St. Robert's Catholic Church Bulletin, February 6, 2005

St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
February 6, 2005
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners:

Our readings today focus on the contrast of light and darkness. Isaiah speaks of justice and compassion as manifest like light to the world. The Psalmist writes that the just person is a light in the darkness. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus says that we are salt and light. The light of our lives are not meant to be hidden but rather displayed for all.

This weekend begins our parish participation in the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. It is an opportunity for each family to support the work of our Archdiocese, its ministries and programs. In today’s times, life is so much more complicated. No one parish can stand alone to accomplish the Lord’s Mission. Each parish must work collaboratively to evangelize, to celebrate and to preach the Gospel. The ministries and services of the Archdiocese help each parish. The Archdiocese provides resources and services that one parish, by itself, could never accomplish.

Our participation in the Archbishop’s Appeal provides us with an opportunity to let our light shine. We reach beyond the boundaries of our parish to assist Archbishop Levada in providing ministries and programs for the entire Archdiocese. Saint Robert’s receives direct benefits from the programs and ministries funded through the Annual Appeal. The Priests who are retired are partially supported through the Appeal. Students receive financial assistance at our school and at Catholic High Schools. The Office of Catholic Schools and Religious Education and Youth Ministry support our school, CCD and youth ministry.

All funds raised through the Archbishop’s Appeal are restricted. None of the money raised will be used for settlement of sexual abuse cases, payment of legal fees associated with those cases, support of priests on administrative leave pending action on their cases or for insurance premiums to cover such losses. One hundred percent of the Appeal funds will be used to fund the ministries and programs on the Appeal flyer which was mailed to all registered parishioners this past week.

Our parish assessment this year is $79,500. Any amount over and above our assessment is returned to the parish. If we do not make our assessment, the parish must make up the difference from the parish operating budget. Pledges can be made over the next ten months. One time gifts can be paid by check or by credit card.

Thank you to the many parishioners who have supported the Archbishop’s Appeal in the past. May our light shine. May our gifts and talents and treasure continue to be used to spread the Good News.

Father Bruce

Monday - February 7 Readings: Gen 1:1-19 Mk 6:53-56
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Tony Mallamo † Patrice Van Velthuysen †
Men's Club Meeting Passion Play Rehearsal	6:00p 7:00p	Hall Church
Tuesday - February 8 Readings: Gn 1:20--2:4a Mk 7:1-13
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Petar Boncich † John M. Cook †
Faith Sharing Group Religious Education Legion of Mary Lent Faith Sharing Group Liturgy Committee Mtg. Youth Ministry	9:15a 3:30p 6:30p 7:00p 7:00p 8:30p	Mary's Chapel Church & Hall Library Convent Chapel Mary's Chapel Hall
Wednesday - February 9 Readings: Jl 2:12-18 2 Cor 5:20--6:2 Mt 6:1-6,16-18
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	John Murphy † Amelia & John Rudometkin †
7th Grade Cheerleading Archdiocese Meeting Band Practice Choir Practice Bible Study	3:00p 3:30p 6:00p 7:00p 7:30p	Hall Mahoney Room Hall Church Convent Chape4l
Thursday - February 10 Readings: Deut 30:15-20 Lk 9:22-25
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Larry & LaVerne Buller † Ernestina Uttini †
Grownups Religious Education RCIA	9:00a 3:30p 7:00p	Offsite Church & Hall Convent Chapel
Friday - February 11 Readings: Is 58:1-9a Mt 9:14-15
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Elizabeth Martinez † Charles & Rita Agius †
8th Grade Cheerleading Stations of the Cross Lenten Soup Supper	3:30p 6:00p 6:30p	Hall Church Hall
Saturday - February 12 Readings: Is 58:9b-14 Lk 5:27-32
Mass Intention	8:30 4:30	Kenneth M. Sullivan † People of St. Robert's
Consolation Ministry Crab Dinner	3:00p 6:00p	Convent Chapel Hall
Sunday - February 13 Readings: Gn 2:7-9,3:1-7 Rom 5:12-19 Mt 4:1-11
Mass Intention	7:30 9:30 11:30 5:00	John M. Mocelin † Dena Bin † Giuseppe Pignati † Ivan Gregor †
Fil/Am Choir Rite of Election Legion of Mary Confirmation Class Youth Ministry Passion Play Rehearsal	10:00a 11:30a 12:30p 3:00p 6:00p 7:00p	Hall Church Mahoney Room Hall Hall Church

PASSION PLAY NEWS

Auditions
February 6th and 7th
From 7-9 pm in the Church

The Passion Play is a celebration of Jesus life. There is an 8 week commitment to participate. If you have any questions please call: Ben Baldonado or Bob Baker.

WOMEN'S GUILD
February 14th

You won’t want to miss The mystery Guest!

Women’s Guild cordially invites you to the February meeting. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the cost is $10. RSVP to Teresa Nussbaum.

FIL/AM RENO TRIP
March 5-6

Enjoy and have fun on the scenic snow drive to Reno sponsored by the Fil/Am group of St. Robert’s church March 5th - 6th. Saturday overnight and return Sunday. Leave at 7am in the morning in front of the Rectory on Crystal Springs. $50 per person, $65 (single) for reservations call Adelaida Gallagher.

GROWNUPS COMMUNIO BUFFET LUNCHEON
February 20th

The Grownups Luncheon will be held Sunday, February 20th after the 11:30 a.m. Mass. Tickets are on sale for $13.50 each after the Masses on the weekends of February 5th and 6th and, 12th and 13th. Reservations can also be made by calling Dolores Moynihan, Dolores Johnson, Vera Hannon, or Helen Mantler.

SAINT ROBERT'S CHURCH LIBRARY

Spiritual Reading is available at St. Robert’s after the Masses on Sundays. Please, take a few minutes either before or after Mass and check out a book or two that interest you. You may keep the book/s until they are read. We have some books on the Library cart in the foyer but we have many more in the Library/Reconciliation room (over 900 books). A great activity for Lent!

2005 DINNER DANCE
Basque Cultural Center, March 12th

”Game Show Mania”

Tickets to the annual Dinner Dance/Auction are available for 300 lucky “contestants” at the February 14th Women’s Guild meeting. Dinner! Dancing! Live Auction! Fabulous Prizes. All this and more for only $75 per person or $65 for seniors. Select from the following “celebrity” menu; “Wink Martindale” Prime Rib, “Monty Hall” Salmon with Champagne Sauce, “Bob Barker” Breast of Chicken Chasseur or “Gene Rayburn” Vegetarian Pasta. “Stay tuned” for more information…

The Dinner Dance Committee is putting together a Red and Blue Pages Quick Reference Guide listing local advertisers’ phone numbers. So many generous people continue to sponsor our fundraisers, that the committee would like to produce something that will give back to our faithful supporters and their businesses. For a $25 fee your ad will be listed by category with your business name, address and telephone number. A complimentary copy of the publication will be distributed to all dinner dance attendees on March 12th and additional copies sold to parishioners at a cost to cover publication. If you have a special talent you would like to advertise, or if you have friend or relatives who would like to promote their business, please call (650) 588-7404 to place an ad.

Let’s give something back to those who continue to support us!

CONSOLATION MINISTRY

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group will hold their next meetings on February 12th and 26th in the Convent Cahpel from 3-4:15 (before the 4:30 Mass). Anyone who is suffering from the loss of a loved one-spouse, sibling, child, parent, friend or realitve is invited to come and pray, share, comfort and be comforted. You are invited to bring a companion as support and strength. God Bess you in your sorrow. Sister Patricia 589-0104.

New Members Needed: The Grief support Ministry Committee is in need of new members. If you (male or female) have a kind compassionate heart and are willing to make a phone call and listen to a person who has recently lost a loved one and feel that you could help lighten the burden of sorrow of that person, please join us. For more information talk to Sister Patricia, Sophia or Bruce Chester, Rita Lille, Lidia Vinal, Florence Martinez, Marie Noce, or Dolores Johnson.

AIDS LUNCH
February 9th

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

We appreicate your help!

REMEMBER TO PRAY

As Americans, unfortunately, we are so busy that we tend to have very short attention spans. Let us remember to pray for the victims of the tsunamis whose efforts at rebuilding and recuperating from the trauma will take years to accomplish. If you were unable to contribute earlier this month, Catholic Relief Service will be happy to receive your donation any time at 209 West Fayette St. Baltimore MD 21201-3443 or www.catholicrelief.org. Thank you.

GET MOVIN'

Want to make new friends? Then you should come to the Get Movin’ youth rally at Sacred Heart-Cathedral High School in San Francisco on March 12th. Show your SR pride and be present. There will be teenagers from different schools and churches and we want a St. Robert’ s group to attend. Get Movin’ starts at 9am and ends at 5 pm with free lunch, music by Jesse Manibusan, and Mass with Fr. R. Tony Pickard. Get Movin’ cost $20 and financial aid is available. Please call Juan at 255-0791 for more info. Sign-ups and money are due February 14th. We also need drivers and chaperones, service hours can be provided, please call Juan if you are able to help.

SAVE THIS DATE!

March 5th, 9-3 p.m.
Saint Robert's Men's Retreat
Suggested Donation $30
Stay tuned to the bulletin for further details and registration forms!

WE WELCOME INTO OUR PARISH

Ernesto & Patricia Escobar & Family
Colman & Deirdre Daly & 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.

LENTEN SERVICES

ASH WEDNESDAY
Mass Times: 6:30am, 8:30am, 6pm
Ashes distributed during Mass

EACH FRIDAY IN LENT
Stations of the Cross: 6pm
Soup Supper in Hall: 6:30pm

WEEKLY FAITH SHARING
Tuesday morning with Sr. Sheral after 8:30am Mass in Mary’s Chapel
or
Tuesday evening with Deacon Duffey at 7pm in the Convent Chapel

St. Robert’s Readers suggests two books that you might consider for your Lenten reflection. “Called to Question”, a spiritual memoir by Joan Chittister and “The Confession”, a murder mystery located in San Francisco, by Sheldon Siegel. Our next meeting won’t be until April, after Easter.

As a Parish Community...We pray for all who are defenseless against the forces of violence and hate, especially for the littlest of children in their mothers’ womb...may God protect them from all evil.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Thomas Gregory Venezia,
Claire Elizabeth Attard &
Charles Michael Thompson

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Ida Dombrowiak &
Ezell Starkey
who died recently.

A JEWISH STORY

An ancient rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day was on its way back. “Could it be,” asked one student, “when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it is a sheep or a dog?” “No,” answered the rabbi. “Could it be,” asked another, “when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it is a fig tree or a peach tree?” “No, “ said the rabbi. “Well, then, when is it?” his pupils demanded. “It is when you look on the face of any woman or man and see that she or he is your sister or brother. Because if you cannot do this, then no matter what time it is, it is still night.”

A PRAYER FOR DIRECTION

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I now that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

PRAYER OF TRUST

God has created me to do some definite service; God has committed some work to me which has not been committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. God has not created me for naught. I shall do good. I shall do God’s work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place.

Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If am in sickness, my sickness may serve the Lord; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve the Lord; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve the Lord. God does nothing in vain. Therefore, I will trust in the Lord. Cardinal John Henry Newman in Christopher News Notes, n. 470

by Sister Sheral

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel

Lent is almost here! It is good to recall that the word for Lent comes from a German word meaning springtime. In so much of our hemisphere, the weather is cold and gloomy and life grows underground as it awaits a chance to burst forth through the snow. Though the church will be rather bare and we focus on God’s changing our hearts, the season is about the life which comes from the death and resurrection of Jesus.

There’s a great online Lenten retreat available at www.goodgroundpress.com. Here is a sample of what you’ll find there: “The Lenten season engages us in an ‘annual spiritual’ [instead of an annual physical] in which we hold up our life styles to the mirror of the gospel.” The three traditional practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving are seen in a new light. “Lent calls us to pray, to consider how we live and embody the words we pray. In prayer we listen to our lives and try to see from God’s point of view. We listen for ways we are the answer to our petitions.” Giving alms requires totaling the values our checkbooks reflect. It asks us to evaluate how able we are to invest in people who do not have what is necessary to live or cannot get the education to climb out of poverty. Lent calls us beyond individual fitness into work for our human community, local and global. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that God wills to make us holy and save us not as individuals but as a people. (Lumen Gentium, #9). Celebrating Eucharist, the Church’s greatest prayer, nourishes our communal identity as the Body of Christ.

Our journey towards God is a journey with God and with one another. Ultimately, Lent calls us beyond the words we mouth routinely in our creeds and prayers. The season calls us to encounter God in our lives and relationships.” Listen to the scriptures and the songs with your whole heart and something will happen inside of you.

Pray for Peace
“To pray for peace is to open the human heart to the inroads of God’s power to renew all things. With the life-giving force of his grace, God can create openings for peace where only obstacles and closures are apparent; he can strengthen and enlarge the solidarity of the human family in spite of our endless history of division and conflict.” — Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace Message, 2002

Let us rejoice with the people of Iraq and continue to accompany with our prayers those who are trying to rebuild their country, the Palestinians and Israelis, the residents of Darfur, and all people suffering from war and oppression.