FROM FATHER RICK
DEAR FRIENDS,
WEEKEND MASS
SCHEDULE
Next weekend,
September 6/7, we resume our regular Weekend
Mass Schedule. Masses will be celebrated next
weekend on Saturday at 4:00 pm, and on Sunday at
9:00 am & 11:00 am.
FAIR TRADE COFFEE
Because of the
holiday weekend Fair Trade Coffee will be
available next weekend after all the Masses in
the Gathering Space.
ARISE UPDATE
The formal Sign Up
weekend will take place on September 13/14.
There will also be ARISE Team members available
at Generations of Faith Registration dates as
well. There are sign up cards available in the
Gathering Space.
Each Small Group
will be meeting at a different time during the
week for the six-week period of the First
Season. We still need at least five Leaders to
reach our goal of 20 small communities. This
ministry requires one training session sponsored
by the archdiocese and for each of the sessions
materials are provided. Please consider this
ministry. If you have any questions you can ask
any of the ARISE Team members who are at the
ARISE table in the Gathering Space.
ARCHDIOCESAN
BICENTENNIAL VICARIATE CELEBRATION
On next Sunday,
September 7, there will be a family picnic and
Bicentennial Celebration at Saint Michael’s in
North Andover. The celebration begins with a
Noon Mass in the church and then a family picnic
from 1:00–4:00 pm. Tickets for the picnic are on
sale after all our weekend Masses—$5 for an
individual; $15 for a family of four or more.
GENERATIONS OF
FAITH
Don’t forget to
register for GOF. Check elsewhere in the
bulletin for times and dates other than next
weekend when registration will take place after
all the Masses.
PARISHIONER’S
ADDRESS
Please contact the
Parish Office is you would like the new address
for Charlotte & Al Talarico.
NATIONAL
ELECTIONS
In mid-September we
will hold a presentation on the Catholic
Bishops’ document Faithful Citizenship. Bernie
Swain will be the presenter.
In order to make it
available to more folks, it will be held on
Tuesday, September 16, at 7:00 in the evening in
Driscoll Hall. The same presentation will be
repeated on Wednesday, September 17, immediately
following the 12:10 pm Mass in the Bellarmine
Room. If you plan to attend please call the
Parish Office so that we may make preparations.
PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office
will be closed Monday, September 1, for the
Labor Day Weekend.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FOR YOUR CALENDAR!
SEPTEMBER 7–MASS
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
9:00 AM Mass offered
for all those beginning school this Fall.
SEPTEMBER
7–ARCHDIOCESAN BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Noon Mass at St
Michael’s in North Andover, followed by a
Family Picnic from
1:00 PM–4:00 PM.
SEPTEMBER
13/14–ARISE SIGN UP WEEKEND
Please bring your
calendar or come prepared to sign up after Mass.
SEPTEMBER
16–FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP PRESENTATION
7:00 PM–Driscoll
Hall
Dr. Bernie
Swain–Presenter
SEPTEMBER
17–FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP PRESENTATION
12:45 PM–Bellarmine
Room
Dr. Bernie
Swain–Presenter
SEPTEMBER
20/21–ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE FEASTDAY WEEKEND
SATURDAY
EVENING–Italian Fiesta following 4:00 PM Mass
SUNDAY
MORNING–following 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM Masses:
Euro Breakfast
Buffet
International Food &
Wine Festival
SEPTEMBER
27/28–ARISE PRAYER COMMITMENT WEEKEND
OCTOBER
5–11–ARISE GROUPS BEGIN
I wish you peace,
Fr Rick
Stewardship
Reflection
“What profit
would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?” Matthew 16:26
St. Francis of
Assisi once said, “Remember, you are what you
are in the eyes of God, and nothing else.” We
often forget this stewardship wisdom when we
spend all of our time, talent and treasure to
gain more of the things of the world. Instead,
we need to learn to set our priorities based on
God’s values and not the values of the material
world.
Money Matters
On the weekend of
August 23/24

Saturday, August
30, Vigil, 22nd Ordinary Sunday
4:00 pm: Michael
Noel Ryan and his 48 companions killed in the
Comair flight 5191 plane crash in Lexington, KY
Sunday, August
31, 22nd Ordinary Sunday
8:00 am: People of
the Parish
10:30 am: Herb
Murray
Thursday,
September 4, Weekday Mass
12:10 pm: Walenty
Charewicz
Friday, September
5, Weekday Mass
12:10 pm: Edgar
Seman
Saturday,
September 6, Vigil, 23rd Ordinary Sunday
4:00 pm: Gerry
Christoffels
Sunday, September
7, 23rd Ordinary Sunday
9:00 am: Mass of the
Holy Spirit offered for all those beginning
school this Fall
11:00 am: Peter F.
Gagliardi
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.
Prayers Requested
for
Margaret (Peggy)
Atkins,
sister of
parishioner Tom Atkins
Michael
Gravallese,
parishioner and
husband of Mary
Mary Salvucci,
mother of
parishioner Joe Salvucci
Readings for the
Week of August 31, 2008
Sunday:
Jer 20:7-9/Rom 12:1-2/Mt 16:21-27
Monday: 1
Cor 2:1-5/Lk 4:16-30
Tuesday: 1
Cor 2:10b-16/Lk 4:31-37
Wednesday: 1
Cor 3:1-9/Lk 4:38-44
Thursday: 1
Cor 3:18-23/Lk 5:1-11
Friday:
1 Cor 4:1-5/Lk 5:33-39
Saturday: 1
Cor 4:6b-15/Lk 6:1-5
Next Sunday: Ez
33:7-9/Rom 13:8-10/Mt 18:15-20
Question of the
Week
Twenty-Second
Ordinary Sunday
Reading I:
Jeremiah 20:7-9 (A Fire Burning in My Heart)
Reading II:
Romans 12:1-2 (Do Not Conform Yourselves to
This Age)
Gospel:
Matthew 16:21-27 (The Challenge to Follow
Christ)
Question for Adults:
Jesus gives us the core truth to life and
eternal happiness—the cross. Name the cross that
you carry. How is it bringing you closer to God?
Question for Youth:
In order to follow Jesus, we have to do
hard things, to carry our own crosses. What is a
cross that you are carrying right now? In what
ways can you ask Jesus to help you with your
cross?
Question for Children:
Jesus tells us that we are each called to
follow him. What is hard for you to do to follow
Jesus?

Volunteer because
God has plans for her…
Without you the door
may go unanswered for a woman or man in a crisis
pregnancy or a scared woman may take a pregnancy
test alone or with someone encouraging an
abortion. Three hours a week can make a
difference in someone else’s whole lifetime. The
next peer counseling training is planned for
September 16, 17, 23, 24 in the Haverhill
center. Contact Joy in Amesbury @ 978-388-7960
or Carol in Haverhill @ 978-373-5700 for more
information.
Pregnancy Care
Center
www.pccnortheast.org
In Service
Lt. Col. James
Coffey, USAF, 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
Reminder: Next
weekend, September 6/7, we resume our regular
weekend Mass schedule:
Saturday at 4:00
pm
Sunday at 9:00 &
11:00 am

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, September 3, 7:30 pm, Driscoll Hall

Join the St.
Robert’s Parish Team!
Lazarus House
Hike for Hope
Sunday, October
5, 1:00 pm
We are forming a
parish team to participate in the Lazarus House
Hike for Hope. Come join—bring the family,
motivate your friends, meet fellow parishioners!
The pledge walk begins and ends at Merrimack
College. There is a one-mile option that stays
on campus or a five-mile option that winds its
way through downtown Andover. You can register
online at
www.hikeforhope.org; choose “Team Member”
under registration type and choose “St. Robert
Bellarmine Parish” from the drop down menu when
you are prompted. Or call 978-269-5217 to
register by phone. Registration is $15. For more
information or if you have questions about
registering (including the registration fee),
please contact parishioner Karen Bailey at
978-475-1049 or
kbailey07@comcast.net.
Take Steps to
Bring the Homeless Home!

Registration
Wednesday, September
3, 4:00-7:00 pm
Saturday, September
6, after 4:00 pm Mass
Sunday, September 7,
after 9:00 & 11:00 am Masses
All registrations
will take place in Driscoll Hall
For registration,
you will need: your calendar, picture ID,
checkbook or cash for registration payment,
1st & 2nd choice for
festival dates, & choice of volunteer
opportunity.
Volunteer Needs
Before you come to
registration, please consider in what capacity
you will volunteer in the program. Here are some
options:
·
Festival set up team (Friday morning, Sunday
after 11:00 am Mass, Monday early afternoon)
·
Meal
team
·
Activity Leader, Co-leader, Assistant Activity
Leader
·
Break
down team
·
Home
Kit Assembly team
·
Registration team
Check out your
Faith Formation Newsletter for further
information on all these volunteer opportunities
(as well as the GOF calendar and topics, and
details about registration).
What is
Generations of Faith?
If you are new to
the parish or just new to GOF and have
questions, contact Amanda at
amroberts@comcast.net or 978-683-8922 or
check out the FAQ on our website (bottom of the
homepage or under Faith Formation) for more
information.

Fair trade coffee will
be available for purchase after all Masses next
weekend, September 6 and 7. Buying fair trade
coffee is a tangible way we can put the values
of our faith into action. It reminds us that
there are people behind all the things we
consume. Bring your values to the
marketplace—bring Dean’s Beans Fair Trade Coffee
into your homes!
SCRIPTURE
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK–TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
A reading from
the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 33:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for
the house of Israel; when you hear me say
anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell
the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely
die,” and you do not speak out to dissuade the
wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for
his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for
his death. But if you warn the wicked, trying to
turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn
from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but
you shall save yourself.
A reading from
the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 13:8-10
Brothers and
sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love
one another; for the one who loves another has
fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall
not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you
shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and
whatever other commandment there may be, are
summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no
evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the
fulfillment of the law.
+ A reading from
the holy Gospel according to Matthew 18:15-20
Jesus said to his
disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go
and tell him his fault between you and him
alone. If he listens to you, you have won over
your brother. If he does not listen, take one or
two others along with you, so that ‘every fact
may be established on the testimony of two or
three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to
them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen
even to the church, then treat him as you would
a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to
you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth about anything for
which they are to pray, it shall be granted to
them by my heavenly Father. For where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the midst of them.”
Copyright 1970,
1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All
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