SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME + JULY 25, 2010
On the Way....I really don't think that many pastors in this diocese are as proud as I am about my parishioners. I come back from vacation without a homily for the weekend, propose that we imitate Mary in the Gospel excerpt, and "sit at the feet of Jesus" for 4 minutes. I did this at each Mass, and since I also was sitting at the feet of the Lord He reminded me how good you are, how much you try, how you are willing, how much you believe, how well you pray. Congratulations! I am very proud to be your pastor. I will boast about you as often as I can.
Thanks to Fr. Roger Bilodeau for his presence during my absence, as well as to Fr. Brad Heckathorne.
Thanks to Shirley Delacoe, Kathryn Rogers, and all who made my absence so much easier.
Welcome to all the former parishioners of St. Paul Parish. The unification of the parishes had been long expected and there had been a lot of work done, and yet it seemed to have come so quickly. Within a few days the Decree was issued, Miss Lorette Nault left for Florida, I departed for vacation, the Mass schedule changed, we had the last Mass at St. Paul, the annual Group Workcampers were sent off with their chaperones...all in "one fell swoop". In the meantime we also have had a parish-wide re-registration. All of these things have been happening at the beginning of the summer vacation season. All of the above issues were kind of "front-loaded" to make sure that as little as possible would "fall through the cracks". With time now on our side we will confidently look upon September with some confidence that we will more easily pick up where we left off. So we will be patient "together" for the next 6 or 8 weeks.
MASS SCHEDULE
OUR WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE IS SATURDAY AT 4:00 PM, AND SUNDAY AT 8:00 AM AND 10:30 AM.
PARISH NURSE Friday, July 30th,from 7:30-10:00 am.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: $6,428
PARISH TO PARISH SUPPORT: $843.
MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE: Next weekend our food drive is for the NH Food Bank. They are low on canned meat, all kinds of pasta and tomato sauces, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, bar soap and shampoo. Anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated.
SACRIFICIAL GIVING: Jesus is describing God’s immeasurable generosity when He says in today’s Gospel, " Whoever asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; whoever knocks, is admitted." But it should also be the description of us as Christian stewards - those seeking to follow Christ by using our gifts in service to others.
BANNS OF MARRIAGE:
I Gregory Duane - Jacqueline Cote
I Kyle Simpson - Christine Paul
TO FORMER ST. PAUL PARISHIONERS FROM SHIRLEY: I was informed today that some of you received donation envelopes from Our Sunday Visitor dated June 27. I had requested that no envelopes be sent until the July packet, as I was not adding St. Paul Parishioners to our census until after St. Paul closed. However, the envelope company made a mistake and enclosed a June envelope. My apologies if any of you felt offended.
MASS INTENTIONS: The Mass Intentions through December have been posted. If you are having a Mass said for a loved one, and would like to present the gifts at the offertory, please check the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board at the entryway to church (next to the posted bulletin).
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS those who died, and especially Sally Ann Thibeault, daughter of Pauline Thibeault of this parish, and Margaret Griffiths, sister of Elizabeth Larkin of this parish.
LECTORS, ALTAR SERVERS, EXTRA-ORDINARY MINISTERS: The summer schedule is available online. Click the link at the top of the ministry schedule page. A link to a printer friendly version can also be found at the top of the ministry schedule page.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS
All children from K-10 must register for Religious Education each year. The registration does not roll over from one year to the next. Registration forms can be found at the entryways to church.
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. Classes are held during all weekend Masses. We would need some volunteers to help out as monitors during the classes. Please contact the office if you can do this.
Generations of Faith: 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. All GOF classes are held 7 times during the year, on one Sunday afternoon each month, for 2 hours.
REGISTRATION FORMS for the 2010-11 Christian Formation year can be found at the entrances to church, on the back porch of the rectory, and also on our website www.stpeteraub.org.
Please be sure to fill out BOTH SIDES completely and return to the office.
TEACHERS NEEDED: If you would be interested in helping with our weekly dismissals of K-3 during Mass, or at our once-a-month Generations of Faith sessions, please call Jake at 669-5134, or e-mail to stpetercf@comcast.net , and Jake will be in touch with you.
RETROUVAILLE: Rediscover a loving marriage with a Retrouvaille weekend. To register for the weekend or for more information, call 1-800-470-2230 or visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com
FOR ALL OUR NEW PARISHIONERS: In order to create a more respectful and reverential Communion time, please remain kneeling until there is room in the aisle for you to stand. Also, please gently lift the kneelers when leaving your pew, and gently put them down when returning to your pew.
Also, whenever there is a second envelope for Diocesan collections in your packet, please note that we only pass the collection basket once. This has been our practice since we began our Stewardship Program in 1993
OUR LADY OF HOPE, HOUSE OF PRAYER at 400 Temple Rd., New Ipswich, NH is offering retreats over the next year. The details of each retreat can be found on their website http://www.presentationofmary.com/retreatwork.html.
MASS INTENTIONS
July 26, Mon. 7:00 am Anthony Amato by Adela Amato
July 27, Tue. 7:00 am Anthony Amato by Bill and Judy Coughlan
July 28, Wed. 7:00 am Anne Finamore by the Kopetz family
July 31, Sat. 4:00 pm Rodney Crete (5th Ann.) by his mother, Carol Crete
Aug. 1, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
Aug. 1, Sun. 10:30 am Marie Keenan (2nd Ann.) by the family
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
Second Reading: Colossians 2:12-14
Gospel: Luke 11: 1-13
It is said that God will give the most loving answer possible to our prayers. Sometimes that means that God will physically heal us or grant us some favor. At other times it means that God will meet us on the cross. We would naturally prefer to receive a positive response to our prayers, but God, who sees reality from a different perspective, can see that it is sometimes better if we do not receive the things for which we prayed. God thinks in terms of long-term good, eternal good, and not short-term, immediately obvious good.
FROM RESPECT LIFE...Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter in an interview of the topic of cloning was asked when life begins. He replied, "I have not found it helpful to get into the details." Remarked pro-life veteran Jean Garton, "How’s that for a clever-sounding, slippery version of the old line, "Don’t confuse me with the facts?"
PHL, Scranton Chapter Newsletter