We continue to ask each week that parishioners pray for the chronically ill of our parish. If you have a friend or loved one in need of our parish prayers please call the Rectory at 589-2800.

Also, please remember our Emergency prayer network that prays for specific intentions that require a concerted effort due to their critical nature. To facilitate the network, please call Michele Pipinich. The network people then pray frequently for the next 72 hours. We would appreciate a return call with the outcome so we can praise God for His faithfulness.

THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR:
Kim Marie Olmo & Ruth Sleeper

SANCTITY OF LIFE

Over 30 years ago, we were told that legal and widely available abortion was the key to ending discrimination against women and the solution to a host of social problems. Today we face the devastating results: more that 40,000,000 unborn human lives lost, untold numbers of others wounded. Children and other family members abused in ever-increasing numbers. And more woman and children living in poverty than ever before. Abortion is not a solution. In the U.S. every year, 1.6 million children die from abortion. The powerful propose yet more abortion, government-funded abortion, as a cure. How long will we refuse to see the bankruptcy of our choices? How long will we refuse to act? How long, O Lord, how long?
(National Conference of Catholic Bishops)

ALL SOULS
Thursday, November 2nd, 7:30 p.m.

November is traditionally the month set aside by our Church to commemorate and celebrate the memories of our departed loved ones. We will have a special Mass on All Souls Day, Thursday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. to which all are invited. The names of those buried from St. Robert’s in the past year will be read aloud by members of our Consolation Ministry and their names will be inscribed in a Memorial Book placed in Our Lady’s alcove in the church. Their names will also be posted on the walls, so we will be reminded of our departed loved ones each time we enter the church and they, symbolically, will surround us with their presence.

We are asking two favors from you, the parishioners. We have recorded the names of those buried from Saint Robert’s during the past year, but would like to remember all of your loved ones who have been buried or cremated from any other church or funeral home during the past year. Please call, e-mail or fax their names to the rectory or to Sister Patricia before October 25. This will give Emil Ruggiero time to prepare the St. Robert’s Wall of Remembrance for us before November l.

Also, everyone is invited to honor your beloved dead by bringing photos, memorial cards or flowers to place in this shrine throughout the month of November.

“It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead.”

ANOINTING OF THE SICK
October 22nd, 11:30 a.m. Mass

Anyone who is physically, mentally or psychologically sick or infirmed is invited to the Anointing of the Sick during the 11:30 a.m. Mass on October 22nd. We encourage you to bring your ailing parents and neighbors to this very special sacrament.

AIDS LUNCH
October 11th

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 October 11th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items are ok!

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 them read. We have some books on the Library cart but we have many more in the Library/Reconciliation room.

Enjoy Reading

COMPUTER CLASSES
October 14th-November 17th

Saint Robert’s will be offering Computer Classes again this year. But this year will offer two sessions each Saturday. One for those with virtually no previous knowledge of computers and one for those who are computer literate.

Classes will continue in the spring. There is no charge. If you are interested in Computer classes, please call the rectory at 589-2800 or Sister Patricia at 589-0104 to register.

WOMEN'S GUILD
October 12th

St. Roberts Women's Guild would like to invite you to an early Halloween dinner on Thurs. October 12th. Doors open at 6:30 pm. All Women of the parish are welcome.

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. If you chose, you can register online at: www.saintroberts.org.

SUNDAY COLLECTION

    
SIGN UP FOR E-CONTRIBUTIONS

Go to www.saintroberts.org and click on the e-contributions button. The first page explains the details. There is a button to take you to the e-paluch registration page. You can register online using either your checking account or credit card.

There is no cost to you for this service.

REGISTER TO VOTE

If you have moved, changed your name or your political party, you need to re-register. If you will have turned 18 by November 7, are newly a resident of California or a citizen of the United States, you need to register. Forms are in the vestibule of the church. They need to be completed and received at the Registration and Elections Office by October 22.

KEEPING AMERICA'S PROMISE

St. Mary's Cathedral is hosting a national conference Oct. 27 and 28 to help mobilize American Catholic people to encourage our government to keep its promise of giving .7% of the Gross National Product to the poorest countries of the world. As the year 2000 approached, every religious body in the world urged us and other wealthy countries to forgive the overwhelming debt of the poorest countries, so that they could invest in education, health promotion and societal infrastructure. We and the other industrialized countries also promised then to increase our development aid; this has not happened. If you'd like to join others from St. Robert's in this conference please call me at the rectory or e-mail me at ssheral@saintroberts.org by this Tuesday.

YOUNG WIDOW WIDOWER SUPPORT GROUP

Will be held at St. Gregory’s in San Mateo, beginning Wednesday, October 25th at 6:3 p .m. to 8:00 p.m. If ou are interested please call Barbara Elordi MFT, Archdiocese of San Francisco, (415) 614-5506.

Last Sunday’s readings painted such a very human picture of the followers of Moses and of Jesus. In both the passages, we heard an attitude of we and they. Medad and Eldad weren’t in the tent where they were supposed to be. How could it be that they also receive the spirit of prophecy? John (the beloved) protests to Jesus that someone not of their group is driving out demons in his name. How could he have that power if he doesn’t belong to the group? Jesus has such a great, surprising response: “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Wouldn’t we expect it to be just the opposite, that those not for us are against us! But that isn’t Jesus’ way. He is so inclusive as to put us to shame. Remember that book of 20 or 30 years ago by an Episcopalian priest, “Your God Is Too Small”? We who were well-reared in the more traditional Catholic understanding will recall how we “bought” pagan babies in the missions, probably thinking we were saving them from a horrible eternity far from God. I remember hearing the story of a child who came home from religion class and told his mother he was worried since his father was a grown-up “pagan baby” and would burn in hell since he never went to church with them!

Fortunately, most of us have realized by now that God’s love for each person is much broader and deeper than we can fathom. And God’s Spirit obviously isn’t confined to the Catholic Church when we consider all the good done by those outside our “tent”: Mohandus Ghandi, Bishop Desmond Tutu, the medical staff of every hospital and clinic, the volunteers who helped victims of Katrina and 911. We could go on and on. Whenever I receive a letter asking for a donation, I try to remember to pray for all those involved. Isn’t it wonderful that there are groups funding the correction of cleft palates; the fitting of artificial limbs for victims of landmines; making available micro-loans for the poorest villagers; and the expansion of educational opportunities for women long denied them? Surely, all of these efforts are indications of the presence of the Spirit of God working through the compassion and generosity of so many, whether or not they recognize that the Spirit is sustaining them! And aren’t we blest to know the loving God behind all of these hopeful, loving projects?

Peace, S. Sheral

ST. ROBERTS CENTERPLATE TEAM NEEDS YOUR HELP

AT THE UPCOMING 49ER GAMES
Call the Rectory at 589-2800 or sign-up on the web site at
www.saintroberts.org/centrplt.htm to help

Centerplate 2006 Schedule

Name:_________________________________Home Phone:___________________

Cell Phone:_______________Email:_______________________________________

Dress Code: Full length black slacks, (jeans or spandex are not permitted), white shirt with collar, closed toe comfortable shoes (preferably black or white).

We will car pool from the rectory. For those working in San Francisco, you can meet the group at the gate. Volunteers between 16-21 years of age must provide a copy of a picture id which includes his/her birth date.

Our Centerplate totals:
Baseball: $24,693.65
49er Training Camp: $7,282.71
49er game (8/11): $2,015.46
for a total of: $33,991.82
Thanks to the many people who have volunteered.