Is the Lord really in our midst or not? Given the distance of time and knowing the “rest of the story,” as it were, we might be tempted to look down our noses at the Israelites. After all, even though they were delivered from the bondage of Egypt they seem to be crying out to God “So what have you done for us lately?” Sensing the presence of God is a mysterious thing.

Is the Lord in our midst or not? An ancient and ever new question, it seems, given that we have learned only recently that a sense of the absence of God pervaded Mother Teresa’s life for many of her adult years. She lived forward in faith but in the depths of excruciating darkness.

We ourselves today might well ask, “Where is God in this crazy, mixed-up world, in our wounded Church and in the brokenness we find in our own lives?” How strong is our sense of the presence of God? Where do we experience God’s presence today?

Water equals life equals the presence of God: this is the equation at work in the scenes at Horeb and at Jacob’s well. The water mediated through Moses keeps the people alive in the desert. The water Jesus offers to the Samaritan woman and to us is the pledge of eternal life. It is so because the water Jesus offers is nothing less than a participation in God’s life, the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Through her encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan woman comes to herself. In his presence she finds meaning and rescue from alienation. She returns to her town a wounded healer who brings others into his presence. Animated with living water welling up in our lives, we, too, even in our own incompleteness, are called to help others discover God’s presence. We are saved, not just for ourselves, but for the sake of mediating the experience of God’s healing presence to others. The world needs to hear us proclaim: The Lord is in our midst.

We may not always feel it, but it is grounded in the trust that comes from faith that we know God’s presence is the very ground of our being. It is the ground of all being. We depend on God’s presence as we celebrate the scrutinies with our catechumens these next three weeks. We test our hearts in these rites. In the presence of God we seek out what is sound and pray for its strengthening; we discern what is wounded or weak and pray for healing. We pray for strengthening and healing in our own hearts, in those preparing for Baptism in our church and in the world.

As a Parish Community we pray ... That all who suffer from hunger, thirst, sickness and discouragement may be filled with the healing waters of Jesus.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Noah Kyle Ramirez
Matthew Knox Ramirez

Our sincere sympathy to the family of
Alejandro Gomez
who died recently

GROWNUP'S ANNUAL SOUP SUPPER AND GENERAL MEETING"
February 27th

The Grownups’ Annual Soup Supper and General Meeting will be held in Hennessy Hall on Wednesday, February 27th at 6pm. The meeting will follow the supper.

Tickets may be purchased for $8 each after the 4:30 pm, Saturday Mass and after the 7:30 am, 9:30am, and 11:30am Masses this weekend, February 23/24. The last day for ticket purchase is Monday, February 25th. Tickets may be purchased by calling Vera Hannon.

We look forward to seeing you at the event.

BULLETIN DEADLINE

The deadline for submission of weekly bulletin announcements is Tuesday at noon. Please submit announcements in writing to Kathy or Judy in the Rectory Office, fax us at 588-9628 or email parishsec@saintroberts.org. Thank you!

   
CHILDREN'S LITURGY ANNUAL PALM SUNDAY PRESENTATION
March 16th

The Children’s Liturgy Team is looking for Children 5 years of age and older to take part in our annual Palm Sunday presentation of the Gospel on March 16th at the 9:30 a.m. Mass.

Rehearsals will be at St. Robert’s Church from 4pm to 5pm on Monday, March 10th; Wednesday, March 12th and Friday, March 14th.

Children can sign up on Sunday March 2nd and March 9th after the 9:30 a.m. Mass in Little church or call MaryAnn Saisi.

Today’s reading from Romans declares that “the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” Thank you again for pouring out your love through your generous donations for the bed nets, $2,757 this past weekend. President Bush has been traveling through many African nations, highlighting the efforts our country is making, especially through his initiative, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, called PEPFAR for short. This initiative includes $1.2 billion over the next five years to combat AIDS, TB and malaria.

Malaria is a debilitating disease of the blood, destroying red blood cells and clogging the capillaries that carry blood to the brain and other organs. It caused by infected mosquitoes who strike mostly from dusk to dawn, thus the importance of bed nets. In addition to protecting the family members underneath it, the pesticide-treated bed net also kills the mosquito on contact. Malaria is the leading cause of death for children under 5. Children who survive an episode of severe malaria may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage. Worldwide, malaria causes around 350 to 500 million illnesses and more than one million deaths annually. Anti-malarial drugs need to be made more available especially in rural areas to assist those who have been infected. There is presently no vaccine for malaria, though research is ongoing.

If you’re giving up something for Lent, please put aside the money you’ve saved, put a check made out to St. Robert’s Church in the blue envelope and place it in the collection any Sunday during Lent. Thank you for your help.

The Social Concerns Group

GOOD FRIDAY CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
March 21st

We invite the children of St. Robert’s Parish and their friends to join us in Hennessy Hall March 21st from 1:30p.m. to 3p.m. While you attend Good Friday church services they will have the opportunity to partake in many craft projects relating to Lent and Easter.

Pre-registration would be helpful to insure that we have sufficient material for each child. You can call MaryAnn Saisi or Michelle Blumenthal. Please leave your child’s name, age and a phone contact number. Doors will open at 1:15p.m. Last minute registration will be accepted at the door. We ask that you please pick up your child at the end of church services.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS AND LENTEN SUPPERS

On each Friday during Lent (except for Good Friday), Stations will be held in the Church at 6pm. A light supper consisting of soup, salad, bread and fruit will follow in Hennessy Hall. This is an opportunity for us to pray together and for members of our parish family to get to know one another. Please put what you would have spent for your usual Friday dinner in the basket on the serving table. Your donation will allow our St. Vincent de Paul Society to bring food to our sisters and brothers who are in need. On Friday, February 29th, RCIA will lead the Stations. The St. Vincent de Paul, TIPPS, and RCIA will host the supper. Together we can practice the three Lenten observances which are:

PRAYER—STATIONS OF THE CROSS
FASTING AND ABSTINENCE—A LIGHT MEAL
ALMSGIVING—A DONATION TO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

BED NET DONATIONS

If you didn’t have a chance to pick up a blue envelope for your bed net donation, they are in the vestibule of the church.

If you are new to St. Robert's we ask that you complete a registration form found in the vestibule of the church. Drop it either in the collection basket, the mail, or at the parish office. We will send you a New Parishioner Packet with information about the parish, its organizations and groups. If you chose, you can register online at: www.saintroberts.org.

   
The Woman at the Well
Who was this woman? She was, of course, a second class believer as a Samaritan in the eyes of observant Jews. She was a second class human being as a woman in a totally patriarchal society. And she must have been considered the lowest of the low by the other women, since she preferred the heat of the day to interacting with them as they drew water in the coolness of early morning. Many of us in a similar life situation would have an ok sense of ourselves, but not this woman. She breaks the taboo of speaking with a man with whom she is not related, and a Jew at that! She communicates with him as an equal, responding to his statements and engaging him in a theological discussion. She holds her own and is not even distracted by his comment about her husband. She is a believer and a thoughtful one at that. She is so excited about what he tells her that she forgets her supposedly inferior status and goes off to spread the news. She wants to tell those who don’t accept her of the marvelous encounter she has just had. Could he be the Christ?

Isn’t she an unlikely proclaimer of the Word? Isn’t it amazing that Jesus chooses her as the one to whom he reveals his identity? And isn’t it fascinating that the people who seemingly shunned her are open enough to her message to drop what they are doing and come out in the heat of the day to see for themselves? How about us? Are we open to God speaking to us through people we least expect to be God’s instruments?

The other element at the heart of this reading is water. Jesus says to her, “Give me a drink,” and we could hear in his voice the voices of so many people worldwide who have no access to safe drinking water. The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Vatican spoke at the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto in March 2003, stating “The Bible opens precisely with the image of the divine Spirit hovering over the water at the creation of the universe. The management of water and sanitation must address the needs of all, and particularly, of persons living in poverty. Inadequate access to safe drinking water affects the wellbeing of over one billion persons and is the cause of disease, unnecessary suffering, conflicts, poverty and even death.” Pope John Paul II reminded us that “Water is not only a consumer good, but a good to which all human beings have a right, even if they don’t have money.”

What can we do about this situation? Be conscious of water as a gift of God. The average American uses 100 gallons of water a day. Resist the impulse to buy bottled water. Huge amounts of water are wasted in its manufacture, lots of gasoline is used in transporting it, and often it is not as pure as the Hetch Hetchy water we are blest to have on tap. Use a glass bottle or heavy plastic one to refill and carry with you or with your grand/children. Use only what you really need to brush your teeth, take a shower or rinse dishes. Lobby against efforts to “privatize” water in the developing world. As we remind the children, we need to share.

Peace, S. Sheral

www.boxtops4education.com
www.labelsforeducation.com

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.

ARCHBISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL

As of 2/19/08 118 Families have pledged $27,700.00.
Thank you for your donation.

   
MERCY CENTER
2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA94010
Tel:650.340.7474, Fax:650.340.1299
mc@mercyburl.org

March 2
Centering Prayer
Introductory Workshop #2

March 6
Healing Touch Session

March 9
Centering Prayer
Introductory Workshop #3

March 16-23
Holy Week Experience

THE JESUIT RETREAT CENTER
300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, Ca 94022-4659
Tel:650.948-4491
www.jrclosaltos.org

February 29th-March 2nd
Zacchaeus, Come Down! Lazarus, Come Out!

March 7-9
Raising the Bar

March 20-23
What Were They Thinking?

RETROUVAILLE

Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue...or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? This program has helped 10’s of 100’s of couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels including disillusionment and deep misery. For confidential information about, or to restister for the Spring program beginning with a weekend on March 7th-9th call (415) 893-1005 or email Sf@retroca.com or visit the website at www.Retrouvaille.org.

March 1st and 2nd

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass