St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
March 18, 2007
Fourth Sunday of Lent

On this fourth Sunday of Lent, we hear the familiar parable of the Prodigal Son. This wonderful parable speaks to one’s heart because one can identify with the characters in the story. There seems to be a prodigal son in every family whether it is the youngest, oldest, or even the middle child. The notion of freewill is evident in today’s gospel. The prodigal son chooses to live a decadent and immoral life. He makes decisions that separate himself from his family and from God. It is not until the prodigal son hits rock bottom that he realizes what he has done. He decides to change his life for the better, and to seek forgiveness from his family. The prodigal son’s father must have felt powerless in seeing his son live a sinful life. Perhaps the father believed that there was nothing that he could do as a parent.

On a faith level, there is one thing that a parent can do. A parent can pray. Praying constantly and fervently does indeed help. One should never underestimate the power of prayer. Praying does tremendous things. It makes us realize that everything is in God’s hands. We are called to put our faith and trust in God. God listens to our prayers. The fruits of prayer are not always readily evident. One is called to be patient in prayer. Good things come to those who wait. All things work out in God’s time. The father of the prodigal son undoubtedly spent many moments in prayer while his son was away. We are called to do the same.

Then there is the other son. As Christians, we are called and invited to be gracious and welcoming to those who have been away from the faith. There is no room for jealousy in the Kingdom of God. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are one family urged by Jesus to support and love one another. As the People of God, we welcome the righteous and the sinner just as God does with each and every one of us.

–Father Paul

The Annual Chrism Mass
will be celebrated this year
Tuesday, April 3rd
in the Cathedral of
St. Mary of the Assumption
at 5:30 p.m.

Monday - March 12
Readings: 2 Sm 7:4-5a,12-14a,16     Rom 4:13,16-18,22

Tuesday - March 13
Readings: Ez 47:1-9,12     Jn 5:1-16

Wednesday - March 14
Readings: Is 49:8-15     Jn 5:17-30

Thursday - March 15
Readings: Ex 32:7-14     Jn 5:31-47

Friday - March 16
Readings: Wis 2:1a,12-22     Jn 7:1-2,10,25-30

Saturday - March 17
Readings: Jer 11:18-20     Jn 7:40-53

Sunday - March 18
Readings: Is 43:16-21     Phil 3:8-14     Jn 8:1-11

As a Parish Community we pray …....for an end to all prejudice, hatred, terrorism and war. May we no longer judge by appearances, but see one another as God sees us.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Nathan Gabriel Corpus Ocampo
Scarlet Alexandra Harris

Our sincere sympathy to the family of
Armand Zaniroli
who died recently.

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.

This week we pray for:
Robert Andonie and Marsha Bourne

CONSOLATION MINISTRY
March 31st

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.

You ask “”What is a Pyx”? A Pyx is a small metal container in which the Sacred Host is brought to those who are sick or homebound. We had quite a few; and now there are none! If you are no longer bringing Holy Communion to a relative or friend who, because of illness, is unable to attend Mass, please bring the Pyx you were using back to Church. Other parishioners need them. You can hand your pyx to one of the priests or sisters, Gene or Anna May or bring it to the rectory.

Thank you

DINNER DANCE RAFFLE WINNERS!!!

Mexico Trip - Sean Quinn
$500 - Tim and Josette Reid
$250 - Brian Philpott
$250 - Bob Balestieri

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

VISITORS FOR THE SICK

Sr. Patricia and the Legion of Mary could use some additional volunteers to visit the sick and homebound members of our parish and bring them Holy Communion. Please call Sr. Patricia at 589-0104.

All are invited to the Church for Stations at 6:00 pm each Friday during Lent. After this time of reflection and prayer, we will go to Hennessy Hall to share a sacrificial meal of soup. salad, bread and fruit. We ask that you give what you would have spent on your Friday dinner to our St. Vincent de Paul Society. They will use it to provide food to our sisters and brothers in need. There will be a basket for your donation on the serving table. We come together for:

On Friday, March 23rd, Sr. Sheral will lead the Stations and the InBetweeners will host the supper.

A LENTEN TENEBRAE SERVICE

The Journey to the Cross
Palm Sunday
April 1st at 3 p.m.
St. Roberts Church
Kevin Imbimbo-Conductor
Jim Dahlstrom-Accompanist
Choristers from several Peninsula Churches

Join us for a service of darkness that takes us from Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to his crucifixion. This service of word and music sets the mood for the most significant week for the Liturgical Year, and helps to prepare us for the Easter celebration ahead. A reception will follow in the vestibule.

For Those In Need
Through our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving the Spirit of God shapes us into that ”new creation” which Paul speaks of in today’s second reading. One of the three areas on which the parish Social Concerns group is focusing is healthcare, especially for children and the poor. We have an opportunity to give alms to the poorest children in our country through encouraging our members of Congress to increase the federal funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, called “Healthy Kids” in California. If the funding remains as it has been for 10 years, 20,000 poor children in San Mateo County will be without insurance. There are 9 million uninsured children in the country who either go without treatment or depend solely on the emergency room for their health care. Uninsured children’s reading scores have been shown to more than double after they received health insurance. Please call Senator Boxer at 202-224-3553, Senator Feinstein at 202-224-3841 and Congressman Lantos at 202-225-3531 this week and urge them to support full funding for SCHIP. You can get more information at www.coverallchildren.org.

Today, through the second collection, we also have an opportunity to share with people throughout the world who are in great need. The Catholic Relief Service staff work in more than 99 countries alleviating suffering, fostering community development and promoting just and peaceful societies. [You’ll recall that CRS staffers Thomas Awiapo from Ghana and Joe Hastings from Seattle gave our parish mission last year.] Please be as generous as you can to Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of our Catholic community here in the United States. You can be assured that your donation will be well spent.

If you haven’t been to College of San Mateo’s new planetarium, it is definitely worth a visit. One of the sisters and I went to their second-Friday-of-the- month program and it was awesome. We even saw Saturn through a telescope! How terrific that our advanced technology lets us appreciate one of God’s great wonders.

Peace, S. Sheral

SUNDAY COLLECTI

    
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.

ANNUAL APPEAL

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Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass