In our zeal to start off on the right foot, my new wife, Theresa, and I signed up for 8 Monday nights of yoga at the South San Francisco Community Center. As I write this, it’s Wednesday morning, and my body really hurts! But, I feel great! Talk about starting off on the right foot—we did it literally. And then the left foot, and then back to the right . . .

I don’t have a great track record when it comes to exercising. My personal coat of arms would probably have a large potato on it. It would either be baked with butter and chives, or plopped on a couch. I’m always amazed, though, at how a bit of exercise—a little work, some sweat, some breath, and pain—can bring lots of new life and energy.

I’m glad we’ve started exercising during the Easter season. We’re past the New Year’s enthusiasm and the Lenten demands on our time. I’m reminded that our promised resurrection through Christ is mysteriously tied in with our bodies. A healthy spiritual life feeds from and nourishes a healthy body. I feel renewed energy to persevere in ministry. In the aches of my body, I’m carrying about the Easter of the Lord!

Robert de Turlande was born in the year 1000 in Aurillac, Auvergne, France. After a blameless life as a youth, St. Robert was ordained to the priesthood and became a canon of the church of St. Julian. St. Robert distinguished himself with fervent charity to the sick and poor and with his zeal for the public worship of God. He is said to have built and restored no less than fifty churches during his lifetime.

In 1046, with the permission of Pope Benedict IX, St. Robert and two companions built a hermitage and embarked on a life of prayer and total commitment to the poor.

Within three years so many disciples had joined the holy hermits it became necessary to build a monastery. With donations from the pious people, the buildings arose and developed into the great abbey of Chaise Dieu (Casa Dei). St. Robert was the Abbott and gave the community of 300 monks the Benedictine rule. Chaise Dieu became the mother-house of several other Benedictine monasteries and one of the most flourishing in Christendom.

Although much of Chaise Dieu was plundered during the religious wars and the French Revolution, there still remains the vast church and cloister. It is also the tomb of Pope Clement VI who began his spiritual life as a monk at Chaise Dieu.

"The Call to Lay Ministry"

One of the interesting things about most of the resurrection appearances by Jesus to the apostles in the Gospels is that they are set in a eucharistic context (they happen around a meal) and that people get sent off to tell somebody else or to do Jesus’ work for others. The same is true for us, Christian disciples of the 21st century. The crucified and risen Jesus is revealed in the Eucharist and other Sacraments, our faith is strengthened by the celebration of these rituals, and we are commissioned by Christ to tell the story and to do works of love and service.

We often call these works of love and service "ministries." Ministry is different than volunteer work, although many do ministry of their own free will without pay. Ministry demands more than a desire to be helpful. It requires a desire in the heart to share in the work of Christ and a call from the Church to share in that work. Ministers witness to the resurrected Christ. They build the Reign of God. Some ministries are formalized and organized, and some are spontaneous. Everyone who has been baptized is invited to ministry.

A baby is God’s opinion
that the world should go on.

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Ilaria Belluomini, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Joseph Calleja, Arthur Candia, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Ana Cosgaya, Imelda Daly, Walton & June Dickhoff, Sandra & William Dill, Carl Edwards, Adela Florez, Henry Fosson, Jim Halpin, Denise Hawald, Joanne Johnson, George Jones, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Josephine Lavoie, Marky, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Jeanne McHugh, Terry McLeod, Sal Milizio, Bunny Moniz, Pauline Speranza, Jim and Kim Olmo, Kari Stellino, Bernadine Trenchard, Theresa Schembri and Don Vickery.

We congratulate and pray for those candidates who went through St. Robert’s RCIA program this year and will be confirmed this Sunday, April 14th, by Archbishop William Levada

We welcome you into our parish!

Scott & Marcella Wolfe & family
Joseph & Laura Coric & family
Raul & Marlene Castro & family
Ronaldo & Myrene Delmundo & family
John Decker & Priscilla Yip & family

"Building for a New Century"
Campaign billing information.\

The following is the cycle of billing for the campaign:

Monthly—The first of every month beginning in May.
Quarterly—The first of May, August, November, and February
Semi-Annually—The first of May and November
Annually—The first of November.

Almost fifty parishioners attended the open forum on the scandals within the Church this past week. I believe the exchange of thoughts and feelings about the issue were helpful to all of us. For this reason, we will have another forum on Tuesday evening, April 30th at 7:30 p.m. in Hennessy Hall. The topic will be the growing shortage of priests within Church and whether changes are needed. I hope you will mark your calendar and plan to attend.

The School of Pastoral Leadership and Office of Worship
presents the
2002 Eucharistic and Lector Ministry Training Series

Our Lady of Mercy Church
1 Elmwood Dr., Daly City
April 27 and May 4, 2002
9:00am to 4:00 p.m.

1st Saturday
History of the Liturgy,
with emphasis on Liturgical Ministry

2nd Saturday
Practice Sessions

Presentations by:
Fr. David Pettingill,
Assistant to the Moderator of the Curia
Mr. Doug Benbow,
Director of Liturgy, St. Mary’s Cathedral
Mr. Nick Wagner, Editor
Ministry and Liturgy Magazine
Fr. John Talesfore,
Director of the Office of Worship

Monday, April 15th
1:30 - 3 pm, Cheerleading Practice.....Hall
6 - 10 pm, Women’s Guild.....Hall

Tuesday, April 16th
3:30 - 8:15 pm, Religious Ed.....Hall
9th Gr. Penance Service.....Church
6:30 - 8 pm, Legion of Mary.....Library

Thursday, April 18th
3:30 - 4:30 pm, Religious Ed.....Hall
7 - 9 pm, RCIA.....Convent Chapel
7:30 - 9 pm, School Board ....6th Gr. Classroom

Friday, April 19th
7 - 10 pm, Confirmation Rehearsal.....Church

A Catholic Site for Seekers: A new internet ministry from the Franciscans (sponsors of St. Anthony Messenger Press) seeks to help inactive Catholics reconnect with a local Catholic faith community. This site, www.oncecatholic.org, offers a special place where inactive Catholics can ask questions, interact with on-line companions, find resources and reconnect with a local parish. This website may also be beneficial for those of you are practicing Catholics.

While out out town you can check for nationwide Mass times and locations at (1-800-627-7846) or Internet at www.Masstimes.org

Human Cloning: Some people want to use cloning to produce live-born children who are "copies" of living or deceased people. Others would use it to mass-produce human embryos to be destroyed in medical research. The Human Cloning Prohibition Act (S. 1899, H.R. 2505) will ban human cloning for either of these purposes. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed H.R. 2505. That measure or its Senate companion, S. 1899, awaits a Senate vote. President Bush says he will sign the Act into law. Please write to Senator Feinstein and Boxer to support this legislation. For more information, consult: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on cloning: www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic.

The Cup of Life - May 3-5
Retreat for Women
Judy Zolezzi & James Hanley, S.J.

Prayerage - May 3-5
Including God in Your Marriage
Tom & Renda Grant and Jerry McCourt, S.J.

VALLOMBROSA CENTER
250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, Ca 94025-3218
650-325-5614

Inheriting Paradise - April 27
(A gardening retreat)
Carol Kaplan

The Call of Divine Love - May 3-5
(A contemplative prayer weekend)
Carol Fowler

Crossing the Catholic Moral Minefield: Tiptoeing Wisely - May 5
Part of a series,
"The church of the Future: A New Look At...MORALITY

Retreat day for Single Parents - May 25
Carol Kaplan

SAN DAMIANO RETREAT CENTER
P.O. Box 767, Danville, Ca 94526
(925) 837-9141