St. Paul's Church, Candia, NH

March 18, 2007
4th Sunday in Lent

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, March 17
    6:00 PM For Lucie Raby by Therese Therrien
Sunday, March 18
    9:30 AM   For Nancy McGregor by Rick & Sherry McGregor
Saturday, March 24
   6:00 PM   For Carol Avellino 10th Anniversary by Tom & Angel Bart
Sunday, March 25
   9:30 AM For Parishioners of St. Paul

NOTE: There is a 12 noon Mass at St. Peter Church in Auburn on Tuesdays during Lent

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 March 11, 2007
St. Paul, Candia
Envelopes   $2281
Loose           376
Credit    75
Total    2732

Last weekend envelope users contributed 86% of our income.
(Amount tithed for the poor and needy: $163.92)

Thank You so much for your Generosity.

Lenten Disciplines for Catholics

A Lenten Experience. . .
    Perhaps you are not much of a reader. The church library also has a selection of videotapes. The Mission caught my eye because it stars Robert DeNiro, Jeremy Irons, Aidan Quinn, and Liam Neeson. It was made in 1986 and won several awards. The movie is rated PG, but because of violent scenes, I don’t think it is appropriate for younger children.
    The Mission is the story of a Jesuit priest, played by Irons, who goes into the South American jungle to build a mission and convert the natives to Christianity. DeNiro plays a mercenary that goes through a conversion and joins the priests at the mission. When the area comes under Portuguese control, the community must defend itself.
    To be honest, I think The Mission starts a bit slowly, although the scenery and music is beautiful. I became drawn into the story, however, and was very glad I continued watching. It has a powerful ending and the movie will stay with me for a long time.
                Patty Stuart

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 April 15 at St. Peter Church in Auburn. Tthe classes are held from 4:00 – 6:00 pm here at St. Paul’s. 2006-2007 Schedule (click here)

Question of the Week
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Theme: (Rejoice)
Reading Joshua 5: 9-12 (Keeping the Passover )
Reading 2Cor. 5: 17-21 (Be Reconciled to God)
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 (The Prodigal Son)

Question for Adults: When I act like a prodigal child of God, how does my trust in God compare to that of the prodigal son’s trust in his father?
     The word prodigal, which refers to a person who is wasteful or lavish in their spending, is used in a spiritual sense rather than in a financial one in the this week’s question. We know the story of the prodigal son. He wasted all his father’s money. When he realized his mistake he trusted that his father would take him back, at least as a servant if not as his son.
    There are many times in our own lives when we are wasteful of the gifts God gives us. Before answering the above question, let’s take a look at a few ways by which we abuse of our God given gifts. One way is by wasting our talents by not using them for others. We all have talent but to many of us are selfish about sharing them. Another way is by allowing the many graces we receive each day to go unnoticed and appreciated. God is very lavish with his help, often through other people. Do we appreciate these gifts?
    One gift that we often waste is God’s invitation to be with him either through prayer or in contemplation of his creation. We simply ignore the invitation and go on our merry way, doing whatever we may feel like doing at the time.
    In short we often act like spoiled brats. We take what he gives us and we run away. Can we Trust God enough to come back to him for a second chance?

Question for Children? When I hurt someone, how quickly and sincerely do I say I am sorry?
    Saying we are sorry rarely comes easily even for children. It means that we admit our guilt. It says that we are not as good as we would like to be and especially as good as we would want others to believe. This is a very important lesson for children to learn. Saying we are sorry, and meaning it, is very important to good relationships. When we fail to admit or express our sorrow we are only making matters worse. The other person already knows we are not perfect, they only want to be on good terms.

Community News

Lenten Reflection on Life. . .
The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights – for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture – is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination. . .The human being is entitled to such rights, in every phase of development – from conception until natural death; and in every condition, whether healthy or sick, whole or handicapped, rich or poor. (Pope John Paul II)
It’s a good time to reflect on God’s great gift of life, the many public issues that flow from it, and the priorities we need to have in defending it. Let us take some time to reflect on this during the week.

God Bless the Irish in Us All! ! !

A Look at Upcoming Events

Called to Servant Leadership . . .is the Standard Level, three-year Lay Ministry Formation Program intended for those in parish leadership such as catechetical leaders; youth ministry, RCIA, and outreach coordinators; those who train liturgical ministers; and those who prepare couples for marriage. On Thursday, March 22, 2007 there will be an Information Meeting from 7 – 9 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, 197 Dover Point Rd, Dover, NH 03820, for those who are interested in learning more about the Called to Servant Leadership Program. Please use the front entrance of the school and follow the signs to the information meeting. For further information, contact Pat Gabree at 6600-3100 or pgabree@rcbm.org.

Respect Life Update. . . Please write to Representative Dan Dumaine ASAP. He is the sponsor of the constitutional amendment CACRl “relating to: the definition of marriage. Providing that: marriage between one man and one woman shall be the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.” If you support his original amendment without changes, please tell him that and include your address, as he plans to file these letters by town. His email address is buppadan@comcast.net and his mailing address is 104 Windsor Drive, Auburn, NH 03032. When this comes to the floor of the House, he will need the support of thousands of NH citizens.

Need to Carry out your own Version of a “Clean Sweep?” Looking for that certain something or for items to sell on Ebay? Look no further than the Annual Trinity High School Yard Sale in Manchester. We are accepting donations (no adult clothing please) on Friday March 30 from 7 am to 5:30 pm and the Yard Sale will be held on March 31 from 7 am – 12 noon. All are welcome.

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.

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.

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, Marie Keenan, 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.