Recuperating from the flu, we lazily lounge in our living room, sipping soothing herbal tea. Though our heads feel cloudy, it’s time to study today’s readings and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, come up with a thought or two.

In the first reading, God says to Samuel:

“Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”

We recall a few nights ago, while sitting in this same spot, we watched the full moon rise and saw how much light it gave to the night. Slowly the lunar eclipse took place. The bright light was no more. The moon was still there, but we could not see its light.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us:

“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.”

Even if we cannot see Him, Jesus is here in our world. He is our Light. His intense longing is to become one with each of us. For this reason, He has given us the Eucharist. He feeds us with His Body and Blood. With our human eyes, we see what appears to be a piece of bread and a cup of wine. Jesus may not be visible to us as He was to the man who once was blind; but, in this small piece of bread and in this sip of wine, we have Jesus with us even more real than did he.

Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man and he was transformed. Jesus gave him His Light and his life was never the same again. When we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, He opens our eyes and gives His Light that we might better see and understand our God; trust in Him and love Him. We too are transformed. We are now able to see our sisters and brothers as God sees them. We can now love them as God loves them. Holy Communiion unites us with Jesus and with one another. Our hearts are changed. We now live as children of Light.

Gene and Anna May

As a Parish Community we pray ... For nations and people blinded by hatred and prejudice. May the healing love of Jesus give us eyes to see the potential goodness that lies in the hearts of all of God’s people.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Claude Michael Garde
Sophia Susanna Smiley
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Raul
Katelyn Leann Wetteland
Sean Ryan Abello

Our sincere sympathy to the families of
Alegandro Gomez,
Magari Ortiz,
Maria Gonzalez and
Russell Smith
who died recently

AIDS LUNCH
March 12th

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 March 12th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items are ok!

Thanks to everyone who contributes!

CONSOLATION MINISTRY

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group will hold a meeting on March 8th in the Convent Chapel from 3:00 p.m.-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.

**Consolation Ministry Committee meets after the 8:30 a.m. Mass in Mary’s Chapel on the first Wednesday of every month. If you are interested, you are welcome to join us.

$1,500-Mr. and Mrs. Ortrander Sebastian
$750-The Kreysa Family
$500-The Harts
$250-Tina Cava

MEN'S CLUB DINNER

Monday, March 3rd at 6:30 p.m.
Cost at the door is $10.

WOMEN'S GUILD DINNER AND MEETING

March 6th at 6:30 p.m.
Cost at the door is $10.

   
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.

GOOD FRIDAY CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
March 21st

We invite the children of the 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.

Operation Bed Nets

The reading from Ephesians this weekend admonishes us: “Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” I’m sure the Lord is very pleased with you St. Robert’s parishioners who this week contributed $1,419 towards the purchase of bed nets. Some parishioners have asked me how this “bed net thing” works. We keep track of your donations each week and at the end of Lent, send a check to Nothing But Nets, the group we’re working with. The $10 per net covers buying the nets in-country, transporting them to far-flung villages and instructing the people in their use. The net on display is the one-person version; I would guess that the nets given to the people may be larger ones to protect 2 or 3 children. You may recall that the power point presentation mentioned 300 million sleeping sites in sub-Saharan Africa which could be covered for $3 billion. What a blessing it will be for those families that so many people have become aware of their situation and are responding! If you haven’t taken a blue envelope yet or would like to make a second contribution, the envelopes are at the main entrance of the church. Just make your check out to St. Robert’s Church, place it in the envelope and put it in the collection basket any weekend. Thank you very much.

The Social Concerns Group

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.

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, March 7th, Sister Sheral will lead the Stations. The InBetweeners 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

   
The gospel is one we are familiar with, so it is a challenge to hear it with new ears! We might notice that it is a disciple of Jesus who asks whether it was the blind man who sinned or his parents. (This was a common understanding at that time.) Like the woman at the well, this recipient of Jesus’ mercy grows in his understanding of who it is who has encountered. He refers to him initially as “that man they call Jesus,” then calls him a prophet. Confronted repeatedly by the Pharisees, he deflects their calling Jesus a sinner and says, “I do not know whether he is a sinner or not, I know this much: I was blind before, now I can see.” Finally, when Jesus asks him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He responds, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”

John’s community invites us to put ourselves into this story. Jesus is breaking tradition and the usual community norms, as he often does. He cures someone thought to be a sinner and on the Sabbath to boot! How open are our eyes to see God’s hand at work in unexpected places? What do we think about Bono and Madonna and other celebrities getting involved in helping Africa deal with poverty? Do we assume that they are doing it for the publicity? Could we fathom that the Spirit may be moving them as the Spirit moves in us? Are we like the Pharisees, unable to imagine God breaking into human history and healing individuals or nations? During this Lenten season, may we continue to ask God to change our hearts.

Reconciliation
Next Monday, March 10, we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Penance (confession) here at 7:30 pm along with the priests and people of St. Veronica’s and Mater Dolorosa Parishes. If you’re feeling a desire to get closer to God, to leave behind habits or attitudes which don’t fit with following Christ, that’s a sign that God has already been working in your life, so come celebrate that reality with the Sacrament! It’s God’s Spirit nudging you even if you haven’t been to reconciliation for years. The old black box is gone, but God’s healing forgiveness is present.

Palm Sunday
Kevin Imbimbo and members of our choir invite all of us to a Tenebrae Service, Palm Sunday March 16^th at 2:30 pm at St. Matthew’s Church, 1 Notre Dame Ave. San Mateo. Many of us had the opportunity to attend this same type of service last year here at St. Roberts and found it very moving. Choirs from several churches will provide the music and the readings will take us from Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to his crucifixion. This service sets the mood for the rest of Holy Week and helps prepare us for the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday/Easter. Please come and be renewed.

Lectors Needed!
you want tothe parish by proclaiming the scripture as a lector at one of the Mass, especially the 5 pm Sunday?If so, please call Sr. Sheral or e-mail her at srsheral@saintroberts.org. Thank you.

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 2/26/08 143 Families have pledged $33,349.10.
Thank you for your donation.

HERE's THE
2008 CENTERPLATE SCHEDULE

March 8th and 9th

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Mass

Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Mass