Dear Parishioners,

We sat together, reading today’s Gospel, and asked ourselves: What is Jesus saying to us as we listen to His Word today? How does this reading relate to our Lenten theme:

These are the thoughts that came to us:

Here we, with Peter, James and John, see Jesus appearing to us in His glory...we see Jesus as He truly is — Our Redeemer and the Son of God.

We get a taste of the goodness of our God — of His great love for us in sending His Beloved Son, who loves us so much that He is willing and eager to shed every drop of His Blood that we may have eternal life.

In our walk with Jesus, there are times when we feel we are on that mountain top, we see ourselves surrounded by the Light of Christ. We are filled with hope and joy. We relish in the taste of these moments. Sometimes a cloud of doubt, pain or sorrow casts its shadow over us and envelops us. We (as did Jesus’ apostles) become frightened. It is then that we need to hear the word of Our Father: "This is My Chosen Son, listen to Him". In Jesus’ words, we will again find hope and meaning for our life...Jesus shows us the way to make God the conscious, explicit focus of our lives — Our God who never fails us!

As we receive the Eucharist today, we hear Jesus say to each of us: "Take and eat, This is My Body...Take and Drink, This is My Blood". Here it is that we again taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Jesus’ only desire is to become one with us in body, in mind, in heart and in spirit. His love is calling us to a greater realization of how very good and loving is Our Lord.

TASTE AND SEE!!!

Dear Parishioners,

It always helps to take a look at a ritual or tradition to reexamine why it is we are doing what we are doing. Here’s some fundamental teaching about Lent:

"Lent is marked by two themes, the baptismal and the penitential. By recalling or preparing for baptism and by repentance, this season disposes the faithful, as they more diligently listen to the word of God and devote themselves to prayer, to celebrate the paschal mystery." - Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, #109

READINGS for NEXT SUNDAY,
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
Exodus 3:1-15 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 Luke 13:1-9

SICK RELATIVES AND FRIENDS

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

WEEKLY INTENTION

All are invited to the Church for Stations at 6:00 p.m each Friday during Lent. After this time of reflection and prayer, come share a sacrificial meal with our St. Robert’s family. We ask that you give what you would have spent on your Friday dinner to our St. Vincent de Paul Society. There will be a basket in Hennessy Hall for your gift, which will be used to provide food where it is most needed.

Let us come together for:

"Prayer" - Stations of the Cross

"Fasting and Abstinence" - A light meal following Stations

Pray    *     Fast    *    Learn    *     Give

In today’s second reading, Paul tells the Philippians, "Be imitators of me, my brothers. Take as your guide those who follow the example that we set" (Philippians 3:17). Paul cautions us not to imitate those whose actions show them to be "enemies of the cross of Christ"; instead, he calls us to live the Christian life.

Living solidarity is fundamental to living a Christian life. Operation Rice Bowl, in which our community is participating, offers us concrete ways to live in solidarity with our neighbors and in the ways we live out our citizenship on earth in preparation for the citizenship in heaven of which Paul writes.

Today, at the Noon Mass, the Sacrament of the Sick will be celebrated. All who are seriously ill in body, mind or spirit and all who are experiencing the affects of the aging process are invited to come before the Priest as he lays hands on them.

The congregation will pray silently for their recovery, as the Priest anoints each with oil. The grace from this Sacrament brings us faith, trust and hope. As we receive it, may we

We are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you can prepare a favorite cookie, snack or lunch item for 10 to 12 people, please drop it off at the Children’s Chapel, in the back of Church, by 9:00 AM on March 14th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items can be donated.

Memorial Easter Lilies

Easter Lilies will decorate the Church during the Easter Season. If you would care to make a donation of $10 (please make check payable to St. Robert’s Lilies Fund) towards their purchase in memory of a loved one, please fill out the form below and return it to the Parish Office by April 11th. A memorial list will be published in the bulletin.

My gift is in memory of:__________________________

My gift is in honor of:____________________________

Letter of Pope John Paul

As we begin the new millennium, Pope John Paul has written a letter to all members of the Church. During the weeks of Lent, selections from the letter will be in our bulletin to help us prepare for the Feast of Easter.

The Life of Faith

"The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord"

(Jn. 20:20). The face which the apostles contemplated after the resurrection was the same face of the Jesus with whom they had lived for almost three years and who now convinced them of the astonishing truth of his new life by showing them "his hands and his side" (Jn. 20:20). Of course it was not easy to believe. The disciples on their way to Emmaus believed only after a long spiritual journey (cf. Lk. 24:13-35). The apostle Thomas believed only after verifying for himself the marvelous event (cf. Jn. 20:24-29). In fact, regardless of how much his body was seen or touched, only faith could fully enter the mystery of that face. This was an experience which the disciples must have already had during the historical life of Christ, in the questions which came to their minds whenever they felt challenged by his actions and his words. One can never really reach Jesus except by the path of faith, on a journey of which the stages seem to be indicated to us by the Gospel itself in the well-known scene at Caesarea Philippi (cf. Mt. 16:13-20). Engaging in a kind of first evaluation of his mission, Jesus asks his disciples what "people" think of him, and they answer him: "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (Mt. 16:14). A lofty response to be sure, but still a long way — by far — from the truth. The crowds are able to sense a definitely exceptional religious dimension to this rabbi who they are not able to put him above those men of God who had distinguished the history of Israel. Jesus is really far different! It is precisely this further step of awareness, concerning as it does the deeper level of his being, which he expects from those who are close to him: "But who do you say that I am?" (Mt. 16:15). Only the faith proclaimed by Peter, and with him by the Church in every age, truly goes to the heart and touches the depth of the mystery: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt. 16:16)

How had Peter come to this faith? And what is asked of us if we wish to follow in his footsteps with ever greater conviction? Matthew gives us an enlightening insight in the words with which Jesus accepts Peter’s confession: "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (16:17). The expression "flesh and blood" is a reference to man and the common way of understanding things. In the case of Jesus this common way is not enough. A grace of "revelation" is needed, which comes from the Father (cf. Mt 16:17). Luke gives us an indication which points in the same direction when he notes that this dialogue with the disciples took place when Jesus "was praying alone" (Lk. 9:18). Both indications converge to make it clear that we cannot come to the fullness of contemplation of the Lord’s face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand.

Only the experience of silence and prayer offers the proper setting for the growth and development of a true, faithful and consistent knowledge of that mystery which finds it culminating expression in the solemn proclamation by the evangelist St. John: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father." (1:14).

If you have shopped at Tanforan please turn in your receipts at the information booth on the 2nd floor at Tanforan, in the vestibule of the Church, or the Rectory. For questions or more information Call Linda Cuddy.

JOB FAIRE

We welcome you into our parish!

Tate and Marci Elmore and family
Kenneth Pucci and Zoraya Herrera and family
John and Ann Scaduto
Anthony Sr. and Michelle Ghilardi and family

WOMEN’S GUILD.....Monday-March 12th Children’s Art Auction Items for the upcoming Dinner/Dance will be on display. For reservations call Heidi Cochrane.

SOCIABLES.....Our next get- together will be at Joe’s of Westlake at John Daly Blvd. and Lake Merced Blvd. in Daly City. The date is March 25th at 12:00 noon. For further information please call Bunny Moniz.

TUESDAY, March 13th
6:30 - 8 p.m. Legion of Mary.....Library
7 - 8:15 p.m. Religious Ed Parent Mtg......Hall
8 - 9 p.m. Teen Club.....Hall

WEDNESDAY, March 14th
9 a.m. Aids Lunch.....Children’s Chapel
9 - 10 a.m. Grief Group.....Mary’s Chapel
7:30 - 9 p.m. Bible Study....Convent
7-9 Dinner Dance meeting....Hall

THURSDAY, March 15th
3:30-8p Religious Ed.....Hall
7 - 9 p.m. RCIA.....Chapel
7-9 p.m.Parish Council....Library

FRIDAY, March 16th
6:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross...Church
4-8p.m. Lenten Supper.....Hall