St. Robert's Church Bulletin, April 29, 2001

St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
April 29, 2001
Third Sunday of Easter

Dear Parishioners,

Since Easter we have been listening to Gospel stories about the Post - Resurrection appearances of the Risen Lord. After the death of Jesus the apostles returned to their usual work. Most of them were fishermen. Today’s Gospel tells us about how they encountered Jesus while they were fishing. Their night’s work was very disappointing. Not even one fish was caught.

(Just imagine how you would feel if you had worked hard all day and got no pay. No money to pay the bills or get food for your family).

Jesus was on the shore and knew of their disappointment. He told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. Now Jesus was a carpenter, not a fisherman, and as yet the apostles did not recognize him. but they did as he said and the result was amazing. Such a catch. They could hardly believe it. John knew that it was Jesus who had spoken to them and he said to Peter, "It is the Lord". Impetuous as ever, Peter jumped into the sea and hurried to meet Jesus who had breakfast ready for them. After breakfast Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. I can well imagine how uncomfortable Peter was. Just a few days before, he had denied Jesus three times. Now Jesus wanted to give him an opportunity of professing three times his love for him. Then Jesus made him Head of his Church.

Maybe we could learn from Peter that our sins do not prevent us from doing great things for the Lord provided we are sorry and are willing to accept his love and forgiveness.

Peace,
Sister Ita

Dear Parishioners:

Thank you very much for your generosity to the Easter collection. As of now, the amount is $26,841. This is two percent more than last year. I hope that "late" contributions will bring us to the ten percent increase we were hoping for. Along with the Christmas collection, the Easter collection is a major source of revenue for our general operating expenses. Your generosity makes it possible to keep the lights on - although not as much as before.

Thank you to all who joined in the Stations of the Cross and Lenten suppers during Lent. Your sacrificial donations each Friday came to $1,050. This amount will be given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help the poor of our Parish.

Thank you to those who participated in the Three Hours devotions and Liturgy on Good Friday. Your contributions on that day were divided in the following way: $150 to the upkeep of the Churches in the Holy Land; $500 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and $500 to Catholic Worker House of San Bruno.

May God bless you,
Father Ring

I imagine it still happens today. When I was in high school, the west side of the bleachers in the gym was for fans from the visiting team and the east side was for us, the Red Knights. At big games, when a lot of visiting fans showed up, the battle cry would usually bubble up from one of the sides of the gym: "WE’VE GOT SPIRIT, YES WE DO! WE’VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW ‘BOUT YOU?!?!" Of course, the other side of the gym had to respond at ear-splitting decibels. It was a battle of unabashed loudness . . . a battle of enthusiasm . . . a battle of . . ."spirit."

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." This has always been one of my favorite scripture passages. I think it’s St. Paul’s way of saying, "I’ve got Spirit, how ‘bout you?!" It’s a good measuring stick for me to tell whether I am living in the Spirit of God and worshipping in Spirit and in truth.

Today, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Maryann Cappas and Elena Vall, two of our parishioners and RCIA participants, are receiving the Spirit in Confirmation. This past Friday almost 80 young adults celebrated their Confirmation in the Spirit of God here at St. Robert’s. These Easter days are here for us to be renewed in the life—the Spirit—of God through Jesus Christ. If you find yourself with plenty of the fruit of the Spirit, then share it! If you find yourself lacking, then go to God in prayer and open your heart anew to the Holy Spirit. Along with Eucharist, the Spirit is the greatest gift of God’s own divinity to be shared with us. - P. K.

WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS

4/30 Monday	6:30	Julia Valencia †
	8:30	Ferrucio Fanti †
5/01 Tuesday	6:30	Perry Gonis †
	8:30	Geraldine Paterson †
5/02 Wednesday	6:30	Robert Ferrario †
	8:30	Josephine DeBrincat †
5/03 Thursday	6:30	Garrett Hennesy †
	8:30	Art Durgin †
5/04 Friday	6:30	Barbara Carey †
	8:30	Lee Salfi †
5/05 Saturday	8:30	Paul & Rosina Vella †
	4:30	People of St. Robert's
5/06 Sunday	7:30	Irene Mocelin †
	9:00	Michael Kelly †
	10:30	Dora Morris †
	12:00	Andrea Caraffi †
	5:30	Nora Cronin †

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

FOURTH SUNDAY of EASTER
Acts 5:27b-32, 40b-41 Rev.5:11-14 John 21:1-19

WE WELCOME THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Jaon Paul Venturi
Justin Steven Torres
Gavin Charles Lehane
Alyssa Leigh Bell
Anthony Joseph Edward Ghilardi, Jr.
Preston Konane Bunac
Hayley Abigail Prentice.

WEEKLY INTENTION

As a Parish Community, We pray....

For our young people who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday...May the power of the Holy Spirit give them strength and courage to obey God no matter what the consequences may be.

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, Sister Nancy Reynolds, Mary Shick, Cyndy Smerdel, Kari Stellino, Don Vickery, Walton and June Dickhoff, Gordon Sinks, Daniel McHale, Ilaria Belluomini, Elenore Morgan, Leonardo Velarde III, & Bernie Voight.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Brother Lawrence, a 17th century French Carmelite, was best known for his wonderful experience of God’s immediate presence. His advice to those eager to find similar vitality and certainty in their lives is: "...spend the remainder of your life only in worshipping God...a little adoration....sometimes to pray for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sorrows and sometimes to return to Him thanks for the benefits He has given you, and still gives you, in the midst of your troubles...You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we think".

We have a wonderful opportunity to do this on the First Saturday of each month, when we celebrate Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Please join us, following the 8:30 AM Mass. Adoration will continue until Benediction at 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 5th.

CASH FOR CLASS

Help our School win $2000

If you have shopped at Tanforan, please turn in your receipts at the information booth on the 2nd floor at Tanforan, in the vestibule of the Church, or the Rectory. For questions or more information Call Linda Cuddy.

EL RETIRO

300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, Ca 94022-4646
(650) 948-4491

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
May 4-6
Silent Retreat for men/women
Fr. Bernard Bush, S.J.

Living the Spirituality of the Resurection
May 5
Fr. James Hanley, S.J.

Celebrating our Memories
May 11-13
Retreat for Mothers and Daughters
Susan Fullerton, Julia Perrier, and Fr. James Hanley, S.J.

Look for the Wonderful, The Amazing
May 18-20
Recovery Retreat for Men/Women
Fr. William Fulco, S.J.

Journey from Grief to Healing
May 18-20
Retreat for Those in Grief
Fr. Joseph Fice, S.J.

The Three R’s of a Relationship
June 1-3
Responsibility, Respect, and Religion
Retreat for Married Couples
Edward & Peggy Gleason and Fr. Jerry McCourt, S.J.

VALLOMBROSA CENTER

250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, Ca 94025-3218
(650) 325-5614

Charismatic Retreat
May 4-6
Linda Schubert

Mandala Workshop
May 12, 19, 26
Sister Toni Longo, ASC

"The Parable of the Vineyard Laborers"
May 20
Rev. Peter Sammon

"The Parable of the Hidden Treasure"
Bishop P. J. McGrath

MERCY CENTER BURLINGAME

Contact Liz Dossa
(650) 340-7480

Aspects of Aging Series
Mondays, April 30 through June 11
Ann Rooney, RSM and Sandi Peters

Dances of Universal Peace
Sunday afternoons, May 6, June 10 & Sept. 9
Sharon Abercrombie

STEWARDSHIP --- A WAY OF LIFE

In Easter Season we know the promise of new beginnings in the Risen Lord. It is easy to reflect on all the gifts God has given to us and to be grateful. Stewardship itself is a gift from Him. With the gift of faith received at our baptism, each of us was called to be a responsible steward. Because we believe this is true, we accept the responsibility to assess our gifts, our time spent at the parish and the larger community, and ordering our priorities concerning finances.

It all begins with an honest inventory of self. To grow in stewardship, we need to know ourselves as intimately as God knows us. This happens when we take the time for prayer and we begin to identify our gifts. What are God’s gifts to me? In a real sense gift discernment is not an option.

Here are some of the questions we all need to be asking:

Where is my energy? My gifts: talent and skills, interests, knowledge, preferences, life journey, relationships, spiritual traditions.

What do I desire? What do you need to grow into the person God is calling you to be?

What is holding me back? What is preventing you from growing into that person?

What can we do to move ahead? What changes need to take place for this to begin for me?

The following is adapted from Cardinal Roger Mahony’s pastoral letter "As I Have Done For You: A Pastoral Letter on Ministry". It was presented to the priests of his archdiocese, and speaks clearly to all Catholics:

While the number of priests is declining and their average age rising, the number of Catholics is increasing. The gifts of the lay faithful have been flourishing in unprecedented numbers and in wondrous ways...we must recognize that lay ministry rooted in the priesthood of the baptized is not a stopgap measure. Even if seminaries were once again filled to overflowing and convents packed with sisters, our problems would not be solved. We would still need to cultivate, develop and sustain the full flourishing of ministries that we have witnessed in the Church since the Second Vatican Council. In the wake of the Council, we now have a clearer recognition that it is in the nature of the church to be endowed with many gifts...rooted in the call of baptism.

BEEN AWAY FROM THE CHURCH FOR A WHILE?
NEVER RECEIVED BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, OR FIRST COMMUNION?

We would like to invite any adult who has been away from the Sacraments or who has never received Baptism, Confirmation, or First Communion to please call the rectory and leave a message for Deacon Rusty Duffey. We would love to hear from you as we begin to prepare for our next class sessions.

EMERGENCY PRAYER NETWORK

The Emergency Prayer Network continues to pray for your specific intentions that require a concerted effort due to their critical nature. To facilitate the network, please call Michele Pipinich. The network then prays frequently for the next 72 hours. We would appreciate a return call with the outcome so we can praise God for His faithfulness.

RECEPTION OF COMMUNION

If anyone finds it difficult to walk up to the front of church to receive Communion, we would like to offer you assistance. We can have a eucharistic minister come to you, where you are seated, or have an usher escort you. If you need help, please call Pat Kelly at 589-2800, or speak to an usher or eucharistic minister before Mass.

DROP-IN BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

Monday, April 30th in the Convent Chapel, at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.

PASSION PLAY APPRECIATION

Our sincere thanks go out to Dan Cascino, Dick Epting, Thomas Tullius, Diana Landin, Lorriane Ballas, Pat Kelly, Lisa Baldonado and Karen Baker for their behind-the-scenes help in making this year’s Passion Play one of the best ever! Thank you also to all the adult musicians and singers and to the parent or parents of each cast member for their support in driving and caring, and for cooking our pre and post-performance meals. Last, but not least, thank you to all the teens of our parish who came and shared their faith!

Ben Baldonado and Bob Baker

Parish Council & School Board.....St. Robert’s Parish Council and School Board elections will take place next weekend, May 5th & 6th, after all the Masses. Absentee ballots may be otained at the Rectory and must be returned before May 5th.

Filipino-American Group.....will be hosting an Open House in Hennessy Hall THIS Sunday, April 29th after the 9am, 10:30am, and 12:00 noon Masses. All parishioners are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Contact Al Reyes or Esperanza Halili for any questions.

TUESDAY, May 1st
3:30 - 8 pm, Religous Education.....Hall
6:30 - 8 pm, Legion of Mary.....Library

WEDNESDAY, May 2nd
7:30 - 9 pm, Bible Study.....Convent

THURSDAY, May 3rd
3:30 - 4:30 pm, Religious Education.....Hall
7 - 9 pm, Parish Planning Committee...Library
7-9 pm, RCIA.....Chapel
7:30 - 9 pm, Teen Club.....Hall

FRIDAY, May 4th
8 - 2 pm, Spellathon.....Hall

SATURDAY, May 5th
9 - 10 am, Eucharistic Adoration....Church

SUNDAY, May 6th
10-11:30a Fil/Am....Hall