WELCOME If you are alienated or upset, we welcome you lovingly.

If you are in need of forgiveness, Jesus forgives you completely—with unconditional love.

If you have been hurt by the Church, we are truly sorry.

If you are angry, Jesus offers you peace.

If life has become burdensome, we are here to support you.

We are happy you are here and want you to stay.

We would like to share our lives with you.

Come join us each week so we can worship God together.

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Parish Staff

Rev. Richard T. Conway–Pastor rtconway@comcast.net

Irene Bonner – Business Manager ibonner@comcast.net

Susan Hurton–Faith Formation Director

shurton.srb@gmail.com

Joe Galluzzo – RCIA Coordinator joe.galluzzo@comcast.net; 978-314-3404

Yvonne Gobis – Liturgical Music Coordinator ygobis@comcast.net; 603-458-7291

Karen Bailey – Communications Coordinator kbailey07@comcast.net

Laura Szekely – Funeral Ministry lcszekely@gmail.com

Weekend Mass Schedule

Saturday 4:00 pm

Sunday at 10:00 am

Weekdays as announced

Parish Office

978-683-8922

Fax: 978-689-8878

Office Hours:

Tuesday-Thursday

9:30 am to 4:00 pm

(closed from noon-1:00 pm)

Marriage Please contact the Parish Office at least six months in advance. Participation in both a parish and a dioce-

san preparation is required of all couples.

RCIA Adults interested in baptism or joining the Catholic Church should contact Joe Galluzzo at 978-314-3404

or joe.galluzzo@comcast.net.

Anointing & Pastoral Care of the Sick Please contact the Parish Office when a parishioner is seriously ill or goes into the hospital. Staff and

Communion Ministers bring communion to those who are infirm. Sacrament of the Sick is celebrated com-

munally in the spring and the fall.

Baptism Celebrated regularly at Sunday Eucharist. Mandatory parent preparation sessions are held at church eve-

ry other month. Please contact the Parish Office four months prior to the intended Baptism date.

A Stewardship Parish

Building a Catholic community of commitment, passion and love

Celebrating our faith through dynamic liturgy and a rich sacramental life

Welcoming all into the warmth of our parish family

Sharing the gifts God entrusted to us

Striving to learn, live and share our faith

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AUGUST 18, 2019

FROM FATHER RICK

Dear Friends,

Looking ahead

This Weekend

This weekend, please welcome Father Michael Goodavish who is here to speak on Food for the Poor. Please welcome Fr. Michael as you always do. There will be no weekday Mass on 8/21-22.

Next Weekend

Next weekend, August 24/25, Father Dennis Gallagher, an Assumptionist Priest will be here for the annual mandatory Propagation of the Faith Missionary Cooperative Weekend. Please welcome him. The second collection this weekend is for the Assumptionist Missionary work. There will be no weekday Mass on 8/28-29.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

I will return for the Masses on Labor Day weekend (8/31-9/1). On Sunday, September 1, at 10:00 am, we will celebrate our annual Mass of the Holy Spirit for all those beginning an academic adven-ture this fall—no matter the age. Please join us as we pray for the coming academic year.

Parish Feast Day

Our Parish Feastday will be celebrated on Sunday, September 22, at the 10:00 am Mass.

Mass Schedule

A couple of weeks ago I announced my intention to reduce the Sunday morning Mass schedule to one Mass at 10:00 am. I mentioned that I have come to this conclusion based on the number of peo-ple who were attending the 9:00 am Mass during the months of April, May, and June. These num-bers were dwindling more and more. For the last 6 weeks or so there were about 40-50 people. I have made this decision for the good of the celebration of the liturgy and not because I do not want to celebrate three Masses on the weekend. If the numbers were to return, I would be very happy to return to the 9:00 and 11:00 schedule. I will speak more about this when I return from vacation. Religious Education Classes will begin on Sunday September 23.

Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 10:00 am

Parish Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm As I mentioned last weekend, Pope Francis has suspended his public daily masses in the Saint Mar-tha Chapel. His homilies will resume here when he resumes his public masses. Please pray for our Parish Community, Fr. Rick

ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE PARISH

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Traveling this summer?

Remember that you can make your parish contri-

butions online via ParishPay. To register or update your account, go to parishpay.com.

Don’t forget to check mass-

times.org for Mass times wherever you are—but it’s a good idea to call ahead, too, to make sure what’s online is accurate!

Keep up with St. Robert’s on

Facebook and on our website—home is just a click away!

Visiting for the summer? Welcome! We are glad you could come and celebrate with us and we would love to see you again. Come check us out! Whether you are considering “coming home,” starting fresh, or just not sure where you are headed, drop by and join us for Mass sometime, browse our website, con-tact us with your questions. All are welcome! Not local? Take your positive experience here as a nudge to shop around for a parish community in your neighborhood!

The bembicini are back!

The what?! It’s a fancy and less intimidating name for sand wasps. Every year they seem to return right about this time. You may see them and their sandhills near the walkways leading to the church and/or the office. They are large and can look intim-idating but they are not aggressive and do not swarm like regular wasps. That said, it is best not to tease or chase them. Rest assured, we are taking care of them. By the time you read this, in fact, they may already have moved on.

Stewardship Reflection

“Do you think I have come to give you peace on

Earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” (Luke 12:51)

Living a stewardship lifestyle means stepping out of our comfort zone when needed. Many of us like to play it safe, not cause waves, stay in the middle of the road. In today’s world we are called to be informed and take a stance for life, marriage and religious liberty.

Welcome Fr. Michael!

Please extend a warm welcome to Fr. Michael Goodavish who is visiting with us this weekend, celebrating both Masses, and sharing infor-mation and inspiration about the work of Food for the Poor.

Parish Community Prayer Intentions

At our parishioners’ request or with permission, we list those who are sick or in the hospital and

wish to be remembered in our prayers:

The names in the Parish Community Prayer Intention list are not included in the web ver-sion of the bulletin in order to maintain the pri-vacy of those individuals.

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Readings for the week of August 18, 2019 Sunday: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18; Heb 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53 Monday: Jgs 2:11-19; Ps 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44; Mt 19:16-22 Tuesday: Jgs 6:11-24a; Ps 85:9, 11-12, 13-14; Mt 19:23-30 Wednesday: Jgs 9:6-15; Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Mt 20:1-16 Thursday: Jgs 11:29-39a; Ps 40:5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10; Mt 22:1-14 Friday: Ru 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22; Ps 146:5-6ab, 6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10; Mt 22:34-40 Saturday: Rv 21:9b-14; Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18; Jn 1:45-51 Next Sunday: Is 66:18-21; Ps 117:1, 2; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30

Saturday, August 24 Vigil, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

4:00 pm: Charles Logan

Please note there will be no regular weekday Masses this week.

Question of the Week: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Theme: God's power among us gives us strength.

Breaking Open the Word Suggested faith sharing text: Today's Gospel

Step One: Listen to the Word When you hear the reading today, what word or phrase caught your ear? What really struck you in today's reading?

Step Two: Look into Your Life Question for Children: What is one way you can be closer to Jesus today?

Question for Youth: We are assured that God will be with us as we go through life, so what strategy do you use to keep God in mind as you deal with the ups and downs of life as a young adult?

Question for Adults: Share about a time when life's struggles were so difficult for you that you nearly “threw in the towel.” What signs did you see then that God remained with you?

Sunday, August 25 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

10:00 am: Dick and Nancy Castignoli

Saturday, August 17 Vigil, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4:00 pm: Margaret Logan

Sunday, August 18 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

10:00 am: Ida Brown

In Service 2nd Lt. Luke Beaulieu, USA, Lt. William E. Con-way, USN, SN Madalina Yvonne Southworth, USN, SFODA 1324 Detachment, 2nd Lt. Han-nah Jean Kuegler, USA, BM2 Stuart Bangs, USCG, Sean Hodgdon, USAF, Cpl Chris Carey, USMC, SFC John B. Nicholas, USA, SGT Jean-Paul Fitzpatrick, USA, SGT Vincent Amasula, USA, CDR Paul Giguere, USN, 1st Lt. Stephen Draheim, USA, Col. James Coffey, USAF, Lyle Shackel-ford, Pvt. Alexander Sabu, USA, Gen’l. R. Steve Whit-comb, USA, Col. Brian P. Bedell, USA, Capt. Lauren Whitcomb, USA, BG Patrick J. Donahue, USA, BG Bri-an P. Donahue, USA, Cpt. Michael McGaffigan, USA, Lt. Jesse Salisbury, USA F, Commander Kevin B. O’Bri-en, USN, Miko Belonia, Maj. Tony Hoffman, USA, Maj. Ross Coffman, USA, Maj. Garth Howe, USA, Chief Warrant Officer II Michael Morris, USA, Captain Mat-thew Mancini, USA, Sgt. Ellen Barnes O’Connor, USA, Pvt. Adam James Mazza, USA, Pvt. Joseph D. Gagnon, USM

AUGUST 18, 2019

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Time to register for the coming year!

Religious Education K-8 Reconciliation and First Communion Prep

Confirmation Prep

Tuition is $90 per child.

Information and registration at: saintrob-erts.net/registration-for-all-programs.

Questions? Please contact Susan Hurton at shurton.srb@gmail.com or 978-683-8922.

WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP RECOMMENDATION:

Buy Fresh, Local, Organic Food travels an average of 1,200 miles before it reaches your plate, so buying locally grown can save energy and prevent air pollution. Also, fresh foods require significantly less energy than frozen foods (but watch out for spoilage which contributes to food waste!). Organics benefit the environment by not relying on synthetic pesticides or fertilizers which can contaminate soil and water. Other benefits of fresh, local and organic can be healthier foods with better taste. Farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) are both great ways to support a local food system.

“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of Creation.” —Pope Francis

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019

www.hikeforhope.org

So many ways to help out…

Start a team! Join a team! Pledge a team! Volunteer! Spread the word!

It’s a Bread & Roses food weekend. Did you miss it this time? No problem! We

need help every month. Our next food collection will be on the weekend of Sep-tember 14 & 15. Watch for the announce-ment in the bulletin or check the parish website for details. And a special thank you to everyone who helped us keep our commitments through these slow sum-mer months when so many people are on vacation!

Gardening for Neighbors in Need

Come be a part of the Giving Garden, providing much needed fresh produce for Neighbors in Need’s food pantries! There are volunteer spots open on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. No experience necessary—open to all ages and abilities! Questions? Email the garden team at giv-inggardengrows@gmail.com. Ready to sign up? Go to www.signupgenius.com/go/5080c44ada92aa4f85-spring.

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ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE PARISH

Only one more Bread & Roses “summer slowdown” weekend!

Reminder that you can drop off non-perishable food donations for Neighbors in Need anytime in the bin in the vestibule of the church. Thank you for your continuing generosity!

Remember to check our advertisers first when you are looking for local services!

Are you a health care professional interested in learning more about short-term mission service?

Mission Doctors Association will offer the 2019 Midwest Retreat/Seminar, Sept 13 -15, 2019 for Catholic Physi-cians, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners and Physician As-sistants, and their spouses, considering short-term mis-sion service in Africa or Latin America. This will be held at Loyola Stritch Medical School, Chicago.

Information and Accreditation Statement (for the 11 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)) are available on the web site: www.MissionDoctors.org or by calling the of-fice for more information 213-368-1872.

USCCB Prayer for Building Justice

Holy Spirit, WE PRAISE AND THANK YOU!

You anoint us to bring glad tidings to the poor proclaim liberty to captives recover sight for the blind free the oppressed and build communities in keeping with God’s vision of justice.

Show us how to be light of the world salt of the earth seeds that sprout love and leaven that infuses humanity with the desire to promote human dignity and solidarity.

Help us to listen so that those in poverty can lead our efforts to proclaim a more hopeful vision liberate captives from injustice heal the blindness of the powerful free us all from self-centeredness and build community to overcome poverty. Amen.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” Learn how God is calling you to more in your marriage by attending a Worldwide Mar-riage Encounter Weekend. The next Weekends are Sep 14-15, 2019 in Medway, MA and Oct 18-20, 2019 in LACONIA, NH. For more information, call Stephen & Michelle O'Leary at 800-710-9963 or visit them at https://wwmema.org/.

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AUGUST 18, 2019

Saint of the Week: Mary, Mother of Jesus, First Century

The greatest and first among all of our saints and a patron for all of us, Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of his son. Very little is known about Mary outside of the New Testament. By tradition, she was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of Joachim and Anne. Catholics believe in Mary's Immaculate Conception, which means that Mary was born without original sin, the only human so honored by God. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we learn that the angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced that she was to be the mother of Jesus. We further learn about the angel's visit to Joseph; Mary’s journey to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who acknowledged her as the mother of

God; and about the birth and early life of Jesus. This is most of what we know about Mary until Jesus began his ministry. Mary is mentioned from time to time in all of the Gospels. We come to know that she was instru-mental in having Jesus perform his first miracle by turning water into wine at Cana. We also know that she was there at Jesus' crucifixion, and present with the disciples in Jerusalem before Pente-cost. It is believed that she was also present with the apostles after Jesus' Resurrection and at the Ascension. Mary has been the intercessor for all people who call upon her and for many different causes. Over the centuries, her appearance on Earth has often been reported: at Lourdes, Fatima, La Salette, Guadalupe, and Medjagore. There feast days in honor of Mary. By tradition, her birthday is cele-brated on September 8. Besides the Solemnity of Mary celebrated on January 1, some of the other feast days for which, at least in part, we honor Mary the Annunciation (March 25), the Visitation (May 31), the Assumption (August 15), the Queenship of Mary (August 22), Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7), the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12). Under the title of the Immaculate Conception, Mary is the patron of the United States. Mary's message today: Our greatest saint, Mary did one simple thing. She listened to God's will—that she was to be the mother of Jesus—and she accepted God's will. "Here I am, the servant of the Lord: let it be it done to me according to your word." (Lk 1:38) Have you accepted God’s will in your life? Pray for an understanding of what God is calling you to do?

Looking for a fun family activity to learn about the saints?

Check out Saint Bingo! You can download everything you need on the website of Missio, the Pontifical Mission Societies. Go to: https://www.missio.org/assets/resources/ordinary-time/pdf/Saint_Bingo.pdf.

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TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK:

TWENTY-FIRST ORDINARY SUNDAY

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 66:18-21

Thus says the LORD: I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every

language; they shall come and see my glory. I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fu-

gitives to the nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands

that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the

nations. They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the

LORD, on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem, my holy

mountain, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their offering to the house of the LORD in

clean vessels. Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD.

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters, You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: “My son, do

not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves,

he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” Endure your trials as “discipline”; God

treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all dis-

cipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to

those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make

straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter

through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking

and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are

from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then

he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And

there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the

prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east

and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For

behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Copyright 1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record-ing, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.