February 17, 2007
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday,  February 17
    6:00 PM  For Eleanor Ahearn by husband George Ahearn
Sunday,  February 18
    9:30 AM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Wednesday, February 21
    7:00 PM   Ash Wednesday
Saturday,  February 24
   6:00 PM   For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  February 25
   9:30 AM  For Julie Boisvert by Richard & Madeleine Bilodeau

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 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 March 18.   Tthe classes are held from 4:00 – 6:00 pm here at St. Paul’s.        2006-2007 Schedule (click here)

Question of the Week
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Theme: (The Image of God)
Reading  Samuel 26:2, 7-13, 22-23 (No Harm to the Lord’s Anointed )
Reading 1Cor. 15:45-49 (Bearing the Image of the Heavenly One)
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38 (Be Merciful)

Question for Adults: What makes it hard for me to show mercy to others? 
    Showing mercy entails becoming vulnerable.  We put ourselves in a situation that allows others to see our inner self, our sensitivity, our ability to feel compassion and our sense of goodness.  This could be very difficult for many people.   Its not that we want to hide our goodness, its that we don’t want our inner self to be exposed to anyone and everyone. 
    Another reason for finding it difficult to show mercy is if mercy has rarely been shown to us by other people.  Perhaps we have had a difficult upbringing and mercy was a very rare occurrence.  This has led us to “toughen up” thus making it difficult to show mercy to others.
    There could be other reasons as well.  Do you have difficulty showing mercy?  Why is that?  Take some time to reflect on this question this week.  You may surprise yourself.  You may discover something you never realized about yourself. 
    Mercy is a God-like virtue.  We are all called to by Holy, i.e., one with God.  We must try to show mercy to all people no matter what the situation.  Can we do it?  Why or why not?

Question for Children? How does it feel when someone forgives me? 
    This is a question that children will be quite comfortable with.  They have all had the experience of being forgiven by their parents and friends.  Perhaps the most significant times were times when they were forgiven by friends.  Even young children (of school age)  understand that being forgiven by a stranger is more significant because they really don’t “owe” you anything.  Children often feel that parents will do anything for them so they could often take forgiveness a bit more lightly.   Discuss this feeling with them and ask them if they think they could do the same for someone else even if it is difficult.  If not, continue the discussion to try to get to the root of the matter.

Community News