April 5, 2009
6th Sunday of Lent - Palm Sunday

Weekend Mass Intentions
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
Saturday, April 11 Easter Vigil
    8:00 PM  For Leon Therrien 20th Anniversary By Normand & Jeannine Fraser
Sunday,  April 12  Easter Sunday
    8:00 AM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
    9:30 AM  Rene Nault 8th Anniversary By family

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

Palm Sunday- Reflection of the Week
Theme: (The Lord’s Passion)
Reading I:  Isaiah 50: 4-7 (God Is My Help)
Reading II: Philippians 2: 6- 11(Christ Humbled     Himself)
Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47 (The Passion of Christ)

Question for Adults:  Am I a follower of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as well as at the foot of the Cross? How? These two events had a completely different mood to them.  Palm Sunday celebrates glory and kingship while Good Friday sees Christ defeated.  What kind of follower are you?  Are you a sunshine friend or are you a rainy day friend as well?  Following Christ to the cross takes much more love and courage.  It takes loyalty and determination.  As we approach the two events, let us take some time to reflect on them in order to see where we stand in our relationship with Jesus.

Question for Children:  What do I do when a classmate or friend is going through a rough time? Do I stay with them or do I leave them alone? Sticking around when friends are having a rough time is not always fun.  Being loyal takes some degree of maturity as well as sensitivity and a loving heart.  We do not necessarily have to leave it all up to nature however.  These are lessons we can teach our children.  Being a true friend can help your child become a better Christian over all.  It will certainly help them deepen their friendship with Jesus.

Community News

Food Pantry for April:  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  Canned Fruit,  Jelly,  Dessert Mixes,  Canned Pastas, and Powdered Milk . We  always need  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. 

A Look at Upcoming Events

Icon Seminar for High School Students
    Thomas More College invites high school students to attend a sacred Art & Liturgy Seminar on Aril 18 on our campus in Merrimack, NH.  Artist – Residence, David Clayton will give a talk about icons and sacred art in the West, as well as an interactive demonstration of painting methods including the unique from of drawing the face of an icon and mixing pigment with egg yolk.  The program will run from 9am to 12:30pm. Students are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch if they would like to continue the conversation with Mr. Clayton.  Schedule will include Mass, talks on liturgy, and an iconography workshop.  Call Jessica Rock, Director of Admissions, for more information at 800-880-8308 ext. 14.  Priority will be given to Seniors and Juniors.  Fee is $25.  Space is limited to 20 participants.

Life in the Spirit Seminar Are you thirsting for a deeper relationship with Jesus?  Would you like to learn about how the gifts of the Holy spirit can change your life?  Come to the Life in the Spirit Seminar!  They will be held on Friday, April 24, from 6:30-9:00 pm; Sat., April 25, 8:30 am – 8:30 pm, and Wed., April 29, 6:30 pm to 9:00pm. Place: St. Joseph Parish, 208 Pleasant St. Rte. 27 Epping, NH.  To register or for more information call 679-8805.  There is a $15 registration which includes light meals. 

Marian Mass and Breakfast with Bishop McCormack  The NH diocesan Council of Catholic Women invites all women of the Diocese of Manchester to celebrate a Marian Mass with Bishop McCormack on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Manchester at 8:30 am.  Breakfast will follow in the parish hall.  The breakfast will be a catered full breakfast.  There is no fee. A “good-will” offering will be appreciated.  Please be sure to RSVP to dcurran@rcbm.org or 669-3100 x173 by April 30, if you are planning to attend, as a number must be given to the caterer

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Manchester and Nashua is hosting its annual Walkathon on May 9, the day before Mother’s Day.  Registration is at 9:30 am at Veterans’ Memorial Park, Elm St. Manchester, with the walk to begin at 10:15am.  Call 623-5534 for more information

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.

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.

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.