St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
August 5, 2007
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

What is it about the transient things of life that makes us want to hold on? And why don’t we do the same with those things that are eternal?

I remember hearing a story about some hunters in the jungle who came up with a very creative way to catch monkeys. They would take a heavy glass bottle with a narrow neck and tie it to a tree. Then they would put some food in the bottom of it. After leaving for a few hours they would return to find a monkey sitting there with its hand in the bottle. Now, you’re probably wondering why the monkey did not just take the food and run? You see, the neck of the bottle was just wide enough to allow a hand in, but too narrow to let a closed fist out. Once the monkey grabbed the food it was stuck. And the amazing thing was that the monkey would never let go. They never would. If only they would have realized that in order to be free, they needed to let go of something.

And so it is with us. We cling to things. We hold on for dear life. We hold onto people and attitudes and grudges and wants so tightly that we are unable to be truly free, as God created us to be. What are you and I clinging to? What do we need to let go of? Many people have vivid and ready plans for what they would do if they won the lottery. Pay off my credit cards, help my children buy decent homes, pay off the mortgage, put in central heating and cooling.

Sunday’s Gospel raises some of the central Christian questions for the Gospel writer Luke. What is wealth for? Jesus’ parable tells us the rich person’s decision to build bigger barns to store an abundant harvest is foolish in God’s eyes. The parable doesn’t tell us what other people of the time thought. They may have all had different thoughts. Some saw in the new barns and granaries a person whom God singled out and blessed with abundance. Perhaps others saw a person they hoped to become. God holds the ultimate power to redistribute the wealth of people who will not share. This is the fate of the rich fool who must leave his full barns behind and face God with whom he has stored up no treasure.

My dear friends, there are so many ways you can share with one another. Do not hold on. We can share our time to help build a home for a needy family or bring a bag of food to the St. Vincent de Paul or bring a lonely neighbor with you to attend Mass. Sharing our riches does not necessarily have to be a monetary value because not all of us can afford it. Sharing your riches could mean your time, love and patience.

So by sharing our riches with others we are by far letting go.

God Bless,
Deacon John Meyer

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.

As a Parish Community we pray … that those who are ill and in pain will be treated with compassion and dignity, may they be restored to good health.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Angelo David Sarti
Natalie Rose Carver
Tyler Joseph Fassler
Isabella Mea D’Amico
Natalie Carina Kennealy

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 Nancy Curtis

Our sincere sympathy to the families
of those who died recently

Marion Schutz
Clara Fanella

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

SEPARATED & DIVORCED CATHOLICS

The Separated and Divorced Catholics of the Archdiocese of San Francisco will be having their annual picnic at San Bruno City Park (Site 9) on Saturday, August 18th, from noon until 5pm. Cost is $5.00 per person or $10.00 per family. Bring a picnic dish for six to share. To RSVP or for more information, call Vonnie at 650-873-4236 or Gail at 650-591-8452.

SCRIP

Now through September 4th—Register your Safeway Cards at www.escrip.com and St. Robert’s will get 10% of your purchase price. If you are not registered, send your Safeway receipts to St. Robert’s school or church when shopping between 9/10—10/6! Thank you for your continued support.

PLEASE HELP

We are running low on some of our basic supplies. Can you please help with the following items so we can continue serving all who come to us in need.

Thank you very much
Peter Stiehler
Catholic Worker House
672 Second Avenue, San Bruno
605-827-0706

LITURGY FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE ARCHBISHOP

Welcoming all young adults in their 20’s and 30’s, married and single, to liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Assumption with Most Rev. George Niederauer, Archbishop of San Francisco, on Thursday, August 16th, at 7:00 p.m.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is located at 1111 Gough Street at Geary Blvd. Parking is available. Liturgy and reception sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office of Young Adult Ministry and Campus Ministry. For more information and to let us know you’re coming: www.sfyam.org, 415-614-5596, jansenm@sfarchdiocese.org.

EVERYBODY WELCOME
SAVE THE DATE
MORE INFO TO FOLLOW

Let’s meet at the San Bruno Park Rotunda (10:30 am to 1:30 pm). If you have any questions, please call Rachelle Henley at 650-465-5191.

A Summer Scriptural Challenge
On this first weekend of the last month of summer, we might be startled by the tone of the scriptures: “All is vanity” the author of Ecclesiastes tells us and Jesus’ parable is equally challenging. On the other hand, perhaps the timing is exactly right as we step out from the rat race which our lives can easily become. Put bluntly, we all will die and the possessions we have amassed will be left to others. In the Bay Area with one of the highest costs of living in the country, it takes many hours of work, often by both parents, to pay the mortgage or rent and provide the basics of food, clothing, schooling, including saving for college, transportation and what is needed to maintain good health. Many of us also help support a struggling relative or friend close by or in our home country. Yet we, too, can go overboard. How easy it is to mistake what we or our children (or grandchildren) want for what we or they need. Advertisers know our weak spots, so our best recourse may be to stop and ask ourselves before each purchase, “Do I really need this?” It helps if we can see our money as the limited resource that it is. Could I do something better with this money than spending it on myself?

Jesus tells the story of the rich man planning to build larger barns in which to store his bumper crop. I can’t help but think of Bill Walsh and the comments people have made about him. Along with everything said about his innovative genius in coaching, the person he was came through. His mentoring of young, often untried players, seeing their potential before they saw it themselves has changed many lives. He has been called “another father,” “like the brother I never had,” “he took a chance on me,” “I loved being around him.” The Minority Coaching Fellowship he initiated, now 20 years old, has begun to provide opportunities to match the talents of aspiring coaches and front office managers. He didn’t “store” his talents; he used them. It seems that Bill Walsh, in addition to doing well, has done much good.

”One’s life does not consist of possessions,” Jesus proclaims earlier in this passage, as he reminds us to become “rich in what matters to God.” Let us ask the Spirit to guide us as we review our choices; may we have the wisdom to use our possessions, including our talents, wisely and for the good of others.

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

Thank you for your donation of $4,734.26 to the Mission Coop (Presentation Sisters)
and $2,514.13 to our St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

    
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