm Abbey Church, Manchester. If you are celebrating your 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, or 50th anniversary, as well as any couple beyond their 50th, or if you know of anyone who is, please submit name and address (and year of the anniversary) of the anniversary couple to Shirley at the rectory at 623-5429, or mail to St. Peter Church, 567 Manchester Rd., Auburn, NH 03032, or e-mail stpeteraub@comcast.net , no later than August 14.

 

St. Paul Church in Candia First Annual Church Bazaar on Sat., Sept. 12th, from 9 to 3, with a rain date of Sat., Sept. 19th. The Social Committee is looking for people who would like to rent a space to sell crafts or yard sale goods. The spaces are $10, and with a table provided are $15. Donations of gently used items are also welcome. Volunteers are needed to help with the Bazaar. For additional info or to reserve space, call Peggy at 483-0827, e-mail mun@comcast.net  or call Judy at 483-2369, or e-mail at JudyJS3@myfairpoint.net

 

CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS

All children from K–10 must register for the Fall Christian Formation program each year. The registration does not roll over from one year to the next. Registration forms can be found at the entrances to church, on the back porch of the rectory, or at our website - www.stpeteraub.org . If your child is new to the program, please submit a Baptism Certificate, if not baptized at St. Peter Church. If you would like to volunteer to help with any of the following, please call Jake at 669-5134 and he will be in touch with you.

Grades K- 3 The children in grades K–3 attend classes during the weekend liturgies. We use a Lectionary Catechesis which is based on the Gospel of the week. Kindergarten students are not obliged to attend regularly. However, beginning with grade 1, students must attend classes on a weekly basis during the Mass, as the program for First Communion is a two-year program. The program for the school year 2009-2010 will begin on the weekend of September 26/27. Classes are held during all weekend Masses.

Generations of Faith: Grades 4–10 and parents. This program is designed for both parents and children. Parents who have children in grades 4-10 are asked to attend these monthly sessions. The adult session gives them an opportunity to refresh their memory on important matters of the faith as well as giving them the chance to share with other adults on pertinent issues of faith. GOF classes are held one Sunday a month from 4–6 pm. Our first session for 2009-10 is October 18. See you all next fall.

Confirmation Program: The Confirmation students will begin their two-year program on Sunday, October 4, 2009. Students are asked to attend the 11:00 am Mass, and class follows until 1:00 pm. Students must be registered in the program and must be registered members of the parish.

CRAFTERS WANTED! St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Bedford, NH, will be hosting a "QUALITY" Craft Fair on November 7, 2009, from 9:00 am-3:00 pm. For inquiries and application form, call Sharon at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish at 669-7444. You may also access an application form through our website at http://stelizabethsetonchurch.org . Application deadline is October 15 or when space sells out.

MASS INTENTIONS

Aug. 3, Mon. 7:00 am Souls in Purgatory by S.M.

Aug. 4, Tue. 7:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

Aug. 5, Wed. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

Aug. 7, Fri. 7:00 am To end abortions from parishioners

Aug. 8, Sat. 4:00 pm Donat Ouellette (1st. Ann.) by his wife, Loretta, and daughters

Aug. 9, Sun. 8:00 am Richard Thomas by his wife and family

Aug. 9, Sun. 11:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

REFLECTION OF THE WEEK

First Reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:17, 20-24

Gospel: John 6:24-35

Last week we heard about the miraculous multiplication of five loaves of barley bread and two fish into enough food to nourish over five thousand people. After the five thousand had eaten their fill, the disciples gathered up the fragments that were left over, filling twelve baskets (enough for the twelve tribes of Israel).

The disciples got into their boats and were crossing the lake when Jesus came to them, walking on the water. The next day those who were following Jesus crossed to the other side to see where He had gone. Jesus accuses them of not truly seeking Him, but rather seeing signs (miracles). They just wanted to see Him do marvelous deeds, but they did not want to change their lives. The account speaks of bread that comes down from heaven. During the exodus from Egypt to Israel, that bread was manna.

But Jesus is the new bread from heaven. He was the true source of spiritual nourishment. In this part of the discourse, Jesus is presenting himself as the wisdom of God. In the Old Testament, Wisdom was said to have prepared a meal for those who needed instruction. Those who would eat her bread and drink her wine would have life eternal. Jesus instructed the people; He was and is the source of eternal life.

 

RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

The Rite of Christian Initiation takes place yearly at the Easter Vigil - Holy Saturday. This is the time when adults who have never been baptized in the Christian faith are baptized. It is also the time when baptized Christians of other Christian denominations are welcomed into the Catholic Church as they make a public profession of faith. This rite is also offered to baptized Catholics who were not fully initiated into the Church (never made their First Communion or Confirmation). As a general rule, this rite is not for adults who have received their First Communion, but never been confirmed. If Confirmation is the only sacrament they have not received, there will be a special course given for them during the year and an adult Confirmation will be held at the Cathedral on a later time in the year. If you or someone you know is a candidate for the Rite of Initiation or if someone is interested in finding out more about what is entailed in the preparation or for adult confirmation, please call Jake Linxweiler at 483-5571. The program will begin in the Fall.