July 27, 2008
17th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Sunday,  July 27
    9:30 AM  For William Luquette  By his wife Sue Luquette
Sunday,  August 3
    9:30 AM  For Dora Hastings By the Robert family

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 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 . This year’s program for the Generations of Faith has come to an end as of April 13th.                      Schedule of Classes

Question of the Week
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Theme: (The Kingdom of Heaven)
Reading I: Kings 12:13, 16-9 (Wisdom and Understanding)
Reading II: Romans 3:5-12(All Things Work for Good
Gospel: Matthew13:44-52 (Understanding the kingdom)

Question for Adults:  Do I see my faith as a series of obligations or as an opportunity to celebrate the goodness of God?  Unfortunately there are still many Catholics who see their faith as a series of obligations.  It is true that the Church saw fit to put those laws in place over the centuries because many Catholics were not living up to their responsibility as God’s people.  Perhaps we can make the analogy with the civil laws.  If people were responsible citizens we would not need so many rules and laws but because people are always trying to get away with things, laws needed to be enacted.  The same is true with the Church.  The important thing is to remember that God is God and he deserves our love, our respect, and our worship.  As we mature in our faith we will find ourselves needing fewer and fewer rules and our “obligations” will become something we want to do, not something we feel we must do.

Question for Children?  Why should I be happy because of God’s love for me? All of us want to be happy.  Children are no exception.  The love of God can be illusive to them at times.  God is a Spirit and children think in the concrete.  This makes it difficult.  Take some time to talk to your child about God’s love and what it means in their lives.  Help them to make the connection between God and all they have received from him in their lives.

Community News

Catholic Charities Appeal Update
    The annual Catholic Charities appeal is well underway.  Your continued support is very much appreciated.  New Hampshire Catholic Charities, as the service arm of the Diocese of Manchester, is dedicated to doing Christ’s work throughout the state.  Through our services we reach out to the poor and vulnerable to provide help and create hope.  Thanks    to the financial support of the parishes we can continue this vital work in each community.
`     Thus far the parish of St. Paul has contributed $8,414.50.  Our goal is $12,000. Many thanks to all who have given so generously.   If you have not yet made a contribution this year, please consider doing so in the near future.

Birthright Office Opens  Following extensive building renovations, the Birthright of Manchester office at 307 Kelley St. is now open.  We look forward to providing free, confidential help for any girl or woman in a problem pregnancy.  Call 668-3443 for office hours.  Please consider volunteering 2 hours a week.  A sincere desire to listen with concern and understanding is all that is needed.  Call the office, or Phyllis at 472-5410.

The Caregivers, Inc.,  an organization dedicated to helping the frail, elderly and disabled in the Greater Manchester and Nashua areas is looking for volunteers.  Many flexible opportunities are available.  By simply helping someone with grocery shopping, taking them to their doctor’s appointment or friendly visiting, you can help an individual remain in their own home while receiving the satisfaction of helping another.  Contact Caregivers at 1-877-394-5192.

Volunteer Drivers need for Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels urgently needs volunteer drivers to help deliver some of the 1100 daily Meals served in Hillsborough County.  Volunteer kitchen assistant opportunities are also available in Manchester, Merrimack and Nashua.  Just 2 hours of your noontime assistance, one day a week, can help the elderly and disabled homebound remain healthy and live independently.  Call Duke Broder, Volunteer driver Manager, at 424-9967to volunteer or for more information about Meals on Wheels in your area.  Fax: 424-1472, or Email:  abroder@sjsinc.org and visit our informational website at www.mealsonwheelsnh.org

Food Pantry for July   This month our pantry shelves are in need of  Ramen soup, evaporated milk, instant dry milk and Jello  Pudding mixes.  Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate.