St. Robert's Catholic Church Bulletin, August 28, 2005

St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
August 28, 2005
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners,

A line from today’s Gospel reads:

Take up your cross and follow me.

My hardest crosses to bear have been and still continues to be the allowing of my children to lead their own lives; to know that God is taking care of them wherever they choose to be.

That sounds so simple, my heart feels one way when my spirituality tells my mind another. I know it’s the natural progression of things, their lives experiences, not mine. I allow this burden to continue when I feel the heavy weight worrying about where they are and what they are doing.

A good analogy for me is to remember when the kids were little and I would leave them with some one I trusted completely. I imagine myself shutting the door and saying to myself, “Oh gee, I don’t know if I trust them with my kids.” And then go in and take them back. I have done this with God as well. “Yes I know you are taking care of them God, butttttt, I can do it better. I don’t completely trust you.” The more I work on my spirituality the easier it gets. Notice I say easier I am not there just yet. Will I ever be?

This gospel comes at a time when some parents are sending their kids off to school for the first time; some are starting High School or colleges. Maybe some are in a college far far away. And for some of us these are all hard places for us to be; there it is again, the natural progression of things. My cross to bear, my burden to feel.

It helps me to know that I am not alone in these matters; that there are people who have been there too. If I only reach out they will help me relieve my burden, to understand that this is Gods plan for my child and maybe I will breathe a little bit easier the next time I drop them off at school or the carpool drives away, or the call from college doesn’t leave that ache in my heart. The burden of the cross becomes lighter.

Peace be with you, all
Kathy Hanley, A parent of 4

A Footnote: My 21 year old daughter is working in Alaska this summer. I received a call today, that she is suffering from her 2nd episode of tonsillitis since early July. I have to Let Go and Let God take care of her; what choice do I have.

TODAY’S 2ND COLLECITON

The 2nd collection this weekend is for the African missions of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. The Brothers through their representative, Brother Raymond Reinsant, SC, are asking for your prayers and financial support. The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are religious educators who staff schools and other establishments in over 30 countries. Your contributions will especially benefit young men who are preparing to enter religious life and needy students in the African countries of Kenya, Lesotho, Uganda, Zambia and Aimbabwe.

Please be generous

Monday - August 29 Readings: 1 Thes 4:13-18 Mk 6:17-29
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Kevin McKenna † Alice Virshek †
Parish Planning Committee Festival Chair Meeting	7:15p 7:00p	Mahoney Room Hall
Tuesday - August 30 Readings: 1 Thes 5:1-6,9-11 Lk 4:31-37
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Arnold Simon Gracie Scerri †
Sr. Legion of Mary	6:30p	Library
Wednesday - August 31 Readings: Col 1:1-8 Lk 4:38-44
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Margaret McLaughlin Larry & LaVerne Buller †
Festival Band	6:00p	Hall
Thursday - September 1 Readings: Col 1:9-14 Lk 5:1-11
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Kevin McKenna † Josephine Aspesi †
Religious Education	3:30p	Hall
Friday - September 2 Readings: Col 1:15-20 Lk 5:33-39
Mass Intention	6:30 8:30	Cliff Chan † Patricia Alvergue †
Saturday - September 3 Readings: Col 1:21-23 Lk 6:1-5
Mass Intention	8:30 4:30	In Thanksgiving John Keck †
Eucharistic Adoration AA Meeting	9:00a 10:00a	Church Mahoney Room
Sunday - September 4 Readings: Ez 33:7-9 Rom 13:8-10 Mt 18:15-20
Mass Intention	7:30 9:30 11:30 5:00	People of St. Robert's Vicky Agelopoulos † Angelina Perry † Patricia Alvergue †
Fil/Am Choir Jr. Legion of Mary	10:00a 12:30p	Hall Mahoney Room

Saint Robert’s Church Library

Spiritual Reading will be available at St. Robert's after the Masses on Sundays. Please, take a few minutes either before or after Mass and check out a book or two that interest you. You may keep the books until you have read them. We have some books on the Library cart but we have many more in the Library/Reconciliation room.

Enjoy reading

CENTERPLATE UPDATE

We have a number of dates coming up:

	DAY	DATE	EVENT	DEPART	GAME TIME
Full Full Full	Tues Thurs Fri Sun Tues Sun Sun Sun Sun Tues Sun Sun Sun	Aug 30 Sept 8 Sept 9 Sept 11 Sept 13 Oct 9 Oct 30 Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 15 Nov 20 Dec 4 Jan 1	Giants - Rockies Giants - Cubs Giants - Cubs 49ers - Rams Giants - Padres 49ers - Colts 49ers - Tampa 49ers - Giants Rolling Stones Rolling Stones 49ers - Seattle 49ers - Arizona 49ers - Houston	2:45pm 2:45pm 2:45pm 8:00am 2:45pm 1:00pm 8:45am 8:45am TBD TBD 8:45am 8:45am 8:45am	7:15pm 7:15pm 7:15pm 1:15pm 7:15pm 5:30pm 1:05pm 1:05pm TBD TBD 1:05pm 1:05pm 1:05pm

You can now sign up on line at www.saintroberts.org. Click the Centerplate sign-up button, check the dates you want to work, fill in the information and click the submit button.

Sunday, September 11^th is a conflict with a Giants game at SBC park. Centerplate will continue to offer higher percentages for this game. Sign up at the back of Church or on line at www.saintroberts.org .

Thanks to the many people who have volunteered.

Mark your calendars
Back to School Night for parents of students in grades K-5 will be on Tuesday, September 6th. Back to School Night for parents of students in grades 6-8 will be held on Thursday, September 8th. More details will follow in the School Newsletter.

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 programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Interested in Becoming a Catholic?
Or finding out more about our Faith?
Adults in need of Baptisms, First Communion, or Confirmation?

Open House
September 15th—7 p.m.
Convent Chapel
Please bring a Friend

Questions-Deacon Duffey, 589-2800

SEPTEMBER

SCRIPTURE CLASSES

Wednesday evening (7:30-9 pm.) in the Convent Chapel will resume on Wednesday, September 7th. All are welcome. We will study the Letter to the Hebrews.

GROWNUPS GENERAL MEETING

The first General Meeting of the Grownups for the coming year will be held on Wednesday September 7th at 7:30 p.m., in Hennessy Hall. Sister Sheral Marshall, OSF will present a National Geographic fim entitled “Celebrate what is right with the World”, with a discussion to follow. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the meeting.

SOCIABLES

How about a late summer get together? We will meet at the Hungary Hunter on September 18th at 5:00 p.m. R.S.V.P. to Bunny Moniz. Please pass the word.

TIPPS
Toddlers, Infants, Preschoolers, and Parents Social

Join St. Robert’s TIPPS at children’s Fairyland!!
(located on the shores of Lake Merritt in Oakland)
http://www.fairyland.org

Saturday, Sept. 10th. Admission of $6 per person (children under 1 are free) includes unlimited rides. Parking is $3. The park is also accessible by BART. For those wishing to leave together, we will meet in St. Robert’s main parking lot at 9:30 a.m. Please contact Andrew or Ana Kimoto for reservations and information.

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

September 23rd, 24th and 25th

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.

The menu will include those all-time favorites – delicious barbecued tri-tip steak sandwiches, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, polish sausages, pizza, nachos, soft drinks, candy and much more.

If you would like to work in either of these booths or can help in any way, please contact Louise and Ray Downs or Raquel and Jeff Downs.

FESTIVAL RAFFLE TICKETS: The students at our parish school are having a contest to see which grade can sell the most Festival Raffle tickets.

1st Prize Free Dress and Pizza Party
2nd Prize Free Dress OR Pizza Party
3rd Prize Free Dress

When you turn in your raffle stubs, don't forget to write on the outside of the envelope or include a note inside, telling us which grade you want to get credit for your book of tickets. If you need more tickets, the rectory has them or call Barbara Balestieri. Don't forget, get your stubs in by Friday, September 9th to be eligible for the Early Bird Drawing!

RAFFLE UPDATE as of August 25th
Families given: 180
Total amount received: $5,379.00

Thank you for your generous donation of $2,655.15
to our School, CCD and Confirmation Programs.

ANNUAL APPEAL

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As a Parish Community

We pray for children returning to school and for their parents and teachers. May the Holy Spirit enlighten them all and lead them in the footsteps of Jesus.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Mother Teresa has told us that we all need to find God and that He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. “God is the friend of silence”. In the silence of our hearts, He will speak to us, if we stop talking and give Him a chance; if we listen; if we are quiet. David in his Psalms sings: “Be still and know that I am God”. (“Life in the Spirit” by Mother Teresa).

We have an opportunity to do this on Saturday, September 3rd, and on every First Saturday of each month, following the 8:30 am Mass and continuing until Benediction at 10 am. We can sit before Jesus in His Blessed Sacrament quietly listening as He speaks to our hearts. In silence we will find new energy and true unity with our God. Come, let us adore Jesus in the Eucharistic silence!

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Lawrence Tullius,
Raymond Medrano and
Eugene Mooney
who died recently.

CONSOLATION MINISTRY

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group will hold their first Fall Meeting on September 10th, in the Convent Chapel from 3:00-4:15 (before the 4:30 Mass). Anyone who is suffering from the loss of a loved one-spouse, sibling, child, parent, friend or relative is invited to come and pray, share, comfort and be comforted. You are invited to bring a companion for support and strength. God bless and comfort you in your sorrow. Call, Sister Patricia 589-0104 or any of the Consolation Ministry Committee.

WELCOME BACK!

If you’re coming back to church after being away for a while, welcome back! You are cordially invited to a gathering on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 7 pm in Mary’s Chapel, the small area to the right of the sanctuary. Come by yourself or bring a friend as we explore your questions, concerns, and issues. If you know of someone who’s thinking about returning to church, please extend an invitation to him/her and offer to come along. Hope to see you there. If you have questions, please contact Sr. Sheral at 589-2800 or sistersheral@saintroberts.org.

WOMEN'S RETREAT DAY

You deserve some time for yourself! Please mark your calendar for our retreat day at Mercy Center on Saturday, November 12. It will be from 9 am to 3 pm and is always a rejuvenating experience for all of us. If you’d like to help with the planning, please contact Sr. Sheral at 589-2800 or at sistersheral@saintroberts.org .

In Sunday’s first reading, Jeremiah complains about the misery his role as a prophet has brought him. In the passage before this, Jeremiah has been flogged and locked in the stocks overnight. This is the same Jeremiah whom God calls “before I formed you in the womb” (Jer. 1.5) when Jeremiah responds that he is too young to speak. But God promises to be with him and to give him the words to speak (1. 7-9) But God’s word forces him to speak out to the ruling monarchs and priestly guardians of the temple: the covenant is being broken, the people are turning to other gods and acting wickedly. Who would ever want to be a prophet?

In the gospel, we hear Jesus pointing out to his disciples that his prophetic preaching will also lead to suffering. Peter, like most of us, wants to spare Jesus any suffering. And he who was praised for his faith, now is corrected for misunderstanding the need for suffering in all of our lives. Jesus is absolutely clear: “Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny [him]self, take up [his] cross and follow me.” In years past, this declaration has led to some strange religious penances, such as flogging oneself or fasting almost until death. It sometimes was interpreted to mean that when faced with a decision, the most difficult choice was always where God’s will was to be found.

These days, when our society encourages such self-centeredness, we probably need to be aware of the opposite extreme: to avoid suffering at all costs, believing that suffering must never be a part of our twenty-first century lives. Suffering, even inconvenience, can catch us off-guard leading us to ask: “Why is this happening to me?” As Christians, we might better ask, “Why shouldn’t this be happening to me? Am I not part of the human family, created and loved by God, yet flawed and imperfect?” And if we’re honest, isn’t it suffering which forces us (almost against our will) to reach out to help someone or to ask for help ourselves? Without suffering, might we not more easily maintain the illusion that we don’t need each other, that I can do quite well on my own, thank you?

Perhaps, the readings are inviting us to reflect on the place of suffering in our lives. How do we respond to the crosses or hardships in our lives? How do we respond to the crosses in the lives of those around us? May the Spirit give us the gift of courage and understanding. Peace, Sr. Sheral

I’m Off to Mexico
As you read this, I’ll be in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, visiting our sisters for 10 days. We have one candidate (beginner) there, one woman visiting for a month to see if she wishes to enter, two sisters in temporary vows, and one sister who made final vows in the spring as well as the formation director from our province. The young women are from the indigenous groups there and, luckily for me, all speak Spanish as well as their own native languages. I’ll be helping to physically set up a clinic for the women who’ve given birth or had surgery so they can recuperate in a safe, clean place since they can’t afford to stay in the small hospital in town. I’ll have more to share when I return. Peace, Sr. Sheral

VALLOMBROSA
250 Oak Grove, Menlo Park, CA
(650) 325-5614 ext. 14

Weekend Retreat
September 30– October 2nd
Rev. David Pettingill

“Mary Model for the Day”
October 8th
Pamela Bjorklund

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

Mid-Life and Beyond Retreat
September 27th-29th
Finding Ourselves Again
Rusty Shaughnessy, OFM

I Still Do, Marriage with A Warm Heart
October 14th-16th
Carol Kaplan, MFT and Barry Brunsman, OFM

RETROUVAILLE
a program for trouble marriages

Held in Foster City, on November 4-6, a program presented by three couples and a priest helps couples heal and reconcile their differences. Program has communication, reconciliation, hope and forgiveness. All couples who have mentally or physically packed their bags are welcome. After this weekend, six follow up sessions over the next 90 days are held at St. Dunstan, in Millbrae. More info at www.retrouvaille.org. Call Tony and Pat Fernandez at (415) 893-1005 or Ed and Peg Gleason (415) 221-4269.

September 3rd and 4th
4:30 p.m. Mass
Presider	Father Marini
Eucharistic Ministers	R. Hanley (C), B. Castro-Leon, R. Aveson, J. Scannell, B. Moniz, J. Finnegan, Doug Hageman, Di Hageman, J. Hageman
Lectors	P. Scannell
Altar Servers	D. Balistreri and D. Lara
7:30 a.m. Mass
Presider	Father Hung and Deacon Duffey
Eucharistic Ministers	E. Ruggiero (C), R. Jardin, A. Doherty, Y. Giuseponi, J. Jackson
Lector	J. Clifford and S. Kelly
Altar Servers	J. Landholt and M. Kelly
9:30 a.m. Mass
Presider	Msgr. Dreier
Eucharistic Ministers	R. Valdez (C), J. Valdez, L. Canaya, B. Canaya, M. Saisi, J. Kelly, P. Byrne, G. Tolentino, L. Rodriguez
Lectors	M. Parasdas and D. Wilson
Altar Servers	K. Casino and O'Reilly
11:30 a.m. Mass
Presider	Father Healy
Eucharistic Ministers	M. Giusti (C), R. Benavente, P. Astrero, H. Madayag, C. Ortiz, L. Jovero, T. Estelita, B. Chester, G. May
Lectors	F. Firpo and H. Beck
Altar Servers	K. Ortiz and N. Valle
5:00 p.m. Mass
Presider	Msgr. Dreier
Eucharistic Ministers	L. Cuddy (C), J. Schaukowitch, V. Hawkins, Van. Hawkins, C. Hawkins, T. Thompson, A. Ciraulo, M. Ciraulo, E. Donnelly
Lector	M. Innes
Altar Servers	C. Fonseca and D. McKenna

ARCHDIOCESAN EUCHARISTIC RETREAT

In honor of the Year of the Eucharist, the Archdiocese of San Francisco is offering a retreat day Saturday, Sept. 10 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. It is from 9 am to 4 pm and includes the Eucharist with Bishop John Wester who will preach on “Mary, Woman of the Eucharist” and two talks by Michael McDevitt and Robert Bussell on “Living Eucharistic Spirituality.” A voluntary donation will be taken up; a light lunch is provided for $8. If you are interested, please call Sr. Sheral at 589-2800 or e-mail her at sistersheral@saintroberts.org.