October 28, 2007
FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH
October, 2007 is leaving us this week never to return. In fact, as each day passes, it is gone forever, never to return. And each opportunity to do well passes, and is gone forever. A new one may crop up, but the former one is gone—gone forever. That is why we are encouraged to do the good that we can at the time it is needed. It brings God’s grace to us and to others. Time marches on! And we all get older, if not wiser!
Tonight at 8:00 P.M., I will have Mass at McKendree University for our Catholic students. It is always a good time to celebrate the Mass with them, as they seem to put their whole heart into the songs and prayers. Usually, I have a young man, who is blind, as one of the lectors. It is inspiring to see him meet the challenge with courage.
Thursday is the Feast of All Saints, a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION FOR ALL CATHOLICS. In other words, we commit a mortal sin if we fail to attend Mass on this day without a very good reason. It is also a day to call on all of the saints in heaven, to pray for us and to intercede for us. If we were running for office, or seeking a top job, we would want all of the good references and support that we could muster, and that our friends could muster, right? Why is it that we can forget about the saints and angels, seeking their input and intercessions to get us through each day without sin and filled with God’s blessings? All Saints Day calls all of us to be more conscious of our heavenly resources, to honor all of those who loved God with their whole heart, soul, and lives, to the extent that they merited the title “Saint”. When was the last time you prayed to your patron saint? In fact, do you know who your patron saint is? We probably know more about our favorite sports hero, or political hero. The saints have more power with God in heaven.
Friday is the Feast of the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Again, we remember in our prayers the deceased – those of our families, our parish, the church as a whole, all of God’s people, that they may enjoy the blessings and peace of heaven, if they are not already there. It is also during this season that many used to have special Masses said for their families or special loved ones. If you desire to have a Mass, or Masses said for a loved one, contact the rectory to make arrangements for that day. Some day, all of us will have passed from this life into eternity. I hope that we are all so holy that we can go straight to heaven. However, knowing myself, and passing judgment on some others, we are going to need some extra prayers and help to get there. Pray for one another, alive and deceased.
We are fast approaching the end of our anniversary celebrations, with the Mass with the Bishop and dinner following, quickly coming up. We asked last week that you get your reservations in for the dinner this week so that proper preparations can be made in regards to food, table arrangements, etc. Thank you so much for your cooperation. I hope that you will make a special effort to attend the Mass and closing celebration.
Pray for peace, the safety and return of our troops, and for the families affected!
PSR classes will be held on Sunday November 18th from 9-10:15 AM.
Mass times for that weekend will be Saturday at 5:30
and Sunday at 8:00 AM and the 2:00 PM Sesquicentennial Closing Mass,
NO 10:30 AM Mass that morning.
ERROR on your PSR calendars. There will be NO PSR classes on Sunday, November 11th, in honor of Veterans Day. Classes will resume the following Sunday, Nov. 18th.
ATTENTION PARENTS Pick up your copy of the series "Growing In Love" in the PSR office.
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News IN OUR PARISH
PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY The bishops of the United States have declared this Sunday, October 28th, as Priesthood Sunday in the U. S. It is a special day set aside to honor the priests by reflecting upon and affirming the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church. We are especially grateful to our pastor, Msgr. Hartlein, who will soon celebrate 50 years of dedicated service to the priesthood. His example of Christian service and ministry to each of us has served as a model for all of us to follow. We can show our gratitude to him by continuing to pray that God will bless him with good health and happiness as he continues his ministry.
2008 CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES may be picked up in the breezeway. Please take a moment to check for your name; if you find you have been issued envelopes but do not wish to use them, please let the rectory know and we'll stop issuing them to you. Also, if you would like to receive envelopes just let us know and we'll sign you up!
PARISH YARD CLEAN-UP on November 10th. Please grab your gloves and rakes and join us at 9:00 AM to spruce up the parish grounds. Confirmation candidates, this is a wonderful opportunity to earn Confirmation hours!!!
Holy Childhood Council of Catholic Women, HCCCW, Please join us for Mass at 8:00 AM on November 11th followed by coffee, juice and fellowship in the parish center.
Holy Childhood Book Club will meet on Sunday, Nov. 4th at 6:30 pm in the parish center. We will be discussing Sea of Glory, by Ken Wales and David Poling. Learn the true story about four WW II Army chaplains (a Methodist pastor, A Rabbi, a Dutch Reformed minister and a Catholic priest) on board an American ship when it is torpedoed by a German submarine. The chaplains unite in a final, triumphant sacrifice that transforms the life of every survivor who sees it. If you need a copy of the book please contact Susan Anderson 746-4775.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Mascoutah's Meals on Wheels program. Prepared meals are collected from the Mascoutah Senior Center and delivered to the homebound. Parishioners who have a couple of hours a week to "give back" are needed to support this most worthy cause. You can volunteer for once a week, twice a month, once a month or just for the fifth week months. Maybe substituting would be an option for you. If you are able to help please call the rectory, 566-2958. Thank you.
CHURCH CHATTER TIME! Note to all parish & school organizations and ministries, please send or give articles or information that relates to the parish to Linda Zacharski, by November 12th, or email to kzacharski@charter.net . If you are planning future activities or events in December--February, write up your notes and dates so we can let everyone know what's coming up. This is our parish newsletter, so bring us your news!!
PRAYER REQUEST In less than 2 weeks a spirited group of young people and their young-at-heart chaperones will be embarking on a journey to "Discover the Way" in Columbus, Ohio for the 2007 National Catholic Youth conference. You, the parishioners of Holy childhood Parish have been a tremendous support to us as we have prepared for this journey over the past few months. We ask for your continued prayers as we learn more about ourselves, each other, our faith, and our God at NCYC. At the exits to the church you will find baskets containing sailboats. On each sailboat is written the name of an adult or youth participant. Please pick up a boat and pray for that person. Pray that this person will truly "Discover the Way" at this year's conference and that God will bless all of us with a safe journey. Thank you and God bless you.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
"Could you not then watch one hour with me?"
Why don't we accept the cross the Lord gives to us?
We look at everyone else's crosses and want to trade because ours is too heavy.
Maybe it is not too heavy; maybe we are just carrying it the wrong way.
Our cross should not be endured, it should be embraced. It is our way to salvation.
(Hope for the Journey, Fr. Spalding.)
Visit our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays after the 8 AM Mass until 7 PM
or on Saturdays from 9-10 AM.
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Lectors 11/01 7:30 PM Mary Kellerman 11/03 5:30 PM Joe Dressler 11/04 8:00 AM Vinny Pagano 10:30 AM Jim Holdener
Commentators 11/01 7:30 PM Colleen Hopp 11/03 5:30 PM Kahiwalani Cornman 11/04 8:00 AM Kathi Bell 10:30 AM KK Schneider
Altar Servers 11/01 7:30 PM Nolan Dixon & Ryan Karpel 11/03 5:30 PM Sami Renth & Collin Rener 11/04 8:00 AM Matt Baechle & Kawika Cornman 10:30 AM Kelsey Abington & Rachel Bishop
Music Ministry 11/01 7:30 PM Mary K Pritchett 11/03 5:30 PM Mary K. Pritchett 11/04 8:00 AM Laura McGibney 10:30 AM Ann Pace
Greeters 11/03 5:30 PM Cathy & Steve Gula 11/04 8:00 AM Tomaszewski Family 10:30 AM John Wright Family
Breaking Open the Word 11/04 10:30 AM Katie Von Holdener & Julie Holdener
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Eucharistic Ministers 11/01 7:30 PM Theresa Cauley Linda Cusick Bill Huff Joanna Lewis 11/03 5:30 PM (H) Cathy Petz Joanna Lewis Freda Moll Dee Bechtoldt 11/04 8:00 AM James Cornman Kathy Hopfinger Jane Veith Alethea Paradis Colleen Hopp 10:30 AM (H) JoDee Norrenberns (C) Tiffany Wright Dolores Dauber Diane Hobbs Marilyn Hund Ruth Klingelhoefer
nursing home ministry 11/02 Grange: Fr. Hartlein 11/02 MarKa: Fr. Hartlein
Traveling Chalice 11/04-11/16 Ron & Denise Hulliung
Meals-On-Wheels 10/31 Dale & Sharon Yaeger Russ Murphy & Paul Range
Nursing Home Visitors Week of 10/28: Grange: Betty Hurlahe MarKa: Nancy Hawthorne & Kathleen Rueter |
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Mass Intentions
Tuesday, October 30
8:00 AM Norma Knapp
Wednesday, October 31
8:00 AM 1. L/D members of the
Agnes Muren Family
2. James Wilhelm
Thursday, November 1 All Saints Day
6:30 AM
8:00 AM
7:30 PM People of the parish
Friday, November 2
8:00 AM Elmer & Wanda Gass
Saturday, November 3
5:30 PM Norbert Milloshewski
Sunday, November 4
8:00 AM 1. Herb Helfrich
2. Ben & Kathryn Baechle
(60th Anniversary)
10:30 AM People of the Parish
TITHE FOR OCTOBER 14, 2007
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Parish |
$ 8,336.98 |
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Youth |
23.75 |
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St. Brother Peter |
103.00 |
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Diocese |
747.75 |
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TOTAL |
$ 9,211.48 |
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THIS COMING WEEK
MONDAY, October 29,
Tuesday, October 30
8:00 AM Mass followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 7:00 PM
9:00 AM Quilting
6:30 PM Quilting
Wednesday, October 31,
8:00 AM Mass
7:30 PM Choir practice
THURSDAY, November 1, All Saints Day
6:30 AM Mass (Note: The Nov. calendar has a typo)
8:00 AM Mass
9:00 AM Quilting
7:30 PM Mass
FRIDAY, November 2, First Friday
Fr. Hartlein's Communion Calls
8:00 AM Mass
SATURDAY, November 3,
9:00 AM Adoration
4:30 PM Confessions
5:30 PM Mass
SUNDAY, November 4, Welcome Sunday
8:00 AM Mass
9:00 AM PSR-hcs
10:30 AM Mass
6:30 PM Book Club-pc
HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL
WEB SITE:
holychildhoodschool.com
Email: hcs@holychildhoodschool.com
Principal: Mr. Ron Karcher: 476-3505
School Office: 566-2922
"Jesus said to his disciples, 'All who exalt themselves will be humbled,
but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'" (Luke 18:14)
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"The buzzard: If you put a buzzard in a pen that
is six feet by eight feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of
its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard
always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten to twelve feet.
Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will
remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
"The bat: The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble
creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the
floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt,
painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself
into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
"The bumblebee: A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there
until it dies unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the
top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the
bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys
itself.
"People: In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We
struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all
we have to do is look up."
(Original source unknown)
In fact, the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee have a better chance of escaping
their imprisonment than does the person who does not even realize he's in a very
tight space and in imminent danger of dying. People have a way of denying their
imprisonment, sometimes even making their terribly small world seem a kingdom of
sorts. It's such a person we meet in today's gospel passage: the Pharisee who
comes to the temple to tell God what a wonderful place his earth-bound prison
actually is.
As the gospel relates, two men enter the temple, the Pharisee marching right up
to the front, the tax collector cowering in the back corner. In supposed
prayer, the Pharisee proclaims his righteousness before God. Then, with a
glance toward the tax collector at the back of the temple, the Pharisee gives
loud praise to God for sparing him the sorry fate of such sinners. And while
this personal show is taking place in the front, we hear in the back of the
temple the tear-choked prayer of the tax collector, "O God, be merciful to me a
sinner." Asking which prayer was the more honest, "Jesus said to his disciples,
'All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be
exalted.'" (Luke 18:14)
In truth, the Pharisee thought himself a free man while all the while he was
trapped within himself. He could not see beyond the thick walls of his
self-righteousness. The tax collector, though, was painfully aware of his
inadequacies, admitting to God and to himself that his very survival depended on
God's mercy. He had the good sense to raise his eyes heavenward, asking God to
release him from the imprisonment of sin. But the Pharisee was trapped in the
prison of his own self-adulation, unaware that self-centeredness was suffocating
his very soul. Indeed, people can sometimes be dumber than buzzards, bats and
bumblebees. All we have to do is look up to our God.
Deacon Ron Karcher
Principal
NOVEMBER CALENDAR
11/5 Subway Night
11/8 - 11 NCYC @ Columbus, Ohio
11/20 7 -- 10 pm Non - Lock in Boys bring drinks and girls bring snacks.
11/28 7:00 pm Adult Luke18 Meeting in Youth Room
Mascoutah senior services program presents its First Annual Wine & Cheese Tasting on November 4th from 3-5 PM. Bee Hollow Market is providing the various wines to be offered. Cheese and goodies are being provided by Centrue Bank. A silent auction of wreaths and baskets designed and donated especially for this event will be held. Also having a raffle for a handmade quilt and a Wine Basket. Harpist Jan Worms will play during the event. $5 tickets available at Bee Hollow Market, Dauber Pharmacy, Mascoutah Visitors Center, The Village at Silver Creek and the Senior Center. All are welcome to join in supporting our Senior Center at this wonderful event.
the Mascoutah volunteer fire department will hold its annual Mulligan and Chili TODAY, Sunday, October 28, 2007 at the Mascoutah Firehouse. Serving starts at 11am with carry-outs available. REMEMBER THIS WILL BE HELD AT THE FIREHOUSE THIS YEAR.
ALL SOULS DAY MASS All are invited to our All Souls Day Mass at 4 PM on November 2nd at Mt. Carmel Peace Chapel with Rev. Grogan as celebrant.
The Mascoutah Senior Center invites you to join us in serving our local seniors as a kitchen volunteer. Volunteers are needed M-F from 8 AM to 1 PM. Volunteers usually work one day a week. For those who cannot work the full five hours, you can possibly split a shift. Volunteers are provided a free meal as well as the opportunity to met new friends and work in a fun and sociable atmosphere. Please contact Mary or Sandra at 566-8758.