St. Paul's Church, Candia, NH

November 2, 2008
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, November 1
   6:00 PM For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday, November 2
    9:30 AM For the intention of the Celebrant
Saturday, November 8
   6:00 PM For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday, November 9
    9:30 AM For the intention of the 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 ________

Update on Parish Income

Weekend of Oct. 26, 2008
St. Paul, Candia
Envelopes   $1408
Loose           478
Credit 340
Total    2226

Last weekend envelope users contributed 81% of our income.

(Amount tithed for the poor and needy: $133.56)
Thank You so much for your Generosity.

Please Help Us With Our Bake Sale!
Next Sunday, November 9th, the teens going to the Group Work Camp in June, will be having a Bake Sale as a fundraiser to help defray their costs. We need two things. We would greatly appreciate some help with donated baked goods. Then, of course, we will need people who are prepared to buy these goods. If you are coming to the 6 pm Mass and would like to drop off the baked goods then, feel free to do so. Otherwise, you can bring them anytime on Saturday or Friday evening. If all else fails you can bring them in on Sunday. If everyone waits until the last minute we will not have time to prepare or price the goods so please try to bring them in early. Thank you. If you want more information please call Ernie Robert at 463-5919 or Mark Sheehan at 483-0837.

Congratulations to Deacon George!
This year Deacon George Borkush is celebrating his 25th anniversary of ordination as a Permanent Deacon. He has served the diocese of Manchester for most of those years. St. Paul Parish has been privileged to have the deacon serve us for the past two years. Please keep the deacon and his wife Dede in your prayers as they continue to serve the people of God.

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 next class for parents and children in this program will be November 16, 2008 at St. Peter Parish in Auburn. 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
Feast of All Souls
Theme: (Commemorating All the Faithful Departed)
Reading I: Wisdom 3: 1-9 (They Are in Peace)
Reading II: Romans. 6:-3-9 (Baptized into His Death)
Gospel: John 6:37-40 (The Will of God)

Question for Adults: How has my developing faith impacted my understanding of death? Death and dying is often a topic we would rather not take up. It is a part of life that is inevitable, however. As our faith deepens, we are often led toward a deeper understanding of the concept of death. For one thing, we no longer see it as a factor to be feared. We also begin to see death as a continuous journey toward the God who created us in his loving image. Death is no longer a final stage but simply a transitional one. As you take some time to reflect, ask yourself what death means to you?

Question for Children? What are my favorite stories about the saints? This weekend we celebrate two important days. The observance of All Souls Day falls on Sunday but the feast of All Saints Day falls on Saturday. Teaching our children about the saints is very important in our church tradition. There are hundreds of men, women and children who lived very good and holy lives both in the distant past and in the more recent past. They come from all continents and almost every country. Take some time this week to talk to your child about the saints and perhaps to tell them about one of your favorite saints.

Why do Catholics give their child the name of a saint? For centuries Catholics have named their children after well known saints. In some countries, in addition to these saint’s names, every boy would be given a second middle name of Joseph and every girl would be given the second middle name of Mary. The purpose of the saints name is twofold. One, it gives the child a saint that would advocate and pray for him/her. Saints, after all, are closer to God than we, human beings. Secondly, the child is given a saint that he/she can emulate. Sadly, over the past few years, this custom as faded. Children are now often named after TV and movie actors, rock stars or sports heroes.
There is really no reason to forego a saint’s name since we have two opportunities in a child’s first or middle name. When we think of the significance of the custom and the vast number of names available, why would we ignore such a beautiful custom?

Community News

Memorial Mass for the Deceased. . .
    November 2nd is the feast of All Souls. The church prays in a special way for all who have died on this day. In addition to this day, Bishop McCormack will celebrate a Memorial Mass for all deceased bishops, priests, and deacons of the diocese of Manchester. The faithful of the diocese of Manchester are invited to join the bishop in praying for the souls of our departed brothers who served the church in New Hampshire. With open hearts, let us cherish the memory of our brothers and pray for their eternal peace on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 10:00 am, at St. Joseph Cathedral Chapel, Manchester

Food Pantry for November     This month our pantry shelves are in need of Tuna, Cereal, Instant Rice, Ravioli, Beef Stew, and any kind of Soup except Ramen. We are also always in need of juices and instant milk. Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate.

Birthright of Manchester-307 Kelley St
    Would you like to help women in distress and help us stop abortion? Please consider becoming a Birthright volunteer. All that is asked is to be over 18 years of age, ardently pro-life, and have a sincere desire to listen with concern and with a non-judgmental attitude. No prior training or experience is necessary as we provide that for you. Come join our team. You will find it to be a rich experience. Hours are flexible. Call Mary at 668-3443 or Phyllis at 472-5410

Spiritual Adoption – Baby Shower
    Nine months ago, many of you adopted an unknown baby whose life might not have come to fruition had it not been for your prayers. You have been faithful in praying for this child. Some of you may have given this child a name. This child will forever owe his life to you – a gift that is unequal for eternity. You have been most generous with your time and prayers. Now that the ninth month is her, it is customary to “throw a shower” for this baby. What we will do for this shower is to collect baby items for the newborns and deliver the items to two different places that could really use our help. Birthright in Derry would need diapers size newborn to 2, wipes, and baby clothes 0 – 9 months. New Generations in Greenland, a shelter for unwed mothers needs Eco friendly, non toxic cleaners, laundry soap, laundry softener, single ply toilet paper, paper towels , gifts cards to Walmart, and gas cards. You can bring your items in to the church and we will be happy to deliver them. Thank you all so very much.

Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
. . . an Irish culture group, is looking for new members. They meet on the fourth Monday of the month at the Sweeney Post on Maple St. in Manchester, at 7:00pm. The members are women who are practicing catholics of Irish descent, or are married to AOH members, who wish to socialize, celebrate the Irish culture and help our community. Our October meeting will feature Mr. Ed Brodeur, speaking on the history of the Order of Hibernians. If you have any questions, please call Anne at
644-8697.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Please Pray with Us!
Our church needs many more dedicated Sisters, Brothers, and Priests! Jesus promised that if we ask we shall receive. Please join your diocesan Vocation Commission at a Holy Hour to pray for Church Vocations. The Sisters of the Presentation of Mary will lead us in prayer in their chapel at 495 Mammoth Road in Manchester. Please come Sunday November 9th from 4-5pm and join your prayers to ours.

Bedford Craft Fair. . . Come one, come all to the St. Elizabeth Seton Craft Fair being held on Saturday, Nov. 1st at SES Parish Activity Center, 190 Meetinghouse Rd. Bedford, just off Rt. 3, from 9:00 – 3:00 p.m. With over 60 crafters, there is a wide variety of quality, individually created, hand-made items which will be offered for sale. There is something there for the whole family. There is free admission, and free parking.

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.