St. Paul's Church, Candia, NH

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, May 6
   6:00 PM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday, May 7
   9:30 AM  John & Rita Lefebvre By Mary & Barry Stevens
Saturday, May 13
    6:00 PM Robert Levesque 1st Anniversary by his wife Therese
Sunday, May 14
    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 April 30, 2006
St. Paul, Candia
Envelopes   $1497
Loose           416
Credit 100
Total    2013

Last weekend envelope users contributed 75% of our income.
(Amount tithed for the poor and needy: $120.72)

Thank You so much for your Generosity.

You Have the Power to Make a Difference

NH Catholic Charities needs your support to continue for those who need help in our state, like Shannon and Fred, who had been living a comfortable life with their two young children when suddenly Shannon was diagnosed with cancer. Between the medical treatments, surgeries, and sudden loss of employment, this young family was emotionally and financially devastated. When they turned in desperation to Catholic Charities, we were there to listen, offer counseling, and help them to navigate through their very different world. . . Please give what you can. Your gift will help change a life forever. Our parish goal is $17,500.

Called to Servant Leadership is a Diocesan three year leadership education and formation program which includes theology courses, formation days, annual retreats, and a practicum experience. It is intended for catechetical leaders, youth ministers, RCIA coordinators and others in leadership. Theology courses will be offered in three locations: St. Anselm College; St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Dover; and Plymouth State University.
Registration has begun for the fall of 2006. For the registration packet please send a request in writing to:

Patricia A. Gabree
Exec. Dir. for Education and Formation of the Laity
Diocese of Manchester
PO Box 310
Manchester NH 03105-0310
pgabree@RCBM.org

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. The last class of the year will be on Sunday, May 14, 2006

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 class of the school year is May 21, 2006. This class will be held at St. Peter Church at 4:00 PM. There are a number of church related activities on that day which would make it difficult if not impossible to hold a double program. We will have separate session in the fall.   Thank you very much for your understanding.. 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 meet one extra time per month.   All students from both parishes will meet together in Auburn for these meetings.

Question of the Week
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Theme: (Shepherding the Flock)
Reading I: Acts 4: 8-12 (The Cornerstone)
Reading II: 1 John 3:1-2 (God’s Children)
Gospel: John 10:11-18 (The Good Shepherd)

Question for Adults: How can I thank the often unrecognized good shepherds who perform jobs that contribute in important ways to the welfare of others?
    Shepherds are by and large unknown to the people of the 21st Century. Except for a few countries in the third world where shepherding remains fairly well known, we in the US, see shepherding as relegated to a few large sheep ranches out west. What then does a shepherd do? In order to become more conscious of their work it is important to know something about the animal. Sheep, we are told are animals that are rather meek. They are easily led. They are not aggressive animals. They allow themselves to be trampled if need be. They easily fall prey to wild animals. If the sheep are to survive, shepherds have their work cut out for them.
          If we are to thank people who are good “shepherds” we would probably be thanking people who devote their lives in the care of the meek and vulnerable, i.e., the elderly, the sick, the children. Dedicating ourselves to serving the most vulnerable is not easy. It become even more difficult is the task is unappreciated or if there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Despite these difficulties, there are always individuals who are ready to sacrifice their lives for those in need.
        Do we know anyone, perhaps in our family, in our neighborhood or in our place of work, who is presently being a good shepherd? Do we support them with sincere encouragement and thanks for all they do even if it is not for ourselves or our family? What creative ways can we show our appreciation?

Question for Children?   Who are the workers in my school or neighborhood who take special care of children like a good shepherd?
    You may want to begin by sharing with your children some characteristics of sheep and shepherds. Then, you could help them transfer the knowledge and adapt it to people around them. If children understand what a shepherd is asked to do, they will have no problem identifying people who care in the same way shepherds do.

Community News

A Look at Upcoming Events

Do You Need a Hand?. . .
    Susan Cady, wife and mother of two, has been maintaining the upkeep of the church (and formerly of the rectory) for the past 7 years. She no longer cleans the rectory since the priests no longer reside there. Susie is presently available to take on one or two house cleaning sites. If you or someone you know would need assistance with cleaning, Susie would like to hear from you. She is responsible, dependable and honest. If you are interested or need more information please call Susie at 463-7801.

Come, Let Us Pray
    A monstrance blessed by the late Pope John Paul II to encourage people to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life will travel among 16 sites in the Diocese of Manchester form May 5th to May 13. All are invited and encouraged to spend time in prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in the vocation monstrance as it travels to parishes, schools and religious communities of the diocese. On Monday May 8th, all are invited to a special Mass and Holy Hour at Precious Blood Monastery at 6:30 p.m. A full schedule can be found on the vocation website at www.liveinblackandwhite.com or call Fr. Jason Jalbert 669-3100 ext. 132.

Cathedral Music in Manchester presents Bach’s “Actus Tragicus”, Sacred Cantata 106, performed by Choralis Ars Antiqua Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Cathedral, corner of Pine and Lowell Streets in Downtown Manchester. The Choir, under the direction of Michael Joseph, will perform this most famous cantata, along with psalm settings by Thomas Tallis from Archbishop Parker’s Psalm Book. Admission is free and open to the public. A free-will offering will go to the Cathedral Organ Fund. The Cathedral is handicapped accessible. For more information call 660-3100
ext. 190.

Electronic Offering:
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, go to our website home page and make your contribution on line.

Raymond Head Start Now Taking Applications
    Head Start is a free comprehensive child and family program for preschool aged children, including those with special needs, from families whose income do not exceed the federal guidelines ($20,000 family of four). Head Start provides developmentally appropriate activities and education for children in a classroom setting. In addition it provides :
Health & Nutrition Services, Disability Services
Social Services, Family & Community Partnerships and Parent involvement & Support.
    The program runs from September through May, 5 days a week from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. through state licensed child care providers. If you or someone you know qualifies for this program please call the Raymond Center, 895-9223 to schedule a time to apply. After June 1, contact the Administrative Offices at 1-800-556-9300 or
431-2911.

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, 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.