St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
March 11, 2007
Third Sunday of Lent

“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all my being bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all his benefits”
Psalm 103:1-2

Last week our Sunday Gospel Reading (Luke 9 28b-36) took us to the top of a very high mountain and there we experienced with Peter, James and John the transfiguration of Jesus. This was an experience far beyond their wildest imagination. This week we are down in the valley again visiting an orchard where the owner has planted a fig tree. The fig tree, for three years in a row, failed to produce any fruit, so the owner wanted it removed from his orchard. The gardener interceded for the tree and promised to cultivate and tend to it with the hope that it would start producing fruit and please the owner.

On Ash Wednesday we were like the Apostles on Mount Tabor filled with excitement and plans about what we would do for God this Lent. Saint Peter planned to build “three tents” - nothing was too much trouble or too great an undertaking for him at that point. We know that he never did accomplish what he promised to do! What about us? We are now three weeks into Lent and where are our resolutions.— “Our Tents”? Are we now depending on a kind hearted “gardener” to come along and bail us out—to give us more time, more loving care so that we can produce the fruits of the Spirit in our lives? At this mid-point of Lent let’s take a good hard look at our Lenten promises and hope that we are not found to be replicas of that barren fig tree!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day
Sister Patricia

The Annual Chrism Mass
will be celebrated this year
Tuesday, April 3rd
in the Cathedral of
St. Mary of the Assumption
at 5:30 p.m.

Monday - March 12
Readings: 2 Kgs 5:1-5ab     Lk 4:24-30

Tuesday - March 13
Readings: Dn 3:25,34-43     Mt 18:21-35

Wednesday - March 14
Readings: Dt 4:1,5-9     Mt 5:17-19

Thursday - March 15
Readings: Jer 7:23-28     Lk 11:14-23

Friday - March 16
Readings: Hos 14:2-10     Mk 12:28-34

Saturday - March 17
Readings: Hos 6:1-6     Lk 18:9-14

Sunday - March 18
Readings: Jos 5:9a,10-12     2 Cor 5:17-21
Lk 15:1-3,11-32

As a Parish Community we pray …....for those who are preparing to be washed clean in the Easter waters. May they clearly see Jesus moving in their lives.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Ainsley Grace Boyd

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Gabriel Herrera,
Elizabeth Christy,
Pablo Ramos,
Mildred Covell &
Charles Kollerer
who died recently.

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:
Karen Callicotte, Christopher Soto & Sandra Growney

ONE-TIME CHANGE FOR OUR AIDS LUNCH

This month the Aids clinic will be closed on Wednesday, March 14^th. We have been asked if we can provide lunch on Thursday, March 15^th. This is a one-time change.

If you can prepare a favorite snack or lunch item for 10 to 12 people, please drop it off at the Children’s Chapel, by the church entrance, by 9 am on March 15^th. Please use non-returnable containers. Frozen items are okay. Thank you once again for your time and energy as we continue to help our neighbors.

GROWNUPS' ANNUAL SOUP SUPPER AND GENERAL MEETING
Hennessy Hall, March 14th at 6 p.m.

Our guest speaker will be Father Paul O’Dell. Tickets may be purchased for $8 after the 4:30 p.m., 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses on the weekends of March 3/4 and 10/11. The last day for ticket purchase is Monday, March 12th. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Vera Hannon.

"BUILDING HEALTHIER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS"

An educational and resource sharing event for the Filipino community to be held on March 17th at St. Augustine Parish, 3700 Callan Blvd., South San Francisco. Archbishop George Niederauer will be one of the many speakers at this event.

Pre-registration required. Please call the rectory at 589-2800 for more information.

T-Shirts-Size Large and Extra Large
Shorts or briefs size 36-38 to Extra Large.
Please put in food baskets in Little and Middle Church and on altar.

CONSOLATION MINISTRY
March 31st

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.

All are invited to the Church for Stations at 6:00 pm each Friday during Lent. After this time of reflection and prayer, we will go to Hennessy Hall to share a sacrificial meal of soup. salad, bread and fruit. We ask that you give what you would have spent on your Friday dinner to our St. Vincent de Paul Society. They will use it to provide food to our sisters and brothers in need. There will be a basket for your donation on the serving table. We come together for:

On Friday, March 16th, our RCIA group will lead the Stations and they, along with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and TIPPS, will host the supper.

A LENTEN TENEBRAE SERVICE

The Journey to the Cross
Palm Sunday
April 1st at 3 p.m.
St. Roberts Church
Kevin Imbimbo-Conductor
Jim Dahlstrom-Accompanist
Choristers from several Peninsula Churches

Join us for a service of darkness that takes us from Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to his crucifixion. This service of word and music sets the mood for the most significant week for the Liturgical Year, and helps to prepare us for the Easter celebration ahead. A reception will follow in the vestibule.

PALM SUNDAY

The Children’s Liturgy Team is looking for Children (5 years of age and older) to be a part of our annual Palm Sunday presentation of the Gospel at the 9:30 a.m. Mass on April 1st. Rehearsals will be in the church on Monday, March 26th, Wednesday, March 28th and Friday March 30th. Rehearsals will be from 4-5 p.m. each day. Children can sign up on Sunday March 18th and 25th after the 9:30 Mass in Little Church or call the rectory at 589-2800.

This past week, I’ve been making arrangements with various church leaders regarding the Interfaith Prayer for Peace we’ll be hosting here next Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. The Thai Buddhist monks (whose monastery is just down the block) are coming as are the Jewish rabbi from Burlingame, the pastor from Peace Lutheran, and the leader of the United Muslim interfaith group. Other leaders of faith communities may be coming, but we haven’t heard from them yet. Please come and be with these other good folks as we listen together to readings from our various traditions, let their wisdom sink into us in prayerful quiet and beg our loving God for the change of heart which will open all people to his gift of peace. It won’t be long, I promise, and it will be one of the most fruitful actions we can do for our country and our world.

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

-Lao-Tse, Chinese philosopher, 6th century BCE

Three weeks from today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of the week we call “holy.” Our services Thursday, Friday and Saturday are at 7:30 p.m. during the Triduum (“the three days”) and are worth marking on your calendar now. They will plunge you into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as nothing else can.

LABELS FOR EDUCATION

St. Robert’s School is now collecting Labels for Education. Please help by asking family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to collect the UPC code or proof of purchase labels from participating Campbell, Pepperidge Farm, Swanson, and Franco-American products. Also lids from Prego sauces and V8 beverages will be collected. A collection box will be in the entrance to the church on the third Sunday of each month. Questions should be sent to Christine Peterson. Thank you.

SUNDAY COLLECTI

    
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.

ANNUAL APPEAL

2007 CENTERPLATE SIGN UP

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass