St. Robert's Catholic Church Bulletin, January 4, 2004

St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
January 4, 2004
Epiphany of the Lord

Dear Parishioners,

The great season of Christmas is one of wonder, as God reveals the mystery of divine love made manifest in the person of Jesus the Christ. The three great feasts of the season are all moments of THEOPHANY—-moments in which God reveals something of God's very self.

Incarnation—-our God made one of us—-is the great gift of CHRISTMAS. God is revealed as the lover of the human family, whose dream and hope for us is our salvation. This offer of redemptive grace is made to us in the living, dying, and rising of the one who is `...the Word made flesh...'.

Next Sunday, January 11th, we will celebrate the great feast of the BAPTISM OF THE LORD. As Jesus enters the waters of the Jordan, the voice of the Father is heard and the Spirit's presence made visible—-the nature of God as Trinity is revealed—-the love of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

EPIPHANY—the feast we celebrate this weekend—-the gift of God's love in Jesus the Messiah and Lord is shown to be a gift for all the nations and peoples of the earth, not for a chosen few. The gifts of the Magi become the tribute brought by people of every nation and culture—-we are all invited to offer our gifts to the One who is our Hope. Every nation and culture—-every man, woman and child of faith—-has their gift to bring. Each of us have love to share, gifts to be offered in service.

This season of Christmas is one of giving, not because tradition calls for it, but because God is the great giver-the great lover—-and we who place our faith in the love of this God who is revealed as the lover and hope of all the earth, are called to walk more closely in God's ways. We who are created in the divine image and likeness, are created to share our lives as graciously as our God has been gracious to us.

The Magi offered their gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh once to the One they acknowledged as King—-we offer the gift of our lives and our love not once a year in this season of merry-making and mirth—-we offer to God the gift of lives shared, and the Gospel in-fleshed in our lives every day, and always.

To this God of boundless love who is worthy of our worship and praise, be glory in the Church today and always...and the Church says, AMEN!

Father Tom

Monday - January 5 Readings: 1 Jn 3:22--4,6 Mt 4:12-17,23-25
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Jason Pimentel Joseph McLaughlin †
Joint Men/Women Mtg.	6:00p	Hall
Tuesday - January 6 Readings: 1 Jn 4:7-10 Mk 6:34-44
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Tille Monponbanua † Pasquale & Maria Theresa Aloise †
Legion of Mary Religious Education Faith Group Choir Practice	6:30p 3:30p 7:00p 7:00p	Library Hall/Church Mahoney Room Church
Wednesday - January 7 Readings: 1 Jn 4:11-18 Mk 6:45-52
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Tom Hamilton † Carmelia Dellegrazie †
Grief Group 8th Gr. Cheerleaders Religious Education Dinner Dance Meeting Choir Practice Faith Sharing	9:00a 3:00p 6:30p 7:00p 7:00p 7:30p	Mary's Chapel Hall 6th Gr. Classroom Mahoney Room Church Convent Chapel
Thursday - January 8 Readings: 1 Jn 4:19--5,4 Lk 4:14-22
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Seamus Keogh † Phyllis Venezia †
Religious Education RCIA Fil/Am Parish Planning Committee	3:30p 7:00p 7:00p 7:30p	Hall/Church Convent Chapel Hall Library
Friday - January 9 Readings: 1 Jn 5:5-13 Lk 5:12-16
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Raoul Munoz † Milan Kovacevic †
8th Grade Cheerleaders	3:00p	Hall
Saturday - January 10 Readings: 1 Jn 5:14-21 Jn 3:22-30
Mass Intention	8:30 4:30	Ruby Jorgensen † Milan Kovacevic †
InBetweeners	9:00a	Hall
Sunday - January 11 Readings: Is 42:1-4,6-7 Acts 10:34-38 Lk 3:15-16
Mass Intention	7:30 9:30 11:30 5:00	Mocelin & Emilio Families † People of St. Robert's Cesare Bernardo † Frank Pisa †
Fil/Am Choir Practice	10:00a	Hall

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

Jesus Said, "What do you want me to do for you?" - Jan. 9-11
Silent Retreat for Men
Fr. Bernard J. Bush., S.J.

Spiritual Living in a Material World - Jan. 23-25
Silent retreat for Women
Fr. Gerald P. McCourt, S.J.

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

Fransciscan Spirituality - Jan. 16-18
The good world of Frances of Assisi

Women's Retreat - Jan. 23-25
Soul Sisters
Edwina Gateley

Beginning Enneagram - Jan. 24
Growing Spiritually

Married Couples Retreat - Feb. 13-15
My Beloved
Carol Kaplan, MT and Barry Brunsman, OFM

ST. ROBERTS WOMEN'S RETREAT DAY

If you've been thinking about coming to the retreat day February 21st from 9 :00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., now is the time to register! It will take place at Mt. Alverno Conference Center, Redwood City. The $25 donation includes lunch. If you have any questions, please call Donna McGuigan or Sr. Sheral at 589-2800. Reservation deadline is January 15th.

THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI

O Lord of the Feast,
grant me the grace this Christmas season
to give the gifts of the Magi Kings:
the royal gift of the most precious gold
of unconditional love,
the noble gift of the pungent myrrh
of mercy and compassion
and the divine gift of the aromatic incense
of cordial kindness to all I meet.

Magi Saints Melchior,
Gaspar and Baltsar,
be my daily inspirations
to present these royal gifts generously
to Christ, the Prince of Peace,
now present in my family, friends
and strangers.

Kindergarten Applications-St. Robert School will be accepting applications for Kindergarten for the 2004-2005 school year January 7 thru January 14, 2004 at the school office. You will need to bring copies of your child's birth certificate, baptismal record, social security card recent family photo and a check for $30.00 to cover the testing fee.

Applications for other grades will not be accepted until May 2004.

Open House-St. Robert School will hold its annual Open House on Monday evening, January 12th. The evening will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Church, followed by classroom visitations. All are welcome.

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 to 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, age, sex or disability in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan payments, and athletic and other school administered programs.

MEN'S CLUB & WOMEN'S GUILD JOINT MEETING

You are invited to a joint meeting on Monday, January 5th, at 6:00 pm in Hennessy Hall. The price is $13.00 per person. Reservations can be made by calling Teresa Nussbaum.

CARNEVALE - A NIGHT IN VENICE

Women's Guild Dinner Dance will be held on March 6, 2004. Tickets will be on sale at the Joint Men's Club/Women's Guild Meeting on January 5, 2004. The price is $75.00 per person ($65/Senior). For information call Karen Martinez.

As a Parish Community, We Pray...for our teens, especially for those preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation...for their sponsors and for their teachers. May the light of our faith community, our hope and our love inspire them to seek the face of God.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Christopher Garcia &
Megan O'Grady

SICK RELATIVES AND FRIENDS

We would like to update the following list. Please review and call the rectory at 589-2800 if someone you know can be taken off the list.

We pray for the ill: Sharon Aiello, Gabrielle Ausiello, Marilyn Arancibia, Robert Bacci, Genaro Badiable, Lito Badiable, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Marcia Bourne, Ann Burns, Maricris Candelaria, Arthur Candia, Josie Clarke, Nan Connolly, Ana Cosgaya, Anna DeLucchi, Walton & June Dickhoff, Carl Edwards, Joyce Flax, Adela Florez, Henry Fosson, Jesse Grube, Denise Hawald, Dominique Hauscarriague,Jr, Viko Ivancich, Joanne Johnson, Koret Koelman, Muriel Krause, Sisilia Langi, Shirley Latham, Josephine Lavoie, Austin Lehman, Marky, Michael Martinez, Kathryn McCann, Daniel McHale, Rosemary McHale, Terry McLeod, James Morrisey, Thomas O'Brien, Lara Pinten, Jason Pimentel, James Piazza, Bill Reilly, Mary Shick, Pauline Speranza, Ron Stern, Justo Tan, Joan Thomsen, Mafi Tukumoatu, Gene VanSlett, Don Vickery, Diana Walter, Jennifer Westbrook & Frank Wright.

Dear Parishioners,
Please notify the priesthouse (589-2800) if a loved one is either sick or in the hospital and would like to be visited.
-The Parish Priests and Staff

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Mary Martinez and
Andrea Wong
who died recently.

BIBLE STUDY

Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:30 p.m. in the Convent Chapel. We will study the Captivity Letters of St. Paul.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE HOMEBOUND

Thank you to all who gave gifts to the members of our Parish Family who are confined to their homes or in nursing facilities because of illness or advanced years. Your brought joy to the lives of so many. Thank you too to those who wrapped these gifts so beautiuflly. Your gift of self was very much appreciated.

by Sister Sheral

The Epiphany

This wonderful feast can easily be overlooked since it comes after Christmas when everyone is recuperating from the busyness of visiting family and friends and, for some of us, consuming too much food! The Epiphany, or showing forth, is our celebration of the reality that the message of Christ wasn't limited only to the Jews, but included us Gentiles (non-Jews) as well. This was, in fact, one of the earliest struggles of the Church. Peter and Paul had a major argument over whether converts to the Way (the early name given the followers of Jesus) needed to be circumcised and to abide by Jewish dietary laws. Though a dream, Paul realizes that the good news of Jesus invites all people to a new way of life, not just an extension of the Jewish traditions.

How about us? Have we been open to talking about our faith with a co-worker or neighbor who might be interested? I'd guess that most of us wouldn't want to go door to door as our fundamentalist brothers and sisters do, but hopefully, we admire them for their commitment. There's a huge range of options between proselytizing and never mentioning anything religious. If you value your faith, and if you're reading this you do, why not think about someone who doesn't belong to a specific faith tradition and ask yourself if he or she might be open to your sharing just a bit about what being Catholic means to you. Many people are searching for God and a sense of purpose in their lives. Perhaps, the Holy Spirit wants to use you as an instrument. Don't worry; the Spirit will give you the words to say.

Many Thanks!
Thank you to Pat Vallez-Kelly who borrowed the bells we used for our Advent litany from St. Patrick's Seminary and to Regina Gonnella who helped play them at almost every Mass during Advent! They added much to our celebration.

Heartfelt thanks also to Una Uniacke, Tom Dachauer and his crew and everyone who decorated, proclaimed the Word, served as Eucharistic Minister, altar server or usher, or who contributed to the poinsettia fund. Gene and Anna May May did the yeoman's task of scheduling the ministers. Kevin Imbimbo, Aura Baldomero, Griselda McDonald, Manny Ortiz and their choirs helped our bodies to sing as well as our voices. How blest we are to have priests whose homilies speak to our hearts! A celebration as wonderful as ours was can only happen through the work of many dedicated and loving parishioners and staff. Thank you so much!

We welcome you into our Parish!

Larry & Rose Marie Abella & Family

If you're new to St. Robert's, we ask that you complete a registration form (found in the vestibule of the church). Drop it either in the collection basket, the mail, or at the parish office. We will send you a New Parishioner Packet with information about the parish, its organizations and groups.

2003
Parishioners have moved to the following places:

Albuquerue, NM
Anaheim
Belmont
Burlingame
Danville
Elk Grove
Foster City
Half Moon Bay
Hillsborough

Lake Elsinore
Livermore
Menlo Park
Merced
Powray, Ca
Quincy, Illinois
Redwood City
Redwood Valley
Rocklin

Roseville
Sacramento
Salinas
San Carlos
San Jose
San Lorenzo
San Mateo
St. Paul, MN
Vacaville

Listed our a few of the food stuffs that we are running low on: jams and jellies, canned vegetables, cereal and oatmeal, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, juices, packaged cookies, and other condiments, and canned meats and tuna. Cereals are in high demand.

We are also collecting Scrip for MOLLYSTONE-ALBERTSON'S-LUNARDI'S-SAFEWAY. You may make out certificates to Saint Vincent de Paul and either mail them or drop them in the rectory mailbox.

As always, we thank you for your continued generosity and support.

AIDS LUNCH
January 14th

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, by 9 a.m. on January 14th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items can be donated.

We appreicate your help!

YOU ARE INVITED TO AN INTERNATIONAL EVENING

The Archdiocesan Office of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate is sponsoring an Informational Evening for men considering the possibility of serving the Church as Permanent Deacons. If you have ever considered a vocation to the Permanent Diaconate, you (and your wife, if you are married) are invited to attend the meeting on Thursday, January 15th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral (in St. Francis Hall, located in the lower level. Please see the flyers posted on the bulletin boards for further details. Questions may be directed to the Formation Office at (415) 614-5531.

VELLA-DANKWERTH CULTURAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Maltese Cross Foundation is proud to announce its ninth annual Vella-Dankwerth Cultural Scholarship for students of Maltese descent in the San Francisco Bay Area. High school seniors, college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply. Completed applications are due by March 22, 2004. For more information please Jennifer Dankwerth-Stunk (650) 272-1356.