St. Paul's Church, Candia, NH

February 4, 2007
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, February 3
    6:00 PM For Eleanor Ahearn by husband
Sunday, February 4
    9:30 AM For Parishioners of St. Paul
Saturday, February 10
   6:00 PM   For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday, February 11
   9:30 AM For Marguerite Swiader by Thomas & Julie O’Brien

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 January 28, 2007
St. Paul, Candia
Envelopes   $1961
Loose           334
Credit    75
Total    2370

Last weekend envelope users contributed 85% of our income.
(Amount tithed for the poor and needy: $142.22)

Thank You so much for your Generosity.

On the Way. . . World Marriage Day is celebrated each year during the month of February. At all Masses next weekend we will ask God to strengthen your vows. If you come to church as a couple, you will be invited to stand and silently re-commit yourselves to each other. I will then bestow a special blessing on you.
    Also On the Way. . .Several teen-agers expressed disappointment at my remarks two weeks ago concerning the dangers of “rap” music. I surely am not here to turn young parishioners away from God or the Church, however I would be remiss in my duties if I did not alert you to the inherent dangers of some activities. As one parishioner commented: “Garbage in. . .garbage out”. If we see that our behavior towards ourselves or others is violent, uncaring, disrespectful, we have to examine what goes in, what we listen to, what we look at

The Sacrament of Marriage . . .
    The month of February is often associated with Love because of the very popular celebration of Valentine’s Day. This year the program of study for the Generations of Faith is The Sacraments. The focus for the February class is the Sacrament of Marriage. We will be having a Special Class for this occasion since this sacrament touches all of us in a very special way. Not only do most adults get married during their lifetime, the sacrament also assist them in living their lives in a happy and holy manner.
    The February session will be held on Feb. 11th at 4:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. Older teens and young adults who will be preparing for marriage in the next few year are especially encourage to attend.

Electronic Offering:
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 fill in the following and return to our office.

*****************************************
Name on Card___________________________________
Address________________________________________
Please Check: ______MasterCard ______Visa
       ______Debit MasterCard _____Debit Visa
Card Number:____________________________________
Expiration:_________________Amount:_______________
How often do you want this transaction to occur?
____One time _____Weekly_____Bi-Weekly ______Monthly

Signature:________________________________________
Email___________________________________________

Christian Formation News

2006-2007 Schedule (click here)

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 has resumed 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 was held on Sunday, October 15, 2006. Our next class is scheduled for February 11th. This year, the classes will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 pm here at St. Paul’s. 2006-2007 Schedule (click here)

Question of the Week
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Theme: (Following the Lord)
Reading Isaiah 6:1-8 (Encountering the Lord )
Reading 1 Cor. 15: 1-11 (The Grace of God)
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 (Casting Nets)

Question for Adults: What is it, at the deepest level of my being, that I sense Jesus is asking of me as one of his disciples? Many if not most people have great difficulty with the practice of going to the depth of their being. There are several reasons for this but there are probably two that are most common and most important for us, as Christians, of which to be aware. One is that we are too much in a hurry to take the time to reach our depth. We only have the time to be somewhat superficial at best because we are constantly running around trying to meet schedules we impose upon ourselves.
    A second reason for difficulty with depth is that we are often fearful of what we may find if we are faithful to the search. This week’s question about our deepest sense of calling serves to remind us that we must continue to be alert to this call. Being busy does not excuse us from our call.
    For some of us, Jesus may be asking for recommitment to our spouse. For others, it may be an invitation to deeper, more intimate relationship which may begin with a greater need for prayer. For others, it may be a call to give of oneself to the community at large or to your faith community. Don’t pass up the invitation to reflect on this question. It will ultimately help to make you happy.

Question for Children? How is Jesus asking me to be his follower this week? Being Jesus’ follower is not only for adults. Children have the ability and the responsibility to follow the example of Jesus in their daily lives. They are only expected to do this on their maturity level but regardless of their age, there are many ways to follow him.
    There are several ways to approach this question with your children. You may want to ask them what most attracts them to Jesus. Is it his kindness, his patience, his friendliness etc. Then, you may want to ask them how they can imitate this virtue? This is only one way. You know your children well so you know how best to approach them on this topic. Try to finish with a concrete manner of imitating Jesus in their daily lives for the week.

Community News

A Look at Upcoming Events

Volunteer Training Group
    Would you like to volunteer by helping individuals at the end of life? Would you like to use your talents, gifts and abilities to make a difference. We will train you to do some of the most important work you will ever do as you journey with others.

When: Friday Mornings: February 23 – April 27

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Where: RVNA & Hospice Office

              137 Epping Road, Exeter, NH

     To Register please call: 772-2981 or
1-800-540-2981, Martha Chandler, Coordinator

All Groups are open to the community and are FREE of charge.

Holy Family Academy, a private school located in Manchester, NH, provides a classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition for students in grades 7 – 12. The Academy will be having an Open House for prospective students on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 at 2:00 PM. Come and hear about the Academy’s program of excellence in classical education and solid formation in the Catholic faith. Holy Family Academy is currently accepting qualified students for the 2007-2008 academic year.

News from the CYA (Catholic Young Adults)
    The CYA group now meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you are between the ages of 20-39, please join us at our next meeting at St. Paul’s Church from 6:30-8:00 pm.

Attention Married Couples!
    Ah yes, the calm, quiet, comforting holiday season! What? That’s not happening in your house? Perhaps you should consider a weekend away! Join us on Valentines’ weekend (Feb. 9-11, 2007) for an opportunity to rejuvenate your relationship. Register now to claim your space! Register at: registration@wwmenh.org.

Time to Think of Summer Camps!
    “Camp Fatima for boys and Camp Bernadette for girls are taking registrations for their summer sessions. For more information contact, Michael Drumm, (603)364-5851, PO Box 206 Gilmanton I.W., NH 03837, mdrumm@diocamps.org, or visit our website at www.diocamps.org. Don’t wait as sessions are filling up quickly.

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

For peace in the world, especially in the Middle East…
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...

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.