St. Paul's Church, Candia, NH

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, March 24
   6:00 PM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday, March 26
   9:30 AM Dorothy Vallee 1st Anniversary by Rene & Claudette Bessette
Saturday, April 1
    6:00 PM Patricia Horn by Mr. & Mr. Vinnacombe
Sunday, April 2
   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 ________

Update on Parish Income

Weekend of March 19, 2006
St. Paul, Candia
Envelopes   $1673
Loose           361
Credit 100
Total    2134

Last weekend envelope users contributed 83% of our income.
(Amount tithed for the poor and needy: $128.04)

Thank You so much for your Generosity.

Lenten Reflection: Jesus the Healer
St. Joseph Cathedral will host a new multimedia dramatic presentation, “Jesus the Healer,” by the Seacoast region Franciscan Mystery Players at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in the Cathedral. Through the use of special lighting and sound, this meditation on Gospels is offered to lead us prayerfully into Holy Week. Beginning and ending with the crucifixion, the drama invites us to reflect on Jesus’ healing ministry. Because of the intensity of the subject matter of suffering and death, it is not recommended for children. Please join us for a memorable experience of prayer and healing. There is no charge for admission; a free-will offering will be accepted to support the Players’ ministry. For more information, please call Joan Poro at the Cathedral rectory, 622-6404.

New Mass Schedule
The new Mass schedule related to the twinning of our two parishes is presently in effect. This new schedule began on the weekend of March 18/19. As of that weekend the Masses at St. Paul Parish have been as follows:

Saturday – 6:00 PM
Sunday - 9:30 AM

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.

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 runs from mid-September to mid-May. We do offer the program at all Masses .

Grades 4 – 10+
This year we are initiating a new program for the children in these grade levels. The classes are held once a month and the program is geared to the entire family. Parents are asked to attend the sessions as there is an adult component to the program. Our first class was Sunday, October 16, 2005 from 11am – 1pm. The last two classes of the school year are: April 2, and May 22, 2006. All classes will are 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
4th Sunday of Lent
Theme: (Living in the Light)
Reading I: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 (The people of Judah )
Reading II: Ephesians 2:4-10 (Saved by Grace)
Gospel: John 3: 14-21(God Sent His Son)

Question for Adults: What situations in my life right now appear to me as a choice between light and darkness? This question reflects the depth of the evangelist John as well as his poetic writing style. There are many instances in scripture when we hear this theme repeated. It happens during Advent and again during Lent. John is usually the gospel writer who presents this theme. For those of us who have less of a poetic bent, it would probably benefit us to take a moment to reflect on the meaning of these words before we attempt to answer the question.
    Scripture refers to the term darkness when referring to the sinful nature of humanity. We live in darkness when we apparently are blind to the good we could do for others. We live in darkness when we are blind to the needs of others. We prefer to walk in darkness, i.e., with blinders on or our eyes closed because it makes it easier to do our thing without taking the needs of others into consideration.    We also live in darkness when we choose to live in ignorance of the working of God in our lives.
    Light has the exact opposite connotation. We live in the light when we choose to open our eyes and to be aware of the good we can do for others and our world. Awareness and consciousness are the result of living in the light. The mission of Christ was to open our eyes to the light. In so doing he saved us from our sinful lives What situations seem to reflect this theme in your live at this time?.

Question for Children?   What can I do this week to bring good news to someone?
    The expression Good News is not a difficult one but it is not a familiar one to children. Although they may remember being taught its meaning, they will also easily forget it. Before asking your children to think of example of bringing the good news it would probably be helpful to review the meaning of Good News. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus loved us and taught us that we are loved by the Father as well. We are all important and special to them. We deserve to be respected .

Community News

A Look at Upcoming Events

Marriage & Annulment in the Catholic Church
    Rev. Msgr. Paul Bouchard, of the Marriage Tribunal for the Diocese of Manchester and Pastor of the Parish of the Transfiguration, will speak and answer questions about the Roman Catholic Church’s positions on marriage, annulment, separation, and divorce. Many people may be confused about these issues and experiencing much pain because of it. The Church’s understanding of these issues has deepened in recent decades following revisions in canon law.
    The Monday evening program is a general information forum and a way to reach out to those who may have been hurt by the Church, disagree with its positions, are angry toward the institution, or think it is angry with them.
Time:        7:00 PM
Place:    Transfiguration Parish, Msgr. Gilbert Room: Entrance on the side of the church on Youville street, at end of the church bldg.
Date:     March 27, 2006

You’re Invited
    If you are between the ates of 20-39, please join us and get more involved in our Church. Our next meetings are March 14th and 28th here at St. Paul Church from 6:30-8:00 p.m. For more information e-mail Christay at christye@cyanh.org. For more information about Catholic Young Adults here in NH, please check out our website at www.cyanh.org.

Toffee Sale: The CYA is selling homemade toffee as a fundraiser for their general funds. The toffee is donated by Kate’s Confections. The toffee is being sold for $5.00 per half lb. All toffee will be distributed after the 9:30 Mass on Palm Sunday. Call Katie at 493-0646 to order or e-mail christeye@cyanh.org to place your orders.

UNH Cooperative Extension
    The UNH Cooperative Extension in Rockingham County is sponsoring four programs for families and youth. Two of these are co-sponsored with Families First Health and Support Center in Portsmouth, NH and another is co-sponsored with The Sad Care in Plaistow, NH. The following is the first and it is open to the general public for single parents.
Supportive Connections for Single Parents and Their Children on Tuesdays, March 14 – April 11, 2006, 6:---7:30 pm at Families First, Community Campus, Portsmouth, NH and Thursday, March 9 – April 13, 2006, 6:00-7:30 pm at the Sad Café, Route 125, Plaistow, NH.

Rockingham VNA and Hospice
    Will be offering a six-week general Bereavement Support Group starting Tuesday, March 21st and concluding April 25, 2006. The group will meet at the Rockingham VNA and Hospice office at 137 Epping Road in Exeter from 10:30 AM until 12:00 noon.
    The purpose of the group is to provide an opportunity for people who are grieving a significant death to meet in a safe, supportive environment and share their story with others who are experiencing a similar loss.
    The group is free and open to all community members. If you are interested in joining the group, please call Lee Maher, Bereavement Coordinator at 772-2981 or 1-800-540-2981 to register

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: Charlie Doucette, Betty Lintz, Cecile Gendron, Kimberly Mirolo, Rita Sullivan, Kathy Gauthier, Roger Auger, Jean Swindler, Roger Plante, Rita Matten, Joseph Gesel, Jacob Desrocher, Cindy Huard, Deborah McGovern, Canaan Bernier, Ethel Thomas, Gordon Gladden and Carol Sheperd.

For peace in the world, especially in Iraq…
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...
For all victims of current natual disasters world wide...

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.