February 22, 2009
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, February 21
   6:00 PM  PM  For Eleanor Ahearn by her husband   George Ahearn
Sunday,  February 22
    9:30 AM Intention of the Celebrant
Wednesday, February 25,
    7:00 PM  Ash Wednesday
Saturday, February 28
   6:00 PM  For
Sunday,  March 1
    9:30 AM  For Parishioners of St. Paul

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

All children from k – 10 must register for Religious Education each year.  The registration does not roll over from one year to the next.  We will be mailing a registration form through e-mail in the near future.  If you have not received a form by mid-August it is because we do not have your e-mail address or perhaps you are not yet registered in the parish so we do not have any pertinent information related to you family.  You can call the office between Monday –Thursday at 483-8481 to update your e-mail info or you can pick up a registration in the entrance of the 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 1st Communion is a two year program.  The program for the school year 2008-2009 will begin on the weekend of September 20th and 21st.  Classes are held during both weekend Masses. Grades 4 – 10 +, Generation 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. The next class for parents and children in this program will be March 15, 2009 at St. Peter Parish in Auburn.  All GoF classes are held on Sundays from 4 – 6 pm. Confirmation Program:      The Confirmation students will begin their two year program on Sunday, October 5, 2008.  Classes are held from 11:00 am to 12 noon. Students must be registered in the program and must be registered members of the parish.  If you have not yet registered your child for classes please call the office to speak to Lorette.                      Schedule of Classes

7th  Sunday of Ordinary Time 
Theme:  (The forgiveness of Sins)
Reading I: Isaiah: : 43:18-25 (Something New)
Reading II: 1 Cor. 1: 18-22 (Their Yes is in Him
Gospel: Mark 2: 1-12 (The authority to Forgive)

Question for Adults:  What might I do to carry a friend or family member closer to Christ? This is a very real problem for many people especially parents.  It often happens that we want someone to “find their way” so to speak and we often feel inadequate in what to do.  All too often we think that we cannot do anything because we are not knowledgeable enough about our faith. This is a sad thing because, in truth, we do not have to be theologians to bring others to Christ.  The most important thing is how we live our lives.  If our own lives reflect the “good news” of the Gospel we will be doing all we need to lead others to Christ?   If we are loving, forgiving, compassionate and accepting of others we will be well on our way.  The difficult part is knowing where we stand in relation to all this.   

Question for Children? How do my actions of love show God’s love to others? It is important to teach our children that their actions are a direct reflection of God’s presence or absence.  Since God is Love, when we act out of love we act like God.  When our actions do not relate to love, we distract people from God and often lead them in the opposite direction.  Very often children are not aware  that their actions affect others.  Discuss this with them.

Community News

  
Food Pantry for February: This month our pantry shelves continue to be in need of Cereal,  Spaghetti Sauce, Evaporated Milk and Instant or powdered milk . We are also always in need of juices.   Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Vita Nova Annual women’s Retreat
    This will be a reflective weekend on prayer based on the book “six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time” with Fr. John Grace, spiritual director and Kathy Garon, retreat leader.  Meals and two night $175 pp double room, $195 single.  Register on-line at www.vitanova.org. The retreat will be held from March 13-15, 2009 at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Andover MA.  For more info call Chritine Duffley at 668-2357 or Vita Nova 623-6682.

Hospice Volunteer Training A terminal diagnosis can be a lonely experience.  At a time when understanding is needed most, many Hospice patients find themselves isolated even from family and friends.  You can help end that isolation by becoming a Hospice volunteer.  We will teach you how to provide compassionate support to those patients at the end of life and to their families.
     The ten week Hospice volunteer training begins on March 6 and continues each Friday from 9am-noon through May 8, 2009, at the offices of Rockingham VNA & Hospice at 137 Epping Road Exeter, NH.  For more info call Martha Chandler, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, at 772-2981 or 800-540-2981 ext. 140

Natural Family Planning Class
    Discover a natural way to postpone or achieve a pregnancy.  In CCL’s  NFP classes, couples will learn how to interpret a woman’s fertility.  It is healthy for your body, safe for the environment and over 99% effective. Natural Family Planning has been known to have a positive effect on a couple’s marriage.  Our newly revised course includes John Paul’s Theology of the Body and thus enables couples to understand the beauty of the married vocation.  Classes are to begin on April 5th at St. Luke the Evangelist in Plaistow.  Pre-registration required by March 27.  For more information, contact Barbara or Paul at 463-7456. 

40 Days for Life
    You can make a difference in your own community!  A Nationwide campaign of prayer, fasting and witness to end abortion will begin Ash Wednesday February 25 – April 5, 2009.  Join us for a campaign that will be held at Planned Parenthood, 24 Pennacook St. Manchester, NH 7 am to 7 pm.  Sign up at www.40daysforlife.com/manchester  or email Theo at theo@unitedchoiceforlife.org or call 714-9190.

Stepping Stones: A Bereavement Program for Children and Teens along with a parent or guardian- who have experienced the death of a family member or friend.  The program is designed to help facilitate healing by allowing participants to understand and express their feelings of grief.  Our program provides a safe passage through the Stepping Stones of grief.  There is not fee for attending, but pre-registration is required.
    Dates:  Wednesday, April 22, 2009 through Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
    Time:  6:00 – 7:30 PM
    Place: Brookside Congregational Church
        2013 Elm Street, Manchester, NH

The Gospel According to John
    Leonardo Defilippis will present a live professional program on the Gospel of John at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Manchester on Saturday, March 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
    Defilippis is well known as the director and star of the feature film THERESE.  His live performance of the Gospel covers the entire Gospel with a spectacular set, numerous costumes and a moving musical score.  This program is suitable for ages 7 and up.  Admission $10 for adults and $5 for youth under age 17.  For more information contact St. Anthony Church at 625-6409.

CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS Please remember the following people and intentions in your daily prayers: Our sick parishioners and friends…    Please pray for the following people: Josephine Stout,  Frank Huard, Cecile Gendron,  Kimberly Mirolo, Rita Sullivan, Kathy Gauthier,  Jean Swindler, Roger Plante, Joseph Gesel, Jacob Desrocher, Cindy Huard, Deborah McGovern, Ethel Thomas, Gordon Gladden and Carol Sheperd.  For peace in the world, especially in the Middle East… For those serving in the armed forces... For families experiencing stress due to financial, emotional or relational problems For our sister parish in Haiti... For vocations to full-time ministry, especially the priesthood, the deaconate, religious life lay ministry...     If you would like to add a person or intention, please let us know. If people on the sick list are no longer in need of prayers, please let us know.