There can be great rewards for trying something new. I’ll always remember my first visit to a wonderful Indian restaurant on the East Side of Manhattan during my college days. I had NO IDEA what to order, but my friends encouraged me to be adventurous. Those first tastes of saffron and curry were unforgettable!

A writer once wrote something to this effect: "The problem with Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting. The problem with Christianity is that it has hardly ever been tried."

This Lent, God calls us not only to repentance, but also to a renewal of our baptismal vows and life in the Spirit of Christ. Christianity can be difficult because it requires great trust, letting go, and dying to ourselves. Our baptism is surely a baptism into new life, but only that which comes through the death of Christ and our participation in it. That requires great trust in God and one another. It requires tasting the bittersweetness of sacrifice and love, in imitation of our crucified and risen Lord Jesus.

When the psalmist invites us to "taste and see the Lord’s goodness," he offers an invitation to trust in God. I share with you this poem which puts "taste and see" in other words:

The Avowal
Denise Levertov

As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
freefall, and float
into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.

Peace, and may your celebration of this paschal season bring you great rewards.

"Active Participation"

A thought from Liturgy With Style and Grace, by Gabe Huck and Gerald T. Chinchar.

"Active participation means that no one is a spectator. Everyone, by the virtue of baptism, actively offers the one sacrifice of thanksgiving; everyone is a celebrant, with one presider. The shape and quality of worship then does not depend entirely upon the presider, musicians or liturgy planners, but upon every member of the whole assembly."

READINGS for NEXT SUNDAY, FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Joshua 5:9-12 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-32

WE WELCOME THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Natalie Marie Buelow
Joel James Mueller &
Hannah Dora Taylor

SICK RELATIVES AND FRIENDS

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Sister Cabrini, Arthur Candia, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Ana Cosgaya, Imelda Daly, William & Sandra Dill, Adela Florez, Elsie Grech, Randall Guerro, Denise Hawald, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Josephine Lavoie, Marky, Rosemary McHale, Jeanne McHugh, Terry McLeod, Catherine Okulove, Richard Quintana, Sister Nancy Reynolds, Mary Shick, Ruth Sleeper, Cyndy Smerdel, Kari Stellino, Don Vickery, Walton and June Dickhoff, Gordon Sinks, Daniel McHale, Ilaria Belluomini & Bernie Voight.

DEATHS

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Maxine Roberts and Barbara Carey
who died recently.

Drop-in Bereavement Support Group
Monday, March 26th in the Convent Chapel, at 7:30 p.m.. All are welcome.

WEEKLY INTENTION

Prayer vigils on the occasion of the execution of Robert Lee Massie at San Quentin State Prison will be held on Monday, March 26th at the following churches:

St. Hilary, Tiburon, 6 p.m. Mass, followed by Exposition and Benediction at 8:45 p.m.;

St. Mary Cathedral, San Francisco, 6 p.m. Stations of the Cross, followed by Exposition and Benediction at 8:45pm;

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Redwood City, Interfaith Prayer Service 6-9 p.m.

On the Fridays in Lent, all are invited to celebrate Stations of the Cross, reflecting on the suffering and death of Jesus, at 6:00 p.m. in the church. Stations will be followed by a simple Lenten Supper in Hennessy Hall. You are asked to put in the basket in the Hall what you would have spent on your usual Friday evening meal. We have this opportunity to practice the three disciplines of Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

Pray    *     Fast    *    Learn    *     Give

Through today’s parable of the fig tree, Jesus speaks to us of the need to care responsibly. As the vinedresser cared for the fig tree, so we must take responsibility to care for one other. As the fig tree could not bear fruit without the vinedresser’s care and attention, we cannot bear the true fruit of solidarity without practicing solidarity. Operation Rice Bowl provides a way for each of us to break the pattern of "benign neglect" and practice solidarity. The 75% of our contributions which supports Catholic Relief Services projects overseas and the 25% which nurtures those in need here in our own diocese, show how we care actively and empower our neighbors in an active way.

Memorial Easter Lilies

Easter Lilies will decorate the Church during the Easter Season. If you would care to make a donation of $10 (please make check payable to St. Robert’s Lilies Fund) towards their purchase in memory of a loved one, please fill out the form below and return it to the Parish Office by April 11th. A memorial list will be published in the bulletin.

My gift is in memory of:__________________________

My gift is in honor of:____________________________

GROWNUPS...are having their annual Lenten Soup Supper on Wednesday evening, March 28th, at 6:00 p.m. in Hennessy Hall. Mr. Patrick Kelly, St. Robert’s Pastoral Associate for Liturgy, will be the Guest Speaker. The price is $5.00 per person. Tickets will be sold on the weekends of March 17 & 18, and 24 & 25 after the 4:30, 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Masses. Tickets will also be available by calling Dorothy Branch or Dolores Moynihan. No tickets will be sold at the door.

SOCIABLES.....Our next get- together will be at Joe’s of Westlake at John Daly Blvd. and Lake Merced Blvd. in Daly City. The date is March 25th at 12:00 noon. For further information please call Bunny Moniz.

ST. PATRICK's DAY PARTY.....Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner-$20 a person. Dancing and raffle. Saturday, March 24th, in Hennessy Hall. For more information call Kevin Carey or Mike Salvato. Proceeds to benefit the Irish Presentation Sisters of St. Roberts.

   
MONDAY, March 19th
7 - 9 p.m. Fil/Am....Hall

TUESDAY, March 20th
6:30 - 8 pm Legion of Mary.....Library
3:30 - 8 pm Religious Ed ......Hall
8 - 9 pm Teen Club.....Hall

WEDNESDAY, March 21st
7:30 - 9 pm Bible Study....Convent
7 - 9 pm Dinner Dance meeting....Hall

THURSDAY, March 22nd
3:30 - 4:30 pm Religious Ed.....Hall
7 - 9 pm RCIA.....Chapel
7 - 9:30 pm Sports Awards....Hall

FRIDAY, March 23rd
6:00 pm Stations of the Cross...Church
4 - 8 pm Lenten Supper.....Hall

SATURDAY, March 24th
St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance.....Hall