July 30, 2006
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday,  July 29 
   6:00 PM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  July 30
   9:30 AM  For Ricky McGregor by Normand & Jeannine Fraser
Saturday,  August 5
    6:00 PM   For Leon & Alexina Therrien by Normand & Jeannine Fraser
Sunday,  August 6
    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 ________

            The Catholic Community of St. Paul Parish wish to extend a special invitation to all who are interested in learning more about the process of becoming a Baptized member of our Church.  If you, or someone you know have been thinking about taking this step toward full Communion, do not hesitate to call the office at 483-8481 and ask to speak to Lorette about this process.  Whether you have already been baptized in another Christian Faith denomination or have never been baptized at all, the road is open to all.  If you are interested in knowing more about this spiritually enriching journey toward Catholicism, we would be happy to meet with you and answer any questions you may have.

A Time for Altar Serving Training
    If you have a son or daughter who has made their 1st Communion and is between the ages of 8 and 12 years old, and has expressed the desire to be an altar server, this is the time to come forward.  We will be trying a new method of training this year.  We are in the process of making a video for them to take home and watch.  This way they can watch the video as often as they need to in order to remember what their responsibilities are.  If your child is interested in this important ministry, please let Lorette know as soon as possible. 

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
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Theme: (God’s Abundance)
Reading I: 2 Kings 4:42-44 (Filled to Overflowing)
Reading II: Ephesians 4: 1-6 (One Lord, One Faith)
Gospel: John. 6:1-15 (Multiplication of the Loaves)

Question for Adults:  How can I advocate for the poor and educate myself to become a more responsible steward of my personal resources?
    Advocating for the poor is a Gospel imperative that we often see as being limited to putting extra money in the basket when an occasional mission appeal comes to our parish.  This is not exactly the meaning of advocating however.  Of course, we know this but, we are not always sure exactly what we are supposed to do or expected to do.  How do we advocate for the poor?
    We must first take inventory of the many ways in which people experience poverty.  Being economically poor is definitely on the list.  There are several other ways by which people experience less that a full life.  People who are deprived of education, an equal social status with their neighbors, or equal opportunity due to race, gender or ethnic background can all be included in the category of the poor.  .
    Our first question is what can we do to advocate for people in our neighborhood or at our place of work or in our state?      The second question that we could ask ourselves is whether or not we are even aware of our own lifestyle and how it may affect other people in our world.  How do we use our resources?  Are we careless and extravagant?  Do we feel that we deserve to splurge because we earn a good salary?  Do we take into consideration the fact that we all live in the same world and that those of us who are not careful are wasting the resources that are meant for everyone, not only ourselves?
     
Question for Children?   What will I do to change my own wastefulness, particularly when it comes to food? 
    This question touches on the very popular theme of being a good steward of our natural resources.  Wasting our food falls right into line with wasting our water, electricity, gas etc.  If your child understands the concept of recycling, it will not be a stretch to discuss the wasting of food.  You might want to stress the relationship between being good to the earth and caring for all people.  If we don’t eat more than we need there will be plenty for everyone.

Community News

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 takes small jobs as well as bigger ones.  Susie is responsible, dependable, and honest.  If you are interested or need more information please call Susie at 463-7801.
 
A Trip to the Holy Land
    I am organizing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for March 5-March 14, 2007.  If anyone would be interested in joining in this trip please call Sacred Hear Parish in Lebanon and ask for Fr. William Kaliyadan, M.S. at (603)448-1262 or e-mail Fr. at williamms@hotmail.com The trip will include sailing on the Sea of Galilee, visiting Capernaum, the ascent to Mt. Tabor, and on to Jerusalem. 

Mark Your Calendars
    The office of Vocations to the Priesthood is midway toward their goal of celebrating a monthly Mass for Vocations through the year 2006.  The following dates include the next six Masses.  All Masses will be held at St. Joseph’s Cathedral.  Please join us in praying for priestly vocations.