Dear Parish family,

In the last month, our society and our Church have been faced with many challenges, some of which are counter cultural to our Christian gospel values. Our society presents challenging issues such as same sex marriage, human cloning, stem cell research, abortion rights, the death penalty, TV and radio program content (e.g. The Super Bowl halftime show), and of course the molestation charges again members of the clergy. In the past month these issues, and many more, have been discussed and debated in-debth; especially, in this election year. At times holding on to our Catholic values is very difficult, in the face of our constantly changing and challenging world. It may seem that our Church is not in touch with the world we live in today and is not answering these challenges to meet our needs as Spiritually yearning Christian pilgrims. This could not be further from the truth.

Our church is steeped in tradition, yet it is constantly adapting and changing but remains true to Christ. Just as Jesus faced all temptation and remained true to His values, we as Catholics must remain strong in the face of adversity, challenge, and criticism.

Last month I was privileged to attend the Los Angeles Congress. I was one of 53,000 people, to converge on the Anaheim Convention Center for a Spiritual renewal. It was one of the best experiences of my life. The convention Center was filled with spiritual power and hope. Hope that our church will forgive and be forgiven, during this trying period. Archbishop of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahoney emphasized that forgiveness can only be obtained after we forgive in our hearts. Lent is a journey to this forgiveness. We are in the desert, at the midnight hour. But Easter is our daybreak and the joy of another tomorrow. A tomorrow filled with the grace, peace, love, hope and joy of our Almighty Father. As Jesus forgave while on the cross, so would we forgive in the challenges of everyday life.

PRAISE TO YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST,
KING OF ENDLESS GLORY

A few parishioners have mentioned to me that their Annual Appeal information and envelopes has not arrived in the mail-I am among them!

Please contact the parish office or pick up the information in the vestibule.

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.

This month's Grief Support Group will take place on March 27th at 3:00 p.m. (before the 4:30 p.m. Mass) in the Convent Chapel. Anyone who is suffering from the loss of a loved one-spouse, sibling, child, relative, or firend is invited to come and pray, share, comfort or be comforted. This month we will pray especiall for Widowers who are strugling to cope with the loss of their spouse.

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted".

STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND LENTEN SUPPERS

On each Friday during Lent (except for Good Friday), Stations will be held in the Church at 6:00 p.m. A light Lenten Supper will follow in Hennessy Hall. This is an opportunity for us to pray together and for members of our Parish family to get to know one another. Please put in the basket in the hall what you would have spent on your usual Friday dinner. Your donation will allow our St. Vincent de Paul Society to feed our sisters and brothers who are in need.

Together we will celebrate the three Lenten practices:

PRAYER
Stations of the Cross

FASTING AND Abstinence
A light meal following Stations

ALMSGIVING
A donation to St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Friday, March 12th
6:00 p.m. Stations
presented by Women of the Parish

6:30 p.m.Supper
prepared by Legion of Mary and the Fil/Am Group

I wasn't at liturgy this past weekend because we had a gathering of the leadership groups from all three provinces (areas) of the U.S. and our delegates to prepare for our General Chapter (big meeting) in Rome this October. One of the women from our New York province has spent 8 years in Tanzania; one from our Denver province has been ministering with the Lakota people on the St. Francis Indian Mission in Manderson, South Dakota for 15 years. Needless to say, we had fascinating conversations!

We have sisters of my particular Franciscan congregation in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Brazil, and Indonesia, and missions in the Philippines, Tanzania, East Africa, and Palenque, Chiapas. When the provincials and delegates (two from each province) gather in Rome, they will discuss various proposals regarding our structures of leadership on the province level and the world-wide level; they will also discuss various financial matters. They will also discuss our relationships with one another and how we can increase the face-to-face dialogue among sisters from different countries and cultures. Our founding province in the Netherlands has received no new members since 1970, so their median age is very high. Since the government there pays stipends to retired sisters, they are most grateful to have been able to give substantial financial support to our efforts with the poor in Palenque and other places. The Indonesian province still has many women entering, so has begun the new mission in the Philippines.

Our speaking of the different cultures makes me think of St. Robert's. Could we during this Lenten season with its invitation to reconciliation, reach out of our comfort zone to introduce ourselves to someone of a culture different from our own? You, no doubt recall, that some months ago the U.S. Census Bureau declared that there is no longer any "majority" culture in California. We are all minorities! Our state is just about one third Asian/Pacific Islander, one third Hispanic, and one third European-American, with each of those categories including many different countries and cultures. We sometimes sing "One Bread, One Body" at Communion time. Might we introduce ourselves to another member of that Body after Mass or at the grocery store?

Listed are a few of the food stuffs that we are running low on: jams and jellies, canned vegetables, cereal and oatmeal, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, juices, packaged cookies, condiments, canned meats and tuna.

We are also collecting Scrip for MOLLYSTONE, ALBERTSON'S, LUNARDI'S, and SAFEWAY. You may make out certificates to Saint Vincent de Paul and either mail them or drop them in the rectory mailbox.

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 March 10th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items can be donated.

During Teen Room Office Hours, feel free to come to do homework, hang out, socialize, play a game or talk. I hope to see you at as many events as possible. Teen Room Office Hours are as follows:

MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline Dr.
Burlingame, Ca 94010
(650) 340-7474

Centering Prayer - Tues. March 9,16,23 & 30
The Spiritual Journey Series
Carol Fowler

Men's Spirituality - March 27th/9a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Raising Lazarus-Stories of Renewal & Rebirth
Bill Dohar, Ph.d

Centering Prayer - April 8-11th
Triduum Retreat
Catherine Regan, Ph.D.

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

St. Robert's Readers next book is "The Accidental Pope" by Raymond Flynn and Robin Moore. It has been called "a globetrotting tale full of suspense, drama, and humor." There are several copies in the S.M. library system and is readily available on the used book sites.