Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church
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Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church
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April 13, 2008
FATHER'S TWO-CENTS WORTH
Many thanks to all who made our First Communion Celebration/Mass the great success that it turned out to be! The children did their job role well, the parents and family and friends were up to the task and it all went off well. God blessed us with a beautiful day, and it allowed everyone to enjoy the day afterwards with outside activities. God is good, and He wants to bless us, especially when we have First Communion!
As I write this column, it is pouring down rain, as was predicted. Even though it is warm temperature-wise, the dampness gives a penetrating sensation that makes one want to put on a sweater to keep warm. One has to wonder what God has in His plans for us, and all of the people that are having so much rain. But God is good, and He knows what he wants. Maybe, it is to make all of us realize that we need to pray for the good weather, and not merely presume or take for granted, that everything is going to go our way, sooner or later. I feel for all those persons and families who have been flooded out in the past month or so, or have had other forms of devastation to their property and livelihood. All of our developments shed more surface water off the ground into sewers, ditches, creeks, rivers that were never “God-designed” to carry such flows, and hence we have more flooding, or back-ups. Please God, show us your way, and help us to accept it!
It seems that since we have an aluminum re-cycling depot in town, our Aluminum dumpster is being consistently emptied out by others, down to the last can. It was a good money-maker for school. Right now, we are not sure how we can keep the vultures out of it, other than having a determined drop-off time and then securing it in some fashion or other. And then that demands someone to be responsible for that time and security.
We begin our 2008 Stewardship program this week. We have modified the program from previous years, condensing it to three Sundays and asking for commitment Sunday for all three phases on the last Sunday. As you well know, Stewardship is practicing the just use of God’s gifts to ourselves—the gifts of time, prayer, talent, and treasure. We all have these gifts. The use of them varies due to work schedules, family obligations, material needs, our giftedness, and our earthly blessings as well as our financial blessings. We need to recognize that all our gifts come from God, and that if we want to be God-like in order to get to heaven, we need to share our giftedness and care with others and with our church. Our love of God and appreciation for all that He has done for us will be our guide. We cannot out-do our God in generosity. But we can also become so self serving that we squeeze God out of our use of time, talent and treasure and fail to be “His Image and Likeness” as we were created to be. As a result, justice and peace escape us and the world, and goodness and peace become elusive. We all need to be involved in this program of stewardship, in order that God’s blessings and graces can multiply through our good works and enervate others to become involved and work with us. Each of us has been blessed—in various degrees! Each of us must make a commitment according to our abilities and the blessings that God has given us. Pray to know what God expects of you, so that He can replenish you, and then some!
April 20 9:00 - 10:15 AM - hcs May 2 7:00 PM Confirmation - Church & Parish Center
News IN OUR PARISH
ATTENTION MARRIED AND ENGAGED COUPLES: Has anyone ever clearly explained for you why the Catholic Church does not approve of unnatural birth control? Learn about your faith and discover a natural method of family planning that goes beyond the physical. A three-part course starts April 24. For more information, call George and Debbie Harne, 566-9362.
STEWARDSHIP 2008 Stewardship 2009 will begin this weekend. This year you will have the opportunity to commit to Stewardship of Time and Talent, Treasure and Prayer at the same time on Commitment Sunday April 26th and 27th. Be looking for "why we are called."
We are now celebrating our promise to Stewardship. We are all called to be good stewards of God's gifts. Please make a commitment or recommit on Sunday April 26th or 27th.
SHEPHERD SUNDAY APRIL 26 - 27 The Concerned Christians Food Pantry needs the following items this month: sugar, cooking oil, powdered milk, egg noodles, jelly, and shampoo. Thank you for your donations to the food pantry.
VOCATIONS! How can we plant the seeds for vocations in our parish? If you would like to be a part of this process through prayer and planning, please contact George Harne at gaharne@gmail.com.
HCCCW will have supper at 6:30 PM, followed by installation of officers on May 13, 7:00 PM in the parish center.
MEALS ON WHEELS Thanks to all the volunteers who delivered meals during this past winter. Some of you have indicated that you would be willing to help out during the summer months only. We are going to prepare our schedules for summer months of June. July and August. It requires only one hour on Wednesdays of each week. If you can only volunteer for one week out of the three would be acceptable also. Some of our regular volunteers go on vacation during the summer and this will allow the schedule to stay complete.
SAVE THE DATE! This year's Vacation Bible School will be held June 23rd - 27th. More information to come at a later date.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION "Could you not then watch one hour with me?" The Eucharist is God's greatest gift to us - it is where Jesus' heart meets the needs of the world on a daily basis. It is one of the most tangible ways God is present in our world today. If confusion or loneliness weighs too heavily on our hearts, if we struggle with meaninglessness, if we long to step off life's frantic treadmill and slow down to ponder the direction of our lives - Jesus invites us 'Come to me'." (Prayers for Eucharistic Adoration, Marie Paul Curley FSP.)
Holy Childhood has Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday after the 8 AM Mass until 7 PM and Saturday morning from 9 to 10 AM.
Mass Intentions
Tuesday, April 15, 8:00 AM Christ & Eileen Dukark 50th Anniversary
Wednesday, April 16, 8:00 AM Victoria Anderson
Thursday, April 17, 8:00 AM Art & Dorothy Mueth
Friday, April 18, 8:00 AM Delores Schanz
Saturday, April 19, 5:30 PM 1. Herman & Rachel Renth 2. John & Jeannette Schuchman
Sunday, April 20, 8:00 AM People of the Parish 10:30 AM People of the Parish
TITHE FOR April 6, 2008
THIS COMING WEEK
MONDAY, April 14, 6:30 PM Book Club - hcs
Tuesday, April 15, 8:00 AM Mass followed by Adoration until 7 PM 9:00 AM & 6:00 PM Quilting 7:30 PM Finance - Rectory
Wednesday, April 16, 8:00 AM Mass 7:30 PM Choir practice
THURSDAY, April 17, 8:00 AM Mass 9:00 AM Quilting 6:30 PM Little Flowers-hcs 7:00 PM School Board-hcs
FRIDAY, April 18, 8:00 AM Mass
SATURDAY, April 19, 9:00 AM Adoration 4:30 PM Confessions 5:30 PM Mass
SUNDAY, April 20, 8:00 &10:30 AM Masses 9:00 AM PSR-hcs
HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL
WEB SITE:
holychildhoodschool.com
Dear Parents,
Congratulations to our 2nd graders who made their 1st Communion last Sunday. It truly was a day to celebrate with the children and with the beautiful weather.
When I have weddings I usually ask all those married in Church to repeat the vows with the new couple with their own wife or husband. It adds more meaning and refreshes our mind and soul about marriage. Through the young we can see so much we take for granted.
With 1st Communion I always love it because it reminds me of how precious receiving Christ is to the young students. There is excitement, smiles as they come to Communion. We too need to think about that every time we go to Communion. Their excitement should also remind us to become excited about receiving Jesus. It is through the eyes of the young children we see the hope in believing in God.
God bless you 1st Communicants for teaching us to stop, look, and realize what great joy there is in receiving Christ.
Sincerely, Deacon Ron Karcher Principal
Calendar – April 14 Cub Meeting K-3 2:30 Cafeteria 15 Brownies 16 Scouts Meeting / Faculty Meeting 5-8 17 School Board 7pm 18 Responsibility Rally/Little Flowers Meeting 15-20 Pope Benedict XVI visits Washington, DC and New York City
APRIL CALENDAR
4/19
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RON
Women of the Parish You are invited to gather with the Belleville Deanery Council of Catholic Women for a Prayer Day, Meeting & Luncheon on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM. This event is hosted by St. Mary Church, 1706 W. Main Street, Belleville in the handicap-accessible, lower level of St. Mary Academy Building. Cost for the full day of fun & knowledge & lunch will be $8.00 per person and is due by Tuesday, April 15. Register with payment, name, address, phone, & parish affiliation to: Belleville Deanery --- C C W Spring Meeting c/o Marie Leljedal, PO Box 233, Freeburg, IL 62243. Make checks payable to: "Belleville Deanery - C C W". For more information call Patricia Rose Borowy, President, Belleville Deanery, CCW at 618-539-0174.
Catholic Home Missions Appeal Next Sunday, our parish will be taking up a collection for the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. This Appeal supports missions here in the United States.
The Catholic Home Missions Appeal offers Catholics across our country a wonderful opportunity to help fellow Catholics practice their faith in such rugged areas as Alaska, Appalachia, the Deep South, the Rocky Mountain states, the Southwest, Puerto Rico, and island dioceses in the Pacific and Caribbean.
This Appeal is a practical way for our parish to share its faith and resources with the mission Church here at home. Over 95 cents of every dollar donated to the Appeal goes directly to the missions to keep church doors open, to support pastors in their priestly ministry, and to provide basic pastoral services like religious education for children.
Please give generously to assist fellow Catholics here in America. It's one practical way our parish community can be good stewards of God's gifts and make a difference.
"Spring Blessing of the Farm" will be held on Saturday, April 26th at 1:00 PM at the farm property of Mr. & Mrs. Cletus Biver, 4204 Frank Scott Parkway, Belleville, IL. All farmers are invited to join us at the Biver Farm in praying to God for rich, productive plantings and crops this year. Farmers may bring samples of seeds (in marked containers) to be blessed, also, animals, farm machinery and equipment.
Like on the journey to Emmaus, we are often blind to seeing Jesus in our spouse. Learn how to see the goodness of Jesus in the one you love. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is May 2nd - 4th at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. To register or for more information, call 888-889-9963 or go online to www.aweekendofdiscovery.org.
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