December 23, 2007
FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH
Well, here we are just two days from Christmas. I hope that everyone has been making the spiritual preparations so important to this special feast of Our Lord. Christmas is the feast day of our parish—our official title on the parish seal is “The Holy Infancy of Jesus”. That is why Christmas has a special relevance to this parish. At any rate, it is more than just a legal holiday, or a time to give gifts, or to party. It celebrates our spiritual life, and its source, our parish church and family. Happy Feast Day!
CHRISTMAS IS A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION!
Christmas Schedule: Monday, Dec. 24, 4:00 P.M. mass
Monday, Dec. 24, 10:30 P.M. Mass.
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 9:00 A.M. Mass
There will be two collections at the Christmas Masses. The parish Christmas collection and the Diocesan Fund for the Needy. Please be generous, the Fund for the Needy assists so many in our diocese who have fallen on hard times.
TODAY, 1:00 P.M. finish decorating church for Christmas.
Thursday, December 27, BLOOD DRIVE IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA.
This is a most important Blood Drive since it makes up for the holiday season. Many accidents take place now. People are sick due to the cold, schools are closed, and there are no blood drives there. Many others are canceled due to interference with parties and other activities. There is always a shortage of blood around the Christmas Holidays. That is why it is so important that our drive be a success—so that there is blood there for those who need it. Mascoutah has been a very giving group. Please come and give blood, not for the reputation, but for the fact that you are saving someone’s life. Set the time now, and make every effort to come and give blood. Our “Make-up” Blood Drive will be on Saturday, January 5th, 2008, from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. Smaller goal means a smaller staff; come on Thursday if at all possible.
Many thanks to all who have sent Christmas cards, cookies, and other gifts.
I appreciate your care and concern.
I will be praying for all of you, and for your intentions.
Thanks to all who attended the Penance Service on Tuesday! There was a nice crowd here from our parish and from O’Fallon. It was great to see all of you doing the spiritual exercise of Reconciliation to grow in the love of God, and allow God’s love grow in you. May you all be fittingly blessed!
Again, a Blessed Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all of you! May you always enjoy the Peace of Christ and the blessings of His love! May your lives always be a sign of God’s grace alive in your souls. May you always be consoled in and by His love!
Christmas & New Year Break
We will not have classes on December 23rd or December 30th.
Classes will resume on January 6th.
Have a blessed and peace filled Christmas and a Happy and healthy New year.
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News IN OUR PARISH
Gift idea There is a limited supply of 8 inch Sesquicentennial plates still available. If interested contact Tom Norrenberns at 566-8531. Cost is $12.
COOKIES WANTED Once again, the Annual Diocesan Christmas Dinner will be held at Althoff Catholic High School on Tuesday, December 25, 2007. We are looking for donations of home-baked cookies. Our guests always look forward to your delicious treats. Last year, we served Christmas dinners to more than 1100 individuals - those who shared the meal at Althoff and those who had a dinner delivered to their homes. Holy Childhood cookie donations must be dropped off in the church breezeway by 9 AM on December 24th. Please label your cookies "Diocesan Cookies." OR you may deliver them to Althoff High School, 5401 West Main Street, Belleville, on Monday, December 24th from 9 am until noon in the cafeteria (come in the front door and then down the stairs). Thank you!
The Christmas Fund for the Needy collection will be taken up at all Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Administered by Catholic Urban Programs, these monies are used to assist people from throughout the diocese; any pastor or parish life coordinator may request assistance from it for those in need from their community/area. Please generously support your sisters and brothers who lack the basic necessities of life through this year's Fund for the Needy.
The 8th Grade Class is still taking orders for "That's my pan". Orders will be accepted until 12-28-07. Pans will NOT arrive in time for Christmas but still great for birthdays, Easter, Mother's Day, friends and don't forget yourself! Call Dianne Surmeier @ 304-4881 to order.
GIFT BEARERS FOR NEW YEAR MASSES Gift bearers still needed to bring up Offertory Gifts at the following Masses: New Year's Eve, 5:30 PM & New Years Day, 9:00 AM. These Masses are for the people of the parish. Volunteers please call the rectory at 566-2958 or Ruth Wilhelm at 566-2885.
PARISH BOOK CLUB Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 3rd at 7:00 PM at the home of Linda Zacharski (717 Knipp Ave., Mascoutah). We will be discussing the classic book Death Comes For the Archbishop by Willa Cather. Copies of the book are available from Susan Anderson (746-4775) or through the Mascoutah Library.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
"Could you not then watch one hour with me?"
"My God, I thank You for guarding me always and keeping me safe;
I thank You for giving me so often in the sacrament of penance forgiveness for my sins;
for offering Yourself in Holy Mass with all your infinite merits to the Father for me;
for the coming to me in Holy Communion
and for the patient waiting in the adorable sacraments of the altar."
Reminder: Adoration ends at five o'clock on the 18th
in preparation for our Reconciliation service and
there will be no Adoration on December 25th or January 1st.
A Blessed Christmas to all!
Contact Mary Ellen Mueller at 566-9529 if you can commit to a specific hour.
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Lectors 12/24 4:00 PM Nancy Raben 10:30 PM Dee Bechtoldt 12/25 9:00 AM Jim Holdener 12/29 5:30 PM Joe Flannery 12/30 8:00 AM John Zimmerman 10:30 AM KK Schneider
Commentators 12/29 5:30 PM Ensemble 12/30 8:00 AM Ensemble 10:30 AM Ensemble
Music Ministry 12/24 4:00 PM Ann Pace 10:30 PM Choir 12/25 9:00 AM JoDee Norrenberns 12/29 5:30 PM Ensemble 12/30 8:00 AM Ensemble 10:30 AM Ensemble
Breaking Open the Word 12/30 10:30 AM Shelby Brennan & Brianna Wienstroer
Greeters 12/29 5:30 PM Agnes Maijala & Frances Wilhelm 12/30 8:00 AM Tomaszewski Family 10:30 AM Kati Renth
Traveling Chalice 12/16-12/28 John & Angie Norrenberns 12/30-01/11 Don & JoDee Norrenberns
Nursing Home Visitors Week of 12/23: Grange: High School MarKa: High School
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Eucharistic Ministers 12/24 4:00 PM Marilyn Hund, Mary Meng, Bill Ray, Tiffany Wright Harvey & Marlene Groennert 10:30 PM Dolores Dauber, Barb Lembke, Freda Moll, Mary Schroeder Joanna Lewis 12/25 9:00 AM Ron Hulliung, Pat Hund, Tim Moll, Joan Funk Bill Huff, Jerry & Sally Mueller 12/29 5:30 PM Harvey & Marlene Groennert, Mike Klein 12/30 8:00 AM Jerry & Sally Mueller, Bob Flanagan, Pat Steinberg, Cathy Jung 10:30 AM (H) Susie Surmeier (C) Edith Mueth, Katie Renth, Shelby Brennan, Nancy Raben, T.J Norrenberns
Altar Servers 12/24 4:00 PM Kelli Wilhelm, Julie Holdener, Quinn, Jack & Barrett Pazderka 10:30 PM Kelsey Abington, Sami Renth, Andrew Norrenberns, Ryan Karpel & Nick Grawitch 12/25 9:00 AM Henry Norrenberns NEED SERVERS
12/29 5:30 PM Kayla Wombacher & Nick Mueth 12/30 8:00 AM Ryan Moll & Alex Oltmann 10:30 AM Rachel Bishop & Lucas Mueller
Meals-On-Wheels 12/26 Marie & Vince Wilhelm Jim & Pat Fletcher
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Mass Intentions
Monday, December 24,
4:00 PM People of the parish
10:30 PM People of the parish
Tuesday, December 25
9:00 AM People of the parish
Wednesday, December 26
8:00 AM Fr. Venegoni
Thursday, December 27
8:00 AM 1. Allen Reinneck
2. Jessica & Kelli Uhl
Friday, December 28
8:00 AM Emma Feller
Saturday, December 29
5:30 PM Msgr. Lombardo
Sunday, December 30
8:00 AM Herbert Helfrich
10:30 AM People of the parish
TITHE FOR DECEMBER 9, 2007
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Parish |
$7047.96 |
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Youth |
18.70 |
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St. Brother Peter |
125.00 |
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Diocese |
20.00 |
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TOTAL |
$7191.66 |
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THIS COMING WEEK
MONDAY, December 24,
No School. Office Closed
4:00 PM Mass
10:30 PM Mass
Tuesday, December 25,
No School. Office Closed
9:00 AM Mass
Wednesday, December 26,
No School. Office Closed
8:00 AM Mass
No Choir practice
THURSDAY, December 27,
No School
8:00 AM Mass
NO Quilting
2-7 PM Blood Drive-hcs
FRIDAY, December 28,
No school
8:00 AM MASS
SATURDAY, December 29,
9:00 AM Adoration
4:30 PM Confessions
5:30 PM Mass
SUNDAY, December 30,
8:00 AM Mass
NO PSR
10:30 AM Mass
HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL
WEB SITE:
holychildhoodschool.com
Email: hcs@holychildhoodschool.com
Principal: Mr. Ron Karcher: 476-3505
School Office: 566-2922
Dear Children,
It has come to My attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My
name out of the season. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to
celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that towns in which you
live don't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of
snowmen and Santa and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If
all My followers do that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene because
there would be many of them all around town.
If you want to give Me a present, here is my wish list:
1. Write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly
afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They
just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts hold them in your arms and
remind them that I love them.
4. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who
not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents
to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and
give them to the local food pantry or St. Vincent de Paul.
Don't forget: I am God
and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do.
I'll take care of all the rest. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all
those whom you love. And remember......
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS
Anonymous
Submitted by Deacon Ron Karcher
DECEMBER CALENDAR
12/30 Teen Mass
THANK YOU
The Uhl family thanks everyone
for their generous donations, thoughts and most importantly, prayers.
Your prayers truly made it easier for us
in dealing with
the deaths of Jessica and Kelli.
Thank you and God Bless all of you.
Sincerely, Brian, Wendy and Tony Uhl.
SH - BOOM The Althoff Alumni Association is sponsoring SH - BOOM performing the greatest hits of the 50's, 60's, & 70's on February 2, 2008 at the Althoff gymnasium from 8 until midnight. Tickets are $15.00. Please call 618-235-1124 for more information.
GARAGE SALE The Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary is holding their Fifth Indoor Garage Sale. Over 100 tables of books, crafts, toys, house wares, jewelry, antiques and MORE for sale in the warmth of the Knights of Columbus Hall, 12354 State Route 143, Highland, IL. Sale Dates are January 10th from 3 to 7 PM and January 11th from 8 AM to noon. A snack bar will be available.
CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON Is Christ in your marriage? Worldwide Marriage Encounter can help you make your marriage Christ-centered. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is February 8th to 10th. To register or for more information call 888-889-9963 or go online to www.aweekendofdiscovery.org.
BABYSITTING WORKSHOP On Monday, January 21st from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in the Millennium Room. For girls and boys currently in 6th-8th grades. Curriculum will include; What to expect as a babysitter; Safety and First Aid; Age appropriate activities and much more. Cost is $25 per child and includes lunch. Enrollment is limited to 35 participants. No phone call reservations accepted. Registration is complete upon receipt of payment. For more information or to request a registration form, please call 618-234-2120, ext. 2099.
THE BEST SPEAKER YOU'LL HEAR ALL YEAR!! Matthew Kelly: "A Call to Joy" at St. Clare of Assisi, 1411 Cross St. O'Fallon, IL on January 14th at 7:00 PM. Matthew Kelly is a New York Times best selling author, one of the world's best speakers, he has spoken in more than 50 countries, was invited to speak to over 50,000 high school students last year and author of 4 of the top 10 Catholic bestsellers. Promises to be Powerful for regular parishioners, Engaging for those searching for a faith home and Captivating for young people. Come! Be energized! Invite someone! Do not miss this opportunity to hear one of the most dynamic and sought-after voices of our time! For more information, call 618-632-3562. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend!