St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
July 29, 2007
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

It is another beautiful, sunny day as we sit on our deck sipping our afternoon tea. Together we think about what today’s readings mean to us.

The first, from the Book of Genesis, tells us that the God in Whom we believe is all-forgiving and all-merciful. Though the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were sinful to the extreme, God listened to the persistent pleas of Abraham to spare the city. Our Father told him:

“ For the sake of those ten, I will not destroy it.”

Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians that, even though we were dead in sins, God brought us to life along with Jesus, forgiving us all our sins and nailing them to the cross.

In the Gospel according to Luke, when His disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He responded that we are to ask Our Father to forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Jesus willingly gave His life that our sins would be forgiven. Might today be the day for us to reach out and forgive that relative or friend who has hurt us...to be merciful as our Heavenly Father is merciful...to love unconditionally as He loves us?

Jesus tells the story of the persistent neighbor, who doesn't give up until he is given the bread he asks for. We need to pray fervently and insistently, shamelessly. We are to ask God for what we need without caution or decorum. We are to pray as if our lives depended on it. Our prayers need not be polite and reserved. This parable asks us to pray with abandon, involving our whole selves, including all our emotions and fears. Our shamelessness in prayer shows the depth of our trust in our God, Who is all-loving, all-forgiving and all-merciful.

May you live in the peace that forgiveness and trust in God brings!

Sincerely,
Gene and Anna May

On Saturday, August 4th, and on the First Saturday of every month, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in our Church. This Adoration will close with Benediction at 10 a.m. The Eucharist is truly a Sacrament of Love—-a Sacrament that not only demonstrates Jesus’ love for each of us; but gives us the grace we need to love God and our neighbor. God longs to be with us in the Eucharist. Come to 8:30 a.m. Mass, receive Jesus’ Body and Blood and remain afterwards to spend about one hour with Jesus. He is waiting!

As a Parish Community we pray …that as God has forgiven us, we too reach out with forgiveness to anyone who has hurt us.

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.

AIDS LUNCH
August 8th

We are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you can prepare a favorite cookie, snack or lunch item for 10 to 12 people, please drop it off at the Children's Chapel, in the back of Church, by 9 a.m. on August 8th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items are ok!

Thanks to all who contributed their time and energy.

Check www.masstimes.org for Mass schedules in other cities.

In today’s first reading, Abraham is taking on one of the duties of a prophet: interceding on behalf the people because of their sins. He barters with the Lord for the life of the townspeople of Sodom and Gomorrah. We probably barter for a more personal need. I remember asking God once when I was very young and singularly unprepared for a test, that I might break my leg so that I wouldn’t have to take it! Or course, God didn’t answer my prayer. In the gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples the Our Father, then gives examples of the need for perseverance in prayer. But the most important part follows: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Jesus assures us that everyone asking, seeking and knocking will receive, will find and will have the door opened.

Like the father who gives only good things to his children, God will give only good things to us and “the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

So with all the sadness, violence and death in the world, doesn’t it seem that God isn’t hearing the prayers of people of all different faith traditions for healing, reconciliation and peace? It may seem strange to us, but by giving us free will, God has subjected himself to our human freedom, to say yes or no to the good impulses we experience. Wouldn’t it be a lot easier for God to treat us like robots and make us participate in the divine plan for the world? But then, we wouldn’t be human. We wouldn’t have the burden or the dignity of choosing what is right. So what do we do? Keep praying, perhaps asking the Spirit if there is a way that we can be part of the answer to our prayers. Perhaps, along with the prayers we need to write letters, make phone calls, and at least with my example above, examine ourselves to be sure that we are bringing healing, reconciliation and peace to our own relationships. Blessing on your week! S. Sheral

Mississippi, Anyone?
I’m planning to return to Gulfport, Mississippi, God willing, Dec. 27^th to Jan. 3^rd. Would you like to come? We won’t know exactly what we’ll be doing until closer to the time, but the people definitely still need our help. The organizers would be ecstatic if our group included a retired electrician, carpenter, plumber or general contractor. Anyone over 16 in good health and willing to work is welcome. Please call me at the rectory.
Peace, S. Sheral

St. Robert's Church
1380 Crystal Springs Road
San Bruno, CA 94066-4794
Phone: 650.589-2800 Fax: 650.589.9628

Become a Festival Sponsor at this year's "Journey Through the Years" Festival on September 21-23, 2007. Promote your business and any new product or service by becoming a Game Booth and Lounge Sponsor. Here are your options:

1) Game Booth or Lounge Sponsorship:

a) Platinum $325 - Tax deductible gift, your business name displayed within our Lounge and Game Booths on a 2 x 6 sign provided by St. Robert's Church

b) Gold $200 - Tax deductible gift, your business name will be displayed in our Lounge and Game Booths

c) Silver $100 - Tax deductible gift, your business name will be displayed in our game booths

2) Donate Merchandise or Service

a) Item will be used as a raffle or door prize throughout our Festival Weekend. Your business name will be displayed at our Fri. Night Ice Cream Social, Sat. Night Dinner and at the Raffle Sale Ticket Booth

3) Make a Monetary Donation - All donations are tax deductible

Complete the bottom portion and return to the Rectory A.S.A.P.

Yes, I/we want to help!!!! Here is my/our donation of:

___$100      ___$200     __$325        _____Other $___      ___Product/Service
       Silver            Gold          Platinum

Name:_________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________

___My check is enclosed (please make checks payable to St. Robert's Church)

___My employer will match my gift (please enclose your employers matching gift form)

Employer:____________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________

Your business name and key contact information will be displayed and announced throughout the festival weekend.

Gifts are tax deductible!!
Your donation is greatly appreciated - Tax ID# 94-1437729

SUNDAY COLLECTION

    
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.

2007 CENTERPLATE SIGN UP

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass