SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER + MAY 29, 2011
On the Way...Last week I gave you an insight into the congratulatory messages from children of the parish on the occasion of my 40th anniversary of ordination. I have now read all the beautiful cards many parishioners have sent. I am the beneficiary of a great number of beautiful cards, greetings, gifts, and also a promise of prayers, many of them from the Precious Blood Monastery. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I am also deeply appreciative of all the work that went into the festivities of Sunday, May 15. Many of you came down to the parish hall for snacks and a look at old photos. Thank you to Kathryn Rogers, who spearheaded the celebration, and was assisted by the Knights of Columbus and Women's Guild, Shirley, Jake and Mary from the parish staff, and Blandine Labbe. My entire immediate family was present and you made their day. Thank you very, very much.
Also On the Way...On Thursday, May 19, at the office of the diocesan attorney, the closing was signed for the transfer of the property in Candia from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester to the Manchester Bible Church. After deducting the closing fees a total amount of $229,726.40 was deposited in the diocesan Central Fund to the account of St. Peter Parish, Auburn, NH. Even though all bills have not yet been received, I can report that from July 1, 2010 until this date, we have spent over $33,000.00 in the upkeep of the property and other expenses. It is a moment of sadness for the former parishioners of St. Paul to see the property where they worshipped for so long change hands. There is also a sense of relief that in a somewhat depressed real estate market the property was sold rather quickly. The diocesan Real Estate Office, at the request of the Bishop, adds "covenants" to the Purchase and Sales Agreement, that there be no "sordid" use of the property and that the good name of the Catholic Church not be blemished. I want to acknowledge Mr. William Norton who was our "broker" and relieved me of much running around. I also thank Pete Sutton and Mary Stevens, who kept an eye on the property, as well as Shirley Delacoe who has handled the numerous telephone calls and bookkeeping details. I am also very thankful to the ladies of our parish who met every Tuesday morning at St. Paul Church to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. This provided an ongoing religious exercise at St. Paul’s, and assured the retention of our non-profit status.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, IS THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. Masses are at 7:00 am and 6:30 pm.
Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Altar Servers: It is time to begin the sign-ups for the summer schedule, which will include the weekends of July 2nd & 3rd through September 24th & 25th, a total of 13 weekends. Sign up sheets are located in the sacristy from now until June 19th, after which Kathryn will complete the schedule and post it on line.
PARISH NURSE: Thursday from 3:30 pm until 5:30 pm.
OFFERTORY: $5,763.
CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: Help Us Connect the World with God’s Word! This collection funds media projects that spread the Good News through the Internet, radio, TV and print media. These projects evangelize, nourish the faithful, foster community and grant easy, direct access to thousands of Catholic resources. Thank you for your support.
FOOD DRIVE: Next weekend, our monthly food drive is for New Horizons of NH. Items most needed are coffee, cereal, sugar, creamer, salt, canned vegetables, canned tuna fish, pasta.
NH CATHOLIC CHARITIES: Our 2011 Parish goal is $37,500. If you did not receive your packet in the mail, there are extras at the entryways to church. Thank you for whatever you can do.
SACRIFICIAL GIVING: Those who obey the commandments, Jesus says in today’s Gospel, are the ones who really love Him. Does my stewardship reveal my love for Jesus?
CONGRATULATIONS to Juliette Louiselle, who made her First Communion on Sunday, May 22.
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
MEMORIAL DAY
MAY 30, 2011
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.
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 at each weekend Mass. We would need some volunteers to help out as hall 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 7 monthly sessions. The adult session gives an opportunity to refresh your memory on important matters of the faith, as well as giving you the chance to share with other adults on pertinent issues of faith. All GOF sessions are held 7 times during the year, on one Sunday afternoon each month, for 2 hours.
REGISTRATION FORMS for the 2011-12 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.
R.C.I.A. - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: Do you feel something missing in your life? Are you interested in learning more about the Catholic faith? People are drawn to explore the Catholic faith for many different reasons. Perhaps they experienced a Catholic Mass at the time of a wedding or funeral and were attracted by the prayer and ritual. They may have witnessed the source of hope and comfort a Catholic relative, friend or co-worker found in their faith at a time of difficulty or crisis. Any one of these experiences—or a thousand more like them—might have started you thinking about what it would be like to be a Catholic. How do you find out? Where do you start? Call Jake Linxweiler at the Christian Formation Office at 669-5134, or at home at 483-5571.
PART-TIME HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED for the Bishop Peterson Residence 15 hours per week including every other weekend from 8 am to 1 pm. Please apply in person at 221 Orange St., Manchester. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS: "Those who love Me will keep my word." Is your love for the Lord leading you to grow in holiness as a priest, or in the consecrated life? Call Father Jason Jalbert 663-0132, or write: jjalbert@rcbm.org .
MASS INTENTIONS
June 1, Wed. 7:00 am Rev. William Babineau
June 2, Thu. 7:00 am Rev. Msgr. John Molan
June 2, Thu. 6:30 pm Normand Vachon (1st Anniversary) by his wife
June 3, Fri. 7:00 am To end abortions from parishioners
June 4, Sat. 4:00 pm Stanley and Mary Kusznir by the family
June 5, Sun. 8:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church
June 5, Sun. 10:30 am Antoinette Powers by her family
REFLECTION OF THE WEEK
First Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18
Gospel: John 14:15-21
It is not uncommon to have word plays or expressions that have multiple meanings in Sacred Scripture. This can be a bit confusing for us, but we still use this technique today in many of our word plays.
This technique reminds us that there are many ways of looking at a situation. We cannot always say that it is either this or that. Sometimes it is both at the same time. This is especially true when we are talking about the mysteries of our faith. They are so far beyond our understanding that every time we try to figure them out, we fall short, and yet we must still try.
Mount Calvary Cemetery: You are invited to join us for our Memorial Day Mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester, on Monday, May 30, at 9:00 am, outdoors at the Calvary. 100 Nights of Remembrance Opening Ceremony. Immediately following Mass, Tribute to our Veterans buried in the cemetery. Flowers, small American flags and other decorations may be placed on the grave itself from Friday, May 27, and must be removed by Sunday, June 12. In case of inclement weather, Mass will be held at Ste. Marie Church, 378 Notre Dame Ave.