FROM FATHER RICK
Dear Friends,
Happy Easter!
Today is the first of 50
days in which we feast on God’s life-giving love!
This is the Season of Initiation into the Body of
Christ: the season of Baptism, Confirmation, and
Eucharist. This is the season of renewal for all of
us in our life in Christ. We begin this feast of
initiation with the renewal of our own Baptismal
Promises–a sign of our willingness to work to bring
about the reign of God in the world.
Throughout the season we
will celebrate as a Sunday Assembly the Baptisms of
new members, the First Communion of 57 of our young
people, and the Confirmation of 47 of our
adolescents at Sunday Eucharist (11:00 AM Mass on
Saturday, April 13). In addition, we will celebrate
the Rite of Welcome (4:00 pm Mass on Saturday, April
5) with Jennifer Croston, who is preparing to
complete her initiation in the Catholic Church at
some time during the coming year. On Pentecost
Sunday (50 days from today – and Mother’s Day), May
11, we will bring this 50-day feast to fulfillment
and completion as we gather as a parish family at
ONE celebration of the Eucharist at 10:00 am. We
will continue the celebration with our fourth annual
parish pig/lamb roast! More details will be
forthcoming over the next few weeks.
To those who may be
visiting with us this weekend: We are happy you are
with us today. If you are home from school, we
welcome you home and hope you have found your time
home restorative. If you are visiting family or
friends from afar, we hope you enjoyed your stay,
have celebrated well with us and discovered
additional family and friends in the Lord. We bid
you “safe home”. If you live locally and have shared
this time with us, we likewise are glad that you are
with us. We offer you an invitation to continue to
join us each week. We invite you to join us–the
community of Saint Robert’s–as we together do our
best to celebrate and live out the mystery of God’s
redeeming love in Christ and bring that love to the
world.
The Parish Office will
be closed on Monday, March 24th.
Happy and Holy Easter
Season to you all!
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, April 2, 7:30 pm, Driscoll Hall
Next Knights of
Columbus
Parish Family
Breakfast
coming up on Sunday,
April 6!
Stewardship
Reflection
“If
then you were raised with Christ, seek what is
above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of
God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2
We can seek what is
above by sharing what we have here on earth. This is
what good stewardship is all about. We realize that
anything we have here on earth is not nearly as
important as being with Christ. Once we realize
that, sharing what we have is easy.
Do you have First
Communion clothing that you would like to donate?
There are many families at St. Mary’s Parish in Lynn
who would be grateful for your donations! Contact
Jaye Russo at St. Mary’s at 781-598-4907 for more
information or to arrange drop off.
To all Generations of
Faith Volunteers: On Friday, March 28,
starting at 7:00 PM in Driscoll Hall we will be
having our annual Volunteer Appreciation evening. It
is the work of over 140 volunteers and their
families willing to contribute their time and effort
to putting together the home kits, preparing
material, setting up and cleaning up, serving the
meals, staffing the registration table, and
facilitating the age group activities that makes
this faith formation enterprise flow as smoothly as
it does for the enrichment of all those who
participate. We hope that you will be able to take a
little bit of time to kick back and join us in
raising a glass in your honor!
Job Opening at
Bellesini Academy
Director of Annual
Fund and Corporate Giving
Bellesini Academy is
seeking a highly motivated professional to work
closely with the Executive Director, Assistant
Director, and the Development Committee to meet
individual and corporate giving goals, increasing
public relations and communication. As the only
full-time development staff person, he/she must be
very self-motivated, highly dependable, organized,
and skilled in many areas, including data
management, writing, and communications.
Blessed Stephen
Bellesini, O.S.A. Academy is an independent Catholic
middle school dedicated to providing a quality
scholarship education to boys from limited financial
means living in Lawrence.
Please send cover letter
and resume directly to: Ms. Julie DiFilippo,
Executive Director, Bellesini Academy, 94 Bradford
St., Lawrence, MA 01840;
jdifilippo@bellesiniacademy.org; Fax:
978-989-9404. You may also contact parishioner Paul
Esdale at 978-475-1999 for more information.
A six-week workshop on
Pastoral Care to the Sick and Homebound will
be offered at St. Timothy in Norwood from 10:00 am
to 12:00 noon beginning Thursday, March 27.
The classes will be held in the parish hall. The
workshop will include communication skills, basics
of pastoral visitation, illness issues, spiritual
needs and concerns, grief, loss and dying, and
caregiving issues. The fee is $40. For more
information, email
joanne_gaffney@rcab.org or call 617-746-5843.
Mass Schedule and
Intentions
Saturday, March 22,
Vigil, Easter Sunday
9:00 am: Morning Prayer;
Blessing of Easter Foods
7:30 pm: Solemn Easter
Vigil
Sunday, March 23,
Easter Sunday
7:00 am
9:00 am: Antonio Firelli
11:00 am: Heather
Geldart
Tuesday, March 25,
Easter Tuesday
12:10 pm
Thursday, March 27,
Easter Thursday
12:10 pm
Friday, March 28,
Easter Friday
12:10 pm
Saturday, March 29,
Vigil, 2nd Sunday of Easter
4:00 pm: Ryan Borque
Sunday, March 30, 2nd
Sunday of Easter
9:00 am: John Keenan
11:00 am: Fiore Trapane
Readings for the Week
of March 23, 2008
Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Col 3:1-4 or 1
Cor 5:6b-8/Jn 20:1-9 or Mt 28:1-10
Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33/Mt 28:8-15
Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41/Jn 20:11-18
Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10/Lk 24:13-35
Thursday: Acts 3:11-26/Lk 24:35-48
Friday: Acts 4:1-12/Jn 21:1-14
Saturday: Acts 4:13-21/Mk 16:9-15
Next
Sunday: Acts 2:42-47/1 Pt 1:3-9/Jn 20:19-31
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
Question of the
Week–Easter Sunday
Question for Adults:
Name one way or time when you experience the
presence of the Risen Christ? Is it at meals? With
those whom you love? At other times?
Question for Youth:
Jesus’ closest friends had trouble believing that
the tomb was empty. Resurrection is surprising. What
does Jesus’ resurrection mean in your life?
Question for Children:
When have you seen someone do a good deed for
someone else?
Easter Sunday
Collection
The Easter collection is
for the Health and Pension funds of the priests of
the archdiocese.
Please be as generous as
you can.
Special Retreat:
Introduction to the Spiritual Exercises and
Ignatian Prayer
April 18-21, 2008
Campion Renewal
Center; Weston, MA
This extended prayer
weekend will introduce participants to important
principles of Ignatian prayer and engage them in key
meditations and contemplations from the Spiritual
Exercises. The retreat begins with dinner on
Friday at 5:45 pm and ends with lunch on Monday. Cos
t: $190. For more information, call 781-419-1337 or
go online to
www.campioncenter.org.
This Week in Our
Parish
Monday, March 24
Parish Office is Closed
Tuesday, March 25
12:10 PM Easter Tuesday
Mass, Church
7:00-8:30 PM
Confirmation Prep, Driscoll Hall
Wednesday, March 26
7:00 PM Generations of
Faith Design Team Meeting, Bellarmine Room
Thursday, March 27
12:10 PM Easter
Thursday 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, March 28
10:00 AM Adult
Enrichment, Bellarmine Room
12:10 PM Easter Friday
Mass, Church
Please check with
event coordinators to confirm event times this week.
Pregnancy Care Center
Support Group
A
support group for those who have experienced an
abortion is being formed in the Andover area by the
Pregancy Care Center. You can find true hope and
genuine help by getting involved in a PACE (Post
Abortion Counseling and Education) group. Call Donna
at 978-973-1491 for more information. The call is
confidential.
Archdiocesan
Bicentennial Pilgrimage
Plan to mark the
Bicentennial of the Archdiocese of Boston by coming
together in prayer and fellowship with pilgrims from
across the Archdiocese and throughout the world at
the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in June
2008 in Quebec City, Canada. Pope Benedict XVI has
personally approved a most appropriate theme for
this Congress: “The Eucharist, God’s gift for the
life of the world” and he invites Catholics to
converge on Quebec City to deepen their spiritual
lives through our Eucharistic Lord. The Boston
Archdiocesan Pilgrimage is providing a comprehensive
travel package for adults (21 years & older) for
June 18-24, starting at $1,275 double occupancy, as
well as a special package with hostel accommodations
tailored to young adults (ages 21-40) for June
18-22, starting at $875 triple occupancy. For more
information or to pre-reserve your seat, please
contact Fr. Michael Drea, Coordinator for
Archdiocesan Pilgrimages, at 617-479-5400 x 12.
Lazarus House
Ministries
25th Anniversary
Celebration
Mass of
Thanksgiving
Bishop Emilio
Allué presiding
Thursday, March
27, 2008, 6:30 pm
St. Mary of the
Assumption Church
205 Hampshire
Street, Lawrence, MA
A Simple Supper
will follow at
St. Joseph’s
Plains Community Center
245 Hampshire
Street, Lawrence, MA
Please RSVP your
attendance to Lana Schofield at 978-269-5206 or
Lana@LazarusHouse.org
Thank you so much
for all you’ve done and for blessing us through all
these years!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Project Bread 40th
Walk for Hunger
Sunday, May 4
Starts on Boston
Common, 7:00-9:00 am
For more information,
call 617-723-5000 or visit
www.projectbread.org/walk.
Retrouvaille…a
Lifeline
Rediscover a loving
marriage with a Retrouvaille (pronounced re-tro-vy)
weekend. If your marriage is tearing the two of you
apart, if there is little or no meaningful
communication, if you are considering separation or
divorce, Retrouvaille may be able to help. Find more
information on the web at
www.helpourmarriage.com or call 1-800-470-2230.
The next Retrouvaille marriage renewal weekends will
be held April 11-13, September 12-14, 2008 and in
January 2009.
The Parish Office
will be closed on
Monday, March 24.
Happy Easter!
SCRIPTURE READINGS
FOR NEXT WEEK–SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
A reading from the
Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47
They devoted themselves
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal
life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs
were done through the apostles. All who believed
were together and had all things in common; they
would sell their property and possessions and divide
them among all according to each one’s need. Every
day they devoted themselves to meeting together in
the temple area and to breaking bread in their
homes. They ate their meals with exultation and
sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor
with all the people. And every day the Lord added to
their number those who were being saved.
A reading from the
first Letter of Saint Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great
mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to
an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of
God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In
this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials, so
that the genuineness of your faith, more precious
than gold that is perishable even though tested by
fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have
not seen him you love him; even though you do not
see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an
indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the
goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
+ A reading from the
holy Gospel according to John 20:19-31
On the evening of that
first day of the week, when the doors were locked,
where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to
them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he
showed them his hands and his side. The disciples
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them
again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent
me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy
Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus,
one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus
came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have
seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see
the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger
into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I
will not believe.”
Now a week later his
disciples were again inside and Thomas was with
them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with
you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here
and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it
into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but
believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord
and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to
believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those
who have not seen and have believed.”
Now, Jesus did many
other signs in the presence of his disciples that
are not written in this book. But these are written
that you may come to believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief
you may have life in his name.
Copyright 1970, 1986,
1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian
Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved.
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