We continue to ask each week that parishioners pray for the chronically ill of our parish. If you have a friend or loved one in need of our parish prayers please call the Rectory at 589-2800.

This week we pray for:
Christopher Soto and Karen Callicotte

CONSOLATION MINIATRY
January 27th

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group in the Convent Chapel from 3-4:15 p.m. (before the 4:30 p.m. 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.

COMPUTER CLASSES RESUME
February 3rd

Saint Robert’s will be offering Computer Classes again this semester. Classes will be held on Saturdays mornings from 9:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m. February 3rd, in the school Computer Lab. If you interested in Computer Education please call the rectory at 589-2800 or Sister Patricia 589-0104 to register. There is no charge.

SANCTITY OF LIFE

Over 30 years ago, we were told that legal and widely available abortion was the key to ending discrimination against women and the solution of a host of social problems. Today we face the devastating results: More than 40 million unborn human lives lost, untold numbers of others wounded. Children and other family members abused in ever increasing numbers. And more women and children living in poverty than ever before. Abortion is not a solution. In the U.S. every year, 1.6 million children die from abortion. The powerful propose yet more abortion, government-funded abortion, as the cure. How long will we refuse to see the bankruptcy of our choices? How long will we refuse to act? How long, O Lord, how long?

(National Conference of Catholic Bishops)

ALL MARRIED COUPLES

in the San Francisco Bay Area are invited to join Bishop John Wester on Saturday, February 10th, at 10 a.m. for the annual Anniversary Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. This Mass is to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, to renew your vows, and to show your support and encouragement for all married couples. Go to www.sfcatholic.com/cfm or email info@sfcatholic.com

THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD

We are studying the Vatican II document, The Church in the Modern World Tuesday mornings at 9:15 am in Mary’s Chapel. Please see Sr. Sheral or call her at the rectory for a copy of the document.

THE COMPASSIONATE CAREGIVER
February 3rd

If you are caring for a spouse, parent or friend, you are invited to a caregiver’s retreat, “The Compassionate Caregiver,” on Saturday, February 3rd from 8:30 am to 1 pm in the Convent Chapel. We will reflect upon and share our experiences of the challenges and blessings of caregivng and share lunch together. For more information and to register, please contact Sr. Patricia at 589-0104 or Sr. Sheral at 589-2800 or you may register on line at www.saintroberts.org. There is no charge, but we would appreciate registration by January 28th

We look forward to welcoming you!

BLOOD DRIVE
February 4th

Our next day to donate blood here at St. Robert's will be Super Bowl Sunday, February 4th from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Hall. Please consider donating before your Super Bowl party. It would be fantastic if we can reach the magic number of 30 pints donated. Please call the rectory at 589-2800 if you wish to reserve a time. Thank you!

ST. ROBERT'S WOMEN'S GUILD ANNUAL DINNER DANCE
Saturday, March 10th, 5 p.m. to Midnight
"DANCE TO THE MUSIC"

$75 per person/$65 senior discount
For ticket sales contact Annetta Giambruno

Tickets will be on sale after all the Masses starting this weekend and continuing until March 3-4. Please bring check when purchasing tickets after Mass.

Luke’s Gospel
During this liturgical year, we’ll be hearing from the gospel of Luke. Though his community records many events common to Mark and Matthew, this gospel has particular features not found in the other Synoptic (Greek for “same eye”) gospels. This gospel stresses Jesus’ inclusion of the poor, social outcasts, misfits and those on the edge of respectable society. Because Mary’s annunciation and her visitation of Elizabeth are also part of this gospel, it is surmised that some may have known Mary personally and heard the stories from her.

Luke himself was a Gentile, not a Jew, and a physician, thus the many stories of healing. The Holy Spirit is very present in this gospel, as in the Acts of the Apostles, composed by the same community.

The portion of the gospel we hear today is familiar, so we need to be sure we hear it carefully. Isaiah’s words are as challenging for us today as they were in his own time (8^th B.C.) and at the time of Jesus. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” You might recall that as we approached the year 2000, there was a strong movement from all the churches and humanitarian groups to pressure the wealthy nations to forgive the debt of the most impoverished countries in the world. The debts were often incurred by corrupt dictators and encouraged by irresponsible lending agencies. The countries are unable to pay the interest on these debts and their efforts to do so eliminate the possibility of financing even the most basic health care and education for their people.

Amazingly, seven years later, very few countries have had their debts forgiven. An alliance of 75 religious, human rights, and community groups, Jubilee USA, is raising the issue again. After decades of brutal tyrants as “leaders,” in 2005, Liberia democratically elected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf president. She is trying to begin a new chapter in their national history, but without the support of the world community for debt forgiveness, her task will be impossible. Its debt is $3.5 billion against its annual income of one-fortieth of that amount! If you’d like to read more or to advocate for this forgiveness, go to www.jubileeusa.org or write to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20220; fax him at 202-622-6415; or call him at 202-622-2000. Thank you.

Peace, S. Sheral

MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame, Ca 94010
(650) 340-7474
mc@mercyburl.org

Feb. 16-17
Men’s Spirituality-Mini Retreat|The Spirituality of Laughter

Feb. 20
Conscious Evolution

Feb. 23-25
Meditation Intensive

THE JESUIT RETREAT CENTER OF LOS ALTOS
formerly known as El Retiro
300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, CA 94022-4659
(650) 948-4491
Website: www.elretiro.org

Feb. 2-4
Strength for Our Journey

Feb. 9-11
On Pilgrimage with St. Ignatius

SAN DAMIANO RETREAT CENTER
P.O. Box 767, Danville, Ca 94526
(925) 837-9141
Website: www.sandamiano.org

Feb. 9-11
Mens Retreat

Feb. 26th
Lenten day of Renewal
Living with God in the Church of 2007
Bishop John Cummins

We are now accepting applications for our 2007/2008 Kindergarten class. Child must be 5 years of age by September 1, 2007 and you will need copies of your child’s birth and baptismal certificates and social security card. Please contact the school office at (650) 583-5065 if you would like an application.

LAST DAY APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED WILL BE JANUARY 26TH

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, January 25th from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

SUNDAY COLLECTION

Thank you for your generous donation of $3,309.95
to the Black, Indian and Catholic Home Missions.

    
SIGN UP FOR E-CONTRIBUTIONS

Go to www.saintroberts.org and click on the e-contributions button. The first page explains the details. There is a button to take you to the e-paluch registration page. You can register online using either your checking account or credit card.

There is no cost to you for this service.

Due to recent changes in the tax laws, beginning with contributions made in 2007, parishioners who itemize deductions on their tax returns will no longer be able to deduct contributions to the parish (or any other non-profit or charity) unless they maintain a bank record or written contribution statement from the parish or other charity. If you wish to ensure deductibility of your contributions to the parish, please use a check or maintain a copy of a statement showing a direct deposit taken from your account and provided to the parish. You can also use our parish envelopes. The parish will track contributions made using those envelopes and will, upon request, produce a written statement of contributions made during a given tax year. Canceled checks and other bank records are also sufficient documentations. The parish cannot track cash contribution not made via our envelopes.

Our Centerplate earnings for 2006 totaled
$53,682.23

The sports program,
the maintenance fund,
the teachers fund and
the outdoor education fund
will each receive
$13,420.56

Thanks to the many people who have volunteered.
See you in the Spring!!!!!