February 26, 2006
8th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday,  February 25
    4:00 PM  Intention of the Celebrant
Sunday,  February 26
   8:00 AM  Intention of the Celebrant
   9:30 AM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Ash Wednesday, March 1
   7:00 PM  Intention of the Celebrant
Saturday,  March 4
   4:00 PM  Mass in Honor of St. Anthony by Normand & Jeannine Fraser
Sunday,  March 5
   8:00 AM  For Albert Newell by his wife Rita Newell
   9:30 AM  For the 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 ________

Ash Wednesday     This Wednesday, March 1, 2006,  we begin the Holy season of Lent with the Celebration of the Liturgy on Ash Wednesday.  The distribution of Ashes will take place during the liturgy.  Our liturgy here at St. Paul is at 7:00 PM.

St. Paul Expansion Committee
St. Paul Parish
Candia, NH

Dear Parishioners of St. Paul,
    As St. Paul Parish twins with St. Peter Parish, Auburn, we are faced with several challenges:  only two Masses per weekend, a growing population in a growing part of New Hampshire, a lack of space in our church, not enough parking room in our lot.  St. Paul Pastoral Council will immediately establish an “Expansion Committee” to meet these challenges.  Not only will a greater capacity in church alleviate the overcrowding, but it will also be inviting for new parishioners to join our parish.  Your suggestions for membership on this committee can be communicated to Mr. Normand Fraser or Mr. Lionel Beliveau.  The committee will also be able to form sub-committees to oversee specific issues that may arise.  The more people involved, the less the burden on the few.

Sincerely,
Fr. C. Peter Dumont, Pastor

A few months ago the finance council recommended the implementation of electronic contributions for weekly contributions. Our Parish is now able to take your offertory donations through Credit or Debit card.  If you wish to make you contribution in this manner, simply go to our website's home page and make your contribution on-line.  You can also fill out a form at the office.

CYA (Catholic Young Adults)  are inviting everyone between the ages of 20-39 to join them at their next meeting if you are interested in getting more involved in your church.  The meetings will be here at St. Paul’s on 28th.  Both meetings will be at 6:30 – 8:00 pm.  If you want more information on this organization contact the website at www.cyanh.org  We hope to see you at the next meeting!

Food Pantry Needs! ! !
    Our food pantry is being used quite regularly this winter and we are completely out of certain foods.  We especially need,  Tuna,  any kind of Soup,  ready prepared canned meals such as Ravioli, Chili, Spaghetti etc.  We could also use canned fruit and Spaghetti Sauce.  Please no pasta for a while.  Thank you all so much!

Christian Formation News

Grades K – 3     The children entering grades K- 3 this fall will be attending Lectionary Catechesis as they have been in the past.  The program began on the weekend of September 24/25th.  We hope to be able to offer the program at all Masses but we will have to have a sufficient number of teachers and monitors to staff the three Masses.  If we do not have enough volunteers we will have to limit the classes to two Masses.   Grades 4 – 10+     All children in grades 4 – 10 will be attending the new program that is being initiated in the parish this year.  This means that they will attend classes once a month with their parents and the rest of the parish.  This class will be complimented by work at home which will enable the children to deepen their understanding of the theme of the month as well as to process the information on a day to day basis.  .    Since there will be only one class per month, parents will be asked to commit this weekend time as a priority to Christian Formation. The class may be made up by attending the class at St. Peter Parish the following weekend.  The classes will begin in October.  A  schedule for the year  has been mailed out to parents who have children previously enrolled in Religious Formation. Our first class is Sunday, October 16, 2005 from 11am - 1pm. The January and February Classes are scheduled as follows.  January 15, 2006 and February 12, 2006.  Both classes will be held from 11:00 – 1:00 pm.    If you are new to the parish or if you child is just beginning his/her formation, please call the parish office for a registration blank.     Confirmation students will also meet one extra time per month.  The dates for January and February are as follows.  January 8 and February 5, 2006.  Both will be held at 12:30PM immediately following the 11:30 Mass in Auburn.  All students from both parishes will meet together in Auburn for these meetings.

Question of the Week
8th  Sunday of Ordinary Time
Theme: (Recognizing Christ)
Reading I: Hosea 2:16-17, 21-22 (You Shall Know the Lord)
Reading II: 2Cor. 3:1-6 (A Letter of Christ)
Gospel:  Mark 2: 18-22 (The Bridegroom is With Them)

Question for Adults: What Catholic practices do others question me about, and how do I respond?
     Over the years there have been fewer people who question the Catholic practices.  There could be number of reason for this.  One reason is that there is more knowledge of  interfaith practice across the board.  Another reason could be that there is less interest in religious practices overall.  And, of course, others need to be aware that you are Catholic before they ask any question at all.
    There are instances, however, when relatives, co-workers or neighbors may come to you and ask you questions about the Catholic faith.  It may be a simple curiosity or it may be a sincere interest in the faith.  Regardless of the motive, they come to us because they are searching for answers.
    Questions about the papacy, the Virgin Mary, the Saints, the Rosary etc. are common questions asked by non-Catholics.  Are we prepared to answer these questions or do we hesitate to answer because we ourselves are not certain.  Are we knowledgeable enough about our faith to entertain the questions of others. 
    A second consideration is the idea that we may not ourselves believe what the church teaches about certain teachings.  This makes questioning a very uncomfortable situation to say the least.  Have we tried to reconcile these matters by seeking advice or taking the matter to prayer? Just where do we stand in respect to matters that are Catholic?

Question for Children?   How do I show others what it means to be Catholic??   
    This question may be an excellent time to teach your child some Catholic practices that they are not familiar with.  Of course, the principle teaching is the Mass.  This would probably be an excellent starting point.  Children are not always aware that Catholics are the only Christian denomination that celebrates Mass.  Teaching them about the sacramentals such as crucifixes, rosaries, ashes, palms etc. are also Catholic in nature although there are a few Protestant denominations that have preserved some of them especially the Lutherans and the Episcopalians.  Showing others what it means to be Catholic should be related to following the Gospels.

Community News