A Lenten Experience. . .
    Did you know our church has a library?  It has many wonderful books, videos, and audiotapes for adults and children.
    If you have been thinking about doing some spiritual reading during Lent, wander down the hall of the lower level perhaps you are at coffee & donuts.  The following is a book I have read recently.
    Suffering by Louis Evely caught my eye.  The title intrigued me, as I have been trying to get a better understanding of suffering.  I expected the book to be depressing to read, but it was not at all.
    Evely speaks of the sacredness and redemption of suffering.  The feeling I am left with after finishing the book is one of hope.  The underlying theme to the whole book is how much God loves us.  One line that really connected with me is “Suffering does not necessarily lead to love, but love does lead away, and soundly, to suffering.”
    In his discussion of evil, Evely writes, “God says, ‘You will do what you want, but I notify you that every time I will invent something to triumph over you evil.  I will never abandon you.  I will make of each of your faults fortunate faults. . .  Everything will be more beautiful than if you had not sinned.  From your shame and your pain, I , God, draw a virtue which would not have existed if you had not made a slip.” 
    The book concludes with a number of meditations, such as one on Simon of Cyrene, and another on the The Good Thief. Suffering is a book that you could read over and over and find something new each time you read it.
                       Patty Stuart

Our Lenten Prayer Time. . .      Lent is a time when we need to spend a little more time in prayer and reflection.  We want to renew and/or reinvigorate our relationship with God During the Lenten season, we will have a time of prayer where adults can come together for this purpose.  Come alone or come with your spouse or a friend.        We will meet every Wednesday beginning on the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday at 6:30 pm The prayer time will last about an hour. Our prayer time will be scripturally based. The prayer sessions will include a time for intercessory prayer so bring your special intentions along.

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. 
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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:________________________________________
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Lenten organ Recital. . . Daniel Bayless, Director of Music at St. Joseph Cathedral, will present a program of organ music for the season of Lent the afternoon of March 11 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral.  A reception will follow in the Hall.  Please plan to attend this time of Lenten reflection.

Youth Work Camp: . . Last year our parish joined St. Peter Parish in its annual trip to a town  in the US that needed home repair.  Our two parishes took a six hour car ride to Machias, Maine.  Our young people along with their adult chaperones spent the week working on various projects that were assigned to them.  These projects include painting, repairs on porches, building of steps or ramps etc.  All projects are carefully supervised by adults.  The youth have an experience of helping those less fortunate and simultaneously spend fun time with teens of other churches nationwide.  It is a great experience for them and 95% of youth attending these work camps insist on returning the following year. 
    The downside of this project is that it costs money to attend.  The teens often meet part of the cost by finding a sponsor as well as by fundraising.  If you think your teen would enjoy or benefit from such an experience, contact Lorette or Fr. Dumont.  We will direct you to those in charge.  If you think you would like to assist the youth in a financial manner, simple give us a call and talk to us at 483-8481.

Workshop for Separated/Divorced
    St. Joseph Parish in Belmont is sponsoring its 5th Annual workshop day titled Shattered Dreams.   The workshop will be held on March 24 and will feature guest speakers well thought of in their fields of expertise.  The topics for the day are varied and should appeal to people in various stages on this journey in their lives.
    If you are interested, please pick up a brochure in the entrance of the church, at the bottom of the bulletin board.
    St. Joseph’s also has an ongoing Support Group for separated or divorced individuals.  The group meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 7 – 9 pm in the church hall, corner of routes 140 and 106.
Questions?  Please call Ginny at 286-7066.

St. Joseph Regional Jr. High. . .
in Manchester is now accepting registration applications for the 2007-2008 school year.  Please contact the school at 624-4811 for more info.

Retrouvaille. . .a Lifeline
    Are you experiencing stress or difficulties in your marriage?  Are you contemplating separation and divorce?  Have you heard about Retrouvaille?  It’s a program designed to help heal and renew Troubled marriages.  The next Retrouvaille weekend will be held March 23-25, 2007.  If you would like to participate in a program that offers you a chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse and a loving relationship in your marriage, call 1-800-470-2230 or visit the Retrouvaille website at www.retrouvaille.org. All inquires are confidential.

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.