THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
MARCH 7, 2010
On the Way....The unification of St. Paul Parish, Candia, with St. Peter Parish, Auburn, while officially taking place in June, has in effect already begun. Several parishioners of St. Paul have indicated their intentions to me. Since St. Peter has been charged with the responsibility of integrating the two parishes, it will also probably be the parish that will receive the largest influx of parishioners. (Other parishes may also receive people from St. Paul Parish: St. Joseph, Epping, St. Joseph, Northwood, etc.) As pastor of both parishes, I have the responsibility to oversee and ensure that parishioners are cared for spiritually. To this end, after consultation with the Pastoral Council of St. Peter Parish, it was decided that several members of the St. Paul Pastoral Council will be invited to join St. Peter Pastoral Council. All new members of St. Peter Pastoral Council for 2010-2011 would be former members of St. Paul Pastoral Council who desire to serve in this capacity, and who would become parishioners of St. Peter Parish.
This Pastoral Council will continue to advise the Pastor. It would look to assuring the ongoing pastoral activities of the unified parish to include the good works of St. Paul Parish over the past four decades; specifically, the Liturgical Ministries, the Outreach Ministries [Food Pantry, Senior Luncheons], Christian Formation Ministry [weekly dismissals for grades K-3, Generations of Faith, RCIA]. St. Peter Finance Council will consider assuming the mission of St. Paul Parish in its obligations to St. Boniface Mission in Haiti, as well as the other yearly contributions made from St. Paul’s 6% Tithing Account. In addition, the Finance Council will oversee the property on 54 Main St. in Candia.
Any present member of St. Paul Parish, Candia, who so desires, can become a member of St. Peter Parish, Auburn, and enjoy all rights and privileges of parishioners by completing a registration form for themselves and their children. They will be welcome to the parish; their children will be part of the Christian Formation Programs; their donations to St. Paul from January 1, 2010, will be retained and recorded in the records of St. Peter Church; they will receive parish budget envelopes and participate in the 10% tithing activities of St. Peter. If they served in any ministry at St. Paul, they will be invited to continue that ministry at St. Peter Church.
The welfare of the present employees [one full-time, 3 part-time] of St. Paul is of paramount importance. In each case their individual situation is being addressed.
I am aware that this is a difficult time for all the people of St. Paul Parish. After Easter I will be sending a letter to all members of St. Paul Parish expressing my desire to see that this transition is as smooth and painless as possible for them, to invite them to join St. Peter if they wish, or to direct them to another parish, if that is their preference. Let us all pray through the intercession of St. Peter and St. Paul that we will be of one in mind, and heart, and worship.
PARISH NURSE: Parish Nurse this Friday. from 7:30-10:00 am.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $4,272.08 (storm week!)
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES/HOME MISSIONS appeal is next weekend. This collection provides funding for Catholic Relief Services, USCCB Department of Social Development and World Peace, relief work of the Holy Father, USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. It also supports the strengthening of the Catholic Church where it is most financially challenged in the United States. When you donate to this appeal, you are not giving just your money...you are giving hope. You are transferring faith and love over thousands of miles to Jesus in disguise. Thank you.
SACRIFICIAL GIVING: The parable in today’s Gospel clearly warns that we, like the fig tree, will be judged by our fruit. While God mercifully provides us with time and opportunity, let us give witness to our faith with deeds of kindness and generosity.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS
K-3 Dismissals: Weekends of March 7, 14, 21, 28
Confirmation Class: Sunday, March 7, students attend 11:00 mass, followed by class until 1 pm.
First Penance: Saturday, March 13, at 9:00 am in church.
Confirmation Retreat (second year students ONLY): Saturday, March 13, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Generations of Faith: Sunday, March 14, from 4:00-6:00 pm - in Church
PLEASE NOTE: Shirley Delacoe, the Administrative Assistant of the parish, is on vacation and will return to the office on March 22. If you are in need of assistance, please call Fr. Dumont (Voice Mail #1), or leave a message on Shirley’s Voice Mail (#2) and Mary Stevens of the Christian Formation Office will return your call.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Fr. Dumont and Fr. Babineau will hear confessions on Monday evenings, March 8, 15, 22, and 29, at 6:30 pm, in church.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT FOR FEBRUARY, 2010
Our weekly offertory for February totaled $21,754.08. The tithe of $2,175, added to the carryover of $1,117 from last month, totals $3,292. The following donations were made:
New Horizons Soup Kitchen: $500.
Sonshine Soup Kitchen: $500.
Kid’s Cafe Soup Kitchen $500.
The balance of $1,792 will be carried over to our March tithe.
Our young parishioners’ donations totaled $32, one-half of which was sent to NH Catholic Charities for St. Charles Children’s Home, and one-half to our offertory.
FOOD DRIVE: This weekend our Food Drive is for the Sonshine Soup Kitchen in Derry. Items most needed are instant sugar-free jello and pudding, hot chocolate packets, sturdy 9" paper or foam dinner plates, disposable latex gloves, sugar-free drink mix (crystal light), gift cards to local supermarkets.
NOTE: Our Food Drives are scheduled for the first Sunday of each month.
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 a separate envelope, with the person’s name, and "from". Names will be published in the Easter bulletin. (PLEASE PRINT!)
RICE BOWLS: Rice Bowls and accompanying leaflet are available at the entrances to church. 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.
RETROUVAILLE: Rediscover a loving marriage with a Retrouvaille weekend. To register for the weekend or for more information, visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com or call 1-800-470-2230.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK? The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau is looking for part-time help to assist in the following areas: Census takers, Crew Leaders, Crew Leader Assistants, Recruiting Assistants, and Census Clerks. You must be at least 18 years old, and the pay rate is $15/hour. Please call 1-866-861-2010, or go to www.2010censusjobs.gov for more information.
MASS INTENTIONS
March 8, Mon. 7:00 am Walter Bryant by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Ferland
March 9, Tue. 12:00 pm Intention of the celebrant
March 10, Wed. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant
March 13, Sat. 4:00 pm Peggy Bernard and Dora Kearney by Friends of the 4:00 pm Mass
March 14, Sun. 8:00 am Mary and Stanley Kusznir by their children
March 14, Sun. 11:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15
Second Reading: Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12
Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9
The Gospel recalls the theme found in the Second Reading today, that those who have received God's grace are responsible for what they have received. Lent is a season when we are invited to honestly examine our lives and to remove anything that keeps us from loving God and neighbor from our hearts. It is not to be squandered, for we honestly do not know how much time we have to turn to the Lord's ways. We do not know how much time we have to live. We see disasters on TV, we past car accidents on the highway, we hear of relatives who died suddenly. Every moment is precious. In a sense, we are living on borrowed time and this season of repentance is too valuable not to use well. Lent is a time to dig around our roots and fertilize them (with the word of God, prayer, penitential practices, receptions of the sacraments, etc) so that, even if we have not really borne fruit yet, we might still have a chance to do so. We cannot let our past failures paralyze us; we must courageously use every opportunity for growth that God provides for us.
PILGRIMAGE TO CANADA: August 3-6, 2010 (4 days, 3 nights). Visit the Shrines of Montreal and Quebec which includes St. Anne-de-Beaupre, St. Joseph Oratory, and more. Cost of $369 includes two meals a day (full breakfast and dinner), coach bus transportation and accommodations. Departing from Holy Angels Church, Plaistow, NH, Manchester, NH and St. Mary Church, Claremont, NH. For a flyer or more info, contact Holy Pilgrimages at (904)372-4580 or email: cdgmary@comcast.net or Juanita Sweet at (603) 826-4486 or email: juanitajoy@comcast.net