Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The gospel invites us to look more closely at them and their story. Each one has a special role and a message for us as we continue our reflection through the Christmas Season.

I hope that your Christmas was one of joy and happiness, and I pray that God might bless you and your family as we enter the New Year.

Before Christmas, the Finance and the Building Committees of the Parish spent two evenings reviewing the Report of Olwell and Associates concerning the proposed building of an Educational and Parish Center for our Parish.

Based upon the interviews and the survey that was mailed to all parishioners, the report said that, by donations and pledges, we could possibly raise $1,500,000 over a period of three to five years. Despite this superb sign of commitment, the amount would still leave us well short of the approximately $3,500,000 needed to construct both Centers as they were originally designed. Even if we could borrow the remaining amount from the Archdiocese, the mortgage payments would be far beyond the ability of the Parish to pay.

As a result, the Committees are now considering a new approach to the project. Tentatively, this would involve the renovation of Hennessy Hall into an educational center for the Religious Education program, the school (multipurpose classroom and lunch room), and youth ministry. The Parish Center for social and recreational needs would be a separate building constructed at the same time.

In the weeks ahead, I will keep you informed as to the construction and financial feasibility of this new approach.

If this new approach proves non-feasible, we will return to consideration of the plan to construct the Education Center as soon as possible and postpone the building of a Parish Center to the future.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to the following parishioners who devoted much time, talent, and energy to preparing our Advent and Christmas celebrations during the past month:

The Church Environment Team: Tom Dachauer, Catherine Bendick, Una Uniacke, Lisa Betts, Kacie Carey, Tony Yaquinto, Bruce Chester, Gene Semenza, Joe Lambert, Joe Vinal, Father Mark, and the TeeN CLub w/ Diana Landin and Lorraine Ballas

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY, THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-6 Matthew 2:1-12

We Welcome the Newly Baptized: Anthony James Martinez

We Pray for the Ill: Marlyn Arancibia, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Sister Cabrini, Arthur Candia, Ana Cosgaya, Imelda Daly, William & Sandra Dill, Adela Florez, Elsie Grech, Randall Guerro, Denise Hawald, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Josephine Lavoie, Marky, Rosemary McHale, Jeanne McHugh, Terry McLeod, Richard Quintana, Mary Shick, Cyndy Smerdel, Kari Stellino, Don Vickery, Sharon Aiello, Ruth Sleeper, Catherine Okulove, Nan Connolly, Joanne Johnson, Josie Clarke, Rich Crispi, & Bernie Voight.

As a Parish Community, We Pray...

I want to thank all the St. Vincent de Paul volunteers that helped us deliver food and Scrip to 22 families (33 adults and 58 children) on Sat. Dec. 16th. A tremendous thanks to Bruce Chester and Carlo Noce for preparing all the bags of canned food... Rob Aveson’s "Family Tree" donations and the In-Betweener’s that donated great gifts. The "teams of" Janet Aldinger/Carlo Noce; Paul Carroll/Bruce Chester; Nancy McMahon/Bunny Moniz; Sandy Mangold/Sister Ita; and Pat Mooney/Sophia Chester brought so much "joy" to these 22 families...well, you would have to have seen the expressions on their faces! Scrip and Gift Certificates from our funds (made possible from 5th Sunday Collections) as well as donations from our parishioners, amounted to $2,000.00 distributed!

Archbishop William J. Levada and the Office of Marriage and Family Life invite all those married couples who will celebrate their 25th, 50th, or 50+ Wedding Anniversary during the year 2001 to a Solemn Mass in their honor Saturday, February 10, 2001 St. Mary’s Cathedral, 10:00a.m. A reception will follow the Mass.

Kindergarten Application:
Applications for St. Robert School Kindergarten for the 2001/2002 school year will be accepted in the School Office Monday Friday, January 8th through the 12th, between 9 AM - 3 PM. The screening fee for each applicant is $25.00. Please bring copies of your child’s birth and baptismal records, a recent family photograph and your child’s social security number. Screening dates will be assigned on completion of the application.

Requirements for School Registration:
Family must be registered and participating members of St. Robert’s Parish. This means that the family is involved in Parish life and the financial support of the Parish. Applications will be accepted for children who are 5 years of age by September 1, 2001. All acceptances will be based on student screenings and parent interviews.

Non-Discrimination Policy:
St. Robert School, mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students of any race, color, and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. St. Robert School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color and national and/or ethnic origin in adminstration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

 
MONDAY, January 1st
9:00 a.m. Mass, Mary the Mother of God.....Church

TUESDAY, January 2nd
6:30-8 p.m. Legion of Mary.....Library

WEDNESDAY, January 3rd
7:30-9 p.m. Bible Study....Convent
7:30-9 p.m. Liturgy Committee....Mary’s Chapel

THURSDAY, January 4th
7-9 p.m. RCIA.....Chapel
7-9 p.m. Parish Planning Committee.....Library

FRIDAY, January 5th
1 p.m. on Religious Education....Hall

Saturday, January 6th
9-10 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration....Church

SUNDAY, January 7th
10-11:30 a.m. Fil/Am Choir....Hall
3:30-5:30 p.m. Confirmation.....Hal