Welcome back to a new year. Most parishes operate on a school calendar. Since the final bell rang in June we have been on a little slower pace. The bell the first day of school on August 24^th marked the beginning of a new year.

Over the summer many have been busy with all-star baseball, vacations, summer school and camps. Over the summer we continued our involvement with Centerplate working Giants’ games, 49er training camp and now the 49er games. Hundreds of people hours were spent in this project. For example, on August 26^th twenty-three people from the parish went to Monster Park for the 49er game. As of August 4^th we have raised $19,509.06. The funds raised will be used for the sports program, the 6^th grade outdoor education program, for instructional material for our teachers which were not budgeted and for unexpected maintenance projects. Thank you to the many people who have helped. Sign up for future dates at www.saintroberts.org. Each person makes a difference.

Last Saturday night we experienced a kind of “loaves and fishes” miracle in the middle yard. Many of our parish organizations helped to set up, prepare and clean up after our kickoff barbeque. We had pre-sold one hundred fifty tickets. We prepared for 300 people and estimate that we fed more than 400 people. Thus the miracle of the “loaves and hamburgers and hot dogs.” Thank you to all who came and many thanks to those who planned and worked that day. A fun time was had by all.

In a few short weeks it’s time for our annual festival. Save the weekend of September 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th for this grand event. Something new this year: Friday (5-11), Saturday and Sunday evening (3:30 – 7:00) we have hired Valet by the Bay to direct traffic, stack cars and maximize the use of the parking lot. This will help ease congestion and lessen the possibility of getting blocked in especially for the Masses on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Another great year at St. Robert’s begins. It is great because of your level of commitment and support. Happy New Year.

Saint Robert’s Church Library

Spiritual Reading will be 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 books until you have read them. We have some books on the Library cart but we have many more in the Library/Reconciliation room.

Sunday, September 11^th is a conflict with a Giants game at SBC park. Centerplate will continue to offer higher percentages for this game. Sign up at the back of Church or on line at www.saintroberts.org .

WE WELCOME INTO OUR PARISH:

Jason & Deana Sevigny & Family
Alfonso Ulloa & Yvette Diaz & Family

Interested in Becoming a Catholic?
Or finding out more about our Faith?
Adults in need of Baptisms, First Communion, or Confirmation?

Open House
September 15th—7 p.m.
Convent Chapel
Please bring a Friend

VALLOMBROSA
250 Oak Grove, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 325-5614 ext. 14

Weekend Retreat
September 30– October 2nd
Rev. David Pettingill

“Mary Model for the Day”
October 8th
Pamela Bjorklund

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

Mid-Life and Beyond Retreat
September 27th-29th
Finding Ourselves Again
Rusty Shaughnessy, OFM

I Still Do, Marriage with A Warm Heart
October 14th-16th
Carol Kaplan, MFT and Barry Brunsman, OFM

     
BARBECUE AND FOOD BOOTHS –The Food and BBQ is still in need of help on Friday night between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., Saturday night between 7 p.m. until 11 pm. And anytime on Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you can help, please call us as soon as possible at (650) 588-1927.

It has come to our attention that we did not receive all of the sign-up forms or Emails that were sent to us. We do not have an explanation for this. For those of you who might have returned your form or sent us an Email and have not yet been contacted, please call us as soon as possible so that we can schedule you for the hours that you wanted.

Thank you for your patience and attention to this matter and we apologize for any inconvenience that this might have causes. We are looking forward to seeing all of you at the festival.

FESTIVAL RAFFLE TICKETS: The students at our parish school are having a contest to see which grade can sell the most Festival Raffle tickets.

When you turn in your raffle stubs, don't forget to write on the outside of the envelope or include a note inside, telling us which grade you want to get credit for your book of tickets. If you need more tickets, the rectory has them or call Barbara Balestieri. Don't forget, get your stubs in by Friday, September 9th to be eligible for the Early Bird Drawing of $200!

Join St. Robert’s TIPPS at children’s Fairyland!!
(located on the shores of Lake Merritt in Oakland)
http://www.fairyland.org
Saturday, September 10th.

As a Parish Community

We continue to ask each week that parishioners pray for the chronically ill of our parish.

This week we ask for prayers for:
Olivia Valiao and Caridad Ricardo

If you have a friend or loved one in need of our parish prayers please call the Rectory at 589-2800.

For three days, beginning on Thursday, September 15^th and continuing on Friday and Saturday, there will be a special prayer service at 7pm in Mary’s Chapel.

The Law and Love
This reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans is, according to the Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers, “the first written appearance of the theology of love in relation to the law.” Having entered the Franciscans in 1965 when Vatican II was just beginning to be talked about, I was taught the “old way” of structured discipline and rules and asking permissions. Some of these were clearly from another time and culture: needing to be accompanied by a “prudent companion” when going out anywhere, for example. No doubt, that practice began when no woman went out alone. After lunch each day, we had the ritual of “confessing fault” for breaking silence. (We also had to bring in and confess fault for anything we had broken which led to some hilarious situations!) I’d guess those practices were meant to reinforce the high value of silence in religious life in those days and the need for care for material things. Also, the full title of my community is Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, so we may have been a bit bigger on penance than many communities.

Once the newspapers wrote that the rules of silence, of going to bed early, of not interacting much with “lay people” had been relaxed, more than one person asked me if being a sister had now become too easy. Then and now, it has become a personal responsibility to take enough time for prayer, to pay attention to my body’s need for rest and exercise, to develop relationships with men and women in keeping with my commitment. And loving your neighbor, especially when you live with her day in and day out (as anyone in a committed relationship knows) takes work as well as affection! And one advantage to the rules is that you could “rest on your laurels” once you kept them. In terms of loving, there is always room for more understanding, less judgment, more generosity, less “it’s your turn” measurement. Maybe that’s why Paul and Jesus say, “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13.10) Let’s keep trying with the Spirit’s help. Peace, Sr. Sheral

Sunday Mass – A Life Changing Experience
Dan Schutte, a former member of the St. Louis Jesuits, is giving a workshop next Saturday, Sept. 10 at St. Stephen Church, 601 Eucalyptus Dr.@ 23^rd Avenue, San Francisco from 10 am to 3 pm. This is an opportunity to look at the Mass through a different set of eyes. Please bring a bag lunch; coffee, drinks and dessert will be provided. RSVP to Jim Cook by Sept. 6 at 415-681-2444x23 or jcook-ststephen@sbcglobal.net

Welcome Back!
If you’re coming back to church after being away for a while, welcome back! You are cordially invited to a gathering on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 7 pm in Mary’s Chapel, the small area to the right of the sanctuary. Come by yourself or bring a friend as we explore your questions, concerns, and issues. If you know of someone who’s thinking about returning to church, please extend an invitation to him/her and offer to come along. Hope to see you there. If you have questions, please contact Sr. Sheral at 589-2800 or sistersheral@saintroberts.org.