May 28, 2006
7th Sunday of Easter

Weekend Mass Intentions
Wednesday, May 24
    7:00 PM For Robert Phillips 8^th Anniversary by his wife Alice
Saturday,  May 27
    6:00 PM  Robert Levesque 1st Anniversary by his wife Therese
Sunday,  May 28
    9:30 AM   Leon & Alexina Therrien by Normand & Jeannine Fraser
Saturday,  June 3  
   6:00 PM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  June 4
   9:30 AM  Mass of Thanksgiving

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 ________

Thank You to All Teachers.

            Last week we brought our Religious Education Program to a close for the school year.  There are many men and women who generously gave of their time, talent and effort to this important ministry.  We owe them a great debt of gratitude for their willingness to serve the people of the parish.  Please pray for these generous men and women.  A Special Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated for the teachers on June 4, 2006 at the 9:30 Mass. 

Relay for Life             The Bourque Family is participating in the Relay for Life. It’s Sandy Bourque’s five-year anniversary of being cancer-free.  Let’s celebrate by donating to a great cause, the Amrican Cancer Society Relay for Life!  Those interested may donate online at http://www.acsevents.org/nhmanchester .  Just click search and type either Sarah Bourque or Sandy Bourque.  Those with questions may call 895-0324.  Your donations are greatly appreciated!

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 was on May 21, 2006.  This class was held at St. Peter Church at 4:00 PM.  There were a number of church related activities on that day which would make it difficult if not impossible to hold a double program.  We will return to having separate sessions 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
<>Seventh Sunday of Easter
Theme: (Sent into the World)
Reading I: Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26  (Choosing Matthias)
Reading II: 1 John 4: 11-16 (Remain in God)<>
Gospel:  John 17:11-19 (Being One)

Question for Adults:    Has someone from another Christian tradition ever deepened my own Catholic faith?
      For a period of about four hundred years, from the mid- sixteen hundreds to the mid- nineteen hundreds, the Catholic Church spent much if not most of its energy reacting to the Protestant Reformation which began with Martin Luther in the mid 1600s.  Throughout this period of time, Catholics were not “allowed” to even think never mind entertain such a thought as being enriched by other faith traditions. 
      Today, however, thanks to the 2^nd Vatican Council and its efforts to open the windows to the work of the Spirit, we are much more open to God’s work in all people weather they be Jewish, Muslim, or Christians of various churches that we may or may not be familiar with.
      Being enriched by another faith tradition does not mean that we see them as better or worse.  It means that we are able to see their tradition for what it is and accept it.  Someone you know could help you to deepen you faith in a variety of ways.  Two possible scenarios are:  The person may say or do something that makes you realize that a person’s respective faith is to be valued rather than be taken for granted.  When we see others value their faith we are forced to reflect on our own faith
      A second way of looking at it is by looking at the other faith tradition and realizing that our faith tradition, namely Catholicism, has something the others don’t have.  Thus, the contrast helps us to value our faith all the more.  Has this ever happened to you?  If so, take some time to give thanks for the gift of the Spirit working within you.        

Question for Children?   Do I realize that everyone who is baptized is a brother or sister to me in Jesus?    Baptism in this question refers to all baptized Christians, not only Catholics.  This may be a difficult concept for young children but by the time they are ten or eleven they should be able to understand.  Begin by explaining what a Christian is then you can branch out to the different denominations.

Community News

Congratulations lst Communicants

     This year St. Paul Parish is happy to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist with 30 young boys and girls.  Please pray for them as they continue to come closer to Jesus who loves them.

Last week’s bulletin printed Thomas L. instead of Sarah.  We are very sorry Sarah for this mistake.

Our First Communicants are:
Angela B., Nicole B., Ava B., Jared B., Molly B., Autumn B., Dale C., Maura D., Liam D., Isaac D., Victoria H.,
Amanda G., Alex G., Elena G., Lacey I., Abigail K., Gregory G., Meghan H., Jacob L., Brooke L., Thomas L.,
Evan M., Sean M., Philip M., Sara M., Thomas P., Jolie R., Seth S., Kylee S., Rebecca S.
 
<>Thank You All
    The Group Work Campers and their Chaperones would like to thank parishioners for their generosity and support.  Last weekend we raised $550.00 in bake sale proceeds and received a donation of $50.00 from a family in Candia.  We have also become benefactors from the monthly title at both St. Peter and St. Paul Parishes.  We truly appreciate the enthusiasm of those around us and look forward to our week of service in Machias, Maine.  Be assured that when we are away serving others we will remember the support of our parishes back home.  Thank you all.