FROM FATHER RICK
Dear Friends,
Happy Easter!
Today we celebrate the
Seventh Sunday of Easter.
PENTECOST & MOTHER’S
DAY CELEBRATION
Remember our Parish
Celebration of Pentecost will take place next
weekend at ONE 10:00 am Mass. This Eucharist
will be followed by our fourth annual Parish Pig &
Lamb Roast.
DON’T FORGET TO WEAR
RED NEXT WEEKEND!!!!
The following
Blessing Prayer is here for your use at your family
tables next Sunday.
A Blessing for Mothers
We bless you and we
praise you, God of our mothers!
You are the God of Eve,
mother of all the living.
You are the God of
Sarah, who laughed at childbearing in old age.
You are the God of
Rebekah who favored her second-born, Jacob.
You are the God of Leah,
mother of tribes,
and of Rachel, who
mourned and wrestled and won.
You are the God of
Hannah, who strongly sang your praise for Samson,
and of Naomi who
faithfully walked with Ruth.
You are the God of
Elizabeth, who bore the Baptist
and of Ann, the
grandmother of Jesus.
You are the God of Mary,
Spirit’s spouse and mother of our Savior,
given by Christ on the
cross to be the mother of us all.
We thank you, God, for
the gift of our mothers,
for grandmothers and
godmothers and mothers-in-law, too.
Send your Holy Spirit
upon our mothers,
at whose breasts we were
fed,
by whose hands we were
cleaned and clothed, at times corrected,
in whose laps we learned
to sing and speak and play and pray,
at whose side we hear
your word and celebrate your mysteries.
Heal their pains and
disappointments.
Forgive all that needs
to be forgiven.
Give to them the good
that they have given others.
Welcome to your bosom
those who have died.
Fill this world, O God,
with a mother’s love!
We ask this through your
Son Jesus Christ,
who desires to gather us
together
as a hen gathers her
brood under her wings.
He lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and
ever. Amen.
Copyright © 2002
Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training
Publications, 1800 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago
IL 60622-1101; 1-800-933-1800; www.ltp.org. Text by
David Philippart. All rights reserved. Used with
permission.
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
this weekend, May 3/4, our Knights of Columbus
will be selling
flowers. The proceeds will benefit Birthright of
Lowell.
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.
Bread and Roses
On Sunday, May 18th,
we will prepare the meal for the Bread and Roses
hospitality house in Lawrence to be served on
Monday, May 19th.
We plan to prepare BEEF
TACOS with a tossed salad and dessert. Food items
needed are: cooked ground beef, soft tacos (large
size please), packages of shredded cheese, packages
of taco seasoning, jars of salsa, lettuce, tomato,
cucumbers, large cans of fruit salad, cookies or
brownies. Please use the sign up sheet on the
clipboard in the church lobby.
Kitchen helpers meet
on Sunday at 10:00 AM. All food donations should be
received by 10:50 AM. Call Betty Bufano at
978-851-5682 or Lisa Lattari at 978-749-3736 for
further information.
Special Collection
Next Weekend
On Pentecost Sunday, May
11, an annual Collection for the Seminaries
will be taken up. Your support is needed for this
essential collection as the seminaries depend upon
the generosity of all the parishioners in the
archdiocese to continue the important work of
priestly formation, and to help meet their annual
operating budgets. The monies collected will ensure
that those committed to the formation of our priests
and religious have the best available resources as
the Church continues to prepare men for the
priesthood and to serve the sacramental and teaching
needs of all our people. Please be generous to this
essential Archdiocesan work.
Fair trade coffee and
cocoa will be available for purchase in the
Gathering Space after all
Masses this weekend, May 3 and 4.
Shelter Needs
Winter protocol at the
Lowell Transitional Living Center is over, so
homeless men and women who are not in recovery are
sleeping outside. LTLC is seeking
tents, tarps, and
sleeping bag
donations for them. If you are able to help, kindly
deliver donations to the shelter in care of the
Director, or Outreach Worker Abdul-Wahab Kadar, at
189 Middlesex Street, Lowell, MA 01852. Thank you.
Mass Schedule and
Intentions
As Father Frank’s
illness progresses, please note that the
weekday Mass schedule is
subject to change during the week.
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
Monday, May 5, Easter
Weekday
12:10 pm
Tuesday, May 6,
Easter Weekday
12:10 pm
Wednesday, May 7,
Easter Weekday
12:10 pm
Thursday, May 8,
Easter Weekday
12:10 pm: People of the
Parish
Friday, May 9, Easter
Weekday
12:10 pm
Saturday, May 10
NO
MASS TODAY!
Sunday, May 11,
Pentecost Sunday/Mother’s Day
10:00 am: All Mothers
Readings for the Week of
May 4, 2008
Sunday: Acts 1:12-14/1 Pt 4:13-16/Jn
17:1-11a
Monday: Acts 19:1-8/Jn 16:29-33
Tuesday: Acts 20:17-27/Jn 17:1-11a
Wednesday: Acts 20:28-38/Jn 17:11b-19
Thursday: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/Jn 17:20-26
Friday: Acts 25:13b-21/Jn 21:15-19
Saturday: Morning: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31/Jn
21:20-25
Next
Sunday: Vigil: Gn 11:1-9 or Ex 19:3-8a, 16-20b or
Ez 37:1-14 or Jl 3:1-5/Rom 8:22-27/Jn 7:37-39
Day:
Acts 2:1-11/1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13/Jn
20:19-23
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–Seventh Sunday of Easter
Question for Adults:
In these heartfelt instructions from a leader
of the church, what are the ways in modern life that
we sometimes suffer for our faith? Or are there no
such ways?
Question for Youth:
Prayer is essential to being a disciple, because it
is the way we build or relationship with God—through
talking and listening. What is one way you can take
more time this week to listen to God in prayer?
Question for Children:
Jesus helps us be strong in our faith. When
do you need to be really strong in faith?
Thank you…
“I write to thank the
St. Robert Bellarmine Community for its support and
condolences over the past few months as I cared for
my father in Florida, and as I prepared for and
celebrated his funeral Mass this past Monday.
Without the absolute commitment of the parish staff
to my lengthy absence from work, I could not have
dedicated myself to the task at hand. To Fr. Rick,
Fr. Frank, Amanda and Meg, I extend my personal
gratitude. Once I returned, I found that I was
unprepared for the extent of sensitivity and
generosity that I received from my parish community.
You all have managed to overwhelm me with your
kindness and I send you my love and thanks.” –Irene
Generations of Faith
Reminder: This
weekend we will celebrate our last Generations of
Faith festival of the season, Festival 7, “The
Holy Trinity—God For Us.”
We’ll be focusing on the Trinity, the central
mystery of our faith, and its relevance and
connection to our daily lives. The corresponding
event for this festival is Trinity Sunday, May
17 & 18.
There is space available
on Sunday, May 4, 5:00-8:00 pm (there is no Sunday
afternoon session for this festival) and on Monday,
May 5, 5:00-8:00 pm (all ages). The evening begins
with a communal meal and the menu for this festival
is steak tips, corn, potato salad,
salad, and cake. If you have not already
registered and would like to join us, please stop by
the registration desk in Driscoll Hall before the
session you would like to attend.
This Week in Our
Parish
As Father Frank’s
illness progresses, please note that the
weekday schedule is
subject to change during the week.
Monday, May 5
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
Tuesday, May 6
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
7:00 PM Scouts
Committee Meeting, Bellarmine Room
Wednesday, May 7
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
7:30 PM Knights of
Columbus, Driscoll Hall
Thursday, May 8
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, May 9
12:10 PM Weekday Mass,
Church
Saturday, May 10
NO MASS TODAY!
Sunday, May 11
Pentecost & Mother’s Day
Celebration—One Mass Only at 10:00 AM,
followed by the Fourth
Annual Parish Pig & Lamb Roast—DON’T FORGET TO WEAR
RED!!
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.
Annulment Information
Session
You may desire to learn
more about what the Catholic Church teaches about
annulments or you may be interested in beginning the
process. The next local meeting on the topic will be
at All Saints Parish, 120 Bellevue Ave., in
Haverhill on Thursday, June 19 at 7:00 pm. This
meeting is designed to offer basic information and
provide the opportunity to seek answers for any
questions you may have. No registration is required.
For further information, please contact Joanne Curry
at 617-746-5820 or go to
www.familylifeboston.com.
ONE MASS ONLY NEXT
WEEKEND!!
Parish Celebration of
Pentecost
Sunday, May 11, 10:00 am
Mass,
followed by the 4th
Annual Pig/Lamb Roast
Remember to wear
red!!
One Church—One
Community—One Mass
Protecting God's
Children
On Thursday, May 8,
from 9:30 am to 12 noon, the Office of Child
Advocacy will be having a “Protecting God's
Children” training session at Bishop Peterson Hall
in Classroom B on the first floor. This is the Adult
Child Abuse Safety program in use in all parishes of
the Archdiocese. All clergy, employees, and
volunteers who work with children are required to
take this program. Once or twice a year a
presentation is given at the Chancery for staff who
need to take the program, and for anyone else who
has an interest in joining us.
If you plan to attend,
please respond by May 5 to Sister Terry in
the Office of Child Advocacy at 617-746-5994 or
SisterTerry_Jardin@rcab.org.
Bereavement Support
Groups
Beacon Hospice is
offering two local bereavement support groups. “A
Journey of Hope and Healing” will meet for six weeks
on Thursday evenings, May 26 to June 26, from
6:00-7:30 pm, at Merrimack Valley Hospital in
Haverhill. “Coping with the Loss of a Parent” will
meet on Tuesday evenings for eight weeks, May 6 to
June 24, from 6:00-7:30 pm, at St. Lucy’s Parish in
Methuen. For more information or to register for
either group, please contact Lucille Bonanno at
978-372-4211 or
lbonanno@beaconhospice.com.
Swing into Spring!
The Rowen Memorial
Golf Tournament
Monday, May 19, The
Weston Golf Club
Support Blessed John
XXIII National Seminary. Tuition at the seminary
covers only half the cost of educating a seminarian
and the proceeds from this tournament will help
bridge the gap and keep the cost of educating them
affordable. The $250 player entry includes lunch at
the Club, 18 holes of golf with cart, and door
prizes; followed by a social hour, silent auction,
and dinner for each golfer and a guest at the
seminary. To register, call Kate Folan at
781-899-5500 or visit
www.blessedjohnxxiii.edu to print out a
registration form.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
FOR NEXT WEEK–PENTECOST SUNDAY
A reading from the
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
When the time for
Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place
together. And suddenly there came from the sky a
noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the
entire house in which they were. Then there appeared
to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to
rest on each one of them. And they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different
tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
Now there were devout
Jews from every nation under heaven staying in
Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large
crowd, but they were confused because each one heard
them speaking in his own language. They were
astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all
these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how
does each of us hear them in his native language? We
are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of
Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of
Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and
Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues
of the mighty acts of God.”
A reading from the
first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
12:3b-7, 12-13
Brothers and sisters: No
one can say, “Jesus is Lord, ” except by the Holy
Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts
but the same Spirit; there are different forms of
service but the same Lord; there are different
workings but the same God who produces all of them
in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of
the Spirit is given for some benefit.
As a body is one though
it has many parts, and all the parts of the body,
though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in
one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and
we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
+ A reading from the
holy Gospel according to John 20:19-23
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.”
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