St. Robert's Catholic Church Bulletin, January 11, 2004

St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
January 11, 2004
Baptism of the Lord

Dear Parish Family,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope Santa was kind to all of you and that 2004 will be filled with love, friendship, and peace. Our Youth Mass and Teen Club are both going very well and I thank everyone who has helped make these things such a success. I would also like to thank everyone who supported the Teen Club by purchasing a Christmas Craft. Special thanks to Diana Landin and our Teens, who worked so hard to make sure our Craft sales were a success. Be on the look out for Valentine's Day Crafts, which will be available in the near future.

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. Baptism is one of the common elements found in all Christian Churches. I'm sure John must have felt very unworthy as he was a lowly servant being called upon to baptize the Lord, what a great responsibility. But we as Christians must accept that responsibility as John did, for that is what our baptism calls us to do. Our Baptism is an empowerment. The New Testament is filled with parables and teachings showing us our Christian responsibility, like the Beatitudes and parables and the Final Judgment found in Matthew where the sheep and goats are separated. Our Baptism is our commissioning by Christ, to go forth into the world and proclaim the gospel. As St. Francis says, "Proclaim the Gospel at all times, use words if you have to."

Baptism is our great gift, it has set us free from all evils that hold us bound. We must share this gift with all our brothers and sisters. Even though the holidays are over, some gifts should always be given.

Juan Santos
juansantos@saintroberts.org
SRYOUTHMINISTER@AOL.com

A NOTE FROM FATHER RING

Dear Parishioners,

On behalf of the priests and staff of St. Robert's, thank you for your cards, cookies, presents and prayers at Christmas. We are most grateful. We pray that God will bless you and your family in the New Year.

Father Ring

Monday - January 12 Readings: 1 Sm 1:1-8 Mk 1:14-20
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Giarth Klingensmith † Charles Agius †
7th Gr. Cheerleaders School Open House St. Vincent de Paul	1:30p 5:00p 7:30p	Hall Church/School/Hall Convent Chapel
Tuesday - January 13 Readings: 1 Sm 1:9-20 Mk 1:21-28
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Tash McMahon † Martin Moynihan †
Legion of Mary Religious Education Athletic Board Meeting Liturgy Committee Mtg. Teens Youth Choir Practice	6:30p 3:30p 7:00p 7:30p 8:00p 7:00p	Library Hall/Church Mahoney Room Convent Chapel Hall Church
Wednesday - January 14 Readings: 1 Sm 3:1-10,19-20 Mk 1:29-39
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Tom Hamilton † Marija Cukar †
8th Gr. Cheerleaders Religious Education Choir Practice Bible Study	3:00p 6:30p 7:00p 7:30p	Hall 6th Gr. Classroom Church Convent Chapel
Thursday - January 15 Readings: 1 Sm 4:1-11 Mk 1:40-45
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Frank Wait † Nancy Walsh †
Religious Education RCIA Parish Council	3:30p 7:00p 7:30p	Hall/Church Convent Chapel Mahoney Room
Friday - January 16 Readings: 1 Sm 8:4-7,10-22a Mk 2:1-12
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	William McLaughlin Kathleen Sullivan † †
8th Gr. Cheerleaders	3:00p	Hall
Saturday - January 17 Readings: 1 Sm 9:1-4,17-19 Mk 2:13-17
Mass Intention	8:30 4:30	Albert Spadaro † John Keck †
Sunday - January 18 Readings: Is 62:1-5 1 Cor 12:4-11 Jn 2:1-11
Mass Intention	7:30 9:30 11:30 5:00	Estela Licauco † Frances Garrett † People of St. Robert's James Diggins †
Fil/Am Choir Practice Youth Mass	10:00a 5:00p	Hall Church

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

Spiritual Living in a Material World - Jan. 23-25
Silent retreat for Women
Fr. Gerald P. McCourt, S.J.

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

Franciscan Spirituality - Jan. 16-18
The good world of Frances of Assisi

Women's Retreat - Jan. 23-25
Soul Sisters
Edwina Gateley

Beginning Enneagram - Jan. 24
Growing Spiritually

Married Couples Retreat - Feb. 13-15
My Beloved
Carol Kaplan, MT and Barry Brunsman, OFM

Open House-St. Robert School will hold its annual Open House on Monday, January 12th at 7:00 p.m. The evening will consist of classroom visitations. All are welcome.

Kindergarten Applications-St. Robert School will be accepting applications for Kindergarten for the 2004-2005 school year January 12th thru January 14th, at the school office. You will need to bring copies of your child's birth certificate, baptismal record, social security card recent family photo and a check for $30.00 to cover the testing fee.

Applications for other grades will not be accepted until May 2004.

Non-Discrimination Policy-St. Robert School, mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students of any race, color and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded to or made available to students at this school. St. Robert School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color and national and/or ethnic origin, age, sex or disability in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan payments, and athletic and other school administered programs.

COMPUTER CLASS FOR ADULTS
Saturday, January 24th

A new six week series of classes for those wishing to become familiar with the basics of computer usage will begin on Saturday, January 24th, from 9-9:45 a.m. the emphasis will be on the very basic skills for first timers and for those who would like to review what they learned in the Fall; from 9:45-10:30 a.m. will be for those who want to learn writing, email, spread sheet skills. Please phone the Parish Office at 589-2800 to sign-up. Only thirty students can be accepted and priority goes to parishioners. The classes will be held in the Presentation Education Center.

ARCHDIOCESAN CONFIRMATION CLASSES FOR ADULTS

Those adults, over 18 years old, who have already been Baptized and have received First Communion and who desire to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation please contact Deacon Duffey. There are several class sessions to chose from with the first beginning on January 24th. Upon completion of the classes, with the fulfillment of all the requirements, the Sacrament will be celebrated on Pentecost Sunday, May 30th, at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco by Archbishop William Levada.

The month of January is Marianist Heritage month. This is the month we honor Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Society of Mary (the Marianist). Being a graduate of two Marianist schools, Archbishop Riordan and Chaminade University of Honolulu, Juan would like to invite all Teens to a Pizza Social in the Teen Room on Tuesday, January 20th, from 8-9 p.m.

As a Parish Community, We Pray...for our Church. May the Holy Spirit inspire many men and women to become Priests, Deacons, Sisters and Brothers, who will work to spread the gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth.

SICK RELATIVES AND FRIENDS

We would like to update the following list. Please review and call the rectory at 589-2800 if someone you know can be taken off the list.

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Gabrielle Ausiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Robert Bacci, Genaro Badiable, Lito Badiable, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Maricris Candelaria, Arthur Candia, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Ana Cosgaya, Anna DeLucchi, Walton & June Dickhoff, William & Sandra Dill, Carl Edwards, Joyce Flax, Adela Florez, Henry Fosson, Jesse Grube, Denise Hawald, Dominique Hauscarriague,Jr, Sue Humphrey, Viko Ivancich, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Sisilia Langi, Shirley Latham, Josephine Lavoie, Austin Lehman, Marky, Michael Martinez, Kathryn McCann, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Terry McLeod, James Morrisey, Aurelia C. Munar, Thomas O'Brien, Lara Pinten, Jason Pimentel, James Piazza, Bill Reilly, Mary Shick, Pauline Speranza, Ron Stern, Justo Tan, Joan Thomsen, Mafi Tukumoatu, Gene VanSlett, Don Vickery, Diana Walter, Jennifer Westbrook & Frank Wright.

Dear Parishioners,
Please notify the priesthouse (589-2800) if a loved one is either sick or in the hospital and would like to be visited.
-The Parish Priests and Staff

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
John DeMartini,
Evelyn Smith &
Gerry Shields
who died recently.

BIBLE STUDY

Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:30 p.m. in the Convent Chapel. We will study the Captivity Letters of St. Paul.

by Sister Sheral

The Gift of Baptism
Today's feast, the Baptism of the Lord, completes the Christmas season. There is some controversy over why Jesus was baptized by John. As a practicing Jew, he was already considered saved and surely hadn't committed major infractions of the Law. (There was a movement afoot encouraging Jewish people to repentance and renewal in their living of the Law.)

Usually, only Gentiles converting to the Jewish religion needed to give a sign of repentance. Perhaps, he was showing solidarity with the outsiders and sinners, to whom he always paid attention during his public ministry. At any rate, we hear the voice of the Father proclaim, "You are my beloved son, with you I am well-pleased."

In reality, the Father says the same thing to each of us when we are baptized. We, too, are God's beloved; God has created us, adopted us into the family and looks upon us with great love. Do you love your child any less when he or she is throwing a tantrum or whining about something? Even when we turn away and don't pay attention the Spirit's promptings, God's love for us never changes.

Do you know the date and church of your baptism? Who your godparents were? If you don't know, you might ask your folks if they're alive. If your children are old enough to understand, why not resurrect their baptismal certificates and celebrate the day they became part of God's family?

We have a number of adults preparing for baptism (and confirmation and first Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. Please remember them and their sponsors and catechists during these coming months.

New Year's Resolutions
Have you made yours yet? With half of us having a cold or the flu, I'd guess I'm not the only one who hasn't. In addition to the usual efforts to get more exercise and lose weight, I'd like to suggest another practical resolution. How about thanking God for the blessing of life and food before each meal? The traditional grace is fine: Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen. If you live with others, you could take turns leading at dinner, with each one using whatever words he or she chooses. If everyone is on a different schedule and you've become used to watching television while you eat, you might set aside one night a week when you eat together with the tv off. The leader could invite everyone to share one happening of the day for which he/she is grateful. If you live alone, you might remember the many times Jesus ate with people: at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, with the family of the girl he raised from the dead, at the Last Supper with his friends. Invite him to be with you in a special way as you have your meal.

Women's Retreat
Every woman in the parish is invited to join us for a retreat day on Feb. 21, the first Saturday of Lent, from 9 am to 3 pm. We'll meet at Mt. Alverno Conference Center, Redwood City and your $25 donation includes a great lunch. Give yourself a treat and come! Reservations are due this week by Thursday, Jan. 15. For more information, please call Sr. Sheral at 589-2800 or Donna McGuigan.

RCIA RITE OF WELCOMING

This Sunday at the 11:30 a.m. Mass we will be welcoming into our faith community the following people who are preparing for Baptism during the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 10th. They are:

Tiffany Bevan,
Anne Cronister,
Shannon Goodearl,
Diana & Shane Rollins and
Amanda & Rachel Miles.

Also pray for the other RCIA members preparing to make a profession of faith after being Baptized in another Christian faith, and those adults preparing for First Communion and Confirmation. They are:

Shelli Maher,
Jorge Oropeza,
Lorena Velasco,
Kristen Vers,
Amy Lynn Carlson,
Catherine Lesser,
Clive Camelo and Cathy Simonson.

The Belfry

I have seen it standing up grey,
Gaunt, as though no sunlight
Could ever thaw out the music
Of its great bell; terrible
In its own way, for religion
Is like that. There are times
When a black frost is upon
Ones whole being, and the heart
In its bone belfry hangs and is dumb.

But who is to know? Always
Even in winter in the cold
Of a stone Church, on his knees
Someone is praying, whose prayers fall
Steadily, trough the hard spell
Of weather that is between God
And himself. Perhaps they are warm rain
That brings the sun and afterwards flowers.
On the raw graves and the throbbing of bells.

R.S. Thomas
From:Journey into the Light
(Darton, Longman & Todd, 2003)

AIDS LUNCH
January 14th

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 a.m. on January 14th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items can be donated.

We appreicate your help!

THANK YOU

From St. Robert's Children's Liturgy

A sincere note of thanks to the all who took time away from their own shopping to purchase a gift for a person indeed. We were able to distribute hundreds of toys, and gift certificates to children and young adults who otherwise would not have had much of a Christmas.

Your gifts were given to St. Anthony of Padua dining room in Menlo Park, Women's Recovery Association in Burlingame and San Bruno Catholic Worker Hospitality House.

A special thank you to Bob and Karen Baker. Their garage becomes Santa's workshop during Advent where they store and sort all the gifts. With the help of Lisa Baldonado gifts were delivered to the various organizations.

Mary Ann Saisi

FROM PADUA DINING ROOM
SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH
MENLO PARK

On behalf of myself, and our staff, I wish to thank you for your generous donation of gifts for our Christmas "Toys for Tots Program" in cooperation with the Menlo Park Fire department. Your contribution of many car loads of wonderful gifts means a great deal to us and especially to the children who benefit from your generosity. Even with the rain, we served over 2000 children that day. We began distributing the gifts at 3:30 a.m since there were children already standing in the cold and rain. We wish you could have seen the happiness on the children's faces once they received our beautiful gifts.