FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Forgive me, Father, for I am going to sin (maybe)! I am going to take off a couple of days, beginning today, and go fishing.  I will not be on the job from today until late Tuesday, when I come back.  I am going to have some fun, and work in a different way—catching fish with my friends.  I hope that I have a lot of luck, and that the rest of our fishing party can catch as many fish, if not more, than I do.  Your blessing and prayers, please!  Maybe the absence will be good for me and for the parish, after all that has taken place this summer.  At any rate, I am going fishing this Sunday—for real fish.  See ya!

Many thanks to all who came to the meeting on Wednesday to re-evaluate our past picnic!  I could not be present due to another meeting for our Educational Endowment Fund.  I hear from Mrs. Cornman, our Picnic Chairperson, that it was a very productive meeting, and that many good ideas surfaced to make our picnics better in the future.  Thanks to all who worked so hard to make our past picnic so successful, considering the economic environment we are now in.  I heard that many other picnics did not fare as well.  We are blessed, and we need to thank God every day for our many blessings.

Our secretary, Mickey Gilbert will be leaving our employment to go with her husband to his new appointment.  We thank her for all the good work that she has put into our parish operation, and her ability to tolerate an old pastor as well as she did.  We are looking for a replacement for her.  Please check the ad in another part of this bulletin if you are interested.  No phone calls!

As I announced last Sunday, our Red Cross Blood Drive was credited with 95 units of blood on the Thursday Drive.  I apologize for the delays and inconveniences that took place due to shortage of staff.  I have informed the Red Cross of this condition and asked them to correct it for the future drives.  On our part, we also have to come and give blood.  Otherwise we will have nurses standing around because there are no donors.  And that is not good for good business relations.  Giving blood is saving lives!  We must be convinced of our own personal duty in this regard, and make it a priority in our lives.  A lot goes into preparing for a drive in the realm of advertising, calling persons, putting out signs, setting up the donor room, cleaning up.  All of this has to be done, whether for a small drive or a large drive.  Basic fundamentals every time!  Please be a regular donor!

Thanks to all who came to our Saturday Blood Drive—our “Make-Up” or “Round-Up” drive; I cannot give any report, since it has not happened yet!  But I will thank all who took the time to come to give blood, to set up, volunteer during the drive, and clean up. Your satisfaction is in the fact that “you tried”, and that you gave of yourselves to save a life.  God bless all of you who make the blood program an important ministry and service to God and man!

If you can help the CSMA, which we spoke about last Sunday at Mass, and in the bulletin, it will be greatly appreciated, and do much good!

BASKET WINNERS from the picnic, if you won a basket and don't have a need for them you can donate them back to the parish for use next year!! Just drop them off in the breezeway. Thank you!

Gift Cards Purchase Gift Cards in the school office or in the gathering space after weekend Masses. Stop by and see what cards we have in stock. Call the school at 566-2922 or Debbie at 566-2866 with any questions. Thank you for supporting HCS.

SIGN UP TODAY!  As John Paul II put it, small communities are “true expressions of ecclesial communion and centers of evangelization” (Christifideles Laici, n.26) The impetus to evangelization is an extension of the overwhelming love of God poured out for us. The creating, redeeming, divinizing energy that flows from the heart of our God is meant to flow into our hearts and through us to the world around us. If you would like to join a small group of adults who want to expand their understanding of Scripture and grow in faith and discipleship, we invite you to take advantage of a great opportunity to reflect on the happiness God has planned for our lives. We invite you to sign up for Quest. The program will begin the week of October 19, 2008. Quest will be offered at various times and in various locations in our parish. Sign-ups will take place in front of church after all the Masses this weekend. Stop by and sign up for the day, the time, and the location most convenient for you. If you prefer, call John Pettinger at 677-2724 or Mickey at the rectory to sign up.

RCIA 08/09  A meeting for those interested in the RCIA program will be held in the parish center on Sunday, September 21st at 9 AM. This will be an informational and sign-up opportunity for anyone wanting to join the Catholic church. If unable to attend contact KK Schneider at 566-2871.

HCCCW  will meet on Tuesday, September 9th at 7 PM in the parish center. The Holy Childhood Council is a member of the Belleville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Through fund raising the HCCCW takes care of the altar and sanctuary, providing vestments, altar bread, wine, flowers, and other items needed for the liturgical events of the parish. All newcomers are welcome.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS will meet this Thursday 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.

HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL DINNER AUCTION The tickets for the 15th Annual Dinner Auction "It's Game Show Night at HCS" are available after Masses. Tickets are $30 per person which includes dinner, bar, and setups. If you would like to make a donation to the auction, please contact Mary Moll @ 566-2300. Auction to be held October 18th.

BAPTISMAL CLASS  for new parents, parents to be, or parents who have not attended a class within two years of the last child baptized. Class will be held on Sunday, October 5th from 2-3:30 PM in the parish center. You will register upon your arrival.

Tuesday, September 9

                 NO MASS                  

Wednesday, September 10

  8:00 AM  John Rist

Thursday, September 11

   8:00 AM  Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Touchette

Friday, September 12

  8:00 AM  Edwin Haas      

Saturday, September 13

                                     5:30 PM  1. Theresa Schuetz                                     

                 2. Austin Widman

              3. Erma Sommers

Sunday, September 14

  8:00 AM  1.  Susanne Gardner

                                                                                       2.  L/D Members of Art & Bernadine Kniepman Family

10:30 AM    People of the Parish

MONDAY, September 8,

7:30 PM Athletic meeting-hcs

Tuesday, September 9

NO MASS

9 AM Adoration→7 PM

9:00 AM Quilting

Life Screening-pc

7:00 PM HCCCW-pc

Wednesday, September 10

8:00 AM   Mass

6:00 PM Child Protection Training-pc

7:00 PM CYO-yr

7:30 PM Choir practice

THURSDAY, September 11

8:00 AM   Mass

9:00 AM Quilting

7:30 PM Knights of Columbus-pc

FRIDAY, September 12

8:00 AM Mass

SATURDAY, September 13

9:00 AM  Adoration

1:00 PM Wedding

4:30 PM  Confessions

5:30 PM   Mass

SUNDAY, September 14 

  8:00 AM  Mass

10:30 AM  Mass

9-10:15- PSR -hcs

A new school year is up and running, which means teachers are up and runnnnnnning!  Classroom doors swing open as God shapes Christian teachers and other volunteer teachers to serve the Lord and his children in a variety of settings.  Join me in lifting them up before God’s throne of grace using the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, our Teacher-Rabbi, you call talented and dedicated individuals to teach in your kingdom.  Envelope them with your grace, enlighten them with your wisdom, empower them with daily strength, and encourage them with your joyful presence.  Lord, hear our prayer as we lift up to you those teachers who . . .

Give their time and energy even when there is little time and even less energy; Love the students others deem unlovable; See potential in a student’s drawing and gracefully draw out that potential in the student; Meet students with special needs and meet those needs in special ways; Change light bulbs and make light bulbs go on in students’ minds; Wipe spills, runny noses, and about everything else under the sun; Discipline in love rather than love to discipline; Know the meaning of “grace” and know when to share it in the most meaningful way; Love to work with parents who love to work with their children; Live with stress, yet stress the importance of knowing how to live; Get a kick out of the challenges at recess and also get a kick out of challenging the recesses of a student’s mind; Know there is more to school than the initial success of ABCs, IQs, and the ACTs; Teach right and wrong as well as the right and wrong way to write; Pray for students and schools who are not allowed to pray aloud in school for their students; Write creative lesson plans and plan for nothing less than creative results; Train students to sing praises while singing their praises; Teach the three R’s in class during the week and take in some R & R during the weekend; Can teach the alphabet without claiming to know everything from A to Z; Love to teach while loving those they teach; Label coat racks, desks, or test tubes – but never students; Find joy in teaching and teach with joy; and Master the art of teaching by following the lead of the Master Teacher, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus, for servant teachers.  With a new school year up and running, we join them in getting up and running to you for guidance, grace, and goodness, all the while giving you the thanks and glory you so deserve!  In your name we present this prayer to the Father.  Amen.

 We also have aluminum and paper recycling bins on the school lot

and collect ink cartridges for recycling.

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

SPECIAL EDUCATION RELIGION classes will begin Tuesday, September 9th. The classes will be  held at St. Mary's. Class time is from 7-8 PM every Tuesday evening in the school basement. Students should be at least 8 years old to attend. For more information call Donna or Bill Schaab (277-8444) or the St. Mary's rectory at 233-2391.

NEW FOURTH DEGREE ASSEMBLY FORMED Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly formed at an organizational meeting held at the sisterless house in Freeburg on Sunday August 24th. This Assembly, which chose the name: William M. Cosgrove Assembly, will consist of members from the following KC Councils: St. Joseph, Freeburg Council 13197; Holy Childhood, Mascoutah Council 4380; Scott AFB Queen of Peace Council 10276; and St. James's, Millstadt Council 4741. The meeting times chosen by the Assembly will be every 2nd Tuesday of the month. Officers meeting at 7 PM and Assembly Meet at 7:30 PM. Any 4th degree knight wishing to transfer to the new Assembly or any 3rd degree Knight interested in becoming a 4th degree Knight please contact Richard Rodriguez at 539-3172 or RNMIR@AOL.COM or Ralph Wilhelm at 566-2885.

HOLY ANGELS PARISH REUNION will be held September 21st at 2 PM at Long Acre Park, Fairview Heights, IL. We are requesting all attendees to bring one toiletry for the Holy Angels Women and children's Shelter (deodorant, shampoo, body lotion, hand lotion, toilet paper etc.) Bring your own food and drinks or we will be selling Brats, Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Chips, Soda and Water. (BYOB) Bring Lawn Chairs. Pass the work to all your "Angel" friends. For more information call 618-397-0181.

ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH 125TH ANNIVERSARY All friends, former parishioners and former students are welcome. The Open House is at St. Luke's Parish Center on September 21st from 1-4 PM. We come together to remember, to meet friends and former neighbors and classmates and to thank God for all the blessings of these 125 years.

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.

CHICKEN DINNER St. Felicitas Church, Beaver Prairie, 13322 Church Road, September 21st from 11 AM to 5 PM. The usual homemade bread, dressing, and desserts. Carry-outs available. Cafeteria style. Adults $8 and children (6-12) $4. (Look for signs on New Rt. 50 west of Carlyle and on Rt. 127, six miles north of Carlyle.)

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.

THE MASCOUTAH TOWNSHIP OFFICE will accept clothing in good condition at 622 W Main St. on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday only, from September 23rd-September 25th, between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM.