St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
August 19, 2007
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Even in that closest of social units, the family, there are differences, sometimes vast differences. These differences even touch the things of God. Jesus alludes to this himself in today’s gospel. Faith commitment is a matter for decision. Each person must decide for himself or herself. This can be a cause of much tension and pain. It is not much different in today’s “household of five” than it was in the time of Jesus.

If we have been set on fire by the presence of God in our lives, it is natural to share that warmth, that grace with those who mean the most to us. But faith and truth cannot be imposed. It must be embraced. The higher the stakes, the more potential for conflict and complaint. Sometimes for the sake of peace, we elect to be quiet, to run for cover or avoid facing differences or disputes. We sometimes opt for a peace that makes us comfortable, but it is not really God’s peace. Parents, family members in general, understand that they frequently risk conflict with their children and others in the family by their honesty and “telling it like it really is.” Seeking God’s peace sometimes calls for us to act with tough love.

The peace we seek results from recognition that our faith prompts us to change. We are all constantly challenged to examine our shortcomings and to move from selfishness to selflessness, to recognize where we are missing the mark in our lives. The Gospels also challenge us to recognize our gifts and talents and to utilize them for the betterment of one another. It is in this journey we truly discover God’s peace.

It is only when we are willing to change ourselves that we can invite others to change. We are ready to risk division and misunderstanding only when we are able to change ourselves and then reach out in charity and love to share the truth as we understand it.

Peace with Christ and one another, unity with Christ and one another does not result from force but by sharing the gentle promptings of the heart.

Fr. Bruce

As a Parish Community we pray …For God’s holy people. May we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and persevere in our faith in times of trial.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Gabrielle Reece Ochoa
Giselle Lana Garchitorena
Christiana Kay Cromosini
Francesca Paige Cromosini

Our sincere sympathy to the family of
Barry Adan
who died recently

Come and enjoy BBQ hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings.
Join in the fun, jumper for the kids.
Tickets will be sold after the Masses on August 18-19.
All are welcome.

CALLING ALL YOUNG ADULTS TO SYDNEY!

Northern California dioceses are organizing a pilgrimage to World Youth Day in July, 2008. Registration deadline is August 31, 2007 (space is limited). The pilgrimage includes the “Days in the Diocese” host family stay in Christchurch, New Zealand (July 6-22, 2008). For more information and to register, go to www.sfyam.org or contact Mary Jansen at 415-614-5596, jansenm@sfarchdiocese.org.

YOUNG WIDOWS/WIDOWERS

A 6-week Young Widows/Widowers Support Group will be held at St. Gregory’s in San Mateo, beginning Wednesday, September 19th, 6:30pm to 8pm. If you are interested, please call Barbara Elordi MFT, Archdiocese of San Francisco at 415-614-5506.

     
Classes will resume on Monday, August 27th, from 8am to 10:30 am. Welcome Back Breakfast will follow the 8:30 am Mass.

SCRIP

Now through September 4th—Register your Safeway Cards at www.escrip.com and St. Robert’s will get 10% of your purchase price. If you are not registered, send your Safeway receipts to St. Robert’s school or church when shopping between 9/10—10/6! Thank you for your continued support.

Examples of Faith
We just finished our annual summer gathering in Santa Maria. Our first day was spent celebrating our jubilarians, sisters who had made their vows as Franciscans 25, 50 and 75 years ago! I couldn’t help but think of them, especially the 95 year olds, when I see the second reading for this weekend. We were, indeed, “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”!

And aren’t we all? Who are those married couples you know who have been through hard times, perhaps difficulties between them or the death of a child or chronic illness of one partner or periods of unemployment and major financial worries? And yet, somehow with the grace of God, they have gone through the struggles together and come out the other side, stronger and more committed to each other than ever. Those of us who are older remember the term “actual grace.” This is what it means: the presence of God with us in the midst of the actual situation when we need that wisdom or courage or decisiveness right then and there. We may know a single person who has given up marriage and her own family because of the need of her parents or another family member. We have a woman associated with our community who lovingly cares for her brother with Downs Syndrome, working full-time and making sure he is happy at the day program for persons with special needs. We also have two great examples of deep faith being lived out daily in the supposedly retired Sr. Ita and Fr. Marini.

I am also inspired by those of you who come to daily Mass whether or not you’ve slept well and even when your arthritis has flared up. Our living out of Jesus’ gospel is expressed in major commitments and small, daily ways as well. Think about those persons whose example strengthens your faith and thank them for it. As today’s gospel indicates, it may not always be from our own family members that we draw our inspiration to continue following Christ and his way of life. Let us thank God for the faithful ones with which he has blessed us!
Peace, S. Sheral

BBQ and Food Booth needs your help. Please call the Downs Family at (650) 588-1927 or email them at: noniepapadowns@aol.com. Time is getting closer—your help is urgently needed.

12th Annual
FOR HIGH ROLLERS ONLY!

Great odds in winning. 5 Winners out of 200 tickets!!!
COST OF EACH TICKET $50.00 — 200 TICKETS TO BE SOLD.

***PRIZES***
1st Prize:    $2,000
2nd Prize:  $1,000
3rd Prize:   $   500
4th Prize:    $    500
5th Prize:    $    500

RAFFLE DATE IS SEPTEMBER 23, 2007
TO GET YOUR TICKETS CALL ASAP THE FOLLOWING:

Steve Belluomini, Gus Sinks, Bart Murphy,
Greg & Irene Taylor, Sharon DeMartini,
Andy & Donna Ferris, Dennis Dorn,
Jim & Cathy Brown

This invitation gives you a head start to plan how you want to spend your festival donations! The list of HIGH ROLLERS ticket buyers will be given to the Parish for documentation of your participation in Festival ticket purchase. To reserve your $50.00 ticket, contact me or one of the parishioners above as soon as possible!

LAST YEAR’S WINNERS WERE…
          1st Prize  - Rina Fenech
          2nd Prize - Ed DeLa Torre
          3rd Prize  - Mars Cadiz
          4th Prize   - Julio Bolivar
          5th Prize   - Bernadine Fornesi

So don’t wait, reserve your tickets now! Again only 200 tickets will be sold!

Steve Belluomini
Chairperson, High Roller Raffle

You can mail you check to Steve Belluomini ($50.00 per ticket, check payable to St. Robert’s) at 1820 Parkview Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066.

P.S. As soon as I get back from vacation I will mail your tickets back.
Thanks and Good Luck this year!

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.

2007 CENTERPLATE SIGN UP

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass