It is good to be back at St. Robert’s! The people of Mississippi are wonderful and I will miss the “Yes, Ma’am” with which every question is answered, but home is home. We only hear of their situation on the anniversary of the Storm, as they call it, but things are still really bad almost two years afterward. 60,000 homes were washed away or seriously damaged. A woman from Pass Christian whose home was spared by Katrina told us after Mass that, though she had lived there all her life, she was thinking of moving. The formaldehyde in the FEMA trailers continues to sicken the people; you may have read that FEMA won’t let its inspectors go inside the trailers because they are toxic! FEMA has also declared its intention to have people out of the trailers three months from now, but most owners of the rental housing haven’t rebuilt the destroyed units. What few units there are go for $800 a month and FEMA only allocates $500 a month in assistance. Many businesses are still not up and running, so there is very little opportunity for work.

I’m sorry to say that New Orleans isn’t much better than a year ago either. With the cold and rain of the past week, my mind went back to those homeless before Katrina who are living in small pup tents under the freeway. We were strongly advised not to even drive through the Ninth and Lower Ninth Wards of New Orleans in daylight since gangs from other areas have moved in to claim territory. Locals told us that an ambulance won’t even go there unless it has a police escort. What a shame that those who have suffered so much will suffer even more.

The work of the Presentation Sisters in downtown New Orleans is definitely a bright light like the one we heard about in the Isaiah reading for Epiphany. “Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” The Sisters have moved from one cramped trailer to three trailers which enable the five of them to have their own offices, thus affording dignity and privacy to those who come seeking help. Volunteers from the local high schools and colleges help sort food stuffs and serve their guests. The blood sister of one of the Presentations will be spending a month there, helping in whatever ways she can. Theirs is definitely a multi-service center: guests can receive their mail at their address; they can sign up for showers; talk with a Jesuit Nurse Practitioner and a counselor three days a week; be seen by the twice a week medical personnel in vans from LSU and Tulane University Medical Center; receive prescriptions; and have a hot lunch.

Please pray for all the people of the Gulf. They are our brothers and sisters. Blessings on your new year!

Sr. Sheral

6:30 a.m. Mass on:
Tuesdays and Fridays.

As a Parish Community we pray …That all who have died and risen with Christ in the waters of baptism might protect and defend the gospel of life proclaimed by His death and resurrection.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Kaila Chiyeko Shimizu
Dylan Matthew Tosetti
Jackson Phillip Henley
Olivia Ann Pera

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.

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Leonard Williamson,
Genevieve Henry and
Alfro Bomben
who died recently.

Currently Father Marini is residing at Serra Clergy Retirement Center in San Mateo. The dioceses has determined that he will remain in residence there and not return to St. Roberts.

You can send cards and notes to him at:

Father Joseph Marini
c/o Serra Clergy House
455 West 20th Ave.
San Mateo, Ca 94403

“We must not be afraid of the future. We must not be afraid of man. It is no accident that we are here. Each and every human person has been created in the ‘image and likeness’ of the One who is the origin of all that is. We have within us the capacities for wisdom and virtue. With these gifts, and with the help of God’s grace, we can build in the next century and the next millennium a civilization worthy of the human person, a true culture of freedom. We can and must do so! And in doing so, we shall see that the tears of this century have prepared the ground for a new springtime of the human spirit.”

Pope John Paul II to the United Nations (October 5, 1995)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION is celebrated EVERY Saturday: from 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm in the Reconciliation room which is the door to the right in the vestibule of the church. You can also make an appointment with Msgr. Bruce or Father Paul by calling the rectory at 589-2800.

CONSOLATION MINISTRY

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group will hold a meeting on January 26th in the Convent Chapel from 3:15 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.

WALK FOR LIFE WEST COAST

The 4^th Annual Walk for Life takes place this Saturday, January 19^th at 11 am at Justin Herman Plaza at the Embarcadero, preceded by an 8 am Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Several speakers will address the group, including Dr. Alveda King of the Martin Luther King, Jr. family, Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life and Eduardo Verástegui, star of Bella. Please call Vicki Evans at 415-614-5533 or go to: www.walkforlifewc.com. for more information. If you cannot attend, please pray for this effort to increase respect for the gift of life, especially the life of the unborn.

TUESDAY MORNINGS

Tuesdays at 9:15 am in Mary’s Chapel, we’ll be studying Paul’s Letter to the Galatians and the relationship between Christian Freedom and the Law. You’re most welcome to join us! If you need more information, please call S. Sheral at 650- 589-2800.

Anniversary Mass
Saturday, February 9th, 10 a.m.
St. Mary’s Cathedral 1111 Gough St., San Francisco

Archbishop George Niederauer cordially extends an invitation to all married couples of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and beyond, to a Solemn Eucharistic Celebration and renewal of vows.

Special honor will be shown to those who are celebrating their 25th, 50th or 50+ Wedding Anniversaries. Reception immediately following Eucharist. Registration forms can be downloaded on line at www.sffamilylife.com or email cfm@sfcatholic.com.

The Baptism of the Lord
Last Sunday, we celebrated the manifestation of Jesus as Savior to seekers from the far regions of the known world and rejoice that his coming was for all people, not just his own Jewish community. This Sunday, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, when a voice is heard declaring, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3.17) This experience might be seen as the moment when, in his humanity, he realizes his special relationship to God as his Father. This event marks the beginning of his public ministry. When the opposition to him from the Pharisees grows violent, Jesus goes back to the Jordan (John 10.40), to the place where he had such a clear sense of his identity.

Don’t we do the same thing? In times of trouble or great stress, we go back, at least in our minds, to better times when we felt loved or confident or competent. Jesus, too, as “one like us in all things but sin” surely must have felt insecurity and fear. What are our experiences of being a beloved son or daughter of the Father? When have we experienced that sense of God’s love, so overwhelming that it is just about impossible to describe to anyone, but definitely real? Perhaps, this week you can take some time to savor such an experience and let it refresh and enrich you. The more we are conscious of being loved, the more we will express that love to others.

Peace, S. Sheral

The Work of Christmas Begins
"When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart…” -Howard Thurman

KINDERGARTEN APPLICATION

Applications for Kindergarten for the 2008/2009 school year will take place in the school office January 28th through February 1st from 9-3 p.m. Child must be 5 years of age by September 1, 2008. You will need copies of your child’s birth and baptismal certifications and social security card.

OPEN HOUSE
January 31st

St. Roberts School will hold its annual Open House on Thursday evening, January 31st at 7 p.m.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

St. Robert School, mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students of any race, color and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. St. Robert School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color and national and/or ethnic origin in administration of education policies, admissions polices, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school administered programs.

CENERPLATE UPDATE

Opening Day is April 7th

Let's all take a breather before the next season begins

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.

January 19th and 20th

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass