FROM FATHER RICK
DEAR FRIENDS,
Parish Pastoral
Council
After a Day of
Discernment in December we have three new Pastoral
Council members. As we express our gratitude to Pat
Viscosi, Jim Murphy and Pat Palma for their service
on the council, we welcome Chris Vecchi, Frank Paone
and Heather Lauten. Our first meeting for the new
council will be held on Saturday, February 9, at
9:30 am.
Generations Of Faith
Our next Faith Festival
will be held on the weekend of January 25–27–28. We
will focus on “Renewing our Baptism.” This festival
will prepare us to celebrate the baptismal season of
Lent, which begins with our celebration of Ash
Wednesday on February 6, which is the Event for this
festival. On Ash Wednesday, Masses will be
celebrated at 12:10 pm, 5:00 pm (with Children’s
Liturgy of the Word) and 7:00 pm.
There are openings
available for the following sessions:
Friday evening, January
25—5:30–8:30
Sunday afternoon,
January 27—12:30–3:30 (no adult session)
Sunday evening, January
27—5:00–8:00 (adult session only)
Monday evening, January
28—5:00–8:00
Remember each session
begins with a common meal as a part of the session.
The menu for this month is: chicken tenders, mashed
potatoes & roasted vegetables.
Confirmation Rite of
Enrollment of Names
On Saturday, February 2,
our 10th Graders, who have been preparing for the
celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the
Easter Season, will begin their proximate
preparation with an offsite Day of Recollection.
This day will conclude with a Rite of Enrollment of
Names during the 4:00 PM Mass on that Saturday. This
rite gives the candidates the opportunity to state
before the community that they are taking this step
in their sacramental lives seriously. It calls on us
the community to state that we will support these
young men and women in this journey. Please join us
for this important moment in parish life here at
Saint Robert’s.
Consecrated Life Day
On Sunday, February 3,
we will celebrate consecrated life at the 11:00 am
Mass followed by a reception in the Gathering Space
honoring any religious who come as guests to
celebrate with us. If you would like a member of a
religious community (sister, brother or religious
order priest) remembered by name at this Mass,
please submit the name to Irene at the Parish Office
before February 1. Please invite any religious to
join us on this day.
Lent Is Coming Fast!
Ash Wednesday is
February 6 this year (Easter is March 23 – I hope it
doesn’t snow!). Masses will be celebrated at 12:10
pm, 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm. In preparation for this day
we will once again have our “Fat Tuesday” (Mardi
Gras) Lunch on Tuesday, February 5, in the Gathering
Space immediately following the 12:10 pm Mass. If
you’d like to join us, let me know.
Palms
Please bring your palm
branches from last year to church next weekend so
that they can be burned for our celebration of Ash
Wednesday this year. There will be a basket in the
Gathering Space.
World Marriage Day
On Saturday, February 9,
we will celebrate World Marriage Day at the 4:00 pm
Mass. Once again we will honor in a special way
those celebrating anniversaries of significant
number (5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, etc.). If you
are celebrating such an anniversary this year,
please let us know. There will be a reception
following the 4:00 pm Mass.
Have a great week,
If you want peace – work
for justice (Pope Paul VI),
Fr. Rick
Imagine being part of an
organization that fills your heart and your mind
with the joy of giving to others and the feeling
that comes with making a difference. Knights are
Catholic men, 18 years of age and older, who are
committed to making their community a better place,
while supporting their Church. Being a Knight is
more than camaraderie; it is being involved with
your community; it is supporting your local Catholic
Church, while enhancing your own faith and setting a
good faith example; it is about protecting and
enhancing your family life. You can volunteer as
much as you like or as little and on your own
schedule. For more information about the parish
council or upcoming events, contact Jim McKain at
978-475-7931 or
Jim_McKain@NLTek.com, or go online to
www.saintroberts.net/kofc.htm.
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, February 6, after the 7:00 PM Ash
Wednesday Mass, Driscoll Hall.
Upcoming Knights
Events–Save the Dates!
Spaghetti Dinner
Saturday, February 2,
after 4:00 PM Mass
Fish Dinner
Friday, February 8
Parish Family
Breakfast
Sunday, February 24
Stewardship
Reflection
“Now
the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant
from the womb...” Isaiah 49:5
God has formed each of
us as His servants from the womb. He blessed us with
unique gifts and He provided us with the talents and
skills we would need to do His work. If we do not
fulfill the unique vision that God had for us alone,
who will do it?
Money Matters
On the weekend of January 12/13
Special Collection
Next Weekend–Church in Latin America
A contribution to the
Collection for the Church in Latin America is a
tangible way to express your solidarity with your
brothers and sisters throughout Mexico, Central and
South America, and the Caribbean. Donations to the
collection, which will be held on the weekend of
January 26/27, fund pastoral projects that bring
people more fully into the life of the Catholic
Church. Please be generous in your support. For more
information, go to
www.usccb.org/latinamerica.
Mass Schedule and
Intentions
Saturday, January 19,
Vigil, 2nd Ordinary Sunday
4:00 pm: Mary Danker
Adams
Sunday, January 20,
2nd Ordinary Sunday
9:00 am: Henry Chemaly
11:00 am: John Sudol
Tuesday, January 22
No Weekday Mass Today
Thursday, January 24,
Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor
12:10 pm: Edward Keeler
Friday, January 25,
Conversion of St. Paul, apostle
12:10 pm
Saturday, January 26,
Vigil, 3rd Ordinary Sunday
4:00 pm: John W. Wynn
Sunday, January 20,
3rd Ordinary Sunday
9:00 am: Robert Sullivan
11:00 am: Heather
Geldart; Rite of Welcome for Jennifer Croston
Prayers requested for
Jean K. Sharis, mother of parishioner George Sharis
Readings for the Week of
January 20, 2008
Sunday: Is 49:3, 5-6/1 Cor 1:1-3/Jn
1:29-34
Monday: 1 Sm 15:16-23/Mk 2:18-22
Tuesday: 1 Sm 16:1-13/Mk 2:23-28
Wednesday: 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51/Mk 3:1-6
Thursday: 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7/Mk 3:7-12
Friday: Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22/Mk
16:15-18
Saturday: 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5/Mk 3:20-21
Next
Sunday: Is 8:23-9:3/1 Cor 1:10-13, 17/Mt 4:12-23
or 4:12-17
Question of the Week–Second Ordinary Sunday
Question for Adults:
In the gospel today, John tells us who Jesus
is for him. If someone were to ask you, how would
you answer this question: Who Jesus is for you?
Question for Youth:
How are you able to see through all the busyness,
the distractions, and the din of today's world to
really see Christ as he makes himself present today?
Where do you see him or experience his presence?
Question for Children:
If someone were to ask you, “who is Jesus?”
how would you answer?
Day of Prayer for
Pastoral Visitors
The Pastoral Visitor
Project and the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life
invite all pastoral visitors and Eucharistic
Ministers to the sick and homebound to attend a Day
of Prayer, “Ministry in Christ’s Name,” on Saturday,
February 2, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at St. Francis
parish in Dracut. There is no fee for the event. For
more information or to register, call the Office of
Worship and Spiritual Life at 617-779-3640.
Please bring your
palm branches from last year to church next weekend
so that they can be
burned for our celebration of Ash Wednesday this
year.
There will be a
basket in the Gathering Space.
In Service
Kevin Grace, USA, Lyle
Shackelford, Jaime Ray Seluk, USN, Pvt. Alexander
Sabu, USA, Lt. Col. Paul Severance, USAF, Gen’l. R.
Steve Whitcomb, USA, Lt. Col. Brian P. Bedell, USA,
Capt. Lauren Whitcomb, USA, Col. Patrick J. Donahue,
USA, Col. Brian P. Donahue, USA, Cpt. Michael
McGaffigan, USA, Steve Comstock, Pilot, USN, Lt.
Jesse Salisbury, USAF, Sgt. Maureen Galvin, USA,
SpOps, Lt.J.G. Kevin B. O’Brien, USN, Miko Belonia,
Maj. Tony Hoffman, USA, Maj. Ross Coffman, USA, Maj.
Garth Howe, USA, Chief Warrant Officer II Michael
Morris, USA, Captain Matthew Mancini, USA, Sgt.
Ellen Barnes O’Connor, USA, Pvt. Adam James Mazza,
USA, Pvt. Joseph D. Gagnon, USM, Cpt. Eric Eckberg,
USA, SFC John B. Nicholas, USA, LTCD Chris Stopyra,
USN
This Week in Our
Parish
Monday, January 21
Parish Office Closed
7:00-8:30 PM
Generations of Faith Activity Leader Meeting,
Driscoll Hall
Tuesday, January 22
12:10 PM No Weekday
Mass Today
7:00-8:30 PM
Confirmation Prep, Driscoll Hall
Thursday, January 24
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
5:00 PM Youth Cantor
Practice, Church
5:30 PM Youth Choir
Practice, Church
6:30 PM Scouts,
Driscoll Hall
7:30 PM Adult Choir
Practice, Church
Friday, January 25
10:45 AM Adult
Enrichment, Bellarmine Room
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
5:30-8:30 PM
Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
Sunday, January 27
12:30-3:30 PM
Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
5:00-8:00 PM
Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
The Parish Office
will be closed on
Monday, January 21,
for the
Martin Luther King,
Jr. Holiday
The Andover Country
Day School is currently accepting enrollment for
September 2008. ACDS is a semi-cooperative,
non-profit preschool that operates in the lower
level of the church. There are preschool programs
available for children ages 2.9 to 5 years old.
Registration
Information Night
Wednesday, January 23
7:00-9:00 PM in
Driscoll Hall
Meet the staff; visit
the classrooms; hear a typical day’s routine; review
the registration procedures; receive your
registration packet; and enjoy refreshments. For
more information, contact Mrs. Patricia Kozik at
978-686-2777.
ANNUAL SPAGHETTI
DINNER
Saturday, February 2
Immediately following
the 4:00 PM Mass, Driscoll Hall
$10 Adults; $4
Children 12 and under
Contact the Parish
Office at 978-683-8922 or
ibonner@comcast.net to reserve your place!
DON’T MISS OUT –
RESERVE EARLY – YOU CAN PAY AT THE DOOR
Presented by our
parish council of the Knights of Columbus
SCRIPTURE READINGS
FOR NEXT WEEK–THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
A reading from the
Book of the Prophet Isaiah 8:23—9:3
First the Lord degraded
the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in
the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land
west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles.
Anguish has taken wing,
dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where
but now there was distress. The people who walked in
darkness have seen a great light; upon those who
dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You
have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as
people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke
that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and
the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on
the day of Midian.
A reading from the
first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
1:10-13, 17
I urge you, brothers and
sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
all of you agree in what you say, and that there be
no divisions among you, but that you be united in
the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has
been reported to me about you, my brothers and
sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries
among you. I mean that each of you is saying, “I
belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I
belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Is
Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were
you baptized in the name of Paul? For Christ did not
send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not
with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the
cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.
+ A reading from the
holy Gospel according to Matthew 4:12-23
When Jesus heard that
John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He
left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the
sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that
what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might
be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and
land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea,
beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the
Gentiles,
the people who sit in
darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in
a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus
began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” As he was walking by the Sea of
Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called
Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into
the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come
after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At
once they left their nets and followed him. He
walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee,
mending their nets. He called them, and immediately
they left their boat and their father and followed
him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the
kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among
the people.
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1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian
Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved.
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