6-29-08

FROM FATHER RICK

DEAR FRIENDS,

SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the two great Apostles to the Nations.

One of the oldest saints’ days in Rome, June 29 was dedicated to the memory of the apostles Peter and Paul as early as the fourth century. This day the church remembers two disciples who differed greatly in style and background, but who shared a tireless energy in spreading the gospel.

Rough-hewn and impulsive Peter left his fishing nets immediately to answer Jesus’ call. Later, during the passion of Jesus, Peter made his denials just as impulsively, though he had pledged his loyalty to Jesus only that evening. Receiving Christ’s gracious forgiveness after the resurrection, Peter went on to become the rock-steady and faithful leader of the disciples. Imprisoned three or four times, he eventually was crucified during the reign of Nero. Legend has it that he was hung on the cross head down because he told the soldiers that he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ.

Once Paul, who had been a rigid and violent persecutor of Christians, experienced the love of Christ, he grew meek—though never shy. He founded many churches and was able to affirm the fledgling communities of believers even while he was admonishing them. Paul’s writings are the first Christian scriptures; they are older than the gospels. After many imprisonments, Paul was executed during the reign of Nero. Since he was a Roman citizen, he was beheaded instead of crucified.

Coastal countries like Chile and Paraguay remember Peter the fisherman with nautical parades. In Hungary and in rural England, people braid straw from the wheat harvest into crosses and crowns to honor the two martyr saints.

SISTER PARISH WEEKEND

Thanks for all who came to celebrate our Sister Parish’s Feastday—The Birth of Saint John the Baptist.

Thanks to Billy Bludgus for his talk on life at the parish in Luhanga. The new statue of Saint John the Baptist is now at the Baptismal Font—a gift of John and Mary Sudol in memory of their fathers, John Sudol and Anthony Gedaminsky.

Thanks also to Oliver, Christie and Ugo Ibe for bringing us delicious African cuisine after the 10:30 Mass, and to Irene and John Bonner for set up and break down.

PARISH OFFICE

The Parish Office will be closed on Friday, July 4, for Independence Day.

I wish you 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, contact Jim McKain at 978-475-7931 or Jim_McKain@NLTek.com, or go online to www.saintroberts.net/kofc.htm.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 pm, Driscoll Hall

Money Matters

On the weekend of June 21/22

Weekly donations $2,645.00

Monthly donations $785.00

Stewardship Reflection

“He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ The chains fell from his wrists.” Acts 12:7

Just as God miraculously freed Peter from prison, He can free us from the chains that the pursuit of possessions can wrap around us. We just need to strive to live a life of stewardship – putting God first in our schedules, in our days and in our budgets.

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." Mt 16:15-17

Meet New People, Make New Friends

Please join us this Fall in ARISE: Together in Christ. Praying and reading the Bible with others brings people closer. New relationships are formed and deepened. For more information on ARISE, please visit us online at www.saintroberts.net/Arise.htm.

Save the Date for our

First Summer Cookout!!

Wednesday, July 16, 5:30 PM

RSVP to Irene at 978-683-8922 or

ibonner@comcast.net.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity is now rebuilding the homes that were destroyed in the Lawrence fire this past winter. Last year, volunteers from St. Roberts were among the many groups who helped complete those homes before the devastating fire. The Outreach Committee would like to return with a group from St. Roberts to help these well deserving and underprivileged families restore their homes and rebuild their hope. To learn more about the Market Street project and the Mbiye and Reyes families, visit the Habitat website at www.merrimackvalleyhabitat.org/market.htm.

There are several dates available in August. It is a full Saturday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. There are also opportunities for lunch providers throughout the summer. Please contact maureenabbott@comcast.net if you are interested in volunteering. Can’t make it in August but still interested in a Habitat work day? Please let us know so we can consider alternate dates as needed.

Saturday, June 28, Vigil,

Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

4:00 pm: Francis & Anne McInerny

Sunday, June 29, Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

8:00 am: Alice & Denis McCarthy

10:30 am: Rev. Thomas Zazella

Saturday, July 5, Vigil, 14th Ordinary Sunday

Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

4:00 pm: Corinne Johnson

Sunday, July 6, 14th Ordinary Sunday

8:00 am: Annie Guillemette & Anne L. Guillemette

10:30 am: John J. Hanley

Only Masses with intentions are listed here. The full weekday Mass schedule

is posted on the church door and announced at the weekend Masses each week.

Readings for the Week of June 29, 2008

Sunday: Vigil: Acts 3:1-10/Gal 1:11-20/Jn 21:15-19

Day: Acts 12:1-11/2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18/Mt 16:13-19

Monday: Am 2:6-10, 13-16/Mt 8:18-22

Tuesday: Am 3:1-8; 4:11-12/Mt 8:23-27

Wednesday: Am 5:14-15, 21-24/Mt 8:28-34

Thursday: Eph 2:19-22/Jn 20:24-29

Friday: Am 8:4-6, 9-12/Mt 9:9-13

Saturday: Am 9:11-15/Mt 9:14-17

Next Sunday: Zec 9:9-10/Rom 8:9, 11-13/Mt 11:25-30

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, LTCD Chris Stopyra, USN

Question of the Week

Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

Reading I: Acts 12:1-11 (Freed from Prison)

Reading II: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 (Rescued from Evil)

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19 (Keys to the Kingdom)

Question for Adults: How have you responded in your own Christian life to Jesus’ call to feed his sheep? Do you recognize this as your own personal invitation from him to minister to others?

Question for Youth: Who are the people you know who are least afraid of sharing their faith with others? What do they teach you about being a disciple?

Question for Children: Jesus wants us to help others—what are some ways you can do that for the people in your family, class, or neighborhood?

CATHOLIC–ORTHODOX VIGIL

THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 7:00 PM

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM PARISH

WEST ROXBURY, MA

All are warmly invited as Cardinal Seán presides at the festal Vespers of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patron Saints of Rome, and leads the Archdiocese in hosting a delegation of Eastern Orthodox led by His Eminence Methodios, Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Church of Boston. For more information feel free to call 617-435-0019. ALL ARE WELCOME.

Looking for resources for veterans?

For more information or to sign up to regularly receive the “Veterans Blast Email Update,” contact parishioner Michael Burke, Director of Veterans’ Services for Andover, at veterans@andoverma.gov or 978-623-8218. To find out more about the Andover Veterans’ Office as well as various benefits available to all eligible veterans, visit their website at http://andoverma.gov/veterans. And if you are interested in attending the upcoming performance of the United States Air Force Air National Guard Band of the Northeast on Monday, June 30, 7:00 pm, at the Collins Center at Andover High, there are free passes available in the Parish Office.

The Parish Office will be closed on

Friday, July 4, for Independence Day.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Going on Vacation?

Summer vacation has arrived! Have fun and be safe! Here’s a helpful list of things to remember as you get ready to pack and go:

Stop the newspaper
Stop the mail
Take pets to the kennel
Lock all the windows and doors
Send your weekly contribution to St. Roberts

Please consider sending your summer contribution before you leave for vacation. Or consider signing up for the ParishPay automated giving program (see below for more information).

Stay in touch through our parish website:

www.saintroberts.net

While traveling find local Mass times at:

www.masstimes.org

What is ParishPay & How Can I Enroll?

ParishPay is an automated giving program that will collect monthly contributions from your checking, savings, or credit card account–no matter where you roam! No more checks to write or envelopes to fuss with. There are three easy ways to enroll:

By envelope: complete the enrollment form (available in the Parish Office) and return it to the Parish Office or drop it in the collection basket at Mass
Online: go to www.parishpay.com, locate St. Roberts parish, and complete the enrollment form
By phone: call the toll free number 1-866-727-4741 and a ParishPay representative will assist you directly

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Irene in the Parish Office at 978-683-8922 or ibonner@comcast.net.

Why are the Feast of Peter and Paul on June 29

and the Feast of the First Holy Martyrs on June 30 celebrated together?

Both feasts highlight the sacrifices that people are willing to make in order to be faithful to their values and beliefs. Peter, Paul and the first martyrs all died during the first persecution of Christians under the Emperor Nero, between the years 64 and 68.

The Roman historian Tacitus tells of a great fire that broke out in Rome in July of 64. It lasted ten days, during which almost two-thirds of the city was ruined. Many suspected Nero started the fire. To remove any suspicion, Nero blamed the Christians. Persecutions ensued and many Christians were killed during the entertainments near the Vatican Hill stadium. Peter, Paul and many of the early Christians died during this persecution.

Since Paul was a Roman citizen, he could not be killed like the others. Rather, he was taken to the Ostian Way and beheaded. Legend tells that Peter and Paul met on their way to their respective places of death, a moment beautifully captured in many icons. They embrace, both anxious concerning their fates, yet at peace knowing that they have “fought the good fight, have won the race, and that a crown of victory awaits them” (cf. 2 Timothy 4:7). Major churches now tower over the traditional sites of their martyrdom.

How do you maintain fidelity and faith when bombarded with situations in today’s world that challenge your beliefs?

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK–FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah 9:9-10

Thus says the LORD: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8:9, 11-13

Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

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