St. Robert's Church Bulletin, November 28, 1999

St. Robert's Catholic Church

1380 Crystal Springs Road, San Bruno, CA 94066

Tel: (650) 589-2800

PARISH BULLETIN
NOVEMBER 28, 1999
First Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners,

This week we begin the season of Advent. As I wrote last week, this is a period of hope as we look forward to the coming of Christ, not only at Christmas but at the end of time. An important aspect of hope is to make sure that this hope that comes from Christ extends to all the people of our world. The hope of Christ is not a promise of middle-class prosperity. Christ did not promise a chicken in every pot and a two-car garage for every family. But he did expect that life would be human enough so that every child could grow up to think about him and love him. He did expect that we would feed the hungry and take care of their thirst. He did expect the hopeful to lend hope to the hopeless. In face, he said that our own hope, our own salvation depends on whether we do or not.

The problem is what to do. We can ask our political leaders to forgive the debts of poor nations so that they can use the money to take care of the needs of the poor. We can cut back on what we spend on presents to our own families and give the extra to the needy. We are fortunate in our Parish that we have several programs to help us help those who are in need. Be generous to these programs - the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Giving tree, Adopt a Family and Christmas gifts to the homebound. Let us give hope to those in need locally and throughout the world.

Father Ring

We thank God for the blessings received in our Parish, and throughout the Archdiocese because of RENEW. The next 6 week season of RENEW will begin March 5, 2000. We have some 16 small faith-sharing groups in St. Robert’s and there is room for more. You are welcome to join in Spring even if you have not taken part yet. As a Parish we thank Sister Antonio of the Irish Presentation Sisters for overseeing RENEW in our Archdiocese. In our Parish I particularly thank our hosts, our facilitators, and, the members of our RENEW Core Committee:

Rita Tullius, Michelle Blumenthal, Mary Shypertt,
Bunny Moniz, Dan Hernandez, Emil Ruggiero,
Mario Benavente, Tracey Madden, and Pat Kelly

Happy Advent! on to HIS Millennium!

Father J. Morris

Monday	6:30	All Souls †
	8:30	Charles, Rose & Ralph Capella †
Tuesday	6:30	No Intention
	8:30	All Souls †
Wednesday	6:30	All Souls †
	8:30	Lloyd Lagomarsino †
Thursday	6:30	No Intention
	8:30	Emil & Elaine Eskro †
Friday	6:30	No Intention
	8:30	Philip Reilly †
Saturday	8:30	Christopher Simi †
	4:30	Charles Muscat †
Sunday	7:30	Josephine Freidt †
	9:00	Rita Galea Vidulich †
	10:30	Elena Matteucci †
	12:00	People of St. Robert's
	5:30	Pat Roonan †

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY, SECOND OF ADVENT
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
" ... as we wait in joyful hope ..."

Church scholars think that in the earliest days after Jesus’ Resurrection, his disciples gathered every Sunday, the day he rose, not only to break bread together but also with the expectation that he would return in glory on that day. In St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, the earliest New Testament writing we have (written about 55 AD), we see that 20+ years after Jesus’ death and rising believers were still expecting that He would return in glory during their lifetimes. This Advent, be attentive to the many prayers in the Mass which refer to Jesus’ Second Coming ... "Christ will come again." ..."we wait in joyful hope ..." The promise of His return in glory is as central to our faith as is the mystery of His humble Incarnation. - Pat Kelly

*We pray for the ill: Tony Coogan, Koret Koelman, Terry McLeod, Adela Florez, Ana Cosgaya, Peter Capodonicco, Rosemary McHale, Arthur Candia, Bastiaan Blumenthal, Muriel Krause, Sister Cabrini, Don Vickery, Jeanne McHugh, Catherine Cook, Ann Burns, Imelda Daly, Margarita Velez, Marky, Marlyn Arancibia, Marcia Bourne, Sandra Dill, & Randall Guerro.

As a Parish Community, We Pray
In this season of Advent, as we prepare for the coming of Christ, may all who are ill be filled with expectant faith that God is ever present in their pain and sorrow.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

On Sat., morning, Dec. 4th, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the Chapel. 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 after Mass to spend but one hour with Jesus. He is waiting!

RITE OF WELCOMING CELEBRATED NEXT WEEKEND

Next Sunday, December 5th, at the 10:30 AM Mass, we will celebrate the RCIA Rite of Welcoming for our 16 new members who include:

Brian Barba, Chris Barnes, Emi Caruso,
John Compton, Joy Goodwin, Harold Goff,
Nancy Marty, Sylvina Olvera, Gina Pasquinelli,
Jacqui Quilici, Judi Rolfes, Rick Rolfes,
Lisa Romero, Cherie Sekulich, Gus Sinks,
and Dave Slotnick.

These adults are preparing to receive their Easter Sacraments of Baptism and/or Confirmation and/or First Eucharist. Please keep them in your prayers as we journey toward Easter.

EMERGENCY PRAYER NETWORK

The Emergency Prayer Network continues to pray for specific problems that require a concerted effort due to their critical nature. To facilitate the network, please call Michele Pipinich. The network then prays frequently for the next 72 hours. We would appreicate a return call with the outcome so we can praise God for His faithfulness.

MUSICIANS! LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

All parish musicians are invited to play or sing in our Christmas liturgies. As Andy Williams once sang, "It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . fa la la, doo be doo, and all that." Teens involved in school bands and choirs are especially encouraged to help if you have the time for rehearsals. Interested? Call Pat Kelly at 589-2800.

GIFTS FOR THE HOMEBOUND

As we have done for many years, we ask that each of us remember with love those members of our Parish Family who are confined to their homes or to nursing homes. We can open wide the doors to our hearts to them by bringing a Christmas gift to the baskets placed on our altar steps. Some suggestions are: slippers, robes, dusters, sweaters, lap robes, nightgowns, pajamas, knee socks. We ask that these gifts not be used but new.

Thank you to the ten St. Vincent de Paul volunteers for what was accomplished last Saturday, November 20th. Twenty turkeys, along with bags of food, were distributed to needy famiies. It was so well organized by Bruce Chester. A special thank you to all the parishioiners who brought food and turkeys to the rectory and church. We also gave out over $2000 of St. Robert’s Safeway Scrip with this food. This was money received from our 2nd collection on the last Sunday in Oct. We have enough frozen turkeys to take care of both our Thanksgiving and Christmas delivery - forty in all. An additional thank you to all the children of St. Robert’s School who brought all those canned foods to the school. We do appreciate it!!! Thank you to the children that give to St. Vicent de Paul a bag of small change - collected for one year; and has done so for the last four years. I say children, because its contents is only pennies, nickels and dimes. This year the bag amounted to about $15. Like the little old lady that gave our Lord TWO CENTS when she had only FIVE CENTS to her name. I want to thank these children very much. Your St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Robert’s

GROWNPS’ CHRISTMAS PARTY....Please join us this year at the Grownups’ Christmas Party on Sat., Dec. 4th, in Hennessy Hall. Enjoy a catered traditional turkey dinner, music of Rusty Bartoli, door prizes, and a raffle of table decorations. Proceeds of this event go to Sister Ita’s Christmas charities. No host cocktails at 6 PM & dinner at 7 PM. Deadline for reservations is Nov. 30th. Tickets are $17.50. For reservations call Laverne Buller, Lil Fazio, Dolores Johnson, or Sypil DeSantis.

MEN’S CLUB....Please join us at the meeting of the Men’s Club on December 6th. Doors open at 6:30PM and dinner is at 7:30PM. For reservations call Danny Uroz. Price is $10 per person til December 2nd and $13 after that date. This month we would like to help out Sister Ita - so please bring canned food to our meeting to help others that are less fortunate.

INBETWEENERS NEW YEARS EVE DINNER DANCE....Bring in the millennium at the In-betweeners New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance. Cost is $125.00 per couple. Deadline Dec. 1st. Call George Lynch for tickets and further information.

CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE....If you would like to adopt a family, it starts this weekend in front of Church after all Masses. Also in front of Church next weekend. Gifts need to be returned the weekend of Dec. 11-12. Any questions call Rob Aveson.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH
6:45-8PM, Religious Ed.....Hall
6:30-8PM, Legion of Mary ....Library

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2ND
7-9PM, RCIA....Chapel
7-9PM, PPC.....Library
7-9PM, Bob’s Club.....Hall

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3RD
3-10PM, Grown-Up’s.....Hall

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4TH
9-10AM, Eucharistic Adoration.....Chapel
9-1PM, First Reconciliation.....Church & Hall
1-11PM, Grownups.....Hall

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5TH
10-11:30AM, Fil/Am Choir.....Hall
3:30-5:30PM, Confirmation Class.....Hall