Dear Parishioners:

I hope that everyone is having a very blessed Thanksgiving weekend. We are also celebrating the Feast of Christ the King. When we recognize all the things for which we are thankful, we cannot help but to praise God, Our King.

During the past couple of weeks I have been interviewing those adults preparing for their Easter Sacraments. One of the questions we asked was: "Who was the person most influential in teaching you about God?" Responses included: parents, godparents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, teachers, priests, religious brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends. When was the last time you thought of the person who introduced you to the Faith and the Church? Are you a role model for someone who is looking for God’s presence in his or her life?

I hope you will join me in thanking God for family, friends, relatives, companions, neighbors, and parishioners. We also pray, as a parish family, for those who must spend this weekend alone or separated from their loved ones. In particular, we remember the sick, the aged, our armed forces, and our students who may be spending their first Thanksgiving away from home.

We praise and celebrate in a special way the Feast of Christ the King remembering how much God has gifted each of us.

Privacy laws have greatly changed the way we inter-relate within our society. One of the changes has greatly affected the ability of the Parish priests and Sister Ita to visit the sick of our Parish in a hospital. In the past, the hospital allowed us to look at the patient list which had home addresses so that we could judge whether a parishioner was present. This is no longer allowed. The only way we can now find out is if we are told by you or a family member. Please call us. We would love to come to visit and, if you desire, to bring you the Sacrament of the Sick or the Eucharist.

"Practice the Presence of God"

The season of Advent begins next Sunday. There are four Sundays during Advent, but this year the season is just a little over three weeks long. For that short time period, the Liturgy Committee is inviting you to be aware of God Who is present to you at all times. In fact, we’re offering this theme to the parish: "Practice the Presence of God"

The word "practice" usually means several things to us. A common "practice" is a habit, or something that we usually do. Or "practice" might mean to rehearse or to prepare. When doctors, lawyers, and dentists go about their business, we say that they "practice" their profession or that they have a "practice." "Practice the Presence of God" could take on any of those meanings. It’s about being aware of God’s constant presence in people, events, and places and then acting accordingly.

As we "Practice the Presence of God," each Sunday we can focus on different ways to do that:

1st Sunday (Dec. 2) - "Practice the Presence of God"
Matthew’s Gospel tells us to "stay awake." We need to be mindful of God’s personal, loving presence.

2nd Sunday (Dec. 9) - "Welcome One Another"
Be aware of the presence of God in other people; practice hospitality and kindness at God’s level.

3rd Sunday (Dec. 16) - "Be Patient"
Sometimes God does not seem to be very present to us. This apparent absence of God demands faith and patience. Trust that God is present. "Practice the presence of God" in times of waiting.

4th Sunday (Dec. 23) - "God With Us: The Promise"
God has promised to be with us, to be faithful, and to never abandon us; the promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Ilaria Belluomini, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Joseph Calleja, Arthur Candia, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Ana Cosgaya, Imelda Daly, Walton & June Dickhoff, Sandra & William Dill, Ray Driscoll, Carl Edwards, Adela Florez, Elsie Grech, Denise Hawald, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Josephine Lavoie, Marky, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Jeanne McHugh, Terry McLeod, Sal Milizio, Catherine Okulove, Leo Pieretti, Richard Quintana, Lee Shick, Pauline Speranza, Kari Stellino, Don Vickery, & Bernie Voight.

the death of a loved one
loss of a friend
loss of a job
loss of health
divorce

St. Robert’s Children’s Choir has begun a new season. All St. Robert’s youth from 2nd grade up are invited to participate in the Children’s Choir. For more information, call Ms. Baldomero at 583-5065 or Mr. Kelly at 589-2800.

RCIA CELBRATES THE
"Rite of Welcoming"
December 2nd at 10:30 a.m. Mass

Please keep our RCIA members in your prayers as they journey toward their Easter Sacraments. Our catechumens (those who will be Baptized) and our Candidates (those who will receive First Eucharist and/or Confirmation) are listed below:

Wendy Berardy, Terry Berardy, Nicole Bradon,
Mandy Currin, Kirsi Fontenot, Priscilla Gilmore,
Steve Glasgo, Esmeralda Gonzalez, Carlos Ku,
Guy Lugiliani, Michelle Munguia, Rick Olson,
Natalie Ortiz, Daniel Santiago, Russ Valles, and
Robert Willmore.

DISCIPLES NOW:
WEBSITE FOR CATHOLIC YOUTH

"Do this as a remembrance of Me."

52 Reasons to Come to Mass Every Sunday.

38. Because we need to be an example to our children.

39. Because God tells us to "Keep Holy the Sabbath".

40. Because Jesus Christ said: "I am the bread of life: whoever comes to me will never hunger" (Jn 6:35).

41. Because we meet the Living God.

42. Because Jesus said: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (Jn 6:54).

43. Because it’s an opportunity for everyone, even kids, to dress up once a week to give honor to God.

44. Because St. Peter Julian Eymard was right when he said that we must "return to the fountain of life...Jesus in the Eucharist".

45. Because, as St. Peter Julian said, "The Eucharist is the life of the people".

46. Because Christ has died. Because Christ has risen. And because Christ will come again.

47. Because we are called to love the One who loves us.

48. Because we have to take Our Lord out into the world every day. And how can we take Him to the world if we have not first received Him?

49. Because the Eucharist is the pledge of our love.

50. Because as Pope St. Gregory the Great said, the Mass "has the power of saving the soul from eternal death".

51. Because we gain strength for the journey of life.

MERCY HIGH SCHOOL invites all eighth grade girls and their parents to visit Mercy High School in Burligame for a special Open House evening tour on Tuesday, Dec. 4, beginning at 7 pm. Mercy High School, a college preparatory, all-girls, Catholic high school is located at 2750 Adeline Drive in Burlingame. For more detailed information, contact Mrs. Betty Duran, Director of Admissions at (650) 343-1414.

JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL will be holding its Annual Open House Program for elementary school students, parents, and friends on Thursday, Dec. 6th at 7:00 p.m. The entrance exam will be given on Sat., Jan. 12th. Applications for next Fall’s freshman class are currently available by contacting the school at (650) 345-8207.

YOUNG ADULT MASS Archbishop William Levada and the Office of Young Adult Ministry invites young adults, aged 18-35, to a special Young Adult Mass honoring "threshold moments in young adult lives" Saturday, December 1st at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco at 5:30 p.m. Reception with Archbishop Levada to follow. For more information call our hotline at (415) 614-5594 or jansenm@sfarchdiocese.org.

We welcome you into our parish!

Bart McHale and Josephine Maxion and family

TUESDAY, November 27th
6:30 - 8 pm, Legion of Mary.....Library
3:30 - 8:15 pm, Religious Ed.....Hall

WEDNESDAY, November 28th
7:30 - 9 pm, Liturgy Committee.....Mary’s Chapel
7:30 - 9 pm, Bible Study....Convent Chapel
4:30 - 6 pm, 7th Gr. Cheerleading.....Hall

THURSDAY, November 29th
3:30 - 4:30 pm, Religious Ed.....Hall
6 - 10 pm, Sports Awards.....Hall
7 - 9 pm, RCIA.....Convent Chapel

SATURDAY, December 1st
9 - 10 am, Eucharistic Adoration.....Church
10 - 12 Noon, Reconciliation.....Church
6 pm, Grownups Christmas Party.....Hall

Did you know St. Robert Church and School participates in the eScrip program? This is a very easy way for us to earn money to benefit our Church and School. Here’s how it works:

You register your Safeway Club Card, Visa, Master Card, ATM, Debit, Chevron Gas Card with escrip and every time you shop at a participating store e.g. Mollie Stones, Lunardi’s, Pak-n-Save and more we receive 2-5% of your purchase. It is a very safe program. No information is sold or given out. There is an annual fee of $10. We receive an average of $1,900 a month with our current 183 members.

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

The Mall or the Manger?
A Day on the Real Meaning of Christmas Dec. 5
Fr. James Hanley, S.J. (repeated Dec 8 or 9)

The Journey of Surrendering to God’s Love Dec. 14-16
Recovery Retreat for Men
Fr. Thomas Allender, S.J.

From Fear to Faith Jan. 4-16
Recovery Retreat for Women
Msgr. Terry Richey

The Freedom to Respond to God and God’s Grace
Silent Retreat for Men Jan. 18-20
Fr. Thmas Weston, S.J.

Living in the Presence of God Jan. 25-27
Silent Ignatian Retreat for Women
Fr. Robert Scholla, S.J.

SAN DAMIANO RETREAT
P.O. Box 767
Danville, Ca 94526
(925) 837-9141

ACDF Recovery Retreat Nov 30-Dec. 2
The Freedom of Forgiveness
Carol Mitchell, Ph.D and Peter Coster, MFT, MDiv.

MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline Drive
Burlingame, Ca 94010-5540
340-7474