Together we sat on our deck enjoying the warmth of the sun. We discussed today’s readings as we sipped our tea. How well connected these readings are! Elisha fed the one hundred hungry people with 20 barley loaves He quoted our Father:

“They shall eat and there shall be some left over.”

And so it was!

In John’s Gospel, we picture Jesus thoughtfully gazing upon the five thousand people who had followed Him up the mountain. They were hungry and had no food. His heart was filled with compassion for them. Jesus knew that He alone could provide them with food for their bodies and food for their souls. To do this, He used the humble offerings of a little boy.

After all had eaten and been satisfied, Jesus asked His disciples to gather what was left. The fragments filled 12 baskets. The prophecy was again fulfilled:

“They shall eat and there shall be some left over.”

How generous is our God! He provides us with so much more than we need….even to overflow!

We continue to be nourished by Jesus’ Bread of Life. The 12 baskets of fragments collected upon the order given by Jesus are the Bread destined for the whole Church in every age. The Church still eats from it each time we partake of the Holy Eucharist. As we receive this gift of Jesus’ Bread, we are challenged to commit ourselves to satisfying the needs of the poor- - -the starving crowds of our time.

May we love one another with the heart of Jesus.

Dear Parishioners,

I’m very happy to be your new parochial vicar. As you may already know, I was raised by a very Irish Catholic family. I grew up in the San Joaquin Valley in a small town called Visalia. After graduating from Fresno State University, I went to St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Belmont was my first assignment. St. Sebastian in Greenbrae and St. Gabriel in San Francisco have been my other parish assignments. I very much enjoy parish ministry where I get to know so many wonderful people.

I always had an interest in serving my country as a reserve naval chaplain. Fortunately, I was commissioned as a naval chaplain in 2000. I did my basic training in Newport, Rhode Island. In January of 2003, I was called up to active duty and sent over to the Persian Gulf. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would actually be in a war. I am proud that I had the opportunity to serve my country.

Now I am proud to serve you. I want to know all of you. It will take some time to know your names and your families. If there is anything that I can do, please let me know. I am excited to be here as your new parish priest.

A NOTE FROM FATHER BRUCE

My family and I would like to thank the people of Saint Roberts for your love, support, presence and prayers for these past couple of weeks since Mom died. I shared with my family a stack of cards that was almost one foot tall. The outpouring of love and concern has helped me to get through these difficult days. I have stood before many families at the time of a death. I’ve tried to console and to bring some healing and peace. These last weeks the tables have been turned. Thanks for being here for me and my family. Saint Robert’s people are the greatest.

Thanks to all who helped with the reception last weekend for Fr. Joe Hung. He moved this past week to Saint Gregory in San Mateo where he will be in residence while continuing to serve at Seton and San Mateo County Medical Centers.

Fr. Paul O’Dell has arrived. He will be our new Parochial Vicar. Fr. Paul’s latest assignment was at St Hilary in Tiburon. Welcome, Fr Paul.

Finally, I will be away on vacation. Monsignor Bob McElroy, Fr Ray Sacca and I will be visiting Southeast Asia. We will be in Thailand for a few days, then Cambodia and Vietnam. I’ll be back in the office on Monday, August 21^st.

The parish office is in need of a volunteer to work from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays, beginning August 25th. The job would involve minimal clerical duties. Please call (650) 589-2800 to apply.

    
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Dress Code: Full length black slacks, (jeans or spandex are not permitted), white shirt with collar, closed toe comfortable shoes (preferably black or white).

We will car pool from the rectory. For those working in San Francisco, you can meet the group at the gate.

Volunteers between 16-21 years of age must provide a copy of a picture id which includes his/her birth date.

Dress Code for 49ers Training Camp: Tan or khaki shorts and a white shirt with a collar. There will be no other shirt used this year.