SAINT MATTHEW PARISH 2 Searles Road, Windham, NH 03087 Telephone: 603-893-3336

Sunday, February 25, 2018 Second Sunday of Lent

MASS SCHEDULE WEEKENDS IN ST. MATTHEW CHURCH SATURDAYS: 4:00 PM SUNDAYS: 7:30, 9:30,11:30AM & 6:00 PM

WEEKDAYS AT WARDE HEALTH CTR CHAPEL MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY: 8:30 AM

WEEKDAYS IN ST. MATTHEW CHURCH WEDNESDAY: 7:00 PM FRIDAY: 8:30 AM

HOLY DAYS Contact Parish for Mass Schedule

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION SATURDAY: 2:30 - 3:30 PM or by appointment

PARISH EMAIL: [email protected]

PARISH WEBSITE: www.stmatthew-nh.org

Office: 603-893-3336 Rel.Ed.: 603-898-4818 Fax: 603-898-4008

Pastor:

Rev. Brian Kennedy, CSsR SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

Dear Family of Saint Matthew: Mass Intentions For The Week Today the mission team is reaching out in many directions: toward La Llamaya,
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where Doctor Luis will attend patients and show our youth how beautiful it is to help
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For all parishioners of St. Mahew Church
installing a new aqueduct.

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“God put Abraham to the test< and we could add: 7

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“Abraham put God to the test.” This weekend’s first reading has been used by a new generation of atheists who, in the


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aftermath of 9/11, roundly condemn the Bible as glorifying a dysfunctional god, on the level of Allah in the Koran. So,
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of an aborted human sacrifice and more important: how did it find its way into the Bible?





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The Hebrew people were surrounded by cultures that 
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boast of having more faith than the Hebrews because they  
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presenting their catechism story of Abraham. He was put to the test, found willing, and then discovered that God didn’t





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want human sacrifice. In other words: “been there and done that. We’ve moved on!” $
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The last century found the cult of human sacrifice brought





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to extremes far beyond the “worst” stories in the Bible. '5 :`H.  Blatantly atheistic regimes in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Mao China and Pol Pot Cambodia offered up



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tens of millions of people for human sacrifice to the gods of the state. The Allies fire bombed and then used atomic








weapons< offering the sacrifice of non-combatants deemed necessary to hasten the end of the war. Today in
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sanctioned the right to offer up human sacrifice, so long as the human has not taken his or her own first breath.
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The real God, the God always existing before the Universe

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came to be; who created it out of nothing this the only real God finds human sacrifice to be repugnant. He did not

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of His creatures could offer human tribute to lesser gods. No one is clearer about this than Our Lord and Savior

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Jesus Christ.

- Father Brian Kennedy Just a reminder that while Father Brian is on the DR10 Mission trip 2/15-3/2, there will be NO morning or evening weekday Masses.

Our sincere thanks to Fr. Eddy Bisson and Fr. Gerry Dion for covering our weekend Masses and confessions while our pastor is away. FAMILY & LITURGY

'EYES ON JESUS' PRAYER MEETING: FEBRUARY 24th STATIONS OF THE CROSS Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let SIMPLE SOUP SUPPER them say among the nations' "The Lord reigns!" - 1 Chron. 16:31 LENTEN VIDEO SERIES

All are invited as we praise and worship the Lord Jesus with scripture, song and prayer. We We invite you to join us again continue to pray for the needs of our families, our EACH FRIDAY in Lent for our faith community (local and global), our clergy, our country formation program. and all special needs. May we glorify the Lord Jesus 5:30pm Stations of the Cross in Church, with now and forever! Amen! a short video. We will then have a Simple Please join us on Saturday, February 24th, from 5:15 pm -6:15 pm in Room 208 of the Parish Center. Soup Supper in the Parish Hall with discussion and prayer. These thought- provoking videos, which are about 8 minutes Lenten Penance Service long, are varied, like Bishop Barron, Ascension Sunday, March 4th at 2:00pm Press, Pregar series… different aspects of our St. Joseph Church faith! 40 Main Street in Salem. All are welcome to join us! Several area priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We invite you to take this opportunity to receive God’s love and mercy this Lenten season. MEN OF ST.JOSEPH - Monthly Meeting Our next meeting of the Men of St. Joseph will be on Saturday, March 10th beginning with the Rosary in church at 7:15am, followed by Mass, Responsorial Psalm then a light breakfast and guest speaker and I will walk before the Lord, in the land reflection in Room 208 of the parish center. All men of the parish are welcome! of the living.

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Religious Education & Formation

INTERGENERATIONAL SESSIONS NO Classes for Grades K – 5 the week of NEXT WEEK - Grades K-5 February 18th or week of February 25th. Classes resume week of March 4th with our Our next intergenerational Intergenerational Sessions! session will be held during the classes the first week in March; Enjoy your break and school vacation! March 4, 5, 6, 7. UPCOMING CLASS SCHEDULE It is a great opportunity to Sun. 3/4 8:15am Gr. K-5 Classes share in your child’s faith formation and learn something new yourself! Please plan on attending 11:00am Gr. K-5 Classes classes with your child! Mon. 3/5 4:15pm Gr. K-5 Classes Tues. 3/6 6:15pm Homeschool Session Gospel For All Ages Weds. 3/7 4:15pm Gr. K-5 Classes How are your Lenten resolutions? By the time week two HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS! rolls around, plenty of well-meaning people have skipped, Our next home school session will be Tuesday, neglected, or outright forgotten their Lenten resolutions at March 6th at 6:15pm in the Parish Center Hall. least once. It can be easy to start excusing our Lenten Please bring all completed work with you. commitments altogether. Last week we saw Jesus driven into the desert. This Readings for the Week of February 25, 2018 Sunday, we see Jesus leading his disciples to an equally Sunday: Gn 22:1-2, 9, 10-13, 15-18/Ps 116:10,15-19/ barren place: he "led them up a high mountain apart by Rom 8:31b-34/Mk 9:2-10 themselves." But what happens there? Monday: Dn 9:4b-10/Ps 79:8, 9,11,13/Lk 6:36-38 Tuesday: Is 1:10, 16-20/Ps 50:8-9, 16-17, 21,23/ "And he was transfigured before them and his clothes Mt 23:1-12 Wednesday: Jer 18:18-20/Ps 31:5-6, 14,15-16/ became dazzling white." Today's Gospel reminds us of the Mt 20:17-28 goal. We don't enter into the desert for the sake of Thursday: Jer 17:5-10/Ps 1:1-2-4, 6 /Lk 16:19-31 suffering, but for the sake of transformation. Friday: Gn 37:3-4,12-13, 17-28/Ps 105:16-21/ Mt 21:33-43, 45-46 Mountain imagery is prevalent throughout Scripture. The Saturday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Ps 103:1-4, 9-12/ sacrifice of Isaac, Moses receiving the 10 Commandments, Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 Elijah's revelation of God as a tiny whispering sound: all Next Sunday: Ex 20:1-17 /Ps 19:8-11/1 Cor 1:22-25/ these occur on the mountaintop. Mountains are strenuous Jn 2:13-25 to hike. To assist the traveler in the assent, trails often involve switchbacks. These lead the traveler back and forth across the mountainside, sometimes appearing as if hardly any ground is gained. Perhaps Peter, James, and John hiked a similar path as Jesus led them up the side of Mount Tabor. A climb is difficult. A climb in a barren place leaves you thirsty, exhausted, and quite possibly frustrated or discouraged. Yet this is precisely how Jesus leads his closest disciples. Why? Because he has something to reveal to them. Practically speaking, Jesus needed to bring Peter, James and John away from the crowds for this revelation of glory to remain hidden. There are spiritual HONOR ROLL truths we will encounter only if we pass through difficulty. So let's persevere this Lent! Today's Gospel invites us to Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Lent trust that, if we persevere in following Jesus, he'll lead us to Friday: World day of Prayer something beautiful and glorious as well. Saturday: St. Katharine Drexel, Virgin Life Question: In what way is your Lenten sacrifice Next Sunday: 3rd Sunday of Lent (1st Scrutiny) helping you to “transform?” YOUTH MINISTRY

Middle School & High School - Upcoming Classes Living Stations of the Cross NO MS or HS Classes the Week of School Vacation. All are invited to be a part of our Classes Resume the Week of March 4th Living Stations of the Cross which

will be held on Good Friday, Sunday, Mar.4th 8:00 - 9:30am Gr. 6, 7, 8, Yr I, II March 30th at 4:00pm outside at Sunday, Mar.4th 4:30 - 6:00pm Gr. 6, 7, 8, Yr I, II the Warde Center Grounds. Weds, Mar. 7th 6:00 - 8:00pm Gr. 6, 7, 8, Yr I, II This beautiful event is a living re-enactment of Jesus final steps. We need you! Rehearsals Pope Francis Tweeted this on February 15th& (3) will be held in March. Please contact “In our daily lives we experience the tenderness of Sandy at x21 to sign up. Be sure to mark your God who lovingly saves us from our sins, fears and calendar and join us on the journey. anxieties.” Follow Pope Francis on Twier  Hey, Juniors and Seniors! Join us for CROSSFIT!!!  @Ponfex Come to our next CrossFit training session on Sunday, March 11th at 4:30pm at the Rectory. Never been? That’s OK! Never too late to start a Y.N.I.A. spiritual strength training! Please come, and bring a Young Neighbors In Action friendC you’ll be glad you did! Service-based High School Mission Trip! This mission trip will take place July 22-28 in Worcester, Massachusetts and is open to all High School Students.
2_1'+#X #20# "7$-0TTT Limited Spots are available! Openings Still Available! Looking for something fun and exciting and a way to give back this summer?! This could be just what you are looking for! Be a part of something BIGGER!!! Contact Sandy at X21 a.s.a.p. for details and to sign up!

TULIP SALE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY It’s still pretty cold and dreary outside? but spring is just around the corner! And so is our annual Youth Ministry Tulip Sale! Save the date! Weekend of March 17-18 we will have potted tulips for purchase at all Mass to benefit all the great events our youth ministry program provides to the young people of our parish! Thank you for all the support you give!

STEUBENVILLE EAST ! July 13-15 at UMASS Lowell… Open to ALL High School Students, and rising 8th graders Openings Still Available! Sign up today! Call Kim DeStefano at X12 or email [email protected] for more details! OUTREACH & EVANGELIZATION

Red Cross Blood Drive Mark your calendar, save the date- save a life! We offer our sympathy and prayers to the families Our next blood drive will be and loved ones of those who passed away recently: held on Thursday, March 22nd - Charles Gendreau Sr. (father of Lauri Sousa) from 2:00-7:00pm in the parish center hall. - John Kelley Robertson (father of Cathy Souter) - And especially to all the victims of the south Florida school shooting Vocation Awareness May the Lord surround them with peace and “If God is with us, who can be against us?” Is the Lord comfort at this difficult time. strengthening you to consider the grace of a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life? Call Father Matthew Be joyful in hope, Mason (603) 663-0132, or write: [email protected]. Patient in affliction, Faithful in prayer. SACRIFICIAL GIVING Romans 12:12 Sacrificial offering for Feb. 17 & 18 will be posted in next weekend’s bulletin. Thank you in advance! St. Patrick Parish - Women’s Guild Penny Sale CONTRIBUTIONS STATEMENTS April 7th from 9am-6pm and April 8th from 9am-3pm 2017 Statements of Donations for tax purposes are now St. Patrick Parish Center, 12 Main Street, Pelham available. Please call or email the parish office and one will Visit the Blarney Stone Café’, mouthwatering food. be mailed out to you. Drawings to be held on Sunday, you do not have to be present to win!

PTSD Awareness We are collaborating with the National Center for PTSD to raise awareness. Please take a moment to read and take our Strategic Health Belief Survey (estimated 7 minutes) located on the St Matthew website @ www.stmatthew-nh.org

Did you know that Post-Traumatic Stress is a health condition more common than Asthma, that is often not screened for by Primary Care Providers; and that it can affect up to 9% of all new mothers? Once thought to be solely a reaction to Combat or Disaster, Post Traumatic Stress is now recognized as a normal reaction to abnormal conditions, and it can affect anyone who experiences or witnesses a SURVIVORS OF INCEST ANONYMOUS life-threatening traumatic event. Left untreated Post Traumatic Stress can also lead to problems with alcohol or substance abuse. Get in the know to better protect yourself, your family and loved ones. Take our 7 minute Survey today. WHAT’S NEW! Week 2 - For week 2 (of our PTSD Awareness Campaign) we've added two great tools -- An Online Stress Symptoms Manager and a Treatment Decisions Guide. Week 3 - The final week! Check out Protective Factors and Building Resilience, Practical ways to develop stronger stress-resistance skills in yourself and your family.