THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME + NOVEMBER 8, 2009
On the Way....There is no way to sugar-coat my comments this weekend. I have news that is stark and involves both of the parishes where I am pastor. It involves the future of St. Paul Parish, Candia. I would like to give a very brief overview.
St. Joseph Parish in Epping joined St. Paul in Candia and St. Peter in Auburn in cluster meetings over 4 years ago. The Cluster was to make recommendations to Bishop McCormack for the year 2012. One of the recommendations was "to assess vital signs such as population growth, Mass attendance, financial health, participation in ministries, the efficacy and array of programs offered, and the burden placed on priests".
Lorette Nault, Pastoral Associate at St. Paul and I have made many observations since the twinning of St. Paul and St. Peter Parishes in February of 2006. These observations have been communicated to Bishop McCormack and he agrees that we should look into the unification of our two parishes. "Unification" means that two parishes are merged into one: St. Paul would be closed and formally become part of St. Peter Parish. Last week I met with the Pastoral and Finance Councils of St. Paul Parish. On Tuesday, November 17, I will do the same with the two Councils at St. Peter. I have also scheduled a general meeting for parishioners of both parishes to occur on Sunday, November 22, at 1 pm at St. Paul Church in Candia. Mr. Patrick McGee, Director of Planning for the Diocese, will be present at each of these meetings, just as he was last week.
Many of you will say that you saw the handwriting on the wall some time ago. Yet, it still is sad when the passage of time forces ideas into reality. This will not be a quick process, nor an extremely slow, but a very thorough one. Bishop McCormack requires a great deal of consultation. He wants parishioners to have an opportunity to learn, and to ask questions. The pastor of St. Joseph in Epping, Lorette and I have made concerted efforts to maintain the viability of St. Paul Parish. So this change is going to be difficult for us too. I will devote my homily time at both parishes this weekend to present the reasons that have led us to begin this process. I welcome your thoughts and comments. Once again I would ask that you identify yourself if you wish to make a comment or ask a question. Please use the regular mail or the e-mail address printed on the front of this bulletin. By working together, praying together, supporting each other and listening to one another we will continue On the Way...
PARISH NURSE: Friday from 7:30-10:00 am.No Parish Nurse on November 13 and 27.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $5,964.
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT is next weekend. For nearly 40 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has embodied Catholic social teaching through pursuing justice and upholding the dignity of the human person. CCHD funds community projects led by low-income individuals. As more Americans feel the weight of the economic crisis, CCHD needs your support in new week’s Collection more than ever. There are flyers at the entrances to church, as well as envelopes. Thank you for your generosity.
SACRIFICIAL GIVING: Both widows in today’s readings gave all they had to the work of the Lord, one using all her remaining food to feed Elijah and the other offering her two copper coins to the temple treasury. Faithful stewards give all that is asked and trust the Lord to be faithful to His promises.
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING of our Pastoral Council and Finance Council on Tuesday, November 17, at 6:30 pm, in the Parish Hall Conference Room. The Finance Council will continue their scheduled meeting following the joint meeting.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS
K-3 DISMISSALS at all Masses this weekend.
GENERATIONS OF FAITH: Sunday, November 15, from 4:00-6:00 pm, in church. Grades 4-10 and parents.
GROUP WORK CAMP BAKE SALE: We will be holding a Bake Sale this weekend after all Masses.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS those who died this week:
Jeannette Dallaire, mother of Don Dallaire of this parish.
Former parishioner Lynne Bagnall, daughter of parishioner Bernard Devine, and sister of parishioners Lori Pelletier and Robin Wilson.
DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH HEATING
THIS WINTER? If you will be having difficulty making ends meet and need fuel assistance, please call Fr. Dumont at 623-5429. If you are "skimping" on medical expenses or food to pay your heating bill, please call. If your budget is overtaxed because of limited income in the face of increased expenses, please call. Fr. Dumont will talk it over with you for a few minutes and determine the level of assistance. The matter will be held in the strictest confidence. Please remember in your prayers our generous benefactors, Jim and Meg Stack.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2009
The total offertory for October was $ 23,255.56. The tithe of $2,325, added to our carryover of $170 from September, totals $2,495, which was donated as follows:
New Horizons, Sonshine Soup Kitchen, and Kid’s Cafe ($400 each) $1,200.
Auburn Volunteer Fire Department: $ 300.
Asia and Pacific Island Emergency Relief Fund (*see letter below) $ 500.
The balance of $495 will be added to our November tithe. Our young parishioners donated $30, one-half of which was sent to St. Charles Children’s Home, and one-half to our offertory.
FROM BISHOP MCCORMACK:
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we enjoyed the beauty of the fall season here in New Hampshire, hundreds of thousands of people were suffering deeply because of other weather related catastrophes. Although they reside in areas of the world that are quite unfamiliar to us, we have compassion for them! They are brothers and sisters in the human family! The displacement, death and sorrow caused by the tsunami in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga; the hurt inflicted on 100,000 men, women and children forced to abandon their homes by floods in Burkina Faso; and the thousands left homeless in the Philippines after two typhoons devastated their country; and the 150,000 families whose homes were damaged in Viet Nam by Typhoon Ketsana are reminders that, if one member of the human family suffers, we all suffer.
The spirit of Christ is made visible through his Church. It unites us to one another. It prompts us to bring hope along with food, water, shelter and clothing to people affected by these disasters. You can be part of this effort to bring hope and relief through your free-will gift to Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Every dollar you contribute to the relief and rebuilding work will be sent directly to help CRS carry out the Church’s mission to help others. I encourage you to make a gift because many people are hurting. Mindful of the stresses many of us face here in New Hampshire, I ask you to do what you can to assist our brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle to survive these recent disasters.
Ever grateful for your support and confident of your prayers for those in need, I remain
Yours in Christ, +John B. McCormack, Bishop of Manchester
*NOTE: Our parish has donated $500. from our monthly tithe. If you would like to contribute to this relief effort, make your check payable to "CRS-Asia & Pacific Island Emergency Relief Fund", and mail to: Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
BOOK OF LIFE: Our Book of Life will be displayed in the back of church until November 22. We have placed some blank pages in the back of the book for those of you who would like to add names of deceased loved ones, who will be remembered at all Masses through November 22.
CHOIR REHEARSAL: Wednesday, November 11, from 7 to 8:30 pm. We will be working on the songs for our next two celebrations, Thanksgiving and Christmas. All are welcome. Please enter through the back door of the church.
MASS INTENTIONS
Nov. 9, Mon. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant
Nov. 10, Tue. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant
Nov. 11, Wed. 7:00 am John and Elizabeth Kunce by their son John
Nov. 14, Sat. 4:00 pm Marie-Rose Mongeau by Don and Claudette Martel
Nov. 15, Sun. 8:00 am Theo and Jeanne Therrien by Roland and Lorraine
Nov. 15, Sun. 11:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: 1 Kings 17:10-16
Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
The poor widow had little, so she could only give a little. Yet, her gift was greater than that of those who gave more from their surplus. But what do we think of those who have not received as much in terms of family background, moral training, etc. Maybe some of those who are doing much less than we are in moral terms are also giving what little they have, while we might only be giving from our surplus. We never really know what moral gifts a person has or does not have. This is why it is so dangerous to judge them. We just don't know.
Pastoral Reflection: A good measure of our true motivation is our response when we are not thanked or even noticed for doing a good deed.
PLEASE NOTE: Our Mass attendance continues to increase! In order to accommodate our growing flock, please be courteous, and slide to the center of the pew. Many people seem to prefer the "aisle" seats, but this leaves many seats in the center not being used, or difficult to get to. Please consider either moving to the center of the pew, or if for some reason, you need to sit on the end seat, please make it easier for people to get to the available seats. Thank you.