St. Robert's Catholic Church Bulletin, December 2, 2001

Dear Friends:

We sat together talking about our Advent theme - "Practice the Presence of God" - prayed about it, asking Jesus, "How can we practice Your presence? Where do we find You?" These thoughts came to us:

"Our Father sent me into your world as a helpless baby. In seeing me, you behold the presence of God. I lived for you and I died for you because I love you.

Together we are on a journey - a journey to everlasting life. All I ask of you is to always remember how very much I love you. Please, love Me in return. Give yourself to Me completely. Talk with Me often. Wait patiently - I will speak to your heart. My Holy Spirit lives deep within you and will never leave you.

When uncertainty, difficulties, fear or sorrow overwhelm you, put your trust in Me. You need not fear what lies ahead for I am always here with you.

Look into the eyes of those I bring to you. Welcome them and you welcome Me. Love them and you love Me - for I am present within them.

As you come together to celebrate the Eucharist, I am in your midst. Listen to My word - I am here. Come to my table - this IS my body: this IS my blood. In this Sacrament, we are one - I in you and you in Me.

Experience the joy of My coming on Christmas Day - with you at this very moment and when I return to bring you home. I give you My peace. I give you My joy. I give you My love."

May God bless you,
Gene & Anna May

Dear Parishioners,

In my homily this weekend, I named the Saints who surround Christ the King in the Church window. As you face the window, standing in the left panel are Francis, Dominic and Blessed Kateri, kneeling are Joan of Arc, Stephen and Nicolas. In the center panel, standing to the left of Jesus is John the Baptist and kneeling is Martin of Tours. Standing to the right is Anne and kneeling is Joachim. In the right panel, standing are from the left Martin de Porres, Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and Elizabeth Seton. The family kneeling represents the call of all of us to be saints.

Father Ring

WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS

12/03 Monday	6:30 8:30	Francis Mitchell Carol Manseau †
12/04 Tuesday	6:30 8:30	Frances LeMoyne † Ana & Milan Kovacevic †
12/05 Wednesday	6:30 8:30	Jack Roe † Family of A. Galea
12/06 Thursday	6:30 8:30	Mary Rowan † Hank Sauer †
12/07 Friday	6:30 8:30 6:00	Larry Conley † David Herbner † Nat Russo †
12/08 Saturday	8:30 4:30	Paul & Rosina Vella † Raymond Figolah †
12/09 Sunday	7:30 9:00 10:30 12:00 5:30	Monica Agius † Dolores Mallia † Giuseppe Pignati † Carmelo Mazza † People of St. Robert's

Advent of New Beginnings

Today we are blessed to begin the new liturgical year. What does that mean for most of us in the pews? Well, for starters, we have new songbooks and missalettes. I have been assured by our publisher that nothing will fall apart on us this year—the covers and the book bindings are solid. As always, though, we should all do our part to care for these books which are our communal property. If anyone wishes to have a missalette at home, please let me know directly or place an order at the parish office instead of taking one from the pews. For a small price (less than $10 for the year) we can get you your own personal copy!

Advent means a new liturgical year—always an opportunity for new beginnings. We begin a new year of readings at Sunday masses which includes most Gospel readings from the Gospel according to Matthew. Matthew begins with the promise that the virgin will be with child and will bring us Emmanuel, a name meaning "God with us." Matthew ends with Jesus ascending to Heaven, urging the disciples to share the news of Jesus’ death and resurrection with someone, and promising that he will be with us always. I think he’s trying to tell us something:

God is with us! - Pat Kelly

SICK RELATIVES AND FRIENDS

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Ilaria Belluomini, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Guido Botelho, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Joseph Calleja, Arthur Candia, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Ana Cosgaya, Imelda Daly, Walton & June Dickhoff, Sandra & William Dill, Ray Driscoll, Carl Edwards, Adela Florez, Elsie Grech, Denise Hawald, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Josephine Lavoie, Marky, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Jeanne McHugh, Terry McLeod, Sal Milizio, Bunny Monoz, Catherine Okulove, Leo Pieretti, Richard Quintana, Lee Shick, Pauline Speranza, Kari Stellino, Don Vickery & Bernie Voight.

Please call the Rectory if you have a friend or family member who is ill or in the hospital and would like a visit from our Clergy.

YOUR EMERGENCY PRAYER NETWORK IS HERE

The "Emergency Prayer Network" will pray for your specific intentions whenever some crisis arises in your life. If you call, our group will pray fervently for three days for you and your special intention. Call Michele Pipinich. We simply ask that you let us know how things turn out so that we can praise God for His faithfulness.

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY

Although the celebration of Thanksgiving Day has passed, the hunger of many people has not gone away. For this reason, our Thanksgiving Food Baskets remain throughout this month on our altar steps. We can make more than one day a year, a day of Thanksgiving. Please place in these baskets your gift of non-perishable food. Thank you.

AIDS LUNCH
December 12th

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

RCIA CELBRATES THE
"Rite of Welcoming"
December 2nd at 10:30 a.m. Mass

Please keep our RCIA members in your prayers as they journey toward their Easter Sacraments. Our catechumens (those who will be Baptized) and our Candidates (those who will receive First Eucharist and/or Confirmation) are listed below:

Wendy Berardy, Terry Berardy, Nicole Bradon,
Mandy Currin, Kirsi Fontenot, Priscilla Gilmore,
Steve Glasgo, Esmeralda Gonzalez, Carlos Ku,
Guy Lugiliani, Michelle Munguia, Rick Olson,
Natalie Ortiz, Daniel Santiago, Russ Valles, and
Robert Willmore.

Words of welcoming, prayers, or notes of encouragment may be sent to the Parish Office, Attention: RCIA. We would enjoy receiving them!

CHILDREN'S LITURGY

Beginning this weekend, the Children’s Liturgy Group will once again have the Giving Tree up near Little Church. The gifts go to needy children it’s so easy to participate. Just pick an ornament off the tree, purchase that gift and return it UNWRAPPED to the box near the tree. If possible, please have the gifts returned by Sunday, 12/16/01 so we can get them where they need to go on time.

Thank you.

ADVENT 2001
PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD
An Advent Wreath Blessing

Lord, our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel,
the hope of us and all peoples.
He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.

Faithful and loving God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of the promise of Christ’s coming
with the gift of salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY

Once again this Christmas Season, we as a parish family will have an ADOPT-A-FAMILY GIVING TREE. There are many people in San Mateo County who don’t have the means to celebrate Christmas as they might like. At the same time, many in our parish can celebrate with their families and share with those in need. An ADOPT-A-FAMILY program is a way to do this.

On the weekends of Dec. 1st and 2nd 8th and 9th we will have a "Giving Tree" set up in front of Church after all of the Masses. This tree will be "decorated" with paper ornaments containing a profile of a family you might be able to help.

If you have the means to share your Christmas spirit, stop by after any one of the Masses on either of these weekends and pick an ornament. Gifts will be collected after Masses the weekend of Dec. 15th and 16th. For distribution the week of the 17th. If you have any questions, please call Rob Aveson. Thanks

GIFTS FOR THE HOMEBOUND

As we do each year, we ask that each of us remember with love those members of our Parish Family who are confined to their homes or to nursing homes. Our Advent theme tells us to "PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD". Jesus lives within each of these precious people and within every one of us. One way to "PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE" is to bring a Christmas gift to the baskets placed on our altar steps. Some suggestions are: knee socks, lap robes, hand and body lotion, soap, cards and notes of encouragement. The only requisite is that the gifts be new, not used.

DISCIPLES NOW:
WEBSITE FOR CATHOLIC YOUTH

Disciples Now is an innovative and faith-filled web-based ministry for Catholic teens. It has been developed by youth ministers, campus ministers, catechetical leaders, and diocesan staff members in partnership with publishers and other youth-serving agencies. It includes a "Since you asked" feature with responses to teen questions of faith and life by Fr. Gary Bagley, Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Buffalo, New York as well as a variety of interactive catechetical and fun features. Nearly 3500 teens visit the site each day. Feel free to check it out on the web at www.DisciplesNow.com.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Come Join the Fun!!

Saturday, Dec. 15th. Two Seatings: 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. $5 a person (Maximum $20 a family). $2.00 picture with Santa. Continental Breakfast, talk to Santa, Crafts, Santa’s Workshop, Raffle, Gifts For reservation info. Call: Patty Linehan.

MERCY HIGH SCHOOL invites all eighth grade girls and their parents to visit Mercy High School in Burligame for a special Open House evening tour on Tuesday, Dec. 4, beginning at 7 pm. Mercy High School, a college preparatory, all-girls, Catholic high school is located at 2750 Adeline Drive in Burlingame. For more detailed information, contact Mrs. Betty Duran, Director of Admissions at (650) 343-1414.

JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL will be holding its Annual Open House Program for elementary school students, parents, and friends on Thursday, Dec. 6th at 7:00 p.m. The entrance exam will be given on Sat., Jan. 12th. Applications for next Fall’s freshman class are currently available by contacting the school at (650) 345-8207.

PROJECT RACHEL MINISTRY/RESPECT LIFE PROGRAM -Project Rachel, the Post-Abortion ministry of the Archdiocesan Respect Life Program is presenting a special training and information day at St. Mary;s Cathedral, Tuesday, Dec. 4th. The program is for current and prospective volunteers, and for persons interested in supporting friends and relatives who may suffer from emotional and spiritual stress from an abortion in their past. For reservations and information please all (415) 717-6428 or (415) 614-5572.

MONDAY, December 3rd
1 - 3 pm, 8th Gr. Cheerleading.....Hall

TUESDAY, December 4th
6:30 - 8 pm, Legion of Mary.....Library
3:30 - 8:15 pm, Religious Ed.....Hall

WEDNESDAY, December 5th
7:30 - 9 pm, Bible Study....Convent Chapel
4:30 - 6 pm, 7th Gr. Cheerleading.....Hall

THURSDAY, December 6th
3:30 - 4:30 pm, Religious Ed.....Hall
7 - 9 pm, RCIA.....Convent Chapel
7:30 - 9 pm, Parish Planning Com......Library
7:30 - 9 pm, Youth.....Hall

FRIDAY, December 7th
6 pm, Men’s Club Crab Dinner.....Hall
6 pm Mass, Vigil of Holyday.....Church

SATURDAY, December 8th
8:30 am Holyday Mass

Sunday, December 9th
10 - 11:30, Fil/Am Choir.....Hall
Following 9 am Mass, Outdoor Ed Breakfast.....Hall

eScrip

Did you know St. Robert Church and School participates in the eScrip program? This is a very easy way for us to earn money to benefit our Church and School. Here’s how it works:

You register your Safeway Club Card, Visa, Master Card, ATM, Debit, Chevron Gas Card with escrip and every time you shop at a participating store e.g. Mollie Stones, Lunardi’s, Pak-n-Save and more we receive 2-5% of your purchase. It is a very safe program. No information is sold or given out. There is an annual fee of $10. We receive an average of $1,900 a month with our current 183 members.

Give them a call at 1-800-592-0942 on line at eScrip.com or check the vestibule for more information. Our Group number is 137045398. If you are an Albertson’s shopper we have a free Community Card that you show the cashier every time you shop. Albertson’s will give us 2-5% of your purchase. No tracking, no fuss. It’s easy!! If you would like a card or more info on how you can help us, call Linda Cuddy.

EL RETIRO
300 Manresa Way
Los Altos, Ca 94022-4646
(650) 948-4491

The Mall or the Manger?
A Day on the Real Meaning of Christmas Dec. 5
Fr. James Hanley, S.J. (repeated Dec 8 or 9)

The Journey of Surrendering to God’s Love Dec. 14-16
Recovery Retreat for Men
Fr. Thomas Allender, S.J.

From Fear to Faith Jan. 4-16
Recovery Retreat for Women
Msgr. Terry Richey

The Freedom to Respond to God and God’s Grace
Silent Retreat for Men Jan. 18-20
Fr. Thmas Weston, S.J.

Living in the Presence of God Jan. 25-27
Silent Ignatian Retreat for Women
Fr. Robert Scholla, S.J.

MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline Drive
Burlingame, Ca 94010-5540
340-7474

Epiphany Light Jan. 13th, 1:30-5:00pm
In dance and music we will honor these and many illuminations
Carla De Sola; Suzanne Toolan, RSM

Earth’s Crammed with Heaven Jan. 25-27
An invitation to come apart from the busyness which causes numbness and not noticing.
Patricia Ryan, RSM