St. Paul's Church, Candia, NH

March 25, 2007
5th Sunday in Lent

Weekend Mass Intentions
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
Saturday, March 31
    6:00 PM For Butch Cascio – 5th Anniv. By his Wife & Children
Sunday, April 1
    9:30 AM   For Canaan Bernier – 1st Anniv. By Mark & Karen Bernier

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 18, 2007
St. Paul, Candia
Envelopes   $2236
Loose           660
Credit 125
Total    3021

Last weekend envelope users contributed 79% of our income.
(Amount tithed for the poor and needy: $181.26)

Thank You so much for your Generosity.

Lenten Disciplines for Catholics

Our Holy Week and Easter Sunday Schedule

Holy Thursday (in Auburn) 7:00 PM

Good Friday. . .(in Candia) 7:00 PM

Holy Saturday, Vigil Mass
(The Vigil is the Easter Mass) 8:00 PM

Easter Sunday 8:00 AM

(both here at St. Paul’s) 9:30 AM

A Lenten Experience. . .
    I decided to challenge myself this week. I read Invaded by God: Mysticism and the Indwelling Trinity by George A. Maloney, S.J.
    The first part of the book attempts to explain the mystery of the Trinity, quoting from a number of sources, from past theologians to modern writers.
    The later part of the book focuses on the indwelling Trinity. He says as we begin to understand that the Trinity dwells within us, no longer do we pray to change God’s attitude toward us, but rather to be changed by Him into His loving children. We become more aware that we are loved as children by an infinitely loving Father. This new state of being will show itself through the love we have for one another.
    Although some of the book was beyond my understanding, I did gain a lot from reading it. Perhaps you could challenge yourself to read something beyond your understanding this Lent
                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
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Theme: (Remember)
Reading Isaiah 43: 16-21 (Something New )
Reading Phil. 3: 8-14 (Continue Toward the Goal)
Gospel: Luke 8:1-11 (Casting the First Stone)

Question for Adults: How often do I look at myself and ask, “What good am I capable of doing?”
    This week’s question can be taken in two ways. One way to interpret the question would be to wonder is we are good enough to do good. This is the same as doubting ourselves and our abilities. Another way of saying this is simply saying that our self-esteem is poor. If we are thinking in this vain we must remember that God has given all of us the ability to be good and to do good. This goodness does not come from us, it comes from God. If God wants us to do good, he gives us the strength and courage as well as the means and initiative to do it. All we need to do is to be available.
    Another way of interpreting the question is to simply ask ourselves what our gifts and talents are? We are not necessarily reluctant to act, we simply need to do some serious reflection on the matter. Again, we all have gifts and talents, sometimes we have not taken the time to pinpoint what those gifts are in our lives. When the opportunity comes, we are more than happy to step up to the plate but we just never thought about it on our own.
    Regardless of the way you may have interpreted the question, you still need to do some serious reflection about your gifts and talents. Be gentle and generous with yourself. Try to see yourself the way God sees you. Give yourself the credit that is reflective of the truth. You are God’s child and you have been gifted by him. Now answer the question

Question for Children? What will I do today to be kind to someone?
    Perhaps this week you could challenge your child to think of a kind act that will challenge them. Once they have thought of something, encourage them to actually do it. Don’t allow this exercise to be simply an intellectual activity. Perhaps you could compare notes and discuss each others feelings and reactions to your kind acts. Children really enjoy imitating adults. What could be better for deepening your relationship with your child than to share a faith filled experience? Be sure to do this when you have the time to talk about it. Try not to multi-task at this time.

Community News

Lenten Reflection on Life. . .
    Sometimes a single issue will be so important that it overrides a whole range of lesser issues. Human slavery is one such historic issue. It simply cannot be condoned no matter how much political support it might enjoy. The same could also be said for the classification, discrimination and even elimination of people of ethnic reasons. The Holocaust is wrong and cannot be justified on any grounds. So also is the taking of the life of an unborn child. The arbitrary destruction of such life cannot be justified on the grounds that one should be free to choose to kill.   Bishop Donald Wuerl

    It is not only the deaths of more than forty-five million of our children that we mourn today. We do not just grieve for the loss of all the talents, all the abilities and all the unique gifts these children would have brought to society. We cannot but also wonder about everything that we have lost as a people by the destruction of our children
    Cardinal Justin Rigali, Homily for Pro-Life Mass

A Look at Upcoming Events

Sacrament of Reconciliation. . .
    This Sunday, March 25, 2007, there will be a Reconciliation service at St. Anthony Parish on Belmont St. in Manchester, NH. There will be several priests available for confession. There will be a short service beginning at 2:00 pm. followed by individual confession.

Come join us for an evening with Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR
    Holy Family Academy, a private school located in Manchester, NH, and providing a classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition for students in grades 7 – 12, will be holding an “EVENING WITH FATHER BENEDICT J. GROESCHEL, CFR” on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 6:00 PM at the Event Center at C.R. Sparks in Bedford, NH. Come and spend an evening with Father Benedict as well as enjoy a meal prepared by the C.R. Sparks gourmet chefs. Tickets are $100.00 per person and proceeds will help benefit Holy Family Academy in continuing the Academy’s program of excellence in classical education and solid formation in the Catholic Faith. Tickets may be obtained by contacting the Academy Office at 603-644-7247.

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.

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.

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.