The celebration of the birth of Christ reminds us of the great love that God has for us. We pray this Christmas:

God and Father of Jesus, you give us your Son, the Lord of the universe and the savior of all peoples, as an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. In the first moments of his life you showed us the paradox of your love. Open us up to the mystery of his powerlessness and enable us to recognize him in Word and in Sacrament. This we ask in his name, he who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

During this past year, Christ has blessed our Parish with His presence. Each week almost two thousand parishioners celebrate His presence at daily and Sunday Mass. In our school and Religious Education program, the teachers pass on His Word to the youth of the Parish. Our ministers to the sick bring the Eucharist to the homebound and, through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, His assistance is given to the needy. Through prayer, we grow in our realization that Christ is present in our world and each other. We have learned that the Christ who was born into history continues to be present in our world and will come again at the end of time.

On behalf of Father Marini, Father Hamilton, Deacon Duffey, the Presentation Sisters and the lay staff of our Parish, I pray that God will bless you and your family this Christmas and that His peace will be a part of your life each day of the New Year. I ask you, in your charity, to pray for us.

Signs of Unity

I’m learning slowly but surely that, as important as it is to tell people of our love, if it isn’t coupled with acts of love it doesn’t mean much. Some expressions demand concrete actions to give them integrity. The same is true of our expressions of unity in the Church. We can sing, "We are one in the Spirit . . .," but we also need to show unity by some of our actions. I believe the most important expression of our unity is shown in the way we love and respect each other. That is a tall task in itself. Walking hand in hand with our charity and strengthening it as a sign of unity is our celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Our gathering, listening, praying and singing, and sharing in Holy Communion are public evidence of our unity.

PLEASE NOTE!!!!!

Christmas Poinsettias will decorate the Church during the Christmas Season. If you would like to make a donation of $10 (please make check out to St. Robert’s, Poinsettias Fund) toward their purchase in memory of a loved one, fill out the form below and return it to the Parish Office by December 23rd. A memorial list will be published in the bulletin.

Please see the magazine rack in the vestibule of church for a list of courses to be offered by the Archdiocesan School of Pastoral Leadership beginning in January. Tuition assistance is available from the parish for some courses.

Please visit the Child’s Liturgy-Giving Tree in the vestibule of the church. Help yourself to one of our tree decorations with a gift suggestion of any gift you wish. Please place the unwrapped gifts into the box at the tree. The last day for bringing gifts will be Sunday, December 22nd.

This is our 11th year of sponsoring the "Giving Tree" and over the years the needs of the community have changed. We still need toys. The agencies we serve have requested some adult items such as: underwear, socks and hygiene items.

Once again thank you for your generosity and your help in celebrating the joys of giving to others this Christmas.

With the weather man making it "look a little like Christmas" I want to thank all of our St. Vincent de Paul volunteers that delivered to (30) families, (50) adults, and (42) children many bags of food...Lunardi’s Scrip...and many, many gifts. Santa Claus was played by Janet Aldinger; Sophia Chester; Pat Mooney; Gerry Huddleston; Carlo and Marie Noce; Sandy Mangold; Bill and Nancy Curtis: Bruce Chester: Nancy McMahon and Bill Root. The Dwarf’s preparing all these gifts were: Rob and Cathy Aveson: John and Eileen Grealish and all the members of the "In-Betweeners Club" not to forget Sister Ita and all her presents. I want to thank all those that gave us checks made payable to St. Vincent de Paul and those that donated cash.

Monday, December 16th 7:30 p.m.
Saturday , December 21st 3:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24th
4:30 p.m., Children’s Choir
8:00 p.m., Evening Choir
12:00 a.m., Midnight Mass, Adult Choir

Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th
7:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
NO MASS at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 1, 2002
9:00 a.m. Only

Sean Quinn
Marlon & Rizzalyn Camacho & Family
Jon & Lori Waugh & Family
Theo Coppola
Nathan Bennett & Jennifer Yax

Kindergarten Application

Applications for St. Robert School Kindergarten for the 2003/2004 school year will be accepted in the School Office Monday-Friday, January 6th through the 10th, between 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 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 or St. Bruno’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, 2003. 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 administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Open House