March 29, 2009
5th Sunday of Lent

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, March 28
   6:00 PM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  March 29
    9:30 AM  Carol Avellino by Tom & Angel Bart
Saturday, April 4
   6:00 PM  Eva Marion by Normand & Jeannine F.
Sunday,  April  5   Palm Sunday
    9:30 AM For Parishioners of St. Paul

A Time for Reconciliation: There will be an opportunity to go to confession on Monday evening, March 23rd and 30th at St. Peter’s church at 6:30 PM.  There will be two priests in attendance. Confessions are also heard at 5:30 pm on Saturdays.

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 April 5, 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

5th Sunday of Lent 
Theme: (Followers of Christ)
Reading I:  Jeremiah 31: 31-34 (A New Covenant)
Reading II: Hebrews 5: 7- 9 (The Obedience of  Christ)
Gospel: John 12: 20-33 (The Grain of Wheat)

Question for Adults:  What actions of sacrifice in my life are producing lasting benefit for myself and others?  Lent is a time when Catholics think of making sacrifices.  Very often we forget that the main reason for making a sacrifice is to benefit our own spiritual life as well as some aspect of the life of others.  Sacrifices should always be made with a focus on Love, i.e., love for God and love for our neighbor.  We should not sacrifice simply for sacrifice sake.  There is not spiritual value in that type of sacrifice.  So, let’s take a little time to reflect on our sacrifices this week.  Do they reflect our love?

Question for Children:  Do I recognize the sacrifices others make for me? Do I thank them for their love?  Sometimes children take our love for them for granted.  This week, during Lent, would be a good time to speak to your child about love and the sacrifices people make for them out of love.  This is a very important lesson that children must learn.  Teaching them slowly and gently is a beautiful way to do it. 

Community News

Food Pantry for March:  As you probably have assumed, our pantry shelves are in need of replenishment.  Perhaps this Lent you could help us in this capacity.  Your generosity is always greatly appreciated. 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.

An Opportunity to Help your Parish and have fun all at the same time.  Our parish is in the process of reorganizing our Social Committee and we need people who can help in a variety of ways.  If you like greeting people, serving meals that have been prepared (by someone else), socializing or cooking, then the Social Committee is maybe a good place to be.  You can do it once, twice or three times a year, whatever your time allows.  The more people we have the more fun it will be and the easier it will be for everyone.  Think about it and sign up. 

Can’t Afford College?  Have Faith!
    For many years college tuition rates have been rising, and students are saddled with long-term debt.  Cost-conscious students must often turn to public colleges but now even public tuition rates will increase due to state budget cutbacks.
    Fortunately, affordable options remain for families seeking a quality education that forms students intellectually, spiritually and socially.  Catholic colleges have always had a special concern for helping students, and they provide financial aid packages with a larger portion of grant assistance, allowing students to graduate with fewer loans.
    Magdalen and Thomas More, which are featured in The Newman guide to Choosing a Catholic College for their strong Catholic identity, have been named a “best buy’ for Catholic families by The Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education, a division of the Cardinal Newman Society.
    These students can expect to save more than $9,000 versus the costs of the average private college in NH.  Beyond the cost savings, there is obviously much more to the value of a strong Catholic education, such as preparing students intellectually, spiritually and socially.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Spring Fling Dance ‘09
    St. Marie’s Parish is having a Spring Fling on Saturday, April 25th from 8 – 11PM at their parish gym on Cartier Street in Manchester.  Snacks will be provided.  Tickets: are $8:00 for singles $15 per couple or $10 per person at the door.  Tickets are available at Ste. Marie bookstore.  Music is by Doug Boucher.  For music requests, contact:  www.dougboucher.com

Holy Family Academy a private school located in Manchester, NH, provides a classical education in the Roman Catholic tradition for students in grades 7 – 12.  The Academy will hold a SPRING OPEN HOUSE for prospective students on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 2:00 PM.  Come and hear about the Academy’s program of excellence in classical education and solid formation in the Catholic Faith.  Holy Family Academy is currently accepting qualified students in grades 7 – 12 for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Limited openings are available.  For further information please call 644-7247.

Bishop Brady High School 
    Having trouble finding a high school program that truly prepares your child for a successful future?  Bishop Brady offers today’s students a rigorous college-preparatory education at 1/3 the cost of other area private day schools.  We are having a Spring Open House on Saturday, April 4th at 10:00 am.  Visit our website at www.bishopbrady.edu and come to our open house at 25 Columbus Ave., Concord, NH.

Healing the Wounds of Abortion The NH Catholic Charities Project Rachel program offers counseling, reconciliation, and support services for individuals and their families who have experienced the pain of abortion.  This program provides a means for people to begin the healing process and experience reconciliation with the Church.  It presents a caring, hopeful approach towards peace with the parents, the unborn child, the family, the church, and God.  Call us today. . .603-669-3030.

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

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.