As you know, we operate on a July 1-June 30 fiscal year, along with all the other parishes of the Diocese of Manchester and the Diocese itself.  Included with today's bulletin you will find the annual Financial Report of St. Peter Church, for the fiscal year July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009.  The report is quite detailed yet simple to follow.  In the left hand column is the description of the item preceded by a four digit number which is an account number used by the diocesan finance office for all parishes in order to have uniform reporting.  The middle column shows the projected amount the Finance Council submitted in its projected budget for this year. (Each year in the Spring we meet and work on a detailed and realistic and balanced budget which is also submitted to the Diocese.)  In the right hand column you will note the actual amount spent or received from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.  At the very end of the report are 6 account numbers which give a more detailed explanation of the expense.  Again, the four-digit account number refers to the line in the budget.  I and members of the Finance Council are always willing to discuss any matter which you may question.  Please feel free to apporach any of us and if the answer cannot be provided from memory, we will get back to you soon:  Tom Gregoire, chair, Al Samson, Alan Kula, Fran Levesque, Paul Soucy and Shirley Delacoe, bookkeeper. 

    Once again I would like to thank these dedicated and able parishioners.  The report is one you can be proud of in my opinion.  In speaking to my brother pastors throughout the Diocese, I realize how we at St. Peter are among a minority of parishes.  They mention shortfalls in income and we the opposite here at St. Peter.  As you may remember from our stewardship commitment, God will never be outdone in generosity.  We are generous to those in need and God will not stop being generous to us. 

WEEKLY OFFERTORY:  $5,768.

        Next weekend is the Annual Appeal for N.H. Missions Abroad and Migrant and Hispanic Ministry in N.H.  Catholics from NH currently serve as missionaries in Cartago, Columbia, and in Juticalpa, Honduras.  this collection supports their work and ministry to migrants and refugees who have come to New Hampshire.  Please be generous. 

SACRIFICIAL GIVING:  "Those who seek the Lord want for no good thing," says today's Psalm.  But in the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that, thus blessed by the Lord, the good steward should "give thanks to God the Father always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Finance Council Meeting:  August 25, Tuesday, at 6:30 pm, in the Rectory Conference Room. 

PARISH NURSE: Friday, August 21, from 7:30-10:00 am. Welcome back, Kathy!

Ministers of Communion, Altar Servers, and Lectors:  The schedules for Sept. 12 - Dec. 13 have been e-mailed. If you did not receive your copy, please let Kathryn know by e-mailing her at k3rogers@comcast.net

Altar Server Training: We will be holding a training session for new Altar Servers on Saturday, August 22, at 9:00 am in church.  If you are in grade 3 and above (including adults), and would like to serve at Mass, please attend this session. 

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

Bulletin Ads: We are now accepting ads for our bulletin cover which will run from October through March.  The cost of a six-month as is $115.  The cost of a one year add is a reduced rate of $207.  Call Shirley at 623-5429 or submit a business card / ad info by September 14. 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS  those who died last week, and especially Peter Pellenz, brother of Diane Kenney of this parish. 

Banns of Marriage:  I John Hudon, Jr. - Stephanie Lavoie. 

Baptism: Last Sunday, August 9, we welcomed Brady Harold Wood, son of Patrick and Danielle, into the parish community through the Sacrament of Baptism. 

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.

Registration forms for the 2009-10 year for grades K-10 can be found at the entrances to church, on the back porch of the rectory, or on our website ( www.stpeteraub.org  ).

Teachers needed: If you would like to help with the K-3 dismissals at the weekend Masses, or with Generations of Faith held once a month on 7 Sundays from 4-6 pm, for grades 4-10 and parents, please call Jake Linxweiler at 669-5134 or e-mail stpetercf@comcast.net .

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

29th Annual Scout Retreat! All Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts in grades 5-12, and adult leaders, are invited to the 29th Annual High Adventure Scout Retreat Fri. Sept. 18 – Sun. Sept. 20, 2009 at Camp Fatima in Gilmanton Iron Works, NH. The cost is $8 per scout and $5 per adult. This Retreat is very active, like a camporee, involving the scouts in a number of fun, interesting, challenging, thought provoking and faith filled activities. It includes a climbing wall, high ropes, capture the flag, and dance. For more information or to register, go to: www.catholicnh.org /scout or call 669-3100, Ext. 173 or e-mail: FrRay3@gmail.com  Sponsored by the Diocesan Catholic Scouting Committee & Fr. Ray Ball, Diocesan Director/Chaplain.

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.

Upcoming FUNdraiser: Starlight Children's Foundation of New England is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear, and isolation through entertainment, education, and family activities.  Our Great Escapes Club offers fun community events to seriously and chronically ill children and their families.  Great Escapes provides fun, social outings for families who may not regularly have the opportunity to enjoy a move, go to a ballgame, or take a break from the daily demand a serious illness can bring. These outings allow families to create memories outside of hospital settings, meet other families facing similar challenges, and most importantly, spend time together as a family having fun.  Starlight Children's Foundation has been extended an exciting invitation to participate in a NH Fisher Cats baseball game and "FUNdraiser" on Friday, August 28th vs. the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox!  A portion of every ticket sold through this website:  www.starlight.org/newengland/events or by calling 617-241-9911, will go directly to the Starlight Children's Foundation! If you can't make the game that night, purchase a ticket for any Monday-Wednesday game and Starlight will STILL receive the donation!  Be sure to choose the Starlight FUNdraiser option in the drop-down menu when you purchase your tickets online.  Thank you for supporting the Starlight Children's Foundation and the New Hampshire Great Escapes Club!

Aug. 17, Mon. 7:00 am Arthur and Louise Delisle by Theresa Beaudin

Aug. 18, Tue. 7:00 am  Marie-Rose Mongeau by Gerard and Rollande Villemure

Aug. 19, Wed. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

Aug. 22, Sat. 4:00 pm Charles Komisarek (2nd Ann.) by his wife Muriel and family

Aug. 23, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

Aug. 23, Sun. 11:00 am Phylis DiMartino (Anniversary Mass) by the family

   The Gospel continues the Discourse on the Bread of Life.  Today's first verse proclaims that the bread that Jesus gives us is His flesh.  It is difficult for us to understand how scandalous this would have been at the time of Jesus.  The Jews who were listening understood this as cannibalism.  Jesus did not better the situation when He then told them that they would have to drink His blood.  Blood was sacred to the Jews and it belonged to God alone.  This is why in Kosher butchering the animal is completely bled.  Blood signifies life, and life is God's prerogative.  Thus, for Jesus to offer his blood would have been incredibly horrific.

   This passage was included in the Gospel of John to teach believers that the Eucharist was not simply a symbolic action that was nothing more than a commemoration.  It is truly the sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus.  Even if we cannot understand this (just as the Jews could not understand), we must trust and believe and eat and drink to have life in Jesus.