FATHER'S TWO-CENTS WORTH

                                                                                                                                                           

Today, we celebrate the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist for our second grade students.  They, for the first time, will receive the Body and Blood of Jesus this afternoon at the 2:00 P.M. mass.  They have been preparing well for this event in their classes.  I hope the parents have been preparing equally well for themselves and their children.  In the days ahead, they will depend on their family to bring them to church to receive the Eucharist, and to lead them to a growing and ever holy awareness of Jesus in their lives.  Jesus told us that “unless we eat His body and drink His blood, we will not have life in us”.  What a gift we have in the Eucharist!  It is a shame that so many can pass it by as if they do not need it to grow spiritually.  I hope that as a parish family, we can always be a tremendous example of God’s presence by our frequent and worthy reception of the Holy Eucharist.

 

We have put out “The Little White Book”, a sequel to the Blue Book and the Black Book, a daily spiritual reading, at the entrances of church.  We did not mail these out since so many told me they do not use this particular issue.  They are free for your taking and use.  May the graces gained during this past Lent continue to grow in you as you use these books.

 

Thanks to all who came to clean church last Saturday.  We could have used more to do a more complete job.  But thanks to all of the adults and young people who did come and for all that you did accomplish.  There is a lot of work in our church when it comes to a complete cleaning, be it dusting, washing, waxing, or vacuuming.  It is like spring house cleaning in your homes; only we have a bigger home here at church.  Thanks to all of you again who came.  Thanks also to James Bunn who upgraded our Mary shrine in the back of the church.  His fine carpentry work made it possible to use the space below the candles to store candles and supplies making them more accessible.

 

The chandeliers in church have been repaired this past week.  The lighting should be better and safer now.  Thanks to Jim Rushing and Bill Huff for a job well done! They had to set up a scaffold tower and move it from center aisle to each of the lights.  For two persons, it is a bit of challenge.  Thanks fellows, for a job well done.

 

Again, a reminder to support the Catholic Services and Ministry Appeal if you have not done so already! Through this appeal, we facilitate the delivery of the churches work to the people of our diocese, the church of Southern Illinois.

 

Confirmation will be administered on Friday, May 2^nd, by Bishop Braxton here at our parish.  I ask all the parishioners to pray for those to be confirmed, and also that their families will be faith-filled examples to young men and ladies.  Actions speak louder than words!  The daily living out of one’s Catholic faith will inspire.  Indifference will destroy the God-given graces, received at Baptism.  Confirmation is really the fulfillment of those graces provided they are received with the right dispositions.  Pray that we may always be the example that Christ wants us be—His presence and goodness.

 

 

   

 

CONGRATULATIONS

TO ALL THE CHILDREN

WHO ARE MAKING THEIR

FIRST COMMUNION

 

Please note there will not be PSR class for second graders on April 6, 2008.