September 30, 2007
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, September 29
   6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  September 30
    9:30 AM  For Louis Ciarfella by Hon Fionda
Saturday, October 6
   6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  October 7
    9:30 AM  For Louis Ciarfella by John Fionda

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 on October 7th.

Question of the Week
26th  Sunday in Ordinary Time   
Theme: (Using our Gifts Well)
Reading 1: Amos 6: 4-7(Woe to the Complacent)
Reading 2: 1Timothy 6:11-16 (Compete well for the Faith)
Gospel: Luke 16: 19-31 (The Rich Man and Lazarus)
 
Question for Adults: How has the Gospel challenged my own thinking about those who are poor or suffering?   On first blush we are sure that we sympathize with the poor man name Lazarus.  However, in reality, our lives are not always as clear cut.  What we need to do in our own lives is ask ourselves where we stand in relation to others in need.  Do we see them as people who should “try harder” or simply as lazy?  Or, do we try to be a little more understanding and compassionate?  Sometimes we must walk a fine line to balance our feelings and thoughts on this matter?    

Question for the Teens:   Opening our eyes to the needy in our cities and towns can turn on some very strong feelings.  What do you think about and what do you feel when you see people who are less fortunate than yourself?  Do you try to wipe it away by simply pushing the problem back on them and telling yourself that it is their own fault?  Or do you try to think of something you can do to help the situation?  This week’s lesson seems evident at first.  However, as we really look at the situation in our own lives we see that we are not always as compassionate and willing to share as we think we are.  Maybe you can take so time to think about that this week.
     
Question for Children?  Which of the two men in today’s parable would I most like to be?  Why?  There are not too many children who would like to be like the poor man, starving and ostracized from society.  On the other hand, children may well understand that the rich man received his reward on earth.  This is a very difficult lesson for children.  They live a healthy and happy life with much of life’s pleasures. There is nothing inherently wrong with this.  It is not always easy to teach children that we must be willing to share with others who are very different from us.  Most children have a giving heart that is very willing to share however. 

Community News

Wanted:  An Administrative Assistant
    The Diocesan central administration office is in need of a full-time (40 hours/week) Executive Administrative Assistant to support the Moderator of the Curia.  Responsibilities include calendar management, answering phones, drafting, preparing and mailing correspondence, filing and copying, recording and preparing meeting minutes, and coordinating appointment.  The ideal candidate must be experienced ( at least 5 years), 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 03105-0310

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