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.

PASSION PLAY NEWS
Attention Youth of the Parish

Auditions for the annual St. Robert’s Passion Play, to be performed on Good Friday night, will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the church on Sunday and Monday, February 11th and 12th. Auditions are open to all youth of the parish from 6th grade through high school. Singers, musicians, actors, and technical helpers are all needed. Please call Ben Baldonado or Bob Baker at with any questions.

AIDS LUNCH
February 14th

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 14th Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items are ok!

Thanks to all who contributed their time and energy.

CONSOLATION MINISTRY
February 10th & 24th

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group in the Convent Chapel from 3-4:15 p.m. (before the 4:30 p.m. Mass). Anyone who is suffering from the loss of a loved one-spouse, sibling, child, parent, friend or relative is invited to come and pray, share, comfort and be comforted. You are invited to bring a companion for support and strength. God bless and comfort you in your sorrow. Call Sister Patricia 589-0104 or any of the Consolation Ministry Committee.

ST. ROBERT'S WOMEN'S GUILD ANNUAL DINNER DANCE
Saturday, March 10th, 5 p.m. to Midnight
"DANCE TO THE MUSIC"

$75 per person/$65 senior discount
For ticket sales contact Annetta Giambruno

BLOOD DRIVE

Thank you to all who donated Blood last weekend. 33 pints of blood were received. The staff from of the Blood Centers of the Pacific was very happy with the turn out and they look forward to visiting St. Robert’s again.

For anyone who could not make a donation here, please note the new address of the Blood Bank: 111 Rollins Rd., Millbrae (near In-Out Burger). Please call (415) 749-6643 to make an appointment.

Thanks again for a very successful day.

2007 Super Bowl Payouts
Dani Chrisman $1,500
Paul Scannell $1,500
Kate Aveson $600
Cara LeBlanc $450
Antionette Duck $450
John Marty $750
Bob Glass $750
Tony Sharron $750
Ellie Rapp $750
Frank Pisa $750
Andrea Boos $750

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Jesus’ Invitation

Do you consider yourself counter cultural? Today’s passage from Luke’s gospel contains that invitation. Notice that Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” We’d much prefer the version in Matthew which adds, “in spirit” and lets us place ourselves within the group which is blessed! But this gospel challenges us in a way that points us to the approaching Lenten season. In the first reading, Jeremiah lays out a choice: trust in people and their approval or trust in God. Jesus says the same thing, turning upside down the values of the world. Power, money, possessions and privilege will not bring blessedness or true happiness, as we’ve seen in the lives of many famous people. Worry if everyone speaks well of you!

Those who are most admired are often not those who live the gospel. But we are invited to choose: to care for those in need, instead of just for our own wants; to see others as part of the human family, instead of staying with “our own kind;” to let people think we’re foolish for living more simply than our income or our savings might allow and spending our money wisely for others instead of hoarding it for ourselves.

May we have the courage to sit with this gospel passage and let the Spirit guide us!

Do you know the history of the song, “Amazing Grace”? It was actually composed around 1760 by John Newton, the captain of a slave ship who underwent a religious conversion; he spent the rest of his life working as an abolitionist to make up for the misery he had caused.

Unfortunately, it is estimated that 27 million persons, mostly women and children, are trafficked today for sex, unpaid labor, adoption and the organ trade. Girls of all ages from rural communities in India, Southeast Asia, and the former Soviet Union are bought or their parents coerced through promises of jobs, dowry, or marriage. Once here or in another port city, the traffickers take their passports to prevent their escaping and they become victims of an underground network of criminals. In war-torn countries, children are often abducted and forced to fight as happened in Uganda and Sierra Leone. The producers of the movie of the same name have set up a website at www.theamazingchange.com to raise awareness and support efforts against trafficking. As we sing “Amazing Grace” next weekend, let us pray for those still in bondage and for all the groups working for their release.

Sister Sheral

SUNDAY COLLECTION

   Thank you for your generous donation of $2,464.00
for our School, CCD and Confirmation programs.

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.

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

Feb. 16-17
Men’s Spirituality-Mini Retreat
The Spirituality of Laughter

Feb. 20
Conscious Evolution

Feb. 23-25
Meditation Intensive

March 4th
Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop Series Begins

March 11th
Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop Part 2

March 25th
Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop Part 3

THE JESUIT RETREAT CENTER OF LOS ALTOS
formerly known as El Retiro
300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, CA 94022-4659
(650) 948-4491
Website: www.elretiro.org

Feb. 21st
Reflection on Reflection: An Examen for Lent