FROM FATHER RICK
Dear Friends,
Happy Easter!
Today we celebrate the
Sixth Sunday of Easter.
In this Season of
Initiation we will celebrate first Holy
Communion on Sunday morning at the 9:00 and 11:00 am
Masses. These sacramental celebrations are signs of
the new life of this season and the vibrancy of our
parish community.
FR. FRANK UPDATE
As of this writing
(Thursday morning), Father Frank is back at the
rectory under hospice care. He was discharged on
Wednesday afternoon. Thanks to all who responded so
generously to helping in his care. I will be
contacting folks as needed. As things develop I will
be posting updates on our parish website:
www.saintroberts.net.
AUTHOR, AUTHOR!
This weekend we are
holding a book signing after all the Masses for
Amanda’s newly published book. Refreshments will be
served under the tents on the front lawn. Plan to
spend a little time and purchase a copy at the
signing.
ASCENSION THURSDAY
Thursday of this week,
May 1, is Ascension Thursday. Masses will be
celebrated at 12:10 and 5:30 pm. Our traditional
Holy Day Parish Supper will be served in the Seton
Room because of a conflict with the Boy Scouts. If
you plan to join us, please email or call Irene
(ibonner@comcast.net or 978-683-8922) before
Tuesday at 4:00 pm.
WEEKDAY MASS
As we continue our
“feasting’ in the Easter Season, weekday Mass will
be celebrated at 12:10 pm on Monday through Friday
this week (see above announcement).
PENTECOST AND
MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATION
Remember our Parish
Celebration of Pentecost will take place at a
single weekend Mass at 10:00 am on Sunday, May 11.
This Eucharist will be followed by our fourth annual
Parish Pig & Lamb Roast. Please RSVP as soon as
possible. If you did not receive an invitational
letter and RSVP envelope it means we do not have
your registration information (Please contact the
parish office to correct this.). There are
invitations and RSVP envelopes available in the
vestibule. Remember it would be a great way to
celebrate Mother’s Day (casual and no fuss or
clean-up)!!
PARISH SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications for the
Fitzgerald, Griggs, and Pendergast Scholarships are
due by the end of business (4:00 PM) on Monday of
this week. The scholarships will be awarded at our
Baccalaureate Mass on Sunday, May 18, at 11:00 am.
I wish you a happy and
holy Easter Season.
We continue to pray for
Christ’s first resurrection gift of Peace,
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, May 7, 7:30 pm, Driscoll Hall
Bring a little Spring
home with you! Start Mother’s Day early!
Following all Masses
next weekend, May 3/4,
our Knights of
Columbus will be selling flowers.
The proceeds will
benefit Birthright of Lowell.
Stewardship
Reflection
“… and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.” Acts 8:7-8
It’s easy to rejoice in
the gifts that God gives when they are as
outstanding as a lame man walking or a sick man
cured. However, do we take time to thank God for the
many miracles He gives us everyday–good health,
family, friends, education, employment, housing?
Being grateful is the secret to being joyful.
Fair trade coffee and
cocoa will be available for purchase
in the Gathering Space
after all Masses next weekend, May 3 and 4.
Help Stamp Out
Hunger!
Neighbors in Need
reminds us that the annual Post Office Food Drive
takes place on Saturday, May 10. Put out a
bag of non-perishable groceries for the mailman, who
will pick it up and deliver it to local food
pantries and soup kitchens. All the food collected
in Andover goes directly to Neighbors In Need. And
if you miss the May 10 drive, remember that you can
drop off your donations for Neighbors in Need
anytime in the box in the vestibule of the church.
They are especially in
need of the following items: Shelf Stable 1% Milk
(e.g. Parmalat); Canned Beans, especially Goya Pink
Beans and Green Pigeon Peas (Gandules); Canned
Vegetables or Fruit; Peanut Butter; Tuna, Canned
Ham, and Canned Chicken; Spaghetti Sauce with Meat;
Soups; Cereal; Rice; Pasta; Infant Formula; Baby
Food; Diapers.
Hospice Volunteer
Training
West River Care,
provider of hospice services to patients in the
Wingate facilities in Haverhill, Lowell, Andover,
Reading, and throughout greater Boston, will hold a
volunteer training at their Needham office on May 31
and June 7, 2008. This sixteen-hour course will
prepare you well to provide companionship and
comfort to someone at the end of life. Please
contact Alice Hutter, Volunteer Coordinator, at
781-707-9586 or
wrc.vol.coord@gmail.com for more information.
New volunteers are always welcome.
COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
Wednesday, April 30,
2:00-8:00 PM
Faith Lutheran Church
360 South Main
Street, Andover
Please consider donating
blood in an upcoming community blood drive, being
sponsored by the Faith Lutheran Church and the
Ciampa family of Andover. The Ciampa's daughter,
Lauren, age 20, has been battling cancer since last
July and the family would like to "give back" to the
community in thanks for all the support they have
received. While Lauren's health is still fragile,
she is currently improving, and wants very much for
the drive to be a success in order to help others
with the disease. Please visit
www.givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE
(1-800-448-3543) to make an appointment. Thank you
for considering this life-giving donation!
Mass Schedule and
Intentions
Saturday, April 26,
Vigil, 6th Sunday of Easter
4:00 pm: Walter R. Perry
Sunday, April 27, 6th
Sunday of Easter
9:00 am: Bette Williams;
**First Communion
11:00 am: Gerard
Christofells; **First Communion
Monday, April 28,
Easter Weekday
12:10 pm
Tuesday, April 29,
Catherine of Siena, virgin, doctor
12:10 pm
Wednesday, April 30,
Easter Weekday
12:10 pm
Thursday, May 1,
Ascension of the Lord
12:10 pm: People of the
Parish
5:30 pm: Veronica Janus
Friday, May 2,
Athanasius, bishop, doctor
12:10 pm
Saturday, May 3,
Vigil, 7th Sunday of Easter
4:00 pm: Elaine Soter;
**Baptism of Keira Grace Anastasi
Sunday, May 4, 7th
Sunday of Easter
9:00 am: John Keenan
11:00 am: Rosemary
Bernal; **Baptism of Julia Christina Ehrgott
Readings for the Week of April 27, 2008
Sunday: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17/1 Pt 3:15-18/Jn
14:15-21
Monday: Acts 16:11-15/Jn 15:26-16:4a
Tuesday: Acts 16:22-34/Jn 16:5-11
Wednesday: Acts 17:15,
22-18:1/Jn 16:12-15
Thursday: Ascension of the Lord: Acts
1:1-11/Eph 1:17-23/Mt 28:16-20
Friday: Acts 18:9-18/Jn 16:20-23
Saturday: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Jn 14:6-14
Next
Sunday: Acts 1:12-14/1 Pt 4:13-16/Jn 17:1-11a
Mass in Honor of
St. Peregrine
Patron Saint of
Cancer Patients
Wednesday, April
30, 7:00 pm
Immaculate
Conception Church, Lowell
During this Mass the
Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be
offered to cancer patients and any who wish to
partake of this Sacrament of God’s healing. All are
invited to come and pray with and for those
afflicted with cancer.
Question of the
Week–Sixth Sunday of Easter
Question for Adults:
Which one of the promises in today’s Gospel
gives you the most hope?
Question for Youth:
Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit (the
Advocate) would remain with us always. When have you
experienced the Spirit?
Question for Children:
Jesus promises to be our friend forever. How
do friends treat each other?
Liturgical Ministry
Notes
1. The current
liturgical ministry schedule expires the weekend of
May 3/4.
3. We will revert
to our summer weekend Mass Schedule (Saturday at
4:00; Sunday at 8 & 10:30) on the weekend of
Father’s Day, June 14/15 – this schedule continues
THRU Labor Day weekend, September 6/7.
4. Please provide
your availability and exceptions AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
to Irene at 978-683-8922 or
ibonner@comcast.net.
Generations of Faith
Reminder: Next
weekend we will celebrate our last Generations of
Faith festival of the season, Festival 7, “The
Holy Trinity—God For Us,”
preparing for Event 7, Trinity Sunday, on May 17 &
18.
There is space available
on Friday, May 2, 5:30-8:30 (all ages) and on
Monday, May 5, 5:00-8:00 pm (all ages). To check for
availability in the evening session on Sunday, May
4, 5:00-8:00 pm (there is no Sunday afternoon
session for this festival) or to register for one of
the sessions, contact Amanda at 978-683-8922 or
amroberts@comcast.net. The evening begins with a
communal meal and the menu for this festival is
steak tips, corn, potato salad,
salad, and cake.
Quick Quiz: How
many Masses are there on the weekend of May 10/11?
Answer:
Look in Fr. Rick’s column!
This Week in Our
Parish
Monday, April 28
Parish Office Closed for
Business
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
7:00-8:30 PM GOF
Activity Leaders Meeting, Driscoll Hall
Tuesday, April 29
Scholarship Applications
Due (extended one day)
9:30 AM GOF Home Kit
Assembly, Bellarmine Room
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
Wednesday, April 30
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
Thursday, May 1
12:10 PM Holy Day Mass,
Church
5:30 PM Holy Day Mass,
Church, followed by supper in the Gathering Space
6:30 PM Scouts,
Driscoll Hall
Friday, May 2
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
5:30-8:30 PM
Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
Saturday, May 3
Fair Trade Coffee
Available for Purchase in the Gathering Space after
Mass
Knights of Columbus
Flower Sale after Mass
Sunday, May 4
Fair Trade Coffee
Available for Purchase in the Gathering Space after
Masses
Knights of Columbus
Flower Sale after Masses
5:00-8:00 PM
Generations of Faith Festival, Driscoll Hall
JOIN THE PREGNANCY
CARE CENTER ANNUAL WALK FOR LIFE!
Saturday, May 10, 9:00
am, at walk locations in Andover, Haverhill, &
Newburyport. Or walk on your own if you can’t make
May 10! The walk route is only two miles–families
welcome! For more information or to register, go
online to
www.firstgiving.com/pccmv or call Debbie at
978-373-5718.
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
Don’t forget!! Parish
Scholarship applications are due
by 4:00 pm this Monday, April 28, 2008.
Applications, which
include more information on the three scholarships,
are available in the vestibule of the church, at the
Parish Office, and online (click on “Scholarships”
at
www.saintroberts.net).
Please include the
following children in your prayers
as they will be
receiving Holy Communion for the first time this
weekend.
On Sunday, April 27,
at the 9:00 am Mass:
Emily Abbott
Caroline Graham
William Hamilton
Robert Pothier
Nicole Rogalski
Caleigh Schmitt
Cameron Schmitt
Lena Verard
Joseph White
On Sunday, April 27,
at the 11:00 am Mass:
Sara Clapp
Paige D’Ambrosio
Emma Ganci
Maria Ganci
Stephanie Graffeo
Kyle Harkins
Brittney Montesanti
Erika Paone
Caroline Ritchie
Caitlin Sheehan
Emily Zuraski
"If you love me,
you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be
with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows
him. But you know him, because he remains with you,
and will be in you."
Jn 14:15-17
SCRIPTURE READINGS
FOR NEXT WEEK–SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
A reading from the
Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14
After Jesus had been
taken up to heaven the apostles returned to
Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is
near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.
When they entered the
city they went to the upper room where they were
staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip
and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of
Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
All these devoted themselves with one accord to
prayer, together with some women, and Mary the
mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
A reading from the
first Letter of Saint Peter 4:13-16
Beloved: Rejoice to the
extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that when his glory is revealed you may also
rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name
of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory
and of God rests upon you. But let no one among you
be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an
evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is made to
suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but
glorify God because of the name.
+ A reading from the
holy Gospel according to John 17:1-11a
Jesus raised his eyes to
heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give
glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people, so
that your son may give eternal life to all you gave
him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know
you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent,
Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by
accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now
glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I
had with you before the world began.
“I revealed your name to
those whom you gave me out of the world. They
belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they
have kept your word. Now they know that everything
you gave me is from you, because the words you gave
to me I have given to them, and they accepted them
and truly understood that I came from you, and they
have believed that you sent me.I pray for them. I do
not pray for the world but for the ones you have
given me, because they are yours, and everything of
mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I
have been glorified in them. And now I will no
longer be in the world, but they are in the world,
while I am coming to you.”
Copyright 1970, 1986,
1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian
Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved.
No part of this work may be reproduced or
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