St. Paul's Church, Candia, NH

September 28, 2008
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions

Saturday, September 27
   6:00 PM For the Intention of the Celebrant
Sunday, September 28
    9:30 AM For Leon Langille 1st Anniv. By John & Joanne Fraser
Saturday, October 4
   6:00 PM For Raymond Remillard By his wife and children
Sunday, October 5
    9:30 AM For Dora Hastings By John Hastings

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 ________

Update on Parish Income

Weekend of Sept. 21, 2008
St. Paul, Candia
Envelopes   $1722
Loose           479
Credit 340
Total    2541

Last weekend envelope users contributed % of our income.

(Amount tithed for the poor and needy: $.)
Thank You so much for your Generosity.

Please Note: There will be an important informational meeting on Sunday, September 28th at 7:00pm, at St. Peter Church, in the church hall, for all teens and parents interested in our Mission Trip through the Group Work Camp in 2009. We look forward to working with fellow Christians again to improve people’s lives and show them the love of Jesus.

We Need Your Help. . . The month of September ushers in a new year for our Christian Formation Program. St. Paul parish is blessed with many young families. This is indeed a great blessing. However, with many young children comes a responsibility on our part to provide for fruitful Christian Formation. This year we are in need of a few generous adults who would be able to assist in our Generation of Faith program. We meet once a month for seven or eight months throughout the year. If you think you would be able to assist in this important ministry please contact Lorette.
Teaching our children is probably one of the most important and most rewarding ministries in the church. The program cannot exist without the help of those parishioners who are willing to give of their time in this ministry. Please give this matter some serious time and reflection. Thank you.

Holy Apostle Paul, help me at the beginning of this new day to offer my body and the whole of my life as a living sacrifice to God. Do not permit me to conform myself to this age but rather, by your intercession, may I be transformed by the renewal of my mind. Through this renewal help me to judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing, and perfect. For the one whom I seek and serve is Jesus Christ who is the Lord, now and forever. Amen.

Electronic Offering:

Our Parish is now able to take your offertory donations through Credit or Debit card. If you wish to make you contribution in this manner, simply fill in the following and return to our office.
*****************************************
Name on Card___________________________________
Address________________________________________
Please Check: ______MasterCard ______Visa
______Debit MasterCard _____Debit Visa
Card Number:___________________________________
Expiration:_________________Amount:_______________
How often do you want this transaction to occur?
____One time _____Weekly_____Bi-Weekly ______Monthly

Signature:________________________________________
Email___________________________________________

Christian Formation News

2008-2009 Schedule (click here)

All children from k – 10 must register for Religious Education each year. The registration does not roll over from one year to the next. We will be mailing a registration form through e-mail in the near future. If you have not received a form by mid-August it is because we do not have your e-mail address or perhaps you are not yet registered in the parish so we do not have any pertinent information related to you family. You can call the office between Monday –Thursday at 483-8481 to update your e-mail info or you can pick up a registration in the entrance of the church.

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 1, students must attend classes on a weekly basis during the Mass, as the program for 1st Communion is a two year program. The program for the school year 2008-2009 will begin on the weekend of September 20th and 21st. Classes are held during both weekend Masses.

Grades 4 – 10 +, Generation of Faith    This program is designed for both parents and children. Parents who have children in grades 4 - 10 are asked to attend these monthly sessions. The adult session gives them an opportunity to refresh their memory on important matters of the faith as well as giving them the chance to share with other adults on pertinent issues of faith. The first class for parents and children in this program will be October 12, 2008. All GoF classes are held on Sundays from 4 – 6 pm.

Confirmation Program:
    The Confirmation students will begin their two year program on Sunday, October 5, 2008. Classes are held from 11:00 am to 12 noon. Students must be registered in the program and must be registered members of the parish. If you have not yet registered your child for classes please call the office to speak to Lorette.

             Schedule of Classes

Question of the Week
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Theme: (Following God’s Will)
Reading I: Ezekiel 18: 25-28 (Turning from Wickedness)
Reading II: Philippians 2: 1-11 (United in Heart)
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32 (the Two Sons)

Question for Adults: In what ways have I resembled both sons in today’s Gospel? The two sons in this week’s Gospel are very typical examples of our human nature. It doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to see ourselves in one or the other of these situations. How often have we said yes to someone and not followed through. Or how often have we simply refused to help someone but later realized that we were only being selfish or lazy and decided to go back to help after all. Unfortunately, this is also the way we act with God. Let’s take some time to think about this question this week. What do you think Jesus was trying to teach us?

Question for Children? What stories have helped me become a better Christian? There are many Gospel stories that can help us think about our behavior toward other people or toward God. Help your children to come up with a list of stories they remember hearing. Which ones have helped your children the most? What did they learn from this story?

Who was St. Vincent de Paul? Vincent, who is best known for his love for the poor, was born in a peasant family in Gascony in the south of France. Although he had hopes of advancement in his young days, his heart lead him to a pastoral, priestly vocation that brought him much work as well as much joy. Although he could have spent his life ministering to rich families, he felt called to serve the poor especially by providing them with an education. In 1625 he founded the Congregation of the Mission which focused on evangelizing the poor people of the countryside. Along with his other work, Vincent served as spiritual director to a growing number of people, one of whom was a widow, Louise de Marillac. Louise later became the co-foundress of the Daughters of Charity whose members serve the church throughout the world. In 1639 Vincent began collecting money and other forms of aid to distribute and organize relief. This was the beginning of the present St. Vincent de Paul Society. Vincent died in 1680. His body remains intake in Paris.

Community News

Food Pantry for September   This month our pantry shelves are in need of Canned fruit, Jello and pudding mixes, Beef Stew, and Chicken Noodle Soup. We are also always in need of juices and instant milk. Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate.

Senior Luncheon:   Every last Wednesday of the month, the three churches in Candia sponsor a luncheon for our seniors. If you are approximately 60 years old or older you are always invited to the luncheon. It is free of charge and you get a great lunch. The parishioners of each church coordinate their efforts to provide the seniors with a home prepared meal. Home made soups, salads, and desserts are outstanding. If you think you would like a little social, please join the group and bring your spouse or friends or come alone. You will meet plenty of other people. If you are not yet a senior but you know some people who would enjoy this outing who need a ride, you are also cordially invited to join
    There is often a nurse that comes for Blood Pressure checks and other free advice. The October luncheon will have the added benefit of providing a flu shot clinic. Don’t forget your Medicare card.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Concert by Dan Schutte. . .
     Experience an evening of reflection and music sponsored by the Parish of the Resurrection on 449 Broad Street in Nashua, NH on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 7PM.
    Dan has been composing music for worship for more than 30 years, including extensive collaboration with the St. Louis Jesuits. His more recent pieces exhibit an enduring ability to reach into people’s hearts and draw them into prayer. He is one of the best-known, most prolific and influential composers of music for the liturgy today.

Crafters Wanted
    St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Bedford, NH will be hosting a “Quality” Craft Fair on November 1, 2008 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. This fair featuring high quality, hand crafted items is held in a fantastic location that has easy access to the highway, free parking and is handicapped accessible. For inquires and application form, call Sharon at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish at 669-7444. Application deadline is October 15 or when space sells out.

St. Lawrence Parish in Goffstown is sponsoring their annual Parish Christmas Shopping Fair Saturday, November 1st from 9am to 3pm. If you would be interested in selling your products/crafts (e.g. Longaberger, Silapda, Tupperware, Arbonne, Collectibles, etc.) to contact Monique Bunton @603-497-3382 by September 30th. There are only a few tables left!

LSS Smart Care Come and discover exciting new products and services for older adults. Explore the full range of businesses, resources, and services supporting the independence of older adults and others facing physical challenges in NH. Also included in this day, October 6th, will be free flu shots, free health screenings, door prizes and giveaways, entertainment and lunch and refreshments. This exciting resource fair for independence & Aging will be held at the Grappone Center at the Courtyard Marriot on 70 Constitution Ave. in Concord, NH.. Admission is free. For more info please call 800-244-8119 or www.lssne.org/smart-care

Fall Celebration and Fund-Raiser The ministry. Reservations are required. The Silent auction Bethany Christian Services of New England, Inc. cordially invites you to our fall fund-raiser featuring Ruth Graham, daughter of Billy Graham and the late Ruth Bell Graham. The event will be held at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club on 85 Country Club Drive in Atkinson, NH. Dinner is generously provided by friends of Bethany. A free will offering will be taken at the end of the evening to further Bethany Christian Services of New England’s will begin at 6 PM. If you want more info, contact your local office. In NH, please call 483-2886 or 587-0065.

CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS

Please remember the following people and intentions in your daily prayers:

Our sick parishioners and friends…

Please pray for the following people: Frank Huard, Betty Lintz, Cecile Gendron, Lori Aguilera, Kimberly Mirolo, Rita Sullivan, Kathy Gauthier, Jean Swindler, Roger Plante, Joseph Gesel, Jacob Desrocher, Cindy Huard, Deborah McGovern, Ethel Thomas, Gordon Gladden and Carol Sheperd.

For peace in the world, especially in the Middle East…
For those serving in the armed forces...
For families experiencing stress due to financial, emotional or relational problems
For our sister parish in Haiti...
For vocations to full-time ministry, especially the priesthood, the deaconate, religious life lay ministry...

If you would like to add a person or intention, please let us know. If people on the sick list are no longer in need of prayers, please let us know.