In today's Gospel we hear the apostles say, "We have seen the Lord". During Holy Week and on Easter Sunday many of us could say the same. Our services were so beautiful, reverent and inspiring. Now that we are back to our everyday busy lives had the experience of Jesus made any difference in our lives? If it was just a nice comfortable feeling I would imagine that it has vanished by now.

What does Resurrection really mean for us? The disciples met the Risen Christ but they were challenged by that experience. They were to go out and make disciples of all people. How about us? That challenge is the same for us. How are we doing? Jesus is alive in those who are one in mind and heart, who share what they have with each other. The early Christians were so transformed that non-believers could say of them, "See how these Christians love one another". Do we find Christ in our community? He can be found in the sick, the elderly, and in those who accept their suffering with patience and dignity. Little children are a constant reminder of him. Anyone who reaches out to a person need of any kind reveals his love and kindness. Yes, we are Jesus people. Let us always remember what the resurrection means for us. We can always rise above our faults, sins and failings and embrace the new life Jesus gives to us daily. And let us remember that our neighbor also receives this new life. We all are God's children.

May you experience to the full the peace Jesus gives this Easter Season.

Heavenly Father,
Bless and protect all who serve the cause of peace. Bring them home safely to their loved ones. Bless with compassion and love all the victims of war. Receive into your loving arms all who have died. Console and comfort their families. We pray too for the people of Iraq, who suffer from fear, hunger and thrist. Help us to provide for them compassionately.

Holy Spirit,
Enlighten the minds of all world leaders. Direct them toward an end to all hatred, violence, terrorism and war. Grant us a world with a just and lasting peace.

With Confidence and Faith, we pray through Christ, Our Lord.

Easter Here and Now

We had a bit of an unusual Holy Week at St. Robert's this year in that we had four funeral masses here during the week. It must have been a poignant, perhaps difficult, and hopefully faithful time for family and friends to have seen their loved ones pass into death and eternal life. Christ's passion, death, and rising were very present to us this year.

Sometimes we struggle with praying the liturgy of the mass because its language and vocabulary doesn't seem to be ours, or it speaks of ethereal ideas or seemingly unfulfilled promises, yet one thing is true: we live out the ministry and the dying and rising of Christ in our lives, here and now. And, as I'm sure many of us can testify, the grace of renewed, hopeful, joyful life, connected with God, rarely is given without some struggle or dying-to-self to accompany it. Christ is our Savior here and now because the way he opened himself to death and new life gives us hope — a hope we cling to and trust in radically.

This Easter, I'm hopeful for the fulfillment of a promise we pray in one of our Easter Eucharistic Prayer prefaces:

Dear Parishioners, Please notify the priesthouse (589-2800) if a loved one is in the hospital.

Been away from the Church for a while? Need some guidance back? Married in a Civil Ceremony? Interested in the Sacrament of Marriage? Divorced? Want to know your status within the Church?

On Monday, April 28th, the students of the school will formally begin classes in the new PRESENTATION EDUCATION CENTER. I am sure that for the kindergarten class and the computer, science and art classes, this day will be very special and one I hope they remember throughout the years. they will be able to say: "I was there when St. Robert's Parish took another step toward the future of Catholic education."

Although the formal dedication is not till May 24th, it is time to give thanks to God for the generosity of over six hundred families who made a financial sacrifice for the good of the Parish. Aside from the school, the CENTER will be used for Religiuos Education classes and for Parish meetings. Thanks also to all the volunteers who helped in the fund raising campaign, the Finance and Building committees and those who have helped in building the storage shed and other improvements in the upper yard. Remember that the yard can now be used for parking for Sunday Mass and for evening meetings.

Thanks also to the members of the Women's Guild for the wonderful dinner dance that was enjoyed by so many and is a source of funding for Catholic education in our Parish.

On behalf of the whole Parish, thank you to all who prepared the Liturgies for Lent and Holy Week. You helped us on our journey.

MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline Drive
Burlingame, CA 94010-5599
(650) 340-7474

Centering Prayer Weekends - May 2-4
Vicky Bolts

Encountering Mary - May 3
Kathleen Denison, M.A.

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

Mothers Time: Nursing Your Spirit - May 9
Denise Roy

Grief Retreat: Healing the Heart - May 30-June 1
Carol Kaplan, MFT

SANTA SABINA CENTER
25 Magnolia Ave.
San Rafael, Ca 94901
(415) 457-7727

Dialogues with Silence - May 16-18
Jonathan Montaldo

We welcome you into our Parish!

homefaith.com-Spiritual help for families.

I wish to thank everyone involved with this year's Passion Play. It was another huge success, but it could not have happened without the help from Bob Baker for his direction, Diana Landin and Lorriane Ballas for their handling of the cast, Tom Tullius for many jobs he performed, Lisa Baldonado, Karen Baker and Rita Tullius for their support and Pat Vallez-Kelly for the music direction. The adult and teen musicians and singers who enhanced our performance. Dick Epting for the sound and Dan Cascino for the lighting and the Parent(s) for their support and mostly to the teens for bringing us a living gospel and for sharing their faith. We will see you next year.

We are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you can prepare a favorite cookie, snack or lunch items for 10 to 12 people, please drop it off at the Children's Chapel, in the back of Church, by 9:00 am on May 14th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items can be donated.