March 5, 2006
1st Sunday of Lent
Weekend Mass Intentions
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
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

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 ________

Reminder:
    The First Reconciliation Service for the children preparing for the sacrament is scheduled for this coming Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 10:00 AM. There will be two priests for the celebration.

New Mass Schedule       The new Mass schedule related to the twinning of our two parishes will take effect on the weekend of March 18/19.  Beginning on that weekend the Masses at St. Paul Parish will be as follows: Saturday – 6:00 PM Sunday -    9:30 AM

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.

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 next class is scheduled for April 2, 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 date for  March is as follows: March 5, 2006.  It 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
1st  Sunday of Lent
Theme: (God’s Covenant)
Reading I: Genesis 9: 8-15 (God’s covenant with Noah)
Reading II: l Peter:3:18-22 (Saved Through Water)
Gospel:  Mark 1: 12-15 (Jesus is Tempted)

Question for Adults: How will I make myself more open this Lenten season to the good news of God’s love?
    The expression “being open” has several connotations for people.  We can be open to suggestion meaning we are flexible in our opinions.  We can be open to the love others have for us meaning we make ourselves vulnerable to other persons coming into our lives.  We can also be open to new ideas creative or otherwise that will help us see our world from a completely new perspective.
    The bottom line is that a person who is willing to be open to someone or something is saying that they are willing to take a chance on something that is not their own.  This entails the element of trust since being open means that we are accepting the probability of vulnerability.  When we are not in complete control of our lives we are making ourselves vulnerable.  This can be a very uncomfortable experience.  We may go so far as being anxious and afraid.
    When we think of being open to God’s love in our lives, we often get this feeling of vulnerability.  We wonder what God will ask of us.  We are somewhat reticent to accept his love because we fear what strings will be attached.  The wonderful thing about being open to someone’s love, however is that it is often much more rewarding that the we initially thought it would be.  Are we willing to take this chance?  If yes, how will we open ourselves? Let us begin by being a little more attentive to the reading of the gospels and the homilies.  Then, let us open our hearts with a daring attitude.

Question for Children?   What can I do to make this Lent a special one this year?  Perhaps the best way to help your child have a special Lenten season is to encourage them to do something a little more creative for a change.  Rather than have them “give up” something ordinary like candy or ice cream, maybe you could challenge them to do something that comes a little bit more from the heart.  “Adopting” a third world country to pray for or a sick person they know or performing a kind act for a classmate once or twice a week would all be great ideas to begin with.  Be creative!   

Community News