Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church
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Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church
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DeCEMBER 14, 2008
FATHER'S TWO CENTS WORTH It seems like yesterday that I was writing a column for the bulletin. Our time is passing so quickly before Christmas that it is hard to believe that is the week of Penance Services. This is a very special week for our parish and all of our parishioners as we cleanse our souls of sins, and with the help of the special graces given in the Sacrament of Penance renew our lives, and grow in God’s love. We are all special persons in God’s plan. He wants to shower, literally “dump” His blessings on us. However, at times, we let our own idiosyncrasies and piety, or lack of piety, stand in the way of His love. God is God, we are His creatures. He is the Master, we are the servants. We need Him, not "He needs us." We are sinners, but we need his saving grace to be truly happy. Pray, hope, and trust that we can become the person God wants us to be. Then we will be truly alive!
Because of some conflicts in time schedules for next Sunday, we will move the final decorating state of our church to this THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18th, beginning at 6:00 P.M. We will be putting up all of the bows on the pillars, the windows, and at other places in church. We will also be hanging the big “back-drops” for the manger area, and over the altar, along with setting up the crib. Again, hands and legs are needed to get statues from the attic, and the needed items from the basement. Be there!
As I said in the first paragraph, this is the week of Penance Services and other opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our Parish Penance service will be on Tuesday evening at 7 P.M. We will have six priests here to help us in making our individual confessions. We three pastors of Holy Childhood, St. Nicholas and St. Clare help one another, and count on one another’s parishes to welcome penitents: St. Nicholas will have its Penance service on Wednesday evening at 7 P.M. and St. Clare of Assisi will have its Penance Service on Thursday at 7 P.M. (I will also be available for the sacrament of Penance on Saturday from 10-11 A.M., and from 3-5 P.M; and also will hear confessions on Tuesday December 23 at 7 P.M.). Holy Childhood School children will have Penance Service on Thursday at 9:30 A.M.
Next weekend, (Dec. 20-21), there will be a second collection to help the Kessler family of our parish, who lost their home and possessions in a fire a couple of weeks ago. There are some blank envelopes in the pews if you want to take one with you for your gift, or as a reminder. The money will be given to the trust fund set up at Citizens Bank to help them get their lives back together.
As we approach Christmas, we all need to see Christmas as more than giving of gifts, decorating our yards and homes, and partying. It is a time to be happy that Christ has come and will come again. But it is also a time to be grateful to God for all of the blessings we have, and have had throughout our lives. It is a time to come back home to our God in church, in prayer, and in sacrament. It is a time to remember that Jesus came to save all of us from our sins, and not just “me” alone, and that He loves everyone. Remember the House of God where we have to celebrate His presence, and His gift of life that we have in all of the Sacraments we receive there. Take some time to remember the “Christmas past” of our lives, and to be grateful to God for allowing it to happen to us!
CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIALS: Now is the time to send in your request for Christmas Flower memorials for your deceased loved ones. The HCCCW is sponsoring this program. You can list one or two individual names or one or two family names for $10. The money is used for the purchasing of the Christmas flowers and other items needed for the altar. Donations are needed by 12/22 to insure the names are on the list displayed at all entrances of the church. For more information, contact Pat Bowker at 566-7089.
GIFT BEARERS FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S MASSES: Volunteers are needed to bring up Offertory Gifts at the following Masses: Christmas Day, 9:00 a.m.; and New Year's Day, 9:00 a.m. These Masses are for the People of the Parish. Volunteers, please call the parish office at 566-2958, or Ruth Wilhelm at 566-2885.
PSR Christmas Break: The last PSR class will be on 12/21. The class will start up again on 1/4.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: will meet on December 15th, 2:30 pm in the parish center.
BAPTISMAL CLASS: will be held on February 1, from 2-3:30 PM in the parish center.
INFORMATION UPDATES: If anyone of the parish has address or phone number changes, please let the rectory know so we can update our records, (566-2958).
GIFT CARDS: One Stop Shopping – No need to run from store to store to purchase gift cards, you can get them through HCS. We have gift cards for many local and national retail stores and restaurants. Stop by the school office during the day or the gathering space after any mass.
CYO: Merry Christmas and don't forget on December 30 - Blood Drive! Set up at 12:30 PM and take down at 7:15 PM.
Parish School of Religion Director: Marilyn Byrne
January 11 9:15-10:00 AM Meeting with parents in the Church
I would like to thank all of the parents, students, and catechists for all of their kind donations for the boxes that were sent overseas. There was a total of six, and the men and women will receive them in time for Christmas!
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
"Could you not then watch one hour with me?"
"My God, I thank You for guarding me always and keeping me safe; I thank You for giving me so often in the sacrament of penance forgiveness for my sins; for offering Yourself in Holy Mass with all your infinite merits to the Father for me; for the coming to me in Holy Communion and for the patient waiting in the adorable sacraments of the altar."
Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays after the 8 AM Mass until 7 PM and on Saturday from 9 - 10 AM. Please contact Mary Ellen Mueller at 566- 9529. Thank You!
MASS INTENTIONS
Tuesday, December 16 8:00 AM Elmer Bechtoldt Brad Kehrer
Wednesday, December 17 8:00 AM Bernice Hopfinger Kachinisky & Family
Thursday, December 18 8:00 AM Herman & Catherine Otten Family
Friday, December 19 8:00 AM Bertha Jung Dorothy Ann Draper
Saturday, December 20 5:30 PM Pat Huff Erma Sommers Norman Siegel
Sunday, December 21 8:00 AM Rosalia Orlet Raymond Laux Norbert and David Haas
10:30 AM People of the Parish
December 7, 2008
THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY, December 15 2:30 PM St. Vincent de Paul
Tuesday, December 16 8:00 AM Mass →Adoration→5 PM 9:00 AM Quilting 6:00 PM Quilting 7:00 PM Penance Service
Wednesday, December 17 8:00 AM Mass 7:00 PM St. Nicholas Penance Service 7:30 PM Choir practice
THURSDAY, December 18 8:00 AM Mass 9:00 AM Quilting 9:30 AM HCS confessions 6:00 PM Decorate Church 7:00 PM School Board mtg. 7:00 PM St. Clare Penance Service
FRIDAY, December 19 8:00 AM Mass
SATURDAY, December 20 9:00 AM Adoration 10-11 AM Confessions 3-5 PM Confessions 5:30 PM Mass
SUNDAY, December 21 8:00 AM Mass 9:00 AM PSR NO RCIA 10:30 AM Mass
HOLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL
WEB SITE:
holychildhoodschool.com
It seems that Thanksgiving was barely over and ‘boom’ it was the Christmas season. Somehow the message of the birth of Jesus gets lost. It was lost when a crowd trampled and killed a Wal-Mart employee trying to get in to the Black Friday specials. It was lost when two people argued in a Toys R Us and shot and killed each other. How can we make it a season of joy remembering it is all about the birth of the Christ Child?
Helping Others – We are continuing to collect food for the Mascoutah Food Pantry and household items for Hospitality House, in Chester, which provides a place to stay while visiting those in prison.
Celebrate by serving. Offer help to decorate for someone who is physically unable to do it on their own (shut-ins, new moms, and people recovering from surgery). Take some hot chocolate and cookies with you. Perhaps do the same for military families whose spouses are stationed away from their families.
Prepare a care box for college students- Many will be wrapping up final exams and cookies can help make it more enjoyable.
Purchase several mini-Christmas trees and take them to the nursing homes.
Carol for public servants. Groups or families can go caroling for public workers and officials including firefighters and police. Stop by and thank them for their services.
Attend Church
December/ January Calendar
Dec. 19 last day before Christmas Vacation Jan. 5 Return
Sincerely,
Deacon Ron Karcher Principal
Angel Tree
Once again the Youth Group is sponsoring an Angel Tree. Each angel contains the age, gender, and size for a person in need from our community this Christmas. The names are gathered by a representative of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Mascoutah and are passed on to the youth group. There will be two angels on the tree for each child ages 18 and under, one angel for each adult in a family, and two angels for any adult living alone. This year to better serve the needs of the families on our Angel Tree we are asking you to list on the angel what is inside of each package when you attach the angel to the gift. We have run into a problem in the past when one child in a family receives more gifts than another child in the same family. It is also very important that we have your gifts by Sunday, December 14th. Thank you!
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord.” Are we taking time to put the way of the Lord in our marriage? The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in this area is January 25th through 27th. Early registration is highly recommended. To register or for more information call 888-889-9963.
ANNUAL DIOCESAN COLLECTION: The annual Diocesan Christmas collection will be taken up at all Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. All monies collected remain in our Belleville Diocese to help those in need during the coming year; funds are administered through Joe Hubbard and his staff at Catholic Urban Programs. At this special time of year when we reflect on our many blessings, please remember those among us who have so little and give generously.
2008 DIOCESAN CHRISTMAS DINNER: The annual Diocesan Christmas Dinner will be held at Althoff Catholic High School on Thursday, December 25, 2008. We are looking for donations of home-baked cookies. The cookies can be delivered to Althoff Catholic High School at 5401 West Main Street in Belleville on Wednesday, December 24th from 9 am until Noon in the Cafeteria. Thank You in advance for your donations!
CHRISTMAS COOKIES: The Belleville, East St. Louis Council Society of St. Vincent de Paul is asking for support. They are in need of home baked cookies for Christmas dinner at the soup kitchen. They served more than 1550 meals-complete for Thanksgiving. If you are able to help, please bring your baked goods to the CUP office at #7 Vieux Carre Drive in East St. Louis, or call Sister Ann at 618-398-5616 to arrange for a pick up. Thank you for reaching out to those in need!
Super Bowl Package Raffle: Love football? Love Florida Sun? Community Link is raffling a Super Bowl Package: 2 game tickets, 4 nights at Clarion, airfare for 2. Winner drawn Jan. 6. Tickets $10 each; only 1,500 tickets to be sold. Buy tickets at Community Link, 1665 N. 4th, Breese; phone 526-8800. Proceeds benefit people with disabilities and families raising kids: www.commlink.org.
Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois annually sponsors the Secret Santa program to provide gifts for the foster children under our care. In addition, we are looking for sponsors who would be willing to adopt a needy family. Items will be needed on or about December 19th. This is a time of giving; please, help our cause. If interested, please call: Ed Ackermann at Catholic Social Services, (618) 394-5900 (ext 106).
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