November 29, 2009
1st Sunday of Advent
Weekend Mass Intentions

Saturday, November 28
    6:00 PM For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  November 29
    9:30 AM PM  For Florence Nault By Normand & Jeannine Fraser
Saturday, December 5
    6:00 PM For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  December 6
    9:30 AM  For Frank Huard By John & Joanne Fraser

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 2009-2010 will begin on the weekend of September 19th and 20th.  Classes are held during both weekend Masses. We would need some volunteers to help out as monitors during the classes.  Please contact the office if you can do this. 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.  All GoF classes are held on Sundays from 4 – 6 pm.  Our next class will be held on November 15th. Confirmation Program:      The Confirmation students will begin their two year program on Sunday, September 27, 2009.  All students must be registered by September 27th.  Second year students must have completed year one in full, i.e., two classes per month from September through April.  Attendance at Generation of Faith only does not satisfy the requirements for Confirmation.  All students are also asked to attend Mass on a weekly basis.  There are registration forms in the entrance of the church.                      Schedule of Classes

1st Sunday of Advent
Theme:  (Be Prepared)
Reading: Jeremian: 33: 14- 16 (The Lord of Justice)
Reading II: 1 Thess.  3: 12-4:2 (Strengthened Hearts)
Gospel: Luke:21: 25-28, 34-36 (The Son of Man)

Question for Adults:  What one habit do I possess which disrupts the harmony of my family? This is a question that no one likes to reflect on.  We would all rather believe that our presence and our actions are helpful to our family.  However, we also realize, down deep, that we do have negative habits that are not helpful to family life.  Some habits are very hurtful and have serious impacts on the harmony of family life such as drugs and alcohol.  There are others such as being lazy or argumentative or selfish or greedy that we often try to deny but in reality they are the elephant in the room.  What is your habit that seems to disrupt the family most often? Take some time to pray over it this week.  Then, take some time to thank God for the gift of family.

Question for Children:  Can I remember one way I have hurt a friend?  Am I willing to say that I am sorry?  Most children are particularly sensitive to the experience of being hurt by a friend so they will understand this question very easily.  Like most adults, children do not enjoy admitting that they have failed those they care for.  It is not a pleasant experience.  Take a little time to talk to your child about this during the week.  Help them to understand that it is important to admit it when we have hurt someone.  It is the only way we can reconcile.
 

Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
   …let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!

    There is nothing wrong with the traditional family joys of Christmas, nor need we be ashamed to find ourselves still looking forward to them.  But the church, in preparing us for the birth of a “great prophet,” a Savior and a King of Peace, has in mind more than seasonal cheer.
    The Advent mystery focuses the light of faith upon the very meaning of life, of history, of humanity, of the world and of our own being.
    In Advent we celebrate the coming and indeed the presence of Christ in our world.  We witness to his presence even in the midst of all the world’s inscrutable problems and tragedies.  Our Advent faith is not an escape from the world to a misty realm of slogans and comforts which declare our problems to be unreal, our tragedies nonexistent.

Community News

Reminder:  The flu Season and the Celebration of Mass:   At The recommendation of the NH DHHS, the following precautions will remain in effect through cold and flu season: 
l. If you are ill, please stay home and refrain from attendance at church celebrations.
2. The sign of Pace should be shared without teaching hands or kissing.  This can be done with meaningful eye contact, smiles, and a bow of the head in reverence to one another.
3. Parishioners should receive Holy Communion in their hands, and not on their tongue.  Parishioners who receive Holy Communion on the tongue by necessity (i.e., because of a disability) should receive at the end of the Communion line.
4. The Precious Blook:  Communion is only to be given in the species of the consecrated host.  If you are unable to receive Holy Communion in the species of the consecrated bread because of Celiac Disease, please see the pastor.

Our Food Pantry is in desperate need of food.  We need almost anything but especially instant Rice,  Tuna, Vegetables,  canned fruit, and cereal.  We’re Okay on soup for now.  Thank you so much for your generosity

A Look at Upcoming Events

Coping With the Holidays  There will be a workshop which will explore helpful strategies that can be used by those who are recovering from a loss- be it from the death of a person, a pet or other heartfelt loss. Participants will gain an understanding of proven concepts that promote physical, mental and emotional well-being during the grieving process.  The workshop will be held at Blessed Sacrament Parish at the corner of Elm and Queen city Ave. in Manchester .  Participants will meet in the church hall on December 5, 2009.  It will begin at 9:00 am with coffee.  The presenter will be Christine L. Bavaro, Licensed Mental Health counselor and Licensed Certified Social Worker and Bereavement Facilitator. 
Registration Deadline is Dec. 1, 2009.    For more info or to register, call Lisa at 622-5445 or e-mail lisa@blessedsacramentnh.org

A Companion Volunteer Training Program.  The Visiting Nurse of Manchester & Southern NH Association is starting a Companion Volunteer Training Program.  The focus of the training will be compassionate listening, concerns of the elderly, cognitive aging and setting boundaries.  Training is scheduled for Friday mornings January 8 through January 29 from 10:00am to 11:30am at VNA 33 So. Commercial St. Manchester, NH.
    The comprehensive training program will equip participants with the necessary skills to provide companionship to our homebound patients through visits and phone contact.
    The training will be led by Elizabeth Sheard, MA, and Professor of Aging.  Please contact Linda Krisch, Coordinator of Volunteer Resources at 663-4008 or lkrisch@elliot-hs.org to pre-register or for more information.

Premier Showing!  The 13th DAY, the true story of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima will be shown at St. Michael Parish at Cotter Hall at 9 Lincoln St. in Exeter, NH, Saturday Nov. 28th.  The hall will be open from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.  It is a free admission but registration is required.  Be sure to reserve your seat.  E-mail manchester-div@wa-fatima-nh.com
The event is being sponsored by the World Apostolate of Fatima, Manchester Diocesan Division.  For more info or to register, please contact Carolyn Scanlon at 778-9407 or Cynthia Lambert, at 659-3156.  There will be copies of the DVD available for a donation of $22.00.

The Parish of the Transfiguration
is hosting a special and informative Advent evening of song, which reflects on the theology of the lyrics in Christmas carols.  We’d like to invite all parishioners of the surrounding area to join us.  The event entitled “Do You Hear What I Hear?” will take place on Sunday evening December 6, 2009 at 6:30 pm in the church on Kelley St. in Manchester.  

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, 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.