FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

MARCH 14, 2010

On the Way (repeating from last week’s bulletin).....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 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 one in mind, and heart, and worship.

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PARISH NURSE: Parish Nurse this Friday. from 7:30-10:00 am.

WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $6,673.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES/HOME MISSIONS appeal is this 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.

Many thanks to parishioner Tom Gregoire, owner of Professional Services, for placing an ad on our bulletin. Remember that storm from two weeks ago? What a mess! If you need some repairs to your home, or some clean-up in your yard, give Tom a call. No job too small. Free estimates. 483-5916.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Fr. Dumont and Fr. Babineau will hear confessions on Monday evenings, March 15, 22, and 29, at 6:30 pm in church.

SACRIFICIAL GIVING: The stewardship message in the parable of the Prodigal Son is that it is never too late to become a good steward. Blessed is the elder brother who had been a good steward all along, but blessed, too, is the prodigal who had to lose all he had in order to understand the value of what he’d been given.

PLEASE NOTE: Shirley Delacoe, the Administrative Assistant of the parish will return from vacation on March 22. If you are in need of assistance before then, 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.

K-3 Dismissals: Weekends of March 14, 21, 28

Generations of Faith: This Sunday, March 14, from 4:00-6:00 pm - in Church

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR THE 2010-11 CHRISTIAN FORMATION YEAR CAN BE FOUND AT ALL ENTRANCES TO CHURCH, ON THE BACK PORCH OF THE RECTORY, AND ON OUR WEBSITE ( www.stpeteraub.com ). Please fill out BOTH SIDES of the form.

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: 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.

CAREGIVERS CARING CUPBOARD provides free monthly food - delivered right to the homes of eligible frail, elderly and disabled clients needing assistance. Please see flyer on bulletin board. They are also looking for volunteer teams for food delivery. The time commitment is about 3 hours a week. Please call 622-4948 for more information.

TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL: The Guidance Department will be hosting a free College Planning Workshop for the parents of 8th graders on Tuesday, March 30 at 7pm in the school cafeteria. This workshop is open to any parents who wish to attend – your child does not have to be planning on attending Trinity High School in order to join us. Trinity High School is located at 581 Bridge Street in Manchester. For additional information, please contact Theresa Risdal, Director of Guidance, at trisdal@trinity-hs.org

March 15, Mon. 7:00 am Arthur and Louise Delisle by a friend

March 16, Tue. 12:00 pm Walter and Jeanne Champagne by Marcel and Deb Champagne

March 17, Wed. 7:00 am Intention of the celebrant

March 20, Sat. 4:00 pm Vivian Morey by Charlie and Jackie Peterson

March 21, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

March 21, Sun. 11:00 am Deceased members of the Labbe family by Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Paul Labbe

It is easy to take this story for granted, for we have heard it so often. Yet there are details in the story that continue to jump out and fill us with awe. The Pharisees studied the law of God with great enthusiasm. They earnestly tried to be blameless in their observance of the law. The danger was that it was easy for them to become self-righteous (not unlike the brother of the prodigal son who did not rejoice in the fact that his father had forgiven his brother). Furthermore, because they observed the law so scrupulously, they could easily begin to think they did not need the mercy of God (for they could feel that they had done nothing wrong). This is why Jesus presents a picture of God as the all-merciful one, the loving parent who forgives our every fault.

It is interesting to note that the prodigal son does not really seem sorry for what he has done. He is sorry he is hungry. He prepares his apology to the Father, almost as if he would say whatever was needed just to be received back into the good graces of his Father. The Father is waiting for his son , catching sight of him from a great distance.

BISHOP JOHN B. MCCORMACK is hosting a diocesan pilgrimage to Rome for the canonization of Brother Andre Bessette. You are invited to join him from Oct. 15-25 for the canonization as well as a pilgrimage to other holy sites in Italy, including Assisi and Siena. Brother Andre will be formally declared a saint at a ceremony in St. Peter Square on Oct. 17. Contact Canterbury Tours at 1-800-653-0017, or e-mail jjalbert@rcbm.org

Employment Opportunity: Summer Camp Nurse: Camp Fatima and Camp Bernadette in the Lakes Region are currently seeking caring, fun-loving, and team-oriented nurses for our summer season. Our nurses are responsible for: Camper Health Screening, Medication Administration, General Health & Safety, and First-Aid & Emergency Treatment. Must have a NH nursing license or be able to obtain one before the camping season. The camps offer a competitive salary, room & board, and free tuition for children. For more information please contact Michael Drumm at (603) 364-5851 or mdrumm@diocamps.org