February 3, 2008
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, February 2
     6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  February 3
    9:30 AM  For Leon Walter Langille by Richard & Madeleine Bilodeau
Wednesday, February 6
    7:00 PM Ash Wednesday Mass
Saturday, February 9
   6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  February 10
    9:30 AM  AM  For Leon Walter Langille by Barbara Langille

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 – 10 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 +   This year’s program for the Generations of Faith begins on Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 4:00 pm.  This program is designed for both parents and children.  Parents are asked to attend the sessions as they have the opportunity to refresh their memory on important matters of the faith .  Please join us on one Sunday per month. Next Month's session is on Feb. 10.  All Confirmation candidates are expected to attend all sessions.                      Schedule of Classes

Question of the Week
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time  
Theme: (True Discipleship)
Reading1:Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 (Humble and Lowly )
Reading 2: l Corinthians 1:26-31 (Boast in the Lord)
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12, (Theirs is the Kingdom of God)
 
Question for Adults:  Which quality in the beatitudes am I most in need of?
    The Beatitudes are the perfect way of living in the Kingdom of God.  The Tem Commandments tell us the absolute limit we cannot cross over in order to stay in good relation with God.  The Beatitudes tell us how to live in a space where we do not even have to worry about the boundaries and limits because we are living a life of Love and healthy relationship with our God.
    In order to reflect on the qualities of the Beatitudes we need to remember what qualities are involved in this way of life.  The following is a list of these qualities.  Take the time to reflect on each one and pray that you will realize which of these you are most in need of at this time in your life.
    The qualities of the Beatitudes are:
Being meek and merciful in our relations with others.  Being aware of our poverty of spirit in relation to God.  Trusting that God will comfort us and be with us in our pain and suffering.  Being pure of heart, i.e., not always trying to get away with the letter of the law.  Being a peacemaker in our homes, at work and in our community.  Being strong and courageous as we face the problems of a culture that is not always in accord with the Gospel teachings.

Question for Children? How often do I ask God to help me become a better person?) .   
    This is a great question for even the youngest of children.  This is a good opportunity for parents to stress the idea of daily prayer.  We should encourage our children to pray for help from God.  It is only through God’s help that we can be good people.  If children can develop a habit of praying on a regular basis, asking for God’s help, it will enable them to focus on God’s love in their life.
          

Community News

Food Pantry for February
    This month our pantry shelves are in great need of toilet articles such as soap, tooth paste and shampoo.  We could also use dessert mixes such as Brownies, cakes and cookies.    We  always need canned Pasta such as Spaghetti and meatballs & Ravioli as well as Beef Stew.  The winter months will be difficult for many people so your generosity will be very much appreciated.  Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate

NAOMI Discernment Retreat,
Consecrated Religious profess the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience.  If you are a woman between the ages of 16 and 45 who is considering religious life, come and explore with us what these vows mean and why they tie us to God is such a special way.  Register with Jude Christopher, Office of Vocation, 603-669-3100 ext. 153 or e-mail jchristopher@rcbm.org.

Retrouvaille . . .A Lifeline
    Rediscover a loving marriage with a Retrouvaille weekend.  If your marriage is tearing the two of you apart, if there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering separation or divorce, we believe Retrouvaille can help you.  Look us up on the web at www.HelpOurMarriage.com or call 1-800-470-2230.  The next New England Retrouvaille weekend will be held Feb.8-10,2008.

Update on our Spiritual Adoption Program. . . Last week there were Prayer cards distributed to all who wanted them.  On the reverse side was a space where you could name the baby you which to pray for.  Naming the child enables you to focus more intently on the spiritual adoption.  Now, we will keep a monthly update of the child’s progress in the mother’s womb.

One Month Developing Baby:
    Your spiritually adopted baby has been quite active over the past month.  Already your baby is 10,000 times bigger than at conception.  Your baby has developed the foundations of his brain, spinal cord, and nervous system by the 20th day.  His heart began to beat on the 21st day and is pumping blood through its own circulatory system.  The blood type can be different from his mother’s.  Your baby is most vulnerable during the next month of being aborted.  Pray that the Lord of Life might move the heart of his mother to give him the most precious gift of all—the gift of life.
Month 1:  Thank you for praying for me.  I am one month old now.  I have a heart pumping my blood and a backbone.  I am very, very tiny and I appreciate your prayer.