St. Robert's Catholic Church Bulletin, May 23, 2004

St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
May 23, 2004
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Dear Parishioners,

The Feast of the Ascension - an ending, and a beginning. This celebration marks the completion of Jesus' earthy mission, but at the same time it signals the beginning of a new age.

Jesus the enfleshed Risen Lord returns to the Father's right hand - promising the gift of the Spirit to us who remain. This Spirit is sent for a purpose, to empower us in the mission entrusted to us - the very mission of Jesus. We are to be bold in living the Gospel, unafraid to walk in His ways, joyful in proclaiming a Kingdom not of our making. We are to announce with hope the Reign of God.

We recall that at the Baptism in the Jordan, Jesus was invested with the gift and power of the Spirit for the mission of proclaiming the Kingdom. So it is for the disciples - Jesus ascends to the Father promising the gift and power of the Spirit for them. This Spirit is sent for the sake of the task given them; they are to proclaim the Kingdom of God which is at hand, that the poor are to have the Good News announced to them, that the Spirit is poured out upon all flesh, and that Satan is overcome.

As it was for those early witnesses, so it is for us. In this time and place, the spirit is promised again - the Spirit of the Risen Christ is poured out anew on the Church. As the Feast of Pentecost approaches we pray that we might be clothed with power from on high, that our witness to Christ Jesus will be faithful and true.

We pray that our lives as individual disciples and as a community will continue to bear witness to the Kingdom, in deeds of justice and words spoken for the sake of peace. It is in the gift of the out-poured Spirit that our words and deeds give birth to the Kingdom of God.

May Jesus Christ Risen from the dead, who in glory ascended from us into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father who promises to gift us in fresh ways with the Spirit of Life and Love, to Christ the Lord be glory and worship in the Church today and forever. And the Church Says AMEN!

Father Tom

AN INVITATION TO BE AN ALTAR SERVER

All boys and girls from 7th grade and above are eligible to join the ministry of Alter Server, if you are attending Catholic School or are enrolled in the Religious Education program. This is a very important ministry; a wonderful way to participate as our faith community comes together to celebrate Eucharist.

Monday - May 24 Readings: Acts 19:1-8 Jn 16:29-33
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Margaret Lehane † Nancy Nicolas †
8th Gr. Party Mtg. Grownups	7:00p 7:30p	Hall :Library
Tuesday - May 25 Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Jn 17:1-11a
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	In Thanksgiving † Frank Tattenham †
Legion of Mary Choir Rehearsal	6:30p 7:00p	Library Church
Wednesday - May 26 Readings: Acts 20:28-38 Jn 17:11b-19
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Frank & Doris Devencenzi † Edward Bizal †
Choir Practice	7:00p	Church
Thursday - May 27 Readings: Acts 22:30:23:6-11 Jn 17:20-26
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Arron Howard † Frances Friedman †
Scripture 8th Gr. Party Mtg. St. Robert's Readers School Board Mtg.	9:15a 7:00p 7:00p 7:30p	Mary's Chapel Hall Convent Chapel Mahoney Room
Friday - May 28 Readings: Acts 25:13b-21 Jn 21:15-19
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Byron Montross † Frank Fenech †
8th Gr. Grad. Mtg.	6:00p	Hall
Saturday - May 29 Readings: Acts 29:16-20,30-31 Jn 21:20-25
Mass Intention	8:30 4:30	Gina Avanzino † People of St. Robert's
Sunday - May 30 Readings: Acts 2:1-11 or 12:3b-7 Rom 8:1-17
Mass Intention	7:30 9:30 11:30 5:00	Jane Lambert † Domenico Cotroneo † Michael Moncus † Father Robert Hennessy †
Fil/Am Choir	10:00a	Hall

The Church Is Open

St. Robert's is open from before the 6:30 am Mass until 5pm. As you're going from work or school or are on your way to the park, why not come in and thank the Lord for the gift of life and the beauty of these days?

God's peace will refresh you.

As a Parish Community, we pray...that many men and women will listen to the Lord's call to devote their lives to the service of God and His people.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Carl Robert Carlson IV

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 following list

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Robert Bacci, Genaro Badiable, Lito Badiable, Marcia Bourne, Maricris Candelaria, Arthur Candia, Carmen Capella, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Cindy Corona, Ana Cosgaya, Walton & June Dickhoff, William & Sandra Dill, Carl Edwards, Joyce Flax, Adela Florez, Jesse Grube, Denise Hawald, Dominique Hauscarriague,Jr, Viko Ivancich, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Sisilia Langi, Shirley Latham, Josephine Lavoie, Austin Lehman, Marky, Michael Martinez, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Terry McLeod, Josie Mercado, Mary Novickas, Thomas O'Brien, David Papageorgiou, Lara Pinten, Jason Pimentel, James Piazza, Bill Reilly, Mary Shick, Pauline Speranza, Justo Tan, Mafi Tukumoatu, Kristi Varni, Don Vickery, Diana Walter, Jennifer Westbrook & Frank Wright.

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Bernandette Thompson
(mother of Sister Bernard Joseph, P.B.V.M.)
and Anthony Attard
who died recently.

ASCENSION SUNDAY

The bishops of the United States decided some years ago to transfer the celebration of the Feast of the Ascension to Sunday. This Thursday is not a holyday.

WEAR RED!

Since next weekend is the Feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, please wear red when you come to Mass. As the Acts of the Apostles says, "There appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." Let us pray for the Spirit's overflowing upon us all.

FLOWERS

Many thanks to all of you who have brought flowers to keep our church looking like Easter! Anytime you'd like to bring some flowers, please bring them to the rectory by Friday morning so they can be arranged for the weekend liturgies. Thank you.

ST. ROBERT'S VOCATIONS COMMITTEE

Would you like to help raise the awareness of vocations in our parish? A new group is forming which will spearhead efforts to increase our prayer for vocations and to embark on some activities to help identify and encourage young adults in our midst who might be experiencing God's call. If active, prayerful parishes and strong families are a foundation for growing in the faith, surely some of our young people must be attracted to lay ministry, religious life, priesthood, and diaconate. If you'd like to be part of this committee, please call the rectory at 589-2800. Thank you.

By Sister Sheral

To Be Catholic in America

You may have read in Friday's paper that Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs has issued a pastoral letter banning Catholics from receiving Holy Communion if they vote for politicians who defy church teaching by supporting abortion rights, same-sex marriage, euthanasia or stem-cell research. He also wrote that Catholics who voted contrary to Catholic teaching "jeopardize their salvation." As an American Catholic, his letter bothers me deeply for many reasons. Due to space constraints, I will only focus on one reason. He has been very selective in naming "church teaching." What about politicians who wage a war which has repeatedly been declared not in keeping with the Church's requirements for a just war? What about politicians whose policies hurt those whom Jesus called "blessed"- the poor?

The Church has a history of social teachings, based on the Scriptures and tradition, whose basic values are clear: the dignity of all persons, justice, truth, peace, and freedom. Of course, issues relating to the beginning and end of life are important and the mystery of sexuality has always caused and probably always will cause much discussion and controversy because of its power. What the Church has usually done during an election year is to encourage Catholics to reflect on the gospel of Jesus and his values and then, letting our faith shape our decisions, by all means to vote. No candidate embodies all the values we hold dear, but we must dialogue with each other, pray and then make the best choice we can from among the candidates. One of the documents of Vatican II, "The Church in the Modern World," made clear that the mission of the Church "begins in the world." Messy as it is, this is where God has planted us and it is here, as best we can, that we need to express our faith and our duty as citizens.

Peace

God Bless You!

Mrs. Pat Bordin has given 25 years to St. Robert's School as teacher and principal, guiding generations of San Bruno children and parents. On Saturday, June 12th, after the 4:30 pm Mass, we will honor her and thank her with a reception in Hennessy Hall.

Fr. Vincent Ring has served as pastor here for 14 years building up the parish community and the parish plant as well. As you know, he will be leaving for St. Denis Parish in Menlo Park around July 1st. We will have an opportunity to express our gratitude to him and to wish him well at a reception in Hennessy Hall after all the Masses on the weekend of June 26th and June 27th.

We welcome into our Parish:

Oscar & Jennifer Lainez & Family
Stephen & Michelle Sarchett
Joseph & Linda Gonsalves & Family
Abigail Castillo & Family
Sixta Santiago
Don & Colleen Ahuna & Family
Richard & Mary Liboro
Orlando Garchitorena
James & Melody Dickson & Family
Noor & Mervat Eissa & Family
Brad & Pilar Dexter & Family
Frances Busuttil
Christine McAllister & Family

If you're new to St. Robert's, we ask that you complete a registration form found in the vestibule of the church. Drop it either in the collection basket, the mail, or at the parish office. We will send you a New Parishioner Packet with information about the parish, its organizations and groups.

ST. ROBERT'S ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHAPTER

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, SAFEWAY. You may make out certificates to Saint Vincent de Paul and either mail them or drop them in the rectory mailbox.

As always, we thank you for your continued generosity and support.

SAINT ROBERT'S CHURCH LIBRARY

Spiritual Reading is available at Saint Robert's every other Sunday morning after the Masses in the vestibule of the church. Please, take a few minutes and check out an interesting book to read. Thanks to some generous donors we now have 625 books in our collection.

SOCIABLES

Let us all get together for the early bird dinner at the Hungry Hunter. The address is 180 South Airport in South San Francisco. The time is 4:00 p.m on May 30th. Contact Bunny Moniz.

See you there.

ST. ROBERT'S READERS

Next Tuesday, we will be discussing the "The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Sue Monk Kidd has been described as "an extraordinary storyteller." One book reviewer said "Sue Monk Kidd has written a wonderful novel about mothers and daughters and the transcendent power of love, all the while masterfully illuminating the feminine face of God."

We hope everyone can join us on at 7p.m. in the Convent Chapel. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the next book, please call Colleen Soracco, book club moderator.

PENTECOST SUNDAY CONFIRMATION

Please remember in your prayers the St. Robert's contingent that is receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation next weekend. These adults either participated in our parish RCIA program or the Archdiocesan Sacramental Preparation program. They are:

Alicia and Ana Apodaca, Clive Camelo,
Daniel Estrada, Doris Estremera, Alberto Gomez,
Melissa Marcazzo, Brain Newman, Lisa Price,
JoAnna Ryan, Josephine Sandoval, Shelli Sarchett,
Lorena Velasco, and Kristen Vers.

There will also be particpants from other parishes in Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. Mass will start at 11a.m. Please join us if you can.

INFANTS WITH PARENTS PARTY
Friday, July 16th

A couple of Fridays ago we had our first social night for parents and their young children. About twelve families attended with their preschool and infant children. Thanks to the help of Maryann Saisi, who provided plenty of toys for the children, Juan Santos and some teens, the parents were able to meet and greet one another. Everyone had a fantastic time. A number of other families let me know that they really wanted to attend but had previous commitments. All wanted to know when we were planning our next meeting.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 16th. We want to start at 6:30 p.m. with a mini-pot luck. Families with preschool children are invited. We especially want to include single parent families. There will be a contest and prize awarded for the name chosen for this new group. Please mark your calendars now because we really want you to join us. More information will follow, but if you have immediate questions or would like to help in the planning, please call Deacon Rusty Duffey, 589-2800.

ARCHBISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL

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The Youth Group is going to Great America on Tuesday, June 8th. The cost is $20 per person and that includes admission to the park and transportation. Call Juan, 255-0791, to sign up.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES CYO SUNDAY IS THIS SUNDAY

Please support the social services arm of the Catholic Church by donating generously on Catholic Charities CYO Sunday, May 23, 2004. Eight-five cents of every dollar we contribute goes directly into programs that provide relief to homeless families, ailing seniors, immigrants, the working poor, troubled teens and many other clients in need in San Mateo, San Francisco and Marin counties. Your donations will help change someone's life.

PARENTS OF CAMP ELIGIBLE KIDS

If your kids are 7-16 years old, think about CYO Camp for them this summer. Swimming, overnight camping, arts and crafts, old-fashioned cook-outs and much more in is offered in the beautiful redwoods of Sonoma County. There are five sessions beginning June 22nd. $510 for ten days. Financial assistance is available. Call (707) 874-0240 for more information.

St. Robert's School has openings for students entering the 5th grade for the 2004-2005 school year. If you are interested in a quality Catholic education for your child, please contact the principal, Mrs. Bordin, at (650) 583-5065.