Sitting in the warmth of our living room, gazing at our Nativity scene, we sipped our Peppermint tea and contemplated the Feast of the Epiphany. Lo and behold, this little poem came to us out of the blue:

We too have seen the distant star our journey has been long we’ve traveled so far.

Though our steps may be slow and our hair has turned gray, we come to the stable where our Jesus lay.

We’ve listened to the story so often told. We have no frankincense, myrrh or gold. What gift can we bring to honor our King?

All we have is our love to give. Our life for Jesus we gratefully live. We reach out our hands to people in need. With a prayer and a smile, those who are hungry we feed.

Accept our gift, O Jesus, we pray on this most holy Epiphany Day.

May the hope, peace and joy of this Christmas Season remain with you always. May Jesus fill your hearts with His love.

Gene & Anna May

6:30 a.m. Mass on:
Tuesdays and Fridays.

As a Parish Community we pray …For all who are alone, elderly, ill or in pain and for those who feel depressed or hopeless. May Jesus show Himself to them. May they experience His mercy and love.

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.

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Ann Stovall,
Genevieve Henry and
Gertrude Ormando
who died recently.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILATION is celebrated EVERY Saturday: from 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm in the Reconciliation room which is the door to the right in the vestibule of the church. You can also make an appointment with Msgr. Bruce or Father Paul by calling the rectory at 589-2800.

AIDS LUNCH
January 9th

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 January 9th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items are ok!

Thanks to everyone who contributes!

CONSOLATION MINISTRY

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group will hold a meeting on January 12th in the Convent Chapel from 3:15 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.

Currently Father Marini is residing at Serra Clergy Retirement Center in San Mateo. The dioceses has determined that he will remain in residence there and not return to St. Roberts.

You can send cards and notes to him at:

Father Joseph Marini
c/o Serra Clergy House
455 West 20th Ave.
San Mateo, Ca 94403

MARRIED COUPLES

Let Worldwide Marriage Encounter help you make your marriage a better dwelling place for His Word. It can happen on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, April 18th-20th. Sign up soon so you can renew your love for one another. For more information, call Paul and Yvonne at (650) 366-7093 or www.sf.lovemoredeeply.org.

THANKS

The Children’s Liturgy Team
Would like to say thank you! Thank you!
St. Robert’s Parish community.

Your generosity is overwhelming. We were able to distribute hundreds of toys, gifts of clothing and gift certificates to children and young adults who otherwise would not have much of a Christmas. The gifts were delivered to St. Anthony of Padua dining room in Menlo Park, North peninsula neighborhood Services of South San Francisco, and Catholic Worker Hospitality House in San Bruno.

ADOPT A FAMILY THANKS YOU

Many thanks to all who contributed to our Adopt A Family program. Working together, we were able to help 85 families. Your donations went to families served by our St. Vincent de Paul chapter, Catholic Worker House in San Bruno and Redwood City, St. Anthony’s of Padua in Menlo Park, St. Thomas Parish in Long Beach, Mississippi, and Child and Family Services, Human Services Agency of San Mateo County.

Each group has expressed their appreciation and gratitude for the great generosity they’ve received from the members of St. Roberts Parish.

DINNER DANCE TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!!!

Call Annetta Giambruno

BULLETIN DEADLINE

The deadline for submission of weekly bulletin announcements is Tuesday at noon. Please submit announcements in writing to Kathy or Judy in the Rectory Office, fax us at 588-9628 or email parishsec@saintroberts.org.

   
I’m writing from Project Hope and Compassion which is centered at St. Ann’s Parish, Lizana, Mississippi. We have been working with a group called Square Foot Ministry whose motto is “Showing God’s love one square foot at a time.” They make house frames and trusses which parishes buy for $15,000 to $17,000 per house, depending on the size and then truck them to various places along the Gulf. The person receiving the house needs to make arrangements with family and friends and/or non-profits to do everything else. We heard on the radio that this week there have been 1100 volunteers helping the people still struggling after Katrina. We’ve been with high schoolers, adults and families from Baltimore, Atlanta, Lafayette, Indiana and Bay City, Michigan and working in Pass Christian, MS, one town away from the center of the storm.

The woman we helped yesterday and today was doing search and rescue during Katrina when her son called to say that he, her husband and their three dogs were okay and climbing out of the attic. Her son has recuperated from the trauma, but her husband was injured in the storm and his five compressed discs have left him unable to work and terribly depressed. We put in insulation and drywall for her; she had gotten her frame in April, but had no money to begin the work until her grant finally came through. We also saw the woman whose home we had helped with last year; she is so happy to be out of the trailer.

My friend from Sacramento, Carolyn Pretzer, and I had a marvelous New Year’s Day dinner with the Presentation Sisters here in Gulfport who thanked us over and over again for the continuing generosity of St. Robert’s Parishioners through the Family Giving Tree. (And my sincere thanks to each of you who gave me money to support others in need down here.) They are as wonderful as our own Sisters! Tomorrow, we go to New Orleans to visit the Sisters there and hear about their ministries.

each of you who helped make Christmas a wonderful celebration. The homilists, the musicians and choirs, those who proclaimed the Word, served as Eucharistic ministers and acolytes, those who decorated, and those who donated for the environment – thank you all! The ministry here would be so much more difficult without your gracious help.

We move from the Feast of the Holy Family to the Epiphany, Christ being recognized to the ends of the earth. Thank you for affirming by your actions that we are all one family.

Peace, S. Sheral

REMEMBERING THEM WITH FLOWERS

The following loved ones were remembered at Christmas with a donation to purchase poinsettias and garland to beautify the Church:

Allison Ahern from the Ahern Family;
William & Lucille Alexander from Derrill Alexander;
Alice & Nora Alongi from Lorayne Salvo;
Joseph Azzopardi from Carmel & Rose Pirolta & Son;
Barbieri & Murphy Familes from Mike & Sue McGuirk;
Philip Calhoun from Evelyn Calhoun;
Isabelle Cardinale from the Kitchin Family;
Brian Cotter from Mary & Neil Cotter;
Nancy C. Curtis from William M. Curtis & the Curtis Family;
Agnes Dempsey from Alfred & Josephine Romine;
Adolph & Rita Fambrini from Bob & Jean Waldvogel;
Domenic & Sal Finocchiaro from the Finocchiaro Family;
Donna Marie Glass from Julio & Josie Borruso;
Donna Glass from the Kitchin Family;
Donna Glass from Bob Glass;
Donna Glass from Mike & Sue McGuirk;
Ed Hart, C. Galluzzo & F. Haas from Evelyn Hart;
Noelle Lille & Patrice van Velthuysen from Albert & Rita Lille;
Edward J. Mantler, Mrs. Jeaness McKenna & Robert McKenna
from Helen Mantler;
Diana Martinez from Florence Martinez;
A. Carl & Leola Marty & David C. Marty from Teena Marty;
McGowan & O’Neill Families and Rev. Fr. Michael Keane
from Noreen McGowan;
Catherine & Joe, Mini & Fred from Jerry & Kathy Moller;
Alexander Moniz from Bunny Moniz;
Virginia Monroe from Mary Helen Monroe;
Ernie & Grace Morasci and Sam & Nancy Ciraulo
from Al & Patty Ciraulo;
Martin Moynihan from Dolores Moynihan;
James J. Murphy from Eleanor and Susan;
Joseph & James Phipps from Helen Phipps;
Ernest, Margaret & James Pruckner from the Tuhacek Family;
George Psaila from Mary (Psaila) Varner;
John & Margaret Marchetti, Ernest & Pasquelina Marchetti,
Louis & Nettie Della Selva, Frank Firpo, Patty Firpo,
Ted Morando, Frank & Jessica Quinn, Kay & Ray Williams
from Joanne & Rich Quinn;
Kyle O’Connor from Mary and Neil Cotter;
Ronzani & Cesari Families from Vera Ronzani & Family;
Louis Ross from Eleanor Ross;
Amelia & John Rudometkin and Mary Morena
from Barbara Rudometkin;
Marsilia Santarelli & St. Anthony from Giuseppina Malatesta;
Mauro Sciacqua from Loretta Sciacqua;
Elio Sarti from Carolina Sarti;
Mary Stobener, Florence Lawson & Gene Hannon
from Vera Hannon;
Bill Strehl & Bertha Berge from Rita Strehl;
Feruccio & Helen Tonegato and Raphael & Marie DeMartini
from the DeMartini Family;
George & Alice Tuhacek from the Tuhacek Family;
Vaccarezza Family from Eleanor Cavallero;
Rena & Gene Watt and Joe Riccomi from Judy & Ron Watt;
Jim Whooley from Mike & Sue McGuirk;
Jim Whooley, Denis & Maud Whooley & Bob Owen
from Candie, Owen & Michael Whooley;
Don Willard from Jennie Flood;
Bill Wilson from Sharon Wilson

If you are 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.

KINDERGARTEN APPLICATION

Applications for Kindergarten for the 2008/2009 school year will take place in the school office January 28th through February 1st from 9-3 p.m. Child must be 5 years of age by September 1, 2008. You will need copies of your child’s birth and baptismal certifications and social security card.

OPEN HOUSE
January 31st

St. Roberts School will hold its annual Open House on Thursday evening, January 31st at 7 p.m.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

St. Robert School, mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students of any race, color and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. St. Robert School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color and national and/or ethnic origin in administration of education policies, admissions polices, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school administered programs.

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.

January 12th and 13th

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass