March 8, 2009
2nd Sunday of Lent

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, March 7
   6:00 PM  For Albert Newell by his wife Rita Newell
Sunday,  March 8
    9:30 AM For Albert Gibeau By Marcel & Joyce Lebel
Saturday, March 14
   6:00 PM  For Gedeon & Rosilda Marion By Julien Marion
Sunday,  March 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 March 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

2nd  Sunday of Lent 
Theme: (The Beloved son of God)
Reading I:  Genesis 22: 1-2, 9-13, 15-18 (The  Sacrifice of Abraham)
Reading II: Romans 8: 31-34 (Who Can Be Against Us?)
Gospel: Mark 1: 12-15 (The Transfiguration)

Question for Adults:  Am I willing to spend some dedicated time “apart” with Jesus in prayer during Lent, waiting for whatever God wishes to reveal to me? Time is such a precious commodity in our lives.  We never seem to have enough, even for those things we value the most.  Are we willing to carve out a small slice of this precious time to spend with the God who loves us so faithfully?  Even if it is five minutes a day, perhaps when you first get up and before all the turmoil of the day begins.  These few minutes may help you navigate the rest of your day on a more even keel. Whatever time you choose should be one that has the potential for being peaceful.)  

Question for Children? When I pray to Jesus, do I also try to be still and listen to what he is saying in my heart?  Take a few minutes this week to sit down with your child and talk about the idea of listening to what Jesus could be saying to their heart.  This could be a challenge for some children but it is a good time to begin teaching them the concept.

Community News

Lenten Practice:  Part 2 If we are not usually in the practice of praying the Rosary, Lent might be a good time to begin the practice.  Mary has promised us many benefits if we pray to her.  One such benefit is that devotion to the Rosary will help us never to be conquered by misfortune in our lives.  Praying the rosary helps us to live a good and just life.  In return God will not allow us to die without the benefit of the sacraments and the gift of grace.     God’s gifts of grace will see us through our most difficult moments both in life and at the time of our death.
    Mary also promises that all we ask of her will be obtained through the recitation of the Rosary.

Food Pantry for March:  This month our pantry shelves continue to be in need of Cereal,  Tuna, Instant Potatoes,  Canned Pastas, and Evaporated Milk . We are always in need of juices.   Thank you very much for all you do for God’s people.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Lenten Prayer Breakfast
    The NH Diocesan council of Catholic women invite all women to an annual Lenten prayer breakfast.  This years speaker is Sr. Priscilla Lemire, RJM. Topic is “The Spirituality of Women”.  The breakfast will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m.  at Alan’s Restaurant, 133 No. Main St. in Boscowen, NH (near Concord).  The cost is $12.00 which includes a full breakfast.  Make checks payable to Deb Blais, 66 Birchwood Way, Laconia, NH 03246.  For more info and car pooling contact Marilyn Audet, 332-5485. . .Dorothy Powers, 622-1621 or Deb Blaise 524-2909.

St. Joseph Regional Jr. High School
. . .located at 460 Pine St. in Manchester, NH is now accepting registrations for the 2009-2010 school year.  For a registration packet and/or more information, please call the school office at 624-4811 ext. 18

Connie L. Lofgren Continuing Education Scholarship sponsored by the GFWC Candia community woman’s Club is given annually to a Candia woman who has returned to a post-secondary school after a three-year or more absence from an educational institution.  This scholarship in the amount of $500  (paid directly to the college or school) is given in memory of Connie L. Lofgren, a long time member of the GFWC.  Continuing with the process of learning, changing, and growing had been an important part of Ms. Lofgren’s life as well as on ongoing commitment of the GFWC Candia Community Woman’s Club.  Applications are available at the Library, Town Hall or at www.candiawomansgroup.org.   Applications must be postmarked on or before March 28, 2009. Mail to GFWC Candia Community woman’s Club
PO Box 152, Candia, NH 03034

Retrouvaille. . .a Lifeline
    Rediscover a loving marriage with a Retrouvaille (pronounced re-tru-vi) weekend.  If your marriage is tearing the two of you apart, if there is little or no meaningful communication, if you are considering a separation or divorce, we believe Retrouvaille can help you.   Look us up on the web at www.HelpOurMarriage.com or call 1-800-470-2230.  The next New England retrouvaille marriage renewal weekends will be held March 20-22 and September 11-13,2009

Vita Nova Annual women’s Retreat
    This will be a reflective weekend on prayer based on the book “six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time” with Fr. John Grace, spiritual director and Kathy Garon, retreat leader.  Meals and two night $175 pp double room, $195 single.  Register on-line at www.vitanova.org. The retreat will be held from March 13-15, 2009 at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Andover MA.  For more info call Chritine Duffley at 668-2357 or Vita Nova 623-6682.

Hospice Volunteer Training
     The ten week Hospice volunteer training begins on March 6 and continues each Friday from 9am-noon through May 8, 2009, at the offices of Rockingham VNA & Hospice at 137 Epping Road Exeter, NH.  For more info call Martha Chandler, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, at 772-2981 or 800-540-2981 ext. 140

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. 

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, 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.