February 8, 2009
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, February 7
   6:00 PM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  February 8
    9:30 AM Intention of the Celebrant
Saturday, February 14
   6:00 PM  For Eleanor Ahearn by her husband
    George Ahearn
Sunday,  February 15
    9:30 AM  For Parishioners of St. Paul

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

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 February 15, 2009 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
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time 
Theme:  (The Healing Power of Christ)
Reading I: Job: 7, 1-7 (Months of Misery)
Reading II: 1 Cor. 9: 16-19, 22-23 (Preach The Gospel
Gospel: Mark 1: 29-39 (The curing of Many)

Question for Adults:  How has a difficult time in my life become a source of strength, hope and healing?  If we have experienced a particularly difficult time  at some point in our life, we can probably look back and see that we have come through the ordeal a better, stronger, even wiser person.   What gave us the strength to ride this tide?  What or Who is responsible for helping us to heal?  Are we under the illusion that we have done this alone?  This week would be a wonderful time to stop and reflect on this time in our life.      

Question for Children? When have I asked Jesus for help in the past, and how did he answer my prayer?  What a beautiful way to introduce our children to prayer.  As parents and teachers, we should be careful not to teach our children to expect God to wave a magic wand every time we ask for something.  God always answers our prayers but not necessarily the way we want him too.  This is simply because he is able to see the bigger picture.  Teach your child to notice when something has happened in their lives that is clearly beyond them.        

Community News

St. Anselm’s Office of Campus Ministry needs your help.  While many students relax on the sunny beaches of Florida for Spring Break, a group of nearly 170 St. Anselm college students will instead sped their break living and working with people in need.  Starting 18 years ago, Spring Break Alternative focuses on Christian service and community, giving our students the opportunity to learn and grow while serving in communities across the US and abroad.  Over the years, this popular and exciting program has become an important part of St. Anselm College’s Campus Ministry.
    This year, from Feb. 28 – March 7, 2009, we will be serving 15 different communities from H.O.M.E. (Home Workers Organized for More Employment) in Orland, ME, to the N.P.H. in Honduras.  Student service will include the construction of new homes or the renovation of existing structures, service at soup kitchens and shelters, visitation at nursing homes, and programs with local youth. 
    In order to accomplish our goal we must raise money.  The total cost of these 15 trips will be about $145,000.  these trips are a great opportunity to use our time and talents on behalf of those less fortunate, and we would greatly appreciate any help that you many be able to offer.  Please understand that your donation will make an important difference in the lives of those we will serve, as well as those of us who choose to serve.  Please contact me at 641-7170 or jtremblay@anselm.edu.  For more information.  Please make check payable to St. Anselm college and place SBA in the memo.  All checks should be mailed to SBA/Office of Campus Ministry at the following address:       St. Anselm College
Office of Campus Ministry,  100 St. Anselm Drive,
Manchester, NH. 02102-1310     

Please Call your State Reps. . . about the
Bill HB486, and ask them to vote for defunding Planned Parenthood!  You can find your state reps at the following address:  http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/whosmyleg/default.asp   This will only take a few minutes of your time and is extremely important.  Please tell your reps you live in their district.  You can find more information at www.nh.gov or www.nhrtl.org or call Julie Laughner 895-4855.  Please pray that god will change hearts and minds.

It’s Tax Time Again
    If you have been contributing to the parish by check or through the envelop system and you have given at least $250.00 over the year, and are in need of a statement of contributions, please call the office at 483-8481 or e-mail your request at stpaulcandia@comcast.net  and we would be happy to send you a receipt.  

Food Pantry for February: This month our pantry shelves continue to be in need of Cereal,  Spaghetti Sauce, Evaporated Milk and Instant or powdered milk . We are also always in need of juices.   Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate.

Looking for Used Baby Clothes:  If you have young children that have outgrown their clothes and the clothes are still in good condition, Birthright of NH would greatly benefit from their use.  There are many young mothers who need a great deal of help in this line.  If you have clothes anywhere within the size range of Newborn to 4T, please bring them to the church and we will deliver them.  Thank you so much.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Stepping Stones: A Bereavement Program for Children and Teens along with a parent or guardian- who have experienced the death of a family member or friend.  The program is designed to help facilitate healing by allowing participants to understand and express their feelings of grief.  Our program provides a safe passage through the Stepping Stones of grief.  There is not fee for attending, but pre-registration is required.
    Dates:  Wednesday, April 22, 2009 through Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
    Time:  6:00 – 7:30 PM
    Place: Brookside Congregational Church
        2013 Elm Street, Manchester, NH

The Gospel According to John
    Leonardo Defilippis will present a live professional program on the Gospel of John at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Manchester on Saturday, March 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
    Defilippis is well known as the director and star of the feature film THERESE.  His live performance of the Gospel covers the entire Gospel with a spectacular set, numerous costumes and a moving musical score.  This program is suitable for ages 7 and up.  Admission $10 for adults and $5 for youth under age 17.  For more information contact St. Anthony Church at 625-6409.

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: Josephine Stout,  Frank Huard, Betty Lintz, Cecile Gendron,  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.