September 9, 2007
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Sunday,  September 9
    9:30 AM  For Julie Boisvert by Richard & Madeleine Bilodeau
Saturday, September 15
   6:00 PM  For Mrs. Lucie Raby by Kevin & Michelle Fraser & family
Sunday,  September 16
    9:30 AM  Intention of Celebrant

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. This year’s program will begin on September 15, 2007 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.  We will resume classes in September.

Question of the Week
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time  
Theme: (Focused on the Lord)
Reading 1: Wisdom 9: 13-18 (What the Lord Intends)
Reading 2: Philemon 9-10, 12-17 (Receive Him as a Brother)
Gospel: Luke 14: 25-33 (Carry Your Own Cross)

Question for Adults: What things distract me from keeping Jesus first in my life?
    Life’s choices are not always clear cut.  The older we get the more complicated things seem to get.  We have many things to keep in the balance.  We want to do the right things but we constantly confronted with barriers that tempt us otherwise
What are some of the things in your life?  What keeps you from making the right decisions? 

Question for the Teens:    Putting God first in our lives is a task not many people bother with.  Can you identify with this situation?  Is it difficult for you to put God first?       
    Today’s teens have many things to juggle.  You go to school, you have at least one or two extra-curricula,  you play sports,  you might have a job and of course, you try to juggle a friend or two in the balance.  Who has time for God in all this?  You can barely get enough sleep and sometimes you might even forget to have lunch.  Why is God so demanding?
    Well, maybe God is not being demanding.  Putting God first in your life really doesn’t take a lot of time or energy.  You simply have to have him in your heart.  If God is a major part of your heart, you will automatically put him first when you have decisions to make.  You will always do the right thing when confronted with choices at home, at work or in school.  It won’t always be an easy choice or the most popular choice but it will always be obvious.  The trick is that you have to have God in yourHeart. Doyou?
     
Question for Children?  How can I put Jesus first in my mind and heart this week?)  
      This is an excellent gospel to help teach your children about selflessness.  When we put God first, it automatically suggests that we are not first.  The second point is that we can put this concept into practice by putting other people’s needs first rather than our own since we prove our love for God by loving others.

Community News

Hospice Volunteer Training Fall Session
    A terminal diagnosis can be a lonely experience.  At a time when understanding is needed most, many Hospice patients find themselves isolated even from family and friends.  You can help end that isolation by becoming a Hospice volunteer.  We will teach you how to provide compassionate support to those patients at the end of life and their families.
    Ten week Hospice volunteer training begins September 14 and continues each Friday from 9am to noon through November 16, 2007 at the offices of Rockingham VNA & Hospice at 137 Epping Road Exeter, NH.  For more info: call Martha Chandler, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, at 772-2981 or 800-540-2981.x140

Going to College?
    The following information may be of interest to parents and college bound students who are headed out to college in NH.  The Campus ministry office (Newman Center) can be a “home” away from home for students.  The Catholic campus minister provide opportunities for faith and fun.  Mass, bible study, service projects and trips, socials and support are some of the available services.
UNH – Durham:  St. Thomas More Catholic Ctr.
  Rev. Andrew W. Cryans, Dir. 603-868-5752.    
  andrewstm@comcast.net
Dartmouth College ( Aquinas House, Catholic   
  Student Ctr.  Rev. Michael McCormack, OP
  603-643-2154 ext. 11
  Michael.J.McCormack@Dartmouth.Edu
SNHU – Manchester:  Rev. Bruce Collard, Dir.    
  603-668-2211, ext. 2139,  b.collard@snhu.edu
St. Anselm College, Susan Babert, Dir. 603-641-
  7231, sgabert@anselm.edu
Rivier College, Mary Ellen McGuire, Dir. 603-
  897-8577, memcguire@rivier.edu
Plymouth State – Kathy Tardif, Cir.  603-535- 
  2673, kmtardif@plymouth.edu
Magdalen College, Warner: Rev. Felix C. Owino, 603-456-2656, fowino@magdalen.edu

Remember to Give Blood
    The community blood supply is everyone’s business.  The present shortage is critical.  Please consider making a donation at your local Red Cross.  Thank you in advance.