FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Well, the big week has arrived.  School starts!  Picnic!  And this also tells us that summer vacation is basically over.  It is back to the grind for the students, and also for the parents, to see that home work and study-time is given priority, and to work sports and practices for other activities into the schedule.  Education is more important than sports.  Religion is more important than all of the other activities, since it is the hub that will hold all the others in place, and keep us on the right road to heaven.  All of our time does not have to be in some organized activity.  Family time is very, very important, since it gives to the children what a good family life is, and that it will be a model, a standard, when they want to build their own families through marriage.

Monday, we start setting up for our picnic.  We need lots of hands to move around the materials for the stands, and to put them together.  Set-up will start at 6:00 P.M. Our older grade school students, as well as our high school students, can all help here.  It is their parish also, and they want the benefits of the parish and school, sooner or later.  Moms and Dads, bring your kids along so that they can “learn the ropes” and be ready to take your place when you are no longer able.  We have so many parishioners who feel that if they work a shift on picnic night, they have done their share for the whole year.  That is not true!  We all like a good time and to eat and drink! We also are not so unaware that this does not happen without the work of other persons—it does not happen by itself!  It is the fulfillment of the saying” Give and Take”.  If we want to take, then we have to give—make it happen, put it there! Please help where ever you can.  We will need help every night of the week, setting up, finishing off, stocking stands on Saturday morning and afternoon, celebrating the picnic Saturday night, and then—cleaning up on Sunday morning.  Please do all that you can to make it a success!  Pray especially this week for the good weather that we need!  It is the HOLY CHILDHOOD PARISH PICNIC—our picnic, each and every one of us—our picnic!

On August 28th, the Thursday after the picnic, we will have our Community Red Cross Blood Drive in the school cafeteria.  It will be from 2 to 7 P.M., and will feature baby-sitting at the site, and bar-b-que pork sandwiches in the Canteen.  I ask all who can give blood to please come and give blood.  There is always a shortage of blood to keep our hospitals supplied for all emergencies.  When you give blood, you save a life, or really three lives, as the blood is broken down into components that may reach three different persons.  Yes, it is a heroic act!  However, wouldn’t you want the blood to be available if you or a loved one, or a good friend needed it?  Someone has to keep the supply available!  Can you be one of the persons who cares enough to save a life?

Pray for the family of Erma Sommers, who passed away on Tuesday of this past week, and was buried  Saturday.  Her death was unexpected.  She was a member of our parish family, and regular at the Sacraments.  May she rest in peace! It goes to show all of us how quickly our lives can end, even as we sleep.  Live always in a manner that you are ready for that moment when God calls you.   You never know when it will happen!

Tuesday, August 19

  8:00 AM   Shirley Murphy       

Wednesday, August 20

  8:00 AM    1. L/D Members of

                              Edwin Hass Family

                           2  In Thanksgiving

                                     Bruce Dickhaut Family.

Thursday, August 21

   8:00 AM     Dan & Rose Mueth

Friday, August  22

  8:00 AM 

Saturday, August  23

4:00 PM   People of the Parish

Sunday, August 24

  8:00 AM  1.  Bertha Jung

                           2.  Raymond Laux

        10:30 AM  Norbert Millosheski

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

What I Did on My Summer Vacation. Do teachers still start the school year by asking students to write an essay with that title? Stop right now and share with your family or travel group some of the highlights from your vacation that you would write about. (Go ahead!)

It’s good to think about the memories we made on our vacation—both the good and the not so good. After thinking about what you did on your vacation, answer this question: What did God do on my vacation? How would you answer that question? Talk about that together. (Go ahead!)

When you consider all the things God did with you and for you on your vacation, you probably want to thank and praise him.   Before you thank God, read and remember this invitation his Son, Jesus, gives as we travel with him every day:  Are you tired? Worn out? . . . Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:28–30 THE MESSAGE)

Praise God the Father for vacations, families, and blessings! Praise him for his forgiveness, love, and salvation! Praise God the Son for his invitation to rest with him every day. Praise God the Holy Spirit for giving you faith so that one day, when you arrive in heaven, you’ll hear Jesus say to you, “Welcome home!”

Bible Verse: Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life (Matthew 11:28 THE MESSAGE).

Prayer: How can we thank and praise you enough, God—Father, Son, and Spirit?

Your love carried us through our vacation,

and it will bring us through whatever we have to deal with in the days ahead.

Thank you for everything you did on this vacation.

We look forward to traveling with you every day.

We love you. Amen.

IMPORTANT DATES

August 18th Open House PreK-8 @ 6:30 pm in the gym.    

August 18 Sports Meeting in the gym.@ 7:15 pm (all parents with children in sports)

August 21st 1^st day of K-8 with 11:05 dismissal –buses running

August 25th 1st day of Preschool

If you would like to receive a calendar, please contact Kathy Renth at 588-4018. 

FALL EVENT AT CAMP ONDESSONK  Thank you to all of our campers during Summer 2008! We had a great time, and hope to see you next summer. Camp also has several events this fall that are open to everyone: a Family Camp, September 20-21; Mother/Daughter Weekend, October 10-12; and a FREE Fall Festival, October 25th. For more information about any of these events please visit www.ondessonk.com, or call 618-695-2489.

IN NEED Due to current economic conditions afflicting the poor, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is in great need of good, useable furniture including beds, mattresses, chests, dressers etc. If you have  items that you would like to donate, please call 618-875-3886 and leave a message on line 1. Your call will be promptly returned. May God bless you for helping us to serve those in need.

Bunko & Dessert Party Monday, August 18th at 1 PM, St. Anthony parish center, Beckemeyer. Prizes; First & Last Place - Most Bangers & Bunkos. $5 per person, includes drinks and dessert. Sponsored by Red Hat Ladies and benefits St. Anthony Memorial Fund. Must be 18 or older.

The Vietnam Moving Wall proudly sponsored by the Village of Hecker. 1/2 scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Opening Ceremony Thursday August 28th at 6 PM. Dedication Ceremony on Sunday, August 31st at 6 PM and Closing Ceremony on Monday, September 1st at 6 PM. Limited seating, bring lawn chairs. Volunteers available to locate names for rubbings. Free to all.

ST. LIBORIUS PARISH is sponsoring a QUILT BINGO at St. Libory Schlambachfest on August 31st starting at 6:00 PM. The Youth Ministry is sponsoring the Seventh Annual "RUN FOR THE SON", a 5-K (3.1 mile) Run/Walk and a 1/2 mile "Fun Run" for the kids starting at 8:30 AM. For more details about this event please call 768-4941, 768-4336 or 768-4274.

If we believe, Jesus "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." We only need to call on Jesus to help us have the best Sacrament of Marriage or Holy Orders.  The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is September 26th-28th. To register or for more information call 888-889-9963 or go online to www.aweekendofdiscovery.org.