February 15, 2009
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekend Mass Intentions
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
Saturday, February 21
   6:00 PM  PM  For Eleanor Ahearn by her husband   George Ahearn
Sunday,  February 22
    9:30 AM 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 ________

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

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time 
Theme:  (Reaching All People)
Reading I: Leviticus: 13: 1-2, 44-46(The Leper Will  Dwell Apart)
Reading II: 1 Cor. 10: 31 – 11:1 (Be Imitators of Christ
Gospel: Mark 1: 40-45 (The Healing of the Leper)

Question for Adults:  Who are today’s “lepers” that society fears? What is a Christian response to this? Leprosy was and still is a physical ailment.  Lepers were ostracized for two reasons.  One lepers were considered unclean and that in itself was unacceptable to a devout Jew.  The other problem was that leprosy was very contagious.  The very people who would have needed emotional, physical, and spiritual support from their family and friends were the very people who were cast aside.  Is there anyone like that in your family or workplace?  What is your personal attitude toward these “unclean,”  unsuitable people?    

Question for Children? What is my favorite story about Jesus healing someone? Young children may not remember any specific stories about healing.  Take the time to read one or two stories this week.  Talk about these healings and ask your child to think of something they have learned from the story.  Stress that the most important element of a healing is the gift of Faith.  Without faith, we cannot be healed.

Community News

St. Anselm’s Office of Campus Ministry needs your help. 
    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.

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.

A Look at Upcoming Events

St. Anthony School Open House
    Come and see our school in action! It is located at 148 Belmont St. Manchester, NH.  We have scheduled an Open House on Wednesday, February 18th from 9:00 am till 1:00 pm.  The school is accepting registrations for the 2009-2010 school year.  Come and tour the school while school is in session.  Parents who would like to sit and observe a class may call 622-0414 and reserve their observation time.  For more information visit us on the web at www.stanthonyschool-nh.com.

Natural Family Planning Class
    Discover a natural way to postpone or achieve a pregnancy.  In CCL’s  NFP classes, couples will learn how to interpret a woman’s fertility.  It is healthy for your body, safe for the environment and over 99% effective. Natural Family Planning has been known to have a positive effect on a couple’s marriage.  Our newly revised course includes John Paul’s Theology of the Body and thus enables couples to understand the beauty of the married vocation.  Classes are to begin on April 5th at St. Luke the Evangelist in Plaistow.  Pre-registration required by March 27.  For more information, contact Barbara or Paul at 463-7456. 

40 Days for Life
    You can make a difference in your own community!  A Nationwide campaign of prayer, fasting and witness to end abortion will begin Ash Wednesday February 25 – April 5, 2009.  Join us for a campaign that will be held at Planned Parenthood, 24 Pennacook St. Manchester, NH 7 am to 7 pm.  Sign up at www.40daysforlife.com/manchester  or email Theo at theo@unitedchoiceforlife.org or call 714-9190.

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.