July 22, 2007
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Sunday,  July 22
    9:30 AM  For Leon Therrien by Therese Therrien
Sunday,  July 29
    9:30 AM  For Aldona Berthiume  5th Anniv. by Joyce LeBel

The use of envelops by parishioners attending Mass at St. Peter’s in Auburn this summer would be very much appreciated.  If you do not have envelops, simply use a regular envelop and label it for St. Paul’s or call the office and our secretary would be happy to send you some envelops.

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       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  The children in grades K – 3 attend classes during the weekend liturgies.  We use a Lectionary Catechesis which is based on the Gospel of the week.  Kindergarten students are not obliged to attend regularly.  However, beginning with grade l, students must attend classes on a weekly basis as the program for 1st Communion is a two year program.  It is vital that students continue with their Christian Formation even after their 1st Communion. Grades 4 – 10 +   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 last class for this school year was on Sunday, April 15th in Auburn.  We will resume classes in September.

Question of the Week
16th Sunday of Ordinary Time  
Theme: (Hospitality –We welcome Jesus in our lives!)
Reading 1: Genesis 18: 1-10 (Lord, do not bypass
      your servant.)
Reading 2: Colossians 1: 24-28 (The mystery hidden 
       for centuries has now been revealed to the saints.
Gospel: Luke 10: 38-42 (Jesus speaks with Martha
       and Mary)

Question for Adults:  The Gospel today invites us to serve and to be hospitable.  When did you welcome Jesus into your home through the presence of a neighbor or a stranger?   Welcoming someone and helping to make them feel welcomed involves the dual response of the two women in the Gospel.  Scurrying around to get the work done is very important because people who are invited to a meal certainly expect to eat at some point in time.  However, invited guests also expect to enter into a conversation with their hosts.  One without the other does not make for good hospitality.  If we believed that we were entertaining Christ when we had guests over, would we be better hosts?       

Question for the Teens: Martha chose to serve, Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him.  Of those two actions, service or prayer, which do you feel more comfortable with?Why?
Of course, in real life, we need to be able to do both.  We cannot choose to serve God through service to others and totally ignore prayer.  That is not an option.  However, we often feel more comfortable with one over the other.  This is personal preference that we base on our personality and character.  Ask yourself this question:  Do you feel more comfortable listening  to others as opposed to serving them?  Why do you feel this way?  

Question for Children?  Name a time when you shared what you had with a friend, or a classmate at school.
    This week’s Gospel talks about sharing our gifts.  Both women had different gifts and chose to use them in the right way.  Talk to your children about sharing a talent they have such as drawing a card to cheer someone up or baking some cookies for an elderly person.  Help your child to discover at least one or two of their talents. 

Community News

The RCIA Process (the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. . . is a process through which adults or older children become more familiar with the truths and theological teachings of the Catholic Church.  The program was developed for persons seeking full initiation in the church whether or not they may have been baptized in another Christian denomination.  If you of someone you know thinks or feels that it is the time to take this step, or is you would simply want more information before committing yourself, please contact Lorette at 483-8481 or see her after Sunday Mass.

Are You Seeking Employment?  The diocesan central administration office is in need of a full-time (40 hours/week) administrative assistant to support the Chancellor.  Responsibilities include calendar management, answering phones, drafting, preparing, and mailing correspondence, filing and copying, recording and preparing meeting minutes, and coordinating appointments.  The ideal candidate must be experienced (at least 5 yours), professional, organized, and able to multi-task and have excellent verbal and written communication and computer skills.  Please e-mail your letter of interest and resume to chagen@rcbm.org or mail your materials to: Diocese of Manchester, Office of Human Resources, Box 310, Manchester, NH  03105-310

Our Food Pantry is Bare. . . Our food pantry is presently pretty bare.  We would appreciate just about anything except peas and string beans and pasta.  We have plenty of that.  Please consider bring a donation next time you come.  If you would rather give a monetary contribution, that is fine.  I will be glad to supply what we need the most.  Thanks so much.