FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH

Last week, I commented that this weekend, we will change back to Standard Time, and that our tower clocks would do that automatically.  They did! Last Sunday!  So we had to manually adjust them back for this week, and will have to do it again this weekend for standard time.  Technology is not perfect, is it?!

Mickey Gilbert, our ex-parish Secretary, officially left our employment on Friday, October 24^th.  However, she is going to be in several days this week to help break in our new parish secretary, who happens to be Angela Schanz, the wife of Jeremy Schanz.  Angie lives here in town, and seems to be well qualified for her new job.  We welcome her, and we ask all of Holy Childhood organizations and parishioners to be patient with her as she adapts to the varied tasks of her new job.

We also want to thank Mickey Gilbert for the years that she put in as our parish secretary.  She brought to us her experience from a much larger parish in Omaha, where she worked as parish secretary previously.  She did a great deal to organize our files to be more efficient, (even though I could not find information for a while without her directions).  She also brought new models for the bulletin, deadlines for work be done, and greater personal responsibility on those who wanted help in their parish activities.  She has been a blessing to us while she was with us, and we wish her well in her new environment in Irving, Texas.  Her husband, Jim, has been assigned there with the Boy Scouts.

November is the month dedicated to remembering the deceased.  Saturday is/was the Feast of All Saints.  Sunday is the Feast of All Souls.  It should be a solemn reminder to all of us that someday we will be numbered among the deceased, and may be in need of prayers for the remission of our sins.  It is also good  for all of us to pray for the deceased, to thank God for the blessings that we have received, and to renew our efforts to be a better sign of God’s love and goodness in our families, our church, our community, and our world.

Tuesday is Election Day, and is going to be a very important day in our nation.  The rhetoric that has been on TV and radio has been so vile and negative that it will be a great relief when it is all over.  There will be winners and there will be losers.  Everyone is looking at the candidates and how it will affect them personally.  We need to respect life, not only of the unborn, but for all stages of life.  We have to look for the good of all of our neighbors, since we all depend on one another as the Body of Christ and children of God.  Our vote will be a personal commitment to do our part in the future for the good of society, for the good of our children, and for the good of the world.  It is not a single event, but a promise to be the best we can be, whoever is elected, to be a faithful and faith-filled catholic and citizen.  Pray that God’s will be done!

Tonight, I have mass at McKendree University for the Catholic students, at 8:00 P.M.

IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER  If you are over the age of 70 1/2,  the IRS requires that you take a minimum distribution from your IRA each year.  Normally, the amount of this distribution is taxed as ordinary income.  However, federal legislation enacted on October 3, 2008 extends the opportunity for you, for the remainder of 2008 and throughout 2009, to make a direct distribution from your IRA to a qualified charity, such as Holy Childhood.  Such distributions, while not subject to income tax, will still count toward fulfilling your required minimum distribution.

             For more information about how you and the Church can benefit from an IRA charitable rollover, contact the parish office or the Planned Giving Office at 618-277-8181, ext. 132.

QUILTING     The Holy Childhood quilting committee will be having a special quilting day November 6 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.  Lunch will be served at 11:30 A.M.

ATTENTION    The 2009 contribution envelopes may be picked up in the breezeway. They are in  alphabetical order left to right. (You will keep the same number as you had in 2008.) Your contribution number, name and address are on the top of the box. PLEASE verify that the numbers on the label and box match. If you do not find your number and/or name, please notify the rectory. If you are not currently receiving envelopes and would like to, please call the rectory. Thank you.

GIFT CARDS      Whether you are planning a nice dinner out or needing to grab a quick bite, we have gift cards to meet your needs.  Tony’s Place ($25), Applebee’s ($25), Chevy’s, ($25), Chili’s ($25), Burger King ($10), Chuck E. Cheese ($10), Arby’s ($10), Starbucks ($10), Fazoli’s ($25), TGI Friday’s ($25), Long John Silver’s ($5) and many more.

CONFIRMATION

Tuesday, November 4,

  8:00 AM   1. Alma Jacober

                                                                        2. Ben & Kathryn Baechle -- 61st Anniversary

Wednesday, November 5,

  8:00 AM   1.  Rosalia Orlet

                              2.  Art & Frances Hart

Thursday, November 6,

  8:00 AM     1.  Leonard & Anna Schoeberle

                    2.  L/D Eugene Christ Family

  3. Special Intention

Friday, November 7,

  8:00 AM  Paul Hopfinger

Saturday, November 8,

9:00 A.M.   Adoration 

                                                         5:30 P.M.   1.  St. Vincent DePaul Members L/D, Friends & Benefactors

                                            2.  Augie & Jan Mueth,  40th Anniversary

Sunday, November 9,

  8:00 AM   David Haas      

         10:30 AM   People of the Parish

 October 26, 2008

MONDAY, November  3,

7:00 PM  Athletic Mtg-hcs

Tuesday, November 4,

8:00 AM Mass →Adoration→7 PM

9 AM & 6 PM   Quilting

6:45 PM        HOPE - hcs

Wednesday, November 5,

8:00 AM  Mass

7:30 PM  Choir practice-c

THURSDAY, November 6,

8:00 AM   Mass

9:00 AM  Quilting

               1:00 PM    School out-no bus

FRIDAY, November 7,

8:00 AM Mass

Father Communion Calls

1:00 PM School out-no bus

SATURDAY, November 8,

9:00 AM  Adoration

4:30 PM  Confessions

5:30 PM   Mass

SUNDAY, November 9,

8:00 AM  Mass

9:00 AM PSR-hcs

9:00 AM RCIA-pc

10:30 AM  Mass

Calendar

2    Rite of Enrollment for Confirmation Class @ 10:30 Mass

3    Athletic Meeting 7:30 p.m.

4 Election Day – HOPE  6:45 p.m.

5    Faculty Meeting – K-8

6 Dismiss @ 1:00 p.m.       No Busses / Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00-6:30

7    Dismiss @ 1:00 p.m.       No Busses / Student of the Month & Birthday Blessing

In celebration of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans,

Tuesday, November 4, 2008,

will be a red/white/blue non-uniform day.

Students, faculty & staff will be allowed to

wear Red/White/Blue shirts with jeans.

MASCOUTAH SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAM:  The second annual wine and cheese party will be held on Sunday, November 2nd from 3 to 5 P.M. at the Senior Center, 227 N. Market St.  This is the main fundraiser for the Mascoutah Senior Center Program.  Tickets are $7 and includes your beverage, appetizers and opportunity to bid on our beautiful wreaths and other silent auction items.  Please join us for a fun and friendly party and opportunity to shop for some Christmas goodies.

Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois  annually sponsors the Secret Santa program to provide gifts for the foster children under our care.  This year we are hoping to collect gifts for nearly 400 children.  From early indications we will need many additional sponsors to fulfill the wish lists of all these children.

In addition, we are looking for about a dozen sponsors who would be willing to adopt a needy family to help give them a meaningful Christmas holiday.  We will provide a family wish list to anyone interested in being a Secret Santa family sponsor.  Items will be needed on or about December 19^th.  This is a time of giving; won’t you please help our cause?

If interested, or need more information, please call: Ed Ackermann at Catholic Social Services, (618) 94-5900 (ext 106), or send an e-mail to: eackermann@cssil.org.

ALTHOFF CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL:  The 44th Annual Benefit Dinner will be held at Fischer's Restaurant on Wednesday, November 12, 2008.  For more information, please contact the Althoff Catholic Development Office:  618-235-1124.

LATE NITE CATECHISM    Time to laugh  your sins off!! On Friday, November 7th or Saturday November 8th at 7:30 PM, Althoff Catholic Heritage Hall; 5401 West Main St; Belleville, IL. General admission $30 in advance and $35 at the door OR $60 Red Carpet/Wine Reception. Tickets available at Althoff Catholic or Family Hospice, 5110 West Main St. Credit card sales, please call Family Hospice at 618-277-1800. To benefit Family Hospice & Althoff Catholic Performance Arts.

The Gospel of Mark "Who Am I? The Identity of Jesus"    Please join us for an interactive presentation by Tom Smith on the Gospel of Mark. Tom will explore the identity of Jesus - especially as Messiah and as the Son of God November 15th at the St. Stephen Parish Center; 901 South Main St.; Caseyville, IL. Registration from 8:15 AM to 9 AM with the presentation beginning at 9 AM until noon. Cost is $5 and includes a continental breakfast. Reserve YOUR spot today by contacting us at 618-235-9601 ext. 110 or by email at worship@diobelle.org. Payment can be made in advance or at the door.