FATHER'S TWO-CENTS WORTH

I want to thank all those who came to the funeral Mass for Eleanor Brendel.  There was a very nice showing from our Holy Childhood Council of Catholic Women. That is a great spirit of their oneness, even though Eleanor was not around for the past many years.  It was a situation where she had to move to be closer to her family, so they could care for her.  But her heart was always in Holy Childhood parish, where she gave so many of her years caring for and supporting our parish.  May she rest in peace!

This past week shows that accidents happen when you are not even the cause, but you were in the way.  The truck accident of Tuesday afternoon in St. Louis shows how you can be completely innocent, and yet caught up in an accident because you were there at the wrong time.  That is why you hear me speak so often about being ready, especially when you are traveling.  It is called “defensive driving”, or taking your time.  I know that we all get in a rush!  I do the same, and have to come back to reality about the others on the road—to protect them from myself, and to protect myself from them.  It is better to arrive late than not to arrive at all!  And say your prayers—always when you begin a trip of any length, even to Belleville or Fairview Heights—ask God for protection and safety. I measure trips by how many rosaries, or parts of the rosary I can get in.

Homecoming is fast approaching—less than two weeks away.  Sign up for helping in the Hamburger Stand (our parish operation for the Homecoming) and get the choice of your time slot.  It is work, and it does get hot, but you meet a lot of people, you do a lot of good, and you help the Mascoutah Improvement Association, which cares for the park.  Thanks to all who have already signed up.  Thanks to Jimmy Amann for his spirited leadership and management skills (wow)!

Don’t forget that our picnic is fast approaching—just about a month away.  Please sell or purchase your raffle tickets.  And PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for good weather for the picnic.  All the planning and effort depends on good weather to invite the people to come and participate.  Also tell others, especially your friends, about the picnic and encourage them to come for food, Quilt Bingo, fun and refreshments.

The week of the July 27^th, the last week of July, will be our class reunion at St. Meinrad Seminary.  I will be leaving Sunday to visit with family in Evansville, IN.  The reunion begins on Monday, July 28th and lasts until Wednesday, July 30th.  I will then do a bit of sightseeing and visiting, and come home on Friday evening. We will not have daily Mass that week.

REMINDER: SATURDAY, AUGUST 2^ND, MASS WILL BE AT 4:00 PM FOR HOMECOMING. 

YOU WILL BE OUT IN TIME TO VIEW THE PARADE, OR BE IN THE PARADE. 

 REMEMBER, MASS AT 4:00 PM ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 2^ND.

Have a good week, say your prayers, and come to mass if you can during the week!  We all want the best of God’s Blessings!  Tell Him of your love for Him and thank Him for all that He has done for you!

SHEPHERD SUNDAY July 26th & 27th. The Concerned Christians Food Pantry need the following items this month: cooking oil, instant mashed potatoes, canned beef stew & chili, applesauce, tuna "helper" and baby diapers size 3 & 4.

GIFT CARD Use Gift Cards to purchase back-to-school items for student of all ages. The Refund Program has begun for HCS families - earn credit toward your tuition bill, lunch bill and school fees. Than you for supporting HCS.

PARISH HISTORY BOOK:  Books and DVDs are available at the rectory. The cost is $10 per book and the DVDs (one per parish family) are free.

PARISH PICNIC:   If you have a quilt to donate you can drop it off at the rectory or with the quilters on Tuesdays or Thursdays.  We still need 10 quilts to reach our goal of 64.

WELCOME! New to Holy Childhood? We are happy you have chosen to worship with us. We invite you to register with your new parish, registration forms can be found at all entrances to church. Forms may be returned via the collection basket, or dropped off or mailed to  the rectory. Again, welcome to Holy Childhood.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Congratulations to our by-monthly 50/50 Drawing winners; Dale Elbe $250, Ryan Hund $150 and Al Renth $100. Also our Monthly Attendance drawing winner Jim Hopfinger $287. Please note a change in our monthly meeting time, we will now meet the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM in the parish center. All adult men eighteen years of age or older who are practicing Catholics with a desire to contribute time and energy to church and community are welcome to join.

HOMECOMING HAMBURGER STAND:  Workers who have worked in the past will be called soon and will have the opportunity to work the same time as last year.  If you haven't worked and would like to do so, a sign-up sheet will be available beginning the weekend of July 12-13.  You can also call Jim Amann at 235-4199.

ATTENTION HCS PARENTS The HCS uniform exchange will be open beginning July 31st in the music room during normal office hours and that evening from 6pm to 8 pm.  Other evening hours will be Tues. Aug. 12 from 5pm to 7pm and Mon. Aug. 18 during the Open Hours.  Other evening times will be in next week's bulletin.  If you have clothes to donate, please drop off at school by July 30th.  Please check out the uniforms before spending your money on new.  There are a lot of good quality uniforms in most sizes.  We will be donating left over uniforms to a needy school.  Everyone at HCS may participate whether you have clothes to exchange or not.  If you are able to help sort or help an evening to open, please call Linda Bishop @ 618-973-8040 or e-mail rbishop62@hotmail.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! Fr. Hartlein will be out of town the week of July 27th, returning late Friday August 1st. There will be NO Mass on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday morning. 

Tuesday, July 22,

  8:00 AM Norbert Millosheski

Wednesday, July 23

  8:00 AM  Norbert Klinkman

Thursday, July 24

   8:00 AM  Robert L. Becker

Friday, July 25

  8:00 AM  Alexandria Anderson

Saturday, July 26

5:30 PM   1. Catherine Young

           2. Rosalia Orlet

Sunday, July 27,

  8:00 AM  1.  Bertha Jung

                                        2.  Bill & Charlene Smith

10:30 AM  People of the parish

  8:00 AM  Mass followed by

 Adoration until  7 PM

  9:00 AM Quilting

  6:00 PM Quilting

7:00 PM Pastoral Council-pc

  8:00 AM  Mass

  8:00 AM    Mass

  9:00 AM Quilting

  8:00 AM Mass

6:30 PM Wedding Rehearsal

  9:00 AM  Adoration

2:00 PM Wedding

  4:30 PM  Confessions

  5:30 PM  Mass

  8:00 AM  Mass

10:30 AM  Mass*

*BOTW - pc

How Much Longer?

On almost every trip, someone asks, “How much longer?” Has anyone said that yet while you’ve been traveling? We want to get to our destination, but we don’t want it to take long. We want to see and do all of the things we’ve been waiting for! Sometimes it’s hard to be patient. It’s hard to wait.

That doesn’t happen only on vacations. It’s tough to wait until it’s time to open presents on Christmas. We want to know how much longer until a program starts on TV. It’s hard to be patient when we’re hungry and supper isn’t ready. And when we really have to go to the bathroom, we might yell, “How much longer?” We’re used to having things in a hurry, and we don’t like waiting.

God, however, is very patient with us. He wants us to trust Him, to pray to Him, and to go to Him for help each day. He could become very impatient and angry when we ignore Him or when we put other things ahead of Him, but instead He is patient with us.

Love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4). God’s patient love changes the way we live and love. How has His love changed your life?

God’s patient love is always there for us. We don’t have to wait for His goodness. His gifts of hope and forgiveness through Jesus are always present. Sometimes it might feel like God isn’t around, but He is always with us. He is patient with us and will always love us—we’ll never have to wait for his love!

Bible Verse: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Prayer: Thank you, God, for being patient with me, for loving me, and for always being near me. I don’t know how much longer it will be until I can thank you in heaven, but I’ll be patient in waiting for that perfect day. Amen.

Youth Group calendars for June through September are in the process of being sent out.  We apologize if anyone wanting to participate was left off the mailing list. If you or your child did not receive a calendar, but would like to be on the list, please contact Kathy Renth at 588-4018.  All high school students who are members of Holy Childhood Parish are part of the group and are always welcome.

PLEASE CONSIDER the Meredith Memorial Home, a diocesan owned retirement community, located at 16 S. Illinois St. Belleville, IL. For tours of the facility call 618-233-8780.

BUNKO & DESSERT PARTY Monday, July 21, at 1 PM at St. Anthony's parish center in Beckemeyer. Prizes: First & Last place - Most Bangers & Bunkos. $5 per person includes drinks and dessert. Sponsored by Red Hat Ladies benefits St. Anthony Memorial Fund. Must be 18 or older.

HEALING DAYS OF REFLECTION The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows will be hosting the Annual Healing and Hope Novena from July 28 through August 5.  Each evening's Mass will begin at 7:30 PM, and will focus on a different aspect of healing:  emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.

ST. FRANCIS CHURCH PICNIC AVISTON, IL, on Saturday, August 2, 2008 on the parish grounds. (Rain Date: August 3rd) Chicken & Beef Dinner with homemade dressing and all the trimmings served from 3:30-8:00 PM in the Parish center'S air-conditioned cafeteria. Quilt Bingo begins at 6:30  PM. (Every game for a Quilt except for ties.) New this year is a Margarita Stand. Other picnic features are: The Grand Raffle, Country Store, Basket Booth, Fruit Basket, Kiddie Raffle, Games and much more. Mass will be at 4:00 PM. (Youth Choir singing).

St. Boniface Parish Picnic Germantown, IL. On Tuesday, July 29th. Chicken & Roast Beef Dinner in air conditioning or Chicken carry outs from 3:30 pm. Hand Made Quilt Bingo from 6:30 to 10:30 PM. Games, Raffles, Nacho's Pretzels, Soda, Beer, Ice Cream, Candy and Hamburgers.

The Mascoutah Tuesday Woman's Club is seeking donations of homemade pies and cakes for the MASCOUTAH HOMECOMING CAKE AND PIE STAND. Our stand is located at the end of the depot in Scheve Park. This year dates are August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Your donated items can be received on Friday, August 1st after 5 PM; on Saturday, August 2nd after 11 AM; and on Sunday, August 3rd after 11 AM. Please bring baked items on foil, or in containers clearly labeled with your name. Your container may be picked-up later in the day at your convenience.

St. Anthony, Lively Grove, Annual Chicken Dinner and Picnic! On Saturday August 2nd. Dinner from 4 PM RAIN or SHINE. Quilt-Cash Bingo from 6 PM. Holy Mass at 4 PM and 6 PM.

"Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it."

Sometimes, as much as we love each other it seems like the thorns of life are choking our marriage and family. Take time to kill the thorns by taking time for your Sacramental marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is August 8th to 10th. To register or for more information call 888-889-9963 or go online to www.aweekendofdiscovery.org.