Speptember 3, 2006
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday,  September 2
    6:00 PM   For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  September 3
    9:30 AM  For Alcide and Annette Fraser by Normand and Jeannine Fraser
Saturday,  September 9
   6:00 PM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  September 10
   9:30 AM  For Juliette Boisvert by Gabrielle Moisan

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 ________

Christian Formation News

Grades K – High School     If you have children of age for Religious Education, please remember to pick up a registration form for Religious Education for the coming year.  All children from grade K – the end of Confirmation must register.  The registration does not roll over from one year to the next.  You can pick up a form in the back of the church or you can visit the parish office Monday – Thursday during office hours or give us a call at 483-8481 and ask us to mail you a form.  We would be happy to do this Grades K- 3  Classes for children in these grades will resume on the weekend of September 16/17..    Grades 4 – 10 +    Last year we initiated 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 strongly urged to attend the sessions as there is an adult component to the program which helps them to deepen their knowledge of the faith as well as making it possible for them to compliment the practice of the faith in the home. Our first class will be on Sunday, October 15, 2006.  This year, the classes will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 pm here at St. Paul’s.  A full year’s schedule will be given to you on the first class day.  Please mark your calendars.

Question of the Week
22nd  Sunday in Ordinary Time
Theme: (Following the Lord)
Reading I:Deut. 4:1-2, 6-8 (The Commands of the Lord)
Reading II: James 1: 17-18, 21-23(Doers of the Word)
Gospel:  Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15 (What Comes From Within)

Question for Adults: How can I develop a grateful heart in order that God’s law might become an expression of freedom and that my actions authentically reflect my desire to follow the path of Jesus?
This is a loaded question.  There are several points to consider.  One, we want to reflect on the meaning of having a grateful heart.  We often mistake the notion of saying Thank You as being the fulfillment of being grateful.  As we mature and grow wiser we come to understand that gratitude is much more involved.  It certainly includes saying Thanks but it also involves the idea of living one’s life in such a way as to reflect the gifts we have received. 
    Then there is the notion of Freedom which many people associate with being independent and doing whatever one wants when and if they want.  True Freedom, however comes from a much deeper place.  It comes from the notion that we are not slaves to what other human beings think.  We are not tied down to having to compare ourselves to everyone else.  We are Free when we can live our lives in a manner that reflects our true beliefs and when we are not ashamed to live out our priorities and values which reflect our love for others.    If we had more Free Christians we would see fewer people competing with the Joneses wouldn’t we?
    Lastly, we need to seriously consider whether or not we really have a desire to follow Jesus’ path.  This is all together another question, however, it is an important one.  Have a great week.
     
Question for Children?  What can I change in my life to honor God’s law more genuinely?
    Begin by discussing the idea of what it means to be genuine.  The examples will vary with age.  Everyone has the temptation to put on airs and to forget that it is more important to be ourselves no matter what.  The closer they get to being teens, the more temptation there is.  Ask you children if they can think of something they do just to impress others?  Perhaps they can draw an idea for change from this list. 

Community News

A Parish Pictorial Directory
    This year, 2006, the parish is St. Paul is celebrating its 35th Anniversary.  With this in mind,  after much discussion, the Pastor and I along with the Pastoral Council have decided to have a new Pictorial Directory for the Parish.  Our last Directory was completed in 2001. 
    This year’s Directory will be developed by Olin Mills.  They are the Company that served us in 1998, 2 directories ago.  Many parishioners were very happy with Olin Mills so we opted to go with them rather than the company that served us in 2001. 
    There are many new families in the parish and those of you who were with us last time have had more children or they have gotten much older.  A good turnout would be a great way of bringing us all together and helping one another to get to know who we are and what we look like. Sign up dates begin on September 9th and 10th.  Mark you calendars.

Experienced Human Resources Generalist Sought. . .the Diocese of Manchester currently is seeking a human resources generalist with five years of human resources management experience and/or certification.  The  position would be responsible for administering human resources policies and procedures including staffing, payroll, compensation, and benefits programs.  The successful candidate must be detail oriented, flexible, and intuitive and have the ability to work independently and accurately in a fast-paced environment.  Salary commensurate with experience and includes a benefit package with health, dental, and vacation.  For immediate consideration, send cover letter and resume to:  Diane Murphy Quinlan, Chancellor, Diocese of Manchester, 153 Ash St., PO Box 310, Manchester, NH 03105.