January 13, 2008
Baptism of Our Lord

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, January 12
   6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  January 13
    9:30 AM  AM  For Aliette Beliveau by Diane Moquin
Saturday, January 19
     6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  January 20
    9:30 AM  For a Special Intention by Normand & Jeannine Fraser

Parish News and Notes

Parish office hours
    Our parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The Pastoral Associate is in most afternoons until 4:00 PM.  If you need to come in the PM please give us a call to make sure someone is here. Messages can always be left on the answering machine. 

Are you registered?
     Are you new to our parish?   If you are, please pick up a registration form in the vestibule of the church. Registration is very important.  Just drop it in the basket or mail it to our office.  Thanks!  We are always happy to receive new parishioners.  We welcome you and pray you will be happy here with us.

Please use church envelopes 
    Envelope users provide the bedrock of our financial support.  Please consider using them.  New packets of envelopes are mailed every three months. If you would like to receive some but you are not yet on the mailing list, please call Jeannine to give her your name and address. Thank you!

Envelope Request Form ____ I want to support our parish on a regular basis. Please add me to the envelope list. Name ______________________________ Address___________________________ Town ________________,NH Zip ________

Christian Formation News

Grades K – High School       All children from grade K – 10 must register.  The registration does not roll over from one year to the next.  You can pick up a form in the back of the church or you can visit the parish office Monday – Thursday during office hours or give us a call at 483-8481 and ask us to mail you a form.  We would be happy to do this 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 l, students must attend classes on a weekly basis as the program for 1st Communion is a two year program.  It is vital that students continue with their Christian Formation even after their 1st Communion. This year’s program will begin on September 15, 2007 Grades 4 – 10 +   This year’s program for the Generations of Faith begins on Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 4:00 pm.  This program is designed for both parents and children.  Parents are asked to attend the sessions as they have the opportunity to refresh their memory on important matters of the faith .  Please join us on one Sunday per month. Next Month's session is on Jan. 13.  All Confirmation candidates are expected to attend all sessions.                      Schedule of Classes

Question of the Week
Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord  
Theme: (The Beloved Son)
Reading 1: Isaiah 32:1-7 (The Servant of the Lord )
Reading 2: Acts 10:34-38 (No Partiality)
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17, (Jesus’ Baptism)

Question for Adults:   When I am faced with the difficult need to change, how does my faith in Jesus strengthen me to begin anew? This is an excellent question just after the New Year.  We often have great trouble starting anew.  Perhaps that is because we put too much confidence in ourselves and not enough faith in the God who loves us.  Perhaps we could use this week’s question to channel our efforts in making some changes in our lives.  What a wonderful way to begin anew.   

Question for Children? What can I do this week to start my day by focusing on God? This is a very deep and serious question for children.  However, it is not an impossible task.  If they can get past the terminology they will be fine.  Perhaps it would be wise to rephrase the question.  What routine can be develop that will help us to focus or concentrate on God during the day?  Very often we all fail, children included, to focus on God simply because we are so taken up with a hundred million things to do.  If we are to focus on God we need to make some sort of effort.  For children perhaps the following could be possible.  Discuss these with your child and help them to choose one that is possible for them.  Then, after a few days, ask them how things are going.  If it isn’t working, go back to the drawing board.  It is important that children learn to focus on the good things in life while they are still young. 
Suggestions:
-  upon waking up, before doing anything else, get in the habit of saying a prayer asking for God’s help and presence throughout the day.
-  Place a picture of Jesus on his/her bureau where the picture can be easily seen.  This will help your child to think of God before all else.
-  Try to have a short conversation  about God with them either at breakfast or in the car before school.  This will help to focus their attention.
        

Community News

Food Pantry for January
  This month our pantry shelves are in great need of Pasta, Peanut Butter, Spaghetti Sauce, Soups both canned and packaged such as Ramen noodles.  We also always need canned Pasta such as Spaghetti and meatballs & Ravioli,
The winter months will be difficult for many people so your generosity will be very much appreciated.  Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate

St. Anthony Open House . . . Faith formation, values and morals incorporated in the educational experience.  St. Anthony School, located on 148 Belmont St. in Manchester will be holding an Open House on Sunday, January 27th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.   You will have an opportunity to tour the school and visit with our faculty, staff, students and parents from our PSO Group.  St. Anthony is a Pre-kindergarten through 6th Grade totally handicapped accessible Elementary School.  We offer a Before and After School Program and have a Federally Approved School Lunch Program.  City school bus transportation is available for those who qualify.  For more information visit us on the web at www.stanthonyschool-nh.com

St. Thomas Aquinas School  in Derry announces its registration for the school year 2008-2009 for Grades Pre K-8.  In addition to our pre K program for four year-olds (three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday) we will be starting a Pre K program for three year-olds (two days/week on Tuesday & Thursday.)  Registration will be held during the month of January.  If you would like a tour of the school, you may come I any Tuesday or Thursday in January between 9am and 1PM.  We will also have an Open House on Sunday, January 27th from 12-2 PM.  Tours will be given and teachers and staff will be available to answer questions.  Registration fee for all grades is $50.00 per child non-refundable.  For further information please call the school office at 432-2712 (Grades 1-8) or the Kindergarten at 437-6651 or visit our website at www.staderry.com. 

Our Spiritual Adoption Program
    After some discussion and much prayer, we, at St. Paul parish, have decided to participate in a Spiritual adoption program.  Many parishes in the diocese are already familiar with this program and have successfully participated in this program over the past few years.  This year we will join their ranks.   Here is a little information on the program.
l. What is the Spiritual Adoption Program?
  It is quite simple.  Participants in the Spiritual Adoption Program pledge to pray daily for nine months for a baby in danger of abortion.  While this child will remain unknown to his  or her “spiritual parents’ many people have found that naming ‘their child’ helps to keep them focused on the reality that their prayers are helping to save the baby (and the mother) from the harm of abortion.
2. Who can participate?  All parishioners including adults, students, prayer groups and anyone who is concerned about abortion, who is willing to pray for babies in danger of abortion, for their mothers, fathers and other family members
3.  Who benefits from this Program?  Everyone.  We all benefit especially from a spiritual and educational perspective.