At the 4:30 Mass this Saturday night, 25 members of my high school seminary class will be present at Mass. It is hard to believe that in September of 1952, eighty-five young men entered St. Joseph’s College in Mountain View to begin twelve years of preparation for the priesthood. As you can imagine, the vast majority chose other vocations in life. Ten are still priests. The Seminary system has changed vastly from those days (thank God) but let us pray that other men (older than us) will come forward to consider the priesthood as a vocation in life. After Mass, we are having a dinner in t Hennessy Hall followed by movies of our seminary life.

The recent accusations against priests of the Archdiocese and the scandals that have happened in other areas of the country provide us with an opportunity to discuss among ourselves areas of Church life that call for a greater input from the laity of the Church. Please join me on Thursday evening, September 12th, at 7:30 pm, in Hennessy Hall for a discussion on such issues as the selection of bishops, Church governance, formation of priests etc. I hope we can begin an on-going group.

One area that pertains to our own Parish that needs discussion is that of the weekend Mass schedule. Because of the shortage of priests (especially our inability to find a regular "Sunday supply" priest) and the need to provide for on-going improvement in Liturgy and time to socialize after Mass, we need to remove one Mass from our Sunday schedule. After talking to the Liturgy Committee and the Parish Staff, consensus has grown to keep the present 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, to change the Sunday morning schedule to 7:30, 9:30 and either 11:15 or 11:30. The Sunday evening Mass would be moved forward to 5 p.m. The Parish Council will have an opportunity to give input at their meeting this Saturday. I hope that the meeting on the 12th will provide another opportunity to discuss this major decision. If you cannot come, please write to me or give me or another staff member a phone call within the next week. We are hoping that any change can be made on the first Sunday of October.

A Morning of Prayer will be held at St. Robert’s on Wednesday, September 11th:

5:45am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
6:30am Eucharist
7:00am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
8:15am Rosary
9:00am Memorial Mass for the Victims of Last Year’s National Tragedy

New Faces, New Spirit

Let us welcome several new ministers to St. Robert’s:

Mr. Kevin Imbimbo, Music Director / Principal Organist

Kevin begins his service at St. Robert’s this weekend. He will be the accompanist for our Saturday evening Eucharist and for early Sunday morning liturgies. He will also direct the choirs for the 9:00 and 10:30 Masses. He is the accompanist for the choral program at Aragon High School and he has several piano students. He has his masters degree in piano performance from California State University in Fullerton. He comes to us from a five year tenure at the United Church of Christ in San Carlos. Please give Kevin a kind welcome if you meet him these in these next weeks.

Mr. Marc Howes, Seminarian for the Diocese of Las Vegas, NV

Marc is in his 3rd year of theology studies at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park. He will be doing field education work at St. Robert’s in the area of liturgy. He will join us for the first time next weekend.

Mr. Sean Rogers, Seminarian for the Diocese of Santa Rosa

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Robert Bacci, 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, Fred Gaedeke, Denise Hawald, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Abelardo Landin, Josephine Lavoie, Greg Lille, Marky, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Jeanne McHugh, Terry McLeod, Josefina Mercado, Sal Milizio, Catherine Murtagh, Louis Ricardo, Doris Ross, Pauline Speranza, Kari Stellino and Don Vickery.

OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, September 19th
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
Convent Chapel

For adults interested in receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and/or First Eucharist. This is also a reunion for those who have already completed the process!

Plans are being made for this year’s annual parish festival:

"Under Construction"

which will be on September 27th, 28th and 29th, 2002, and, as always, the Barbecue and Food Booths are in need of your help. Several people are needed to work in these two very popular booths and everyone from the parish is welcome to help. Most shifts are for two hours, but you can work for as many hours as you would like and on all three days if you wish.

This year’s menu will include those all time favorites: delicious barbecued tri-tip steak sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, polish sausages, Domino’s Pizza, nachos, soft drinks, candy and much more.

If you can help in any way, please contact Louise and Ray Downs.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

We have over 25 food and game booths that need to be manned. The schedule is 2 hour slots at a time. It’s a fun event for the entire family! Please call Mars Cadiz for more info or to sign-up!

FESTIVAL RAFFLE NEWS!!!

The Grand Prize in the Festival Raffle is $2,000 cash! A total of $5,000 will be awarded! So watch your mailbox and return your tickets right away to be in the running for the "Early Bird" drawing, which will be held Sunday, Sept. 15th.

FESTIVAL T-SHIRTS

Centering Prayer - Sunday, Sept. 29th 1-6 p.m.
Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington

Return to the Center - Oct. 5-6
Asha and Russill Paul

The One Light: - Tuesdays Sept 24-May 6 7-9 p.m.
A Book Study Series
Author Bruno Barnhart

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

Searching the Scriptures - Oct. 11-13
Scripture Retreat
Joseph Fice, S.J.

The Challenge of Accepting the Unconditional Love of God - Oct. 26
Day of Prayer
James Hanley, S.J.

The Gift of Marriage - Nov. 8-10
Retreat of Married Couples
Robert Fabing, S.J.

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

Advanced Enneagram - Sat. Oct. 5th 9a.m.4-p.m.
Growing Spiritually
Maurice Monette, M.Div. EdD

Widening the Circle - Oct. 18-20
A Spirituality of Inclusion
Fr. Declan Denae & Rev. Steve Harms

DAy of Dialogue - Oct. 20th 1-5 p.m.
Vicotria S. MacDonald, MA

Monday, September 9th
6 - 10 pm, Women’s Guild.....Hall
7:30 - 8:30 pm, St. Vincent de Paul.....Library

Tuesday, September 10th
6:30 - 9 pm, Men’s Club.....Hall
6:30 - 8 pm, Legion of Mary....Library
7 - 9 Rel. Ed. Teacher’s Mtg....Convent Chapel
7:30 - 9pm, 5:30 Mass Choir Practice......Church

Wednesday, September 11th
3:15-4:15 Festival Practice (Children).....Hall
6 - 9 pm, Sports Board.....Classroom
6:30 - 9 pm, Festival Band Practice....Hall
7:30 - 9 pm, Bible Study..... Convent Chapel

Thursday, September 12th
7 - 9 pm, RCIA.....Convent Chapel
7:30 - 9 pm, Festival Meeting.....Library
7:30 - 9 pm, Fil/Am.....Hall

Friday, September 13th
9:30 - 11 am, Bible Study.....Convent Chapel
6 - 10 pm, Inbetweener’s.....Hall

St. Robert’s web site is: www.saintroberts.org

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

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.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES

Year two for Sophomores will begin this Sunday, Sept. 8th, 4:00 p.m. in Hennessy Hall.

CATECHETICAL SUNDAY

Thanks to everyone using the Albertson Community Card. This Quarter we Received $1,613.69. If you shop there and need a card please call Linda Cuddy.

AIDS LUNCH - SEPTEMBER 11, 2002

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 Children’s Chapel, in the back of Church, on September 11th.** Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items can be donated.

**Due to the Sept. 11th Memorial Services please have your items to the back of the church by 9:45 a.m....thank you

Our St. Vincent de Paul Society is in need of peanut butter & jelly, canned stew, "CANNED FRUIT", canned ham, tuna fish, canned pasta, coffee & hot chocolate. Please bring items to the Rectory.